My Generation Comes to Power: A Time for Caribbean Leadership and Political Transformation

• Author: Robert Buddan
• Pages: 55-65

My Generation Comes to Power 55

THE CASE FOR CARICOM’S ROLE IN GOVERNANCE

As we contemplate the future of CARICOM governance based on the

experience of the past 30 years, a new generation must decide whether to

concentrate on consolidating CARICOM or use CARICOM to transform politics

and society in the member countries in a way that respects territorial

individuality.

The present generation of leaders is faced with critical challenges

because the credibility of a whole range of Caribbean institutions from the

family to the state are under scrutiny like never before and are found

wanting in many respects.

I believe our approach to governance must bear in mind a generation

gap that expresses itself in a political gap between leaders and voters. In

Jamaica, for example, 40 per cent of the electorate was born after

independence in 1962 and belongs to the under-forty age group, which

expresses the greatest disenchantment with the political system. In contrast,

the average age of the Jamaican parliamentarian is about 50 years and

places him in the generation born before independence.

It is important to note the following as well:

- A survey conducted in December 2001 showed that disenchantment

with the Jamaican political system was greatest among those

between the ages 18 to 35. The highest levels of disenchantment

were expressed by those between 18 to 24, followed by those

between 25 to 34.1 Just over 50 per cent of these age groups were

disenchanted.

- A recent MSc thesis found that 50 per cent of the youth (15–19

years) in the Eastern Caribbean felt that the average citizen could

not get ahead in his society. It also found that youths in general

had less trust in their government.2

MY GENERATION COMES TO POWER:MY GENERATION COMES TO POWER:

MY GENERATION COMES TO POWER:MY GENERATION COMES TO POWER:

MY GENERATION COMES TO POWER:

A TIME FOR CARIBBEAN LEADERSHIPA TIME FOR CARIBBEAN LEADERSHIP

A TIME FOR CARIBBEAN LEADERSHIPA TIME FOR CARIBBEAN LEADERSHIP

A TIME FOR CARIBBEAN LEADERSHIP

AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATIONAND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION

AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATIONAND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION

AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION

Robert Buddan

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