Prime Minister Roosevelt Douglas of Dominica cautiously endorsed globalization for Caribbean nations in his Friday speech at the Leavey Conference Center. Calling Caribbean island nations “survivors,” Douglas encouraged conquering obstacles to development that will arise through increased methods of economic globalization.

“Globalization will be what we make of it,” Douglas said. “I say we must use it as an opportunity to build partnerships, not an excuse to institutionalize oppression under the guise of freedom.”

Douglas touted the progress Caribbean nations have achieved, citing the Dominican literacy rate of 97 percent and the life expectancy of 82 years as examples. Douglas used these statistics to argue that the island nation’s limited size and resources do not preclude a flourishing state.

However, Douglas asserted, Dominica’s success in the current global market is possible if the country departs from prior modes of dependent conduct. Also, further assistance must be forthcoming from the U.S. and other more developed nations in mutually beneficial partnerships providing Dominica with the tools to attain means of producing capital and technology transfer.

“Our governments cannot and should not plan by themselves. We need dialogue. Once this … is put in place it needs … to form an integral part of the country’s economic and political structure,” he said.

Douglas also mentioned specific ways that Dominica may achieve financial prosperity. Despite the country’s small size, it is rich in cultural heritage able to attract a large tourist industry, according to Douglas.

“If we harness our cultural treasures and mastery in calypso, reggae, zouk, cadence, salsa and meringue, we will attract overall investment,” Douglas said. “Health tourism, heritage tourism, academic tourism and eco-tourism are all new areas of economic activity under consideration by us. In short, we can dominate specific niche markets, despite our geographic and demographic limitations.”

According to Douglas, Dominica has recently enacted new rules and practices to allow the island nation to perform on more of a global level. A telecommunications bill was enacted two weeks ago to liberalize the availability of services, and investment in telecommunications is being promoted.

Additionally, a new national regulatory body will be created to coordinate and regulate broad-policy directives for Dominica. The national body will work in tandem with an Organization of Eastern Caribbean States sub-regional regulatory authority to ensure that the telecommunications sector is characterized by fair competition, consumer protection and investor confidence, Douglas said.

Emphasis will also be placed on the agricultural sector. “We need to find new markets and new products,” Douglas said. “We need to invest in research and development to allow us to develop new uses for the fruits and vegetables that we have in abundance.”

While improvements to industry are planned for the future, Douglas recognized the need to preserve environmental assets.

“The pressure for development is sometimes at odds with the need to preserve the environment so that future generations will be able to survive,” he said.

Douglas ended his speech with a message of encouragement to Caribbean states, saying, “If we finesse our cultural bounty and nurture our comparative advantages while ensuring that social justice thrives then we, in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., shall overcome!”