Political analyst Kevin O’Brien Chang has agreed with the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley on the need for Caribbean countries to maintain a united front as the trade war between China, the US, and other countries intensifies.

Chang referenced an old African proverb that states, “When elephants fight, it’s the grass that gets trampled,” highlighting that when China and America clash, it is the small Caribbean nations that risk being crushed in the middle.

“We have a united voice because we have 13 independent CARICOM nations in the United Nations, which represent 7 per cent of the vote out of the 193 countries in the UN. CARICOM also represents 22 per cent of the vote in the Commonwealth, and out of 56 countries in the Organisation of American States, we hold 40 per cent of the votes.

“If we’re united all the time, we could be extremely powerful, but we tend to become divided and fail to take a unified stance. In that case, we waste our potential. We could be a world power. They would respect us if we stood together and voted as a bloc. If we agree, we vote as a bloc; if we disagree, we abstain; people would respect us,” he continued.

Chang emphasised that 13 votes in the UN is significant, but urged Prime Ministers Mottley, Andrew Holness, and Stuart Young of Trinidad and Tobago to uphold a united front.

“Mottley is absolutely right, but the talk has always been there, and we have never united. However, I now see a new approach where a unanimous vote is not required for a resolution to pass. I hope that will help, but CARICOM should always speak with one voice. Either we vote together, or we vote no, or we abstain. We should never have different CARICOM nations taking different positions in international bodies; it weakens us and erodes our potential to be a global force,” he added.

Caribbean Countries Should Agree on a Common Policy

Chang argued that Caribbean countries should focus on more than just talking about unity, urging that they “walk the walk” while also stressing the importance of maintaining positive relations with both America and China.

“Holness in Jamaica has done this very well. You don’t see anyone quarrelling with him when they visit: ‘Oh, we like Jamaica.’ Other Caribbean countries can do the same. Why can’t CARICOM be like that? We should have no enemies, given our size. Everybody should be our friends. If every Caribbean nation were friends with both China and America, we would all be better off, as both would try to win our favour. That’s the logical approach, so let’s hope Mottley’s call for a united front is heard, and she and others with the big mouths should follow Holness and keep quiet.”

He also recalled when the Donald Trump administration issued a visa threat against Cuban medical workers in the Caribbean, prompting several Caribbean nations to announce they would surrender their US visas “just to alienate the Americans,” while Holness stayed silent. “The American [Marco Rubio] came; we’re cool with Jamaica, no problem. When other CARICOM members make a show of giving up their US visas, do you think America is going to like that, especially the Trumpites, who are very touchy? So first and foremost, CARICOM should learn to keep quiet until you’ve consulted and come up with a common policy,” Chang added.

Caribbean Countries Should Focus on Their Strengths

Chang acknowledged Mottley’s “buy local, buy regional” campaign as a good initiative but noted that much of what Caribbean states purchase is not produced regionally or locally due to the limited production capabilities in the region. “We can avoid getting hurt in the trade war by not quarrelling with America or China.

“The Caribbean’s great advantages are our sunshine and beaches, which are prime tourist destinations. We’re not known as the world’s most efficient manufacturing hub. We also have a total population of 18 million in CARICOM, excluding Haiti. China has 1.4 billion, America has 340 million, and India has 1.4 billion. We can’t compete on certain levels, so let us focus on our strengths—beaches, sunshine, and the warmth of our people. Yes, regional trade can increase, but let’s not fool ourselves into thinking it will save us in a global trade war. That’s delusional,” Chang continued.

He also suggested that CARICOM states should set aside their egos in order to present a united front as a world power. “CARICOM should stand up for democracy, freedom of the press, fair and free elections, and the rule of law. We must not support countries that are dictatorships or not democracies; that’s one of our weaknesses. Leave them alone. Stop praising them. If you’re publicly praising dictatorships, other democracies won’t respect you,” he added.