The Web of Geopolitics, Deceit, and the Monroe Doctrine Engulfs CARICOM: How Would the Former Jamaican Prime MinisterMichael Manley Respond?

By Kwame Nkosi Romeo 

CARICOM leaders find themselves caught in a web of geopolitical manipulation.

They navigate a fragile landscape where their people's voices are silenced, forced to suppress resistance to align with foreign interests that wield significant influence over their policies.

This modern dilemma sharply contrasts with the bold era of Michael Norman Manley, Jamaica’s renowned former prime minister.

Manley, a symbol of courageous leadership, was passionate about shaping a progressive future for his country and the Caribbean as a whole.

He stood firmly against external pressures aimed at undermining national sovereignty! A notable example was on October 25, 1983, when, as leader of the opposition People's National Party (PNP), Manley fiercely condemned the U.S. illegal invasion of Grenada, demanding the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Caribbean soil.

Today’s CARICOM leaders are increasingly accused of complicity in enabling invasive forces in Haiti!

They seem to support the very criminal elites who dominate Haiti's economy, fueling cycles of exploitation and hardship.

Historical echoes resonate in 2024 as Haiti’s political scene continues to spiral into chaos under Ariel Henry’s leadership.

His initial declaration of a newly formed High Transitional Council (HTC) was seen as a turning point—a "beginning of the end" for dysfunction in Haiti's democratic system.

But this promise quickly faded after the HTC was rebranded as the Presidential Transitional Council (PTC).

This PTC, with seven voting members and two observers, glaringly excludes key voices from civil society and religious sectors, reducing them to mere spectators.

Adding to growing frustration is CARICOM's noticeable silence during critical upheavals, such as between 2021 and 2024, when the Dominican Republic forcibly deported 276,000 Haitians.

This deportation wave marks a staggering 62.252% increase, raising serious questions about CARICOM's commitment to defending its member states’ rights. Rather than advocating for Haiti, CARICOM appears to favor the Dominican Republic as a potential member, sidelining Haiti as a pariah state.

Yet, despite the chaos, the Haitian people have strongly rejected foreign interference, as Manley would have believed their solutions lie not in external agendas but in addressing their community’s immediate needs.

The influence of powerful billionaire families in Haiti’s destabilization efforts is undeniable and highly significant.

Additionally, figures within the Organization of American States (OAS), such as the controversial Ambassador Ronald Michael Sanders from Antigua and Barbuda, have offered more than empty words, without identifying those responsible for Haiti’s deep-rooted problems.

In Haiti, the powerful insights of journalist Bobb Rousseau resonate deeply as he describes the corruption infecting the system, turning governance into a self-serving, ineffective enterprise that transforms economic hopes into mere facades.

The complex crises affecting Haiti—linked to local corruption, economic exploitation, and social unrest—demand swift and genuine solutions.

The era of empty promises from distant power brokers has ended; now is the time for real engagement and genuine development that is people-centered, prioritizing Haitian voices and needs.

Today, those words would be Manley words and not abject submission to those who wish to oppress people's progression for their own selfish agenda!