YorickBrown
10-30-03, - 12:57 AM
Present and future government leaders should pay attention to this and definitely follow suit...
'For a fistful of aid – not us’ - by Albert Brandford | Barbados Daily Nation (http://www.nationnews.com/StoryView.cfm?Record=43686&Section=Local&Current=2003%2D10%2D27%2000%3A00%3A00)
IN A carefully aimed backhanded slap at the United States, Barbados has said no, to “crude coercive unilateralism” and vowed never to compromise fundamental values “for a fistful of aid”.
Prime Minister Owen Arthur yesterday urged the faithful at the ruling Barbados Labour Party’s 65th annual conference to agree to so order thiat country’s economic affairs that it would not ever have to go cap in hand to any institution or country for support.
“We now live in a world of strange new political dynamics and relationships,” he observed.
“Old values, good values such as constructive engagement, the forging of alliances and consensus, the respect for diversity, the belief in the virtue of the rule of law and multilateralism are giving away to a crude coercive unilateralism.”
According to him, the definition of “national interest” was being made subordinate to how others saw the world and their place and Barbados’ place in it.
“There is the threat of the withdrawal of benefits and the abrupt cessation of relationships which were carefully negotiated and nurtured if one does not fall into line, no matter how severely one may have to offend fundamentally important principles.”
Arthur said Barbados had no interest in picking fights with its traditional allies or being other than a stable, co-operative and progressive society within the family of nations.
“But I say to the world, we shall never compromise fundamental values for a fistful of aid.”
The Prime Minister also appealed for tolerance among Barbadians amid a growing disrespect for the rights of minorities.
'For a fistful of aid – not us’ - by Albert Brandford | Barbados Daily Nation (http://www.nationnews.com/StoryView.cfm?Record=43686&Section=Local&Current=2003%2D10%2D27%2000%3A00%3A00)
IN A carefully aimed backhanded slap at the United States, Barbados has said no, to “crude coercive unilateralism” and vowed never to compromise fundamental values “for a fistful of aid”.
Prime Minister Owen Arthur yesterday urged the faithful at the ruling Barbados Labour Party’s 65th annual conference to agree to so order thiat country’s economic affairs that it would not ever have to go cap in hand to any institution or country for support.
“We now live in a world of strange new political dynamics and relationships,” he observed.
“Old values, good values such as constructive engagement, the forging of alliances and consensus, the respect for diversity, the belief in the virtue of the rule of law and multilateralism are giving away to a crude coercive unilateralism.”
According to him, the definition of “national interest” was being made subordinate to how others saw the world and their place and Barbados’ place in it.
“There is the threat of the withdrawal of benefits and the abrupt cessation of relationships which were carefully negotiated and nurtured if one does not fall into line, no matter how severely one may have to offend fundamentally important principles.”
Arthur said Barbados had no interest in picking fights with its traditional allies or being other than a stable, co-operative and progressive society within the family of nations.
“But I say to the world, we shall never compromise fundamental values for a fistful of aid.”
The Prime Minister also appealed for tolerance among Barbadians amid a growing disrespect for the rights of minorities.