After last week’s cry from a St Lucian national about the poor representation given to St Lucians at the Consulate in Miami I thought it was important to share some professional advice not just for the benefit of St Lucia but the entire Caribbean region.
St Lucia’s Government like most Caribbean islands has failed to benefit from diplomacy because of a failure to grasp the potential of a fine tuned purposeful diplomatic service. Diplomatic status should be deployed in pursuit of the national interests abroad.
The islands stand beneath various umbrellas, institutions such as the OECS and CARICOM yet there are no diplomats with the complement of skills within their overseas missions that can make best use of the opportunities these institutions present.
As a consequence the nations lose out on banana exports to Europe and benefit from lower tourist arrivals because of the Air Passenger Duty or APD green tax as it is ‘affectionately’ known.
Our diplomats must be equipped with the tools to open up dialogue with international players and generate interest for their nations with rich cultural heritage. I do hope this article will present a number of innovative yet practical ideas for transformational change to the role and functioning of the Caribbean Diplomatic Service.
Modern diplomacy requires the application of technical expertise to analyse the effects of a country’s economic situation on its political climate and the
nation’s economic interests. The Diplomatic Service needs to be upgraded to support business leaders and government decision-makers who are working on some of the most cutting-edge issues in foreign policy, such as science, technology, the environment, as well as in the more traditional areas of trade and finance. Versatility, flexibility, sound judgment and strong business skills are all needed in the execution of this form of diplomacy.
In conclusion let us be mindful of our social responsibility in the selection process of choosing our diplomats. Let’s stop with the old practices of jobs for the boys and retirement for well served honourable friends.
Have proper screening processes and interviewing sessions to get the best candidates to stand at our nations’ gateways. Also even when appointed, implement mandatory continuous training programs to keep diplomats updated with the ever changing rules and regulations within international diplomacy.
The Diplomatic Service must acquire the ability to understand and embrace the different values and needs of the business community. Caribbean territories must seek to attract those corporates with culturally sensitive marketing plans and campaigns to invest in their nation, and our diplomats should be in the vanguard of such campaigns. The Caribbean diplomatic corps has to be skilled in negotiating deals that provide investors with value whilst protecting the interests of our population and environment from damaging exploitation.
