Elizabeth Morgan | Democracy hypocrisy

Although over this past weekend the United States and Israel attacked Iran and launched what could cause another global crisis, this column will address a matter which came up at the opening ceremony of the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference last week. Both the prime ministers of Jamaica, Hon Dr Andrew Holness, and Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), Hon Kamla Persad-Bissessar, referred to their support for democracy. Jamaica’s prime minister, after his direct remarks about Cuba, went on to emphasize that Jamaica stood firmly for democracy, human rights, political accountability, and open market-based economies. The T&T prime minister pointed out that Cuba is not a democracy as it does not have free and fair elections, and her country would not support dictatorships. Thus she would not support Cuba. Now that there is a threat, our leaders are all acutely aware that Cuba is not a democracy. Let us look at this democracy hypocrisy.

FULL DEMOCRACIES

Countries which are considered full/working democracies include Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Denmark, Austria, Norway, United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland, Sweden, Costa Rica, and Barbados. These countries have multiparty free and fair elections; respect for the rule of law; freedom of the press; an active, engaged civil society; and their populations enjoy all the recognized rights and freedoms.

FLAWED DEMOCRACIES

Countries which are flawed democracies, meaning that there are deficiencies in the democratic processes, include, the USA, Brazil, Belize, Chile, Colombia, Ghana, India, Kenya, South Africa, Morocco, Singapore, South Korea, Panama, Hungary, Moldova, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Dominican Republic, Suriname, and Guyana.

UNDEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES

About 59 countries are listed by various monitoring groups as not being democracies, thus undemocratic. These include Cuba, Haiti, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia, China, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, North Korea, Qatar, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Egypt, Nicaragua, and Nigeria.

Note that Barbados is the only CARICOM country listed as a working democracy. Other CARICOM countries, including Jamaica and T&T, are listed as deficient or flawed democracies. Note that the United States is listed in this category as well.

CLOSE RELATIONSHIPS WITH UNDEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES

It is interesting that while CARICOM leaders are conscious of democracy and free and fair elections, they overlooked the fact that they have diplomatic and economic cooperation relationships with countries, other than Cuba, in the third category, not democracies, but are absolute monarchies or autocracies.

Most CARICOM countries have a relationship with the People’s Republic of China, which is a one party communist state and a socialist market economy, not considered by some to be a fully open market-based economy.

Invited special guests at this CARICOM Heads Conference were the UAE and Saudi Arabia which are absolute monarchies and where human rights are quite restricted. The T&T PM took pleasure in referring to her country’s cooperation with the UAE. CARICOM had their inaugural summit with Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on 16 November 2023.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International report that, in spite of reforms, Saudi women still face discrimination. It is noted that freedom of religion and freedom of the press are not respected in Saudi Arabia.

In 2022, it will be recalled that the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame, visited countries in the region. He was on a state visit to Jamaica. Democracy is seen as seriously compromised in Rwanda. CARICOM is seeking to improve relations with countries in Africa, some of which are ranked as autocracies.

THE USA

Note that the USA is slipping in the democracy, freedom, and corruption indices. There is a president there who makes no secret of his admiration for dictators and who seems to aspire to be one. Some of what happened and is happening in the USA regarding their elections and governance, boggles the mind. So, as democracy goes, the USA is not smelling so sweet. It is reflecting serious deficiencies in adhering to democratic norms, including rule of law and respect for human rights.

Note too that the USA has diplomatic and economic relations with most of the countries which are ranked as not democracies, including Vietnam and China.

At the moment, CARICOM members seem to have blurred vision where democracy is concerned. One would hope that our leaders would seek advice and think carefully on these matters, including when crafting statements for public delivery.

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