Ramphal: Globalisation must be challenged
Globalisation…it’s a term routinely tossed around by politicians, the media and the public…but what does it mean? Despite different definitions, the reality is that for small countries like Belize, globalisation is largely bad news. Within that context, the academic community of the Caribbean has enlisted Sir Shridath Ramphal, Chancellor of the University of the West Indies, to take a long hard look at the impact of globalisation on small Caribbean states. This week, our well-known facilitator is back in Belize, and earlier today, met with members of the press. According to Sir Shridath, the best way to handle globalisation is take it head on.
Sir Shridath Ramphal, Chancellor, U.W.I.
“We have to resist it. Now, you will say how we can resist it, we don’t have any strength, we don’t have any economic clout, we don’t have any army…no. But we have principle on our side, we have justice on our side, we have right on our side, and we have those with whom we can mobilize to act in unity to enlarge our strength. For us, for Belize, principally, the countries of the Caribbean, in some areas, the countries of Central America, in all areas, the whole of the developing world. In the non-aligned movement, which played such an important part in bring about the freedom of Belize, freedom within secure borders.”
“And now today, small countries have a new ally. And that ally is in the people of the world, the people who marched at Seattle very directly in the interest of those of us who were being disenfranchised in the W.T.O. There were some who marched in Seattle for other reasons, but there were many of our friends who marched with us there. The same instincts that lead people today to oppose war in the Middle East, war in Iraq, war for oil…stop the war. Those millions now of people, all over the world in every country, and I hope that there were some in Belize.”
“If you are tempted to say what’s marching, what can they do? Remember that every really great change that has taken place in the last twenty-five years has begun with people, the de-nuclearization movement.”
On Wednesday, Ramphal is planning to meet with members of the public in an open forum. The event is scheduled for seven p.m. at the U.W.I. building on Princess Margaret Drive.
