Elizabeth Morgan | Outcome of Caribbean meeting with the US vice president

The editorial of the Bahamas Tribune newspaper declared ‘US VP visit more than just show’, indicating that Kamala Harris’ visit to The Bahamas had substance and was about discussing issues of importance to both Caribbean leaders and the USA.

Note that Ms Harris, US Vice President, was the highest ranking US official to visit the island chain in its nearly 50 years of independence. Her delegation included Brian Nichols, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs in the State Department. This was a significant meeting for The Bahamas and Prime Minister Philip Davis as they prepared to celebrate this milestone independence anniversary on July 10.

Most of the CARICOM Heads of Government were present, as well as the president of the Dominican Republic, as is the custom with the US.

In addition to the items on the agenda, which I had pointed to in my article last week, there was greater emphasis placed on security issues, illegal guns from the US and the situation in Haiti. These are issues specifically championed by Jamaica, The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Bahamas, given its proximity to both the USA and Haiti, and with its 700 islands to police, is deeply concerned about the security issues. You will recall that in March, CARICOM countries filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in Mexico’s anti-gun lawsuit in the USA, and, in April, Trinidad and Tobago hosted the Regional Symposium addressing Crime and Violence as a Public Health Issue. From this symposium, they issued their War on Guns Declaration, calling for support from the USA in stemming the flow of illegal guns from that country.

Jamaica has had the lead on Haiti. In February, Prime Minister Andrew Holness led a special mission to Haiti to engage with stakeholders there in the effort to assist in finding a solution to the security crisis. This weekend, he hosted a follow-up meeting of Haitian stakeholders. The situation in Haiti is not just a critical issue for the Caribbean, including the Dominican Republic, but for the USA and the hemisphere as a whole.

From all reports, the meeting with VP Harris went well.

NEW US INITIATIVES

She announced new initiatives on:

• Security and firearms trafficking – including naming a coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions in the Department of Justice; support for the regional Gun Intelligence Unit in Trinidad and Tobago and the Haiti Transitional Investigative Unit; improving regional forensic accreditation; and capacity-building in Caribbean law enforcement;

• Enhanced diplomatic presence in the region – opening two new embassies and additional diplomatic support in the Eastern Caribbean;

• Haiti – through USAID, providing additional humanitarian aid in the sum of US$53.7 million, and support for extension of trade preferences;

• US-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis (PACC 2030) – new initiatives announced, including in the Caribbean Climate Investment Programme; Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience; operationalising the climate resilience initiative; funding through the Inter-American Development Bank, World Bank and International Monetary Fund; and bilateral assistance for projects in the countries, including in the Dominican Republic.

According to the Miami Herald, the vice president announced more than US$100 million in funding for projects and programmes in climate, energy, food security, and humanitarian assistance in the Caribbean region.

CARICOM heads also raised the lifting of sanctions against Venezuela and Cuba.

UNCERTAIN IMPLEMENTATION

I find that the US has a handicap in fully implementing its announced policies, projects and programmes, which, among other things, weakens its influence in the hemisphere. Focus is already turning to the 2024 presidential election. It has been found that should the president change, it is quite likely that these policies, projects and programmes for the Caribbean under the Biden/Harris Administration will not continue. This happens even when the party holding the presidency remains the same.

I am finding from following US politics, especially over the last seven years, that there are many things in the US governance system which need to be reviewed and reformed. Among these is a need for continuity in development-related policies, projects and programmes.

There is only certain continuity if it is locked into Congressional legislation, such as the Caribbean Basin Initiative and the 2016 United States-Caribbean Strategic Engagement Act. Without legislation, policies, projects and programmes may simply disappear with the outgoing presidency.

With these Biden/Harris initiatives, for them to have the hope of being fully implemented, Biden and Harris will have to be returned to the White House in 2024.

Elizabeth Morgan is a specialist in international trade policy and international politics. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com