Developing nations must unite against Quad

THE EDITOR: After the significant collaboration of representatives of Asia and Africa at the recently concluded WTO ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico, I find the level of much of our local political discourse extremely disturbing. For the first time in the long and frustrating experience of Asian, African and Caribbean delegates at the hands of the powerful northern industrialised countries known as the QUAD (US, EU, Canada and Japan) India, Africa, Brazil and the Caribbean stood united in championing the interests of their citizens.

They defended their small farmers against the unfair subsidisation of agricultural products by the Quad and also successfully resisted the imposition of an agenda of special interest to the Quad. That was the experience in Cancun, Mexico. This new-found unity is vital for the economic development of countries of the South. Nothing should be allowed to undermine or diminish that kind of collaboration. Without it our Third World status will be permanent. It may even sink to Fourth World.

While some are able to flee to safe havens abroad, the majority of our citizens will be left with most of our natural resources in foreign control — and with two populations with a bitter legacy of acrimonious bickering, and memories of lasting injury  eg Northern Ireland, Bosnia, the Middle East, and Kashmir. Is this what we want to leave for our children and grandchildren — Fourth World in 2020 and beyond? There is another reality at the global level.  Let us build on it.  We ignore it at our peril.

J M DUB
Guayaguayare Rd
Mayaro