Last Monday, December 8, was the first anniversary of an event rooted in an unprecedented initiative in the world of diplomacy, exercised 31 years ago by the leaders of four Caribbean countries that were among the founding members of what exist today as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

That initiative, on December 8, 1972, by the then Prime Ministers of Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago - all deceased - resulted last year in a decision by the Heads of Government of our now 15-member Community for that date to be appropriately observed, every year, as `CARICOM-Cuba Day’ across the Community and in Cuba.

Except for a statement on behalf of CARICOM by its current chairman, Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, released, while he was still in Nigeria, to coincide with the first official observance of 'CARICOM-Cuba Day', activities within the Community were comparatively very low-keyed.

In contrast, that is, to the media focus and variety of cultural and other events to mark the occasion in Cuba, including involvement of CARICOM diplomatic personnel in Havana as well as Caribbean nationals studying in Cuba.

But this initial lapse to properly observe the occasion is, I understand, to be corrected by CARICOM governments and institutions in time for the second anniversary of 'CARICOM-Cuba Day' on December 8, 2004.

Appropriate ways of celebrating the now 31 years of sustained friendship between Cuba and CARICOM, has been referred to the Council on Foreign and Community Relations (COFOR) to come up with recommendations to mark the occasion other than official statements at the national/regional level.

And this brings me to a very relevant issue that should also engage the attention of COFOR - consideration of how to inspire much more Caribbean consciousness, with appropriate activities and events, to mark CARICOM Day itself.

Memorable Day
Reason? The Community's governments and the Georgetown-based Community Secretariat seem to have been doing a poor job over the years to generate region-wide interest to mark that memorable day of July 4, 1973 when CARICOM was inaugurated, 30 years ago at Chaguaramas, as the world's smallest economic integration movement.

Today, with all of its real and imagined weaknesses, CARICOM stands as a symbol of what we are capable of doing better, together - as we place new emphases on celebrating our diversity and make haste in the creation of a single economic space to meet the demands of globalisation.

It may not be necessary to have CARICOM Day as a national holiday in all member states - as continues to be observed in Guyana, home of the Community Secretariat, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

But the governments, institutions and organisations of the Community could do a lot more than their usual warm-over statements/broadcasts, to make of CARICOM Day an occasion to better inspire public consciousness and support for the objectives we seek, and aspirations we share, as 'one people of one Caribbean'.

The moreso now that efforts are being intensified to bring on stream the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and to sensitise the region's people why there is really no alternative to CARICOM in our dealings with the wider world.

Once the creative imagination kicks in for peoples involvement in celebrating July 4 as the annual anniversary of CARICOM then, logically, should flow appropriate ideas and arrangements to also mark the new annual calendar event of significance to us and Cuba, CARICOM - Cuba Day on December 8.

At their meeting in the Cuban capital on December 8, 2002, to celebrate 30 years of Cuba-CARICOM relations, there was the historic signing by President Fidel Castro and the Heads of Government of CARICOM, including President Bharrat Jagdeo, the `Havana Declaration’.

That Declaration reflects the shared sentiments of the unique step taken in 1972 by the quartet of then independent CARICOM states to jointly bring Cuba out of the diplomatic cold to which the USA had consigned it at the height of the Cold War.

The Four Leaders
The Prime Ministers who had pursued that course were the late Michael Manley, Forbes Burnham, Errol Barrow and Eric Williams.

As Prime Minister Patterson noted in his message for the observance of the first anniversary of `CARICOM-Cuba Day’, "today marks more than just an historic milestone in the evolution of intra-Caribbean relations...

"It commemorates", he said, "the importance of cordial and productive relations with one's neighbours and of the benefits of working towards the goals of peace, security, prosperity and unity within our Caribbean family and beyond..."

Over the years of cultural, trade and economic relations, Cuba has provided thousands of scholarships, in wide-ranging fields, for nationals of CARICOM.

Its doctors, nurses and specialists in various areas, are today in the service of a number of CARICOM states, while some 2000 Caribbean students are being educated at Cuban universities and schools.

However, the ties go well beyond the thousands of Cuban scholarships, or the Cuban doctors, engineers, technicians and others working in CARICOM states.

The `Havana Declaration' of December 8, 2002, that authorised the celebration of `CARICOM-Cuba Day’, constitutes, as Prime Minister Patterson noted, "an affirmation that Cuba is an integral part of the Caribbean family".

The George Bush administration, with which CARICOM is rightly seeking to further improve relations, could hardly have ignored the significance of the `Havana Declaration’.

As an "integral" member of the 'Caribbean family' - in more than geo-political terms -Cuba, therefore, should be restored its rightful place in the Organisation of American States (OAS) and be embraced for access also to the emerging Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA).