Respect for Southern Countries

The North American president’s attitude toward the region is encouraging for all. The meeting in Port of Spain demonstrated an observant and respectful attitude, not typical for the head of the United States government toward countries to the South.

The patience of the president of the U.S., while attentively listening to the speeches of his peers, demonstrates an attitude typical of a leader who is closer to the reality of the racial mix that is characteristic of the continent as a whole. He makes an effort to understand, first-hand, the transformation that is taking place, the people’s search for a way to leave behind their submissive role, a reality the essence of which cannot be misinterpreted.

The above-mentioned circumstances are truly encouraging for everyone in the region. In the past, the misinterpretations by other heads of government have created scenarios, such as invasions and covert actions, that have brought about death and pain in order to bring under control processes such as those we are presently experiencing in Latin America and the Caribbean.

The attitude of the North American president not only has something to do with the change of government but, rather, it reflects the result of the countries’ experience. There has been great ineffectiveness of action against our people on the part of institutions, such as the Organization of American States (OAS). Guatemala, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Panama, Chile, and Venezuela are some examples of direct or indirect intervention that took place under the umbrella of institutions created to be in control.

The emergence of alternatives, the Latin-American and Caribbean Union, which is the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) or the Summit of Latin America and the Caribbean (CALC), as well as the exemplary actions of the Rio group, are facts that actually produce the president’s attitude and guarantee that we are seen and heard with respect. It is the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean; it is the unity of our people: The United South.