AIDS HURTING REGION

The warning by Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Shelton Nicholls, that AIDS was seriously affecting Caribbean economies, while it has been stated before by others is, nonetheless, worth repeating. Dr Nicholls has pointed out that further spread of the disease in the Caribbean could have a severe effect on the macro-economic stability of the Region, specifically the Region’s labour force. AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) undermines the Caribbean, which has one of the world’s highest AIDS victims per 1000 of population, on several fronts. Millions of dollars have to be diverted for the hospital care of and provision of relatively expensive drugs for AIDS sufferers.

In turn, there is a telling drop in production when skilled workers, professionals and semi-skilled workers increasingly have to be off the job because of AIDS. Additionally, because the highest rates of HIV/AIDS infected persons are to be found among young people, scores of potential contributors to the economies and progress of Caribbean States are in danger of being sidelined. Meanwhile, funding whether out of State revenues or from international agencies, has to be set aside for information campaigns aimed at sensitising young and not so young people both to the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how they can be avoided by a practical and sensible approach to relationships.

And while the funding for the carefully structured Public Relations campaigns is necessary if Governments are to achieve varying levels of success in coaxing people away from irresponsible sexual behaviour, the campaigns are frustrated through the insistence of all too many individuals in going through what is tantamout to a variation of Russian roulette. Caribbean economies which today are under virtual siege as a result of globalisation and will be increasingly so when the rules and regulations of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) force on them a whittling down and eventual elimination of tariff barriers, can ill afford the after effects of sexual irresponsibility by many people in the Region.

Particularly, when a major prop of many of these economies, the system of preferential entry quotas to the European Union, whether favouring bananas, sugar or both will be history by 2008. Even as the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank, Dr Nicholls, and others warn that AIDS is seriously affecting, indeed undermining Caribbean economies, the reckless dismissal of meaningful physical relationships continue. However, Caribbean leaders such as Dr Nicholls, have to continue sounding warnings, while others press on with treatment of the AIDS afflicted, and yet others with specialist information campaigns. They know that the battle against AIDS will only be won when they are able to win the battle of the minds.