Today, leaders of 13 Caribbean Commonwealth countries (CARICOM) and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will hold a summit in Jamaica – reportedly to sign (but possibly only to further discuss) their PetroCaribe Oil Agreement. Since Chavez and Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson announced the draft agreement in June, concerns have been raised – from reading the fine print – that it seems less about oil and more about politics. And, if this is so, many CARICOM citizens who were led to believe that PetroCaribe would deliver cheap fuel for local consumption will be flabbergasted.
Whatever the regional benefits (or shortcomings) of PetroCaribe, many suspect that Patterson (L) is using it as leverage in his private (bilateral) dealings with Chavez to extract national benefits for PetroJam; i.e., $500 million in funding to upgrade a Jamaican oil Refinery…
Nevertheless, Patterson – arguably the most influential amongst CARICOM leaders – remains convinced that Chavez’s “call of conscience” – to provide oil at below market rate to these countries – is genuine. And, he seems determined to sell the leaders of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago – the lone skeptics in CARICOM – on the economic merits of PetroCaribe.
There is no doubt, however, that this Agreement has significant geopolitical implications. Indeed, for many CARICOM leaders, PetroCaribe is merely a fringe benefit of the political alliance they forged with Chavez earlier this year when they abandoned their presumptive deference to the United States and supported his candidate for president of the Organisation of American States (OAS).
The more intriguing dynamic afoot, however, is the extent to which Chavez is acting at the behest of Venezuela’s new political godfather, China. Because it is undeniable that even more than he, Chinese leaders have been strategically buying-up political influence throughout the Caribbean and Latin America in recent years. Except that the Soviet Union saw Fidel Castro as nothing more than a useful idiot to antagonize America in its own backyard. But China sees Chávez as a useful conduit to help satisfy its economic needs at home (oil!).
But even if the economic benefits of PetroCaribe are not as great as initially thought, CARICOM leaders would still do well to sign the Agreement for the political message it sends to the United States: Namely, that after decades of feeling obliged to pursue national and regional policies in accordance with America’s overweening interests, CARICOM leaders now feel empowered to do business even with America’s adversaries if they deem it in their interest.
However, CARICOM leaders must be mindful of being played like pawns in the hand of China, the U.S. or, indeed, Venezuela. After all, PetroCaribe presents an opportunity for them to serve notice on all nations seeking to exercise influence beyond their national borders that, henceforth, you ignore CARICOM’s interests at your peril (as the U.S. discovered at the OAS).
Note: To be taken seriously, of course, CARICOM leaders must stand as one. Therefore, it is imperative that Patterson persuade the leaders of Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago to sign-on.
Good luck PJ!
News and Politics
Anonymous says
great column. and i think you are right about pj patterson. he’s an arrongant snake.
REI UBU-KOWISKI says
With iron it wounds, with iron you will be wounded. Its nation stupid the years overwhelms the remaining portion of the planet in such a way economically as militarily. I do not have mercy of its people and is the best form with that we poderiamos to remember 11 of September. For our women and children it did not have better until today present. I exercise of war in the stars, but, civil defense of underdeveloped country of Africa. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth codigo of Hamurabi.
Anonymous says
It was interesting to read rei bu-kowiski’s comments. I feel badly that I did not understand much of it but I know of the code of Hamurabi!
This article connects so many interesting points in regional and international affairs that it would take volumes to do each one justice. i commend you on distilling so much with so little effort.
Johnathan