00:00The Caribbean as a zone of peace is something which security and policy expert Richard Lynch calls debatable.
00:07He points to a school of thought on which the idea was based.
00:10The idealistic contention as to whether we are somebody's backyard or we are satellites of none.
00:19These are two competing concepts of who we are in the region.
00:25The broader question is who do we say we are?
00:28Lynch notes the narrative that the trafficking of guns and drugs redounds to the region not being a zone of
00:35peace.
00:36This is a view held by some including Prime Minister Kamala Passat-Bissessa.
00:40But should the response be determined by extra-regional forces?
00:44That's to me an important part of our discussion.
00:48It is not anti-anybody else.
00:50It is a question of are we, is the integrity of our discussion among us as to who we are,
00:57what is the impact of these new and emerging threats, and how do we treat with it, even if it
01:03means we decide how we're going to contextualize those who want to come and assist us with these new and
01:09emerging threats.
01:09TNT is one country that has taken a different stance from its CARICOM counterparts, with Putsad-Bissessa challenging the effectiveness
01:18of the entity in securing regional interests, including security.
01:23Chief Executive Officer of AmCham TT, Neera Tiwari, shares his view.
01:28Anybody who would stand up here honestly and tell me they are happy with the functioning of CARICOM, I would
01:34say, okay, I have no discussion to have, I'm good.
01:39Because it doesn't make sense.
01:40It is not working.
01:43So it needs to be reformed.
01:45And that is in the community's interest.
01:48But he believes there is a lack of data to influence meaningful change, saying it is crucial in stymieing emotional
01:55responses.
01:57Independent Senator Suniti Maharaj says politicians do not necessarily represent the views of the people in our political setup.
02:05And how do you fill that vacuum?
02:08You fill it by representing yourself and getting your communities together.
02:14If the political parties are not doing that, encourage community.
02:18I am so shocked at how everybody is silent and just talking, you know, nambi-pambi stuff, including all the
02:26chambers.
02:27Right?
02:27All the people who could afford to speak truth or power.
02:31On another note, Tiwari points to a problem in the education system, which can impact upon identity or a lack
02:39thereof.
02:40Do you know that Caribbean history at CSEC stops at 1985?
02:46Now, I hope the teachers would introduce contemporary issues as they teach.
02:50But the syllabus ends at 1985.
02:54So we are creating the society.
02:59So what are those cultural values?
03:02They are changing.
03:03Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
03:06Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
03:07Yeah.
03:08Okay.
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