Islands of the World Conference opens with calls for changes
Under the theme “Globalisation- Islands Adapting to Change”, various presentations are being made to improve various sectors of small islands to deal with globalisation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony this morning, where small island states such as Japan, Australia, Denmark, Taiwan, India, Malaysia, Canada and other Caribbean islands are being represented, Premier and Minister for Finance Dr. D. Orlando Smith, stated that while the world has been developing over the years, the only constant is change.
“Trade, innovation, migration - those have always been with us. Propelled by our curiosity and by technological advances, humankind has spread across the globe, penetrating its deepest oceans and climbing its heights until finally we dared to launch ourselves into space.”
Premier Smith told the gathering that humanity has been moving towards globalisation for aeons, aided by innovation and technological advances.
He noted that, in the last two hundred years or so, the rate of technological advances has quickened. “Graham Bell’s telephone and the development of electricity both contributed to the development of the computer which, in turn, has allowed Microsoft, Facebook and Google to connect the world,” said Dr. Smith, noting that the best of globalisation is the connections it makes possible between people of different races, cultures and ethnicities; the ideas and innovations that it helps spread which showcase the best of human thought.
According to Dr. Smith, small island states may feel like “small fish caught in the undertow caused by the passage of larger fish hundreds of miles away”, unable to determine their own course, the small islands may be pulled along in directions they are unsure they want to go.
Of limited land size, with small populations and usually poor in natural resources, small islands face peculiar challenges, he added.
He said the leaders of small islands from whom decisions are expected on a daily basis on those issues have a difficult balancing act to perform. “The decisions we make or don’t make will impact our peoples for generations to come. They will determine the success of our small islands. The questions with which you will grapple over the course of this conference are difficult and thorny. There may be as many answers to one question as there are people in this room right now, and each answer will have its advantages and disadvantages.”
Meanwhile, Minister for Education and Culture Hon. Myron V. Walwyn told the participants that while each state may be different in many ways, their common interest is managing the realities of globalisation.
The education minister said he looks forward to hearing the solutions and recommendation put forward by those attending the conference of how to deal with globalisation as the challenge continues to be how one can adapt to globalisation while maintaining their identity.
President of the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, Dr. Karl Dawson said he believes the conference should serve as a platform for making better decisions and encouraged full participation in the event which is being held for the first time in the VI.
Held every two years, the conference in the VI will run from today May 29, 2012 through June 1, 2012.
A wide range of subject areas pertinent small island states’ continued development is being addressed, including tourism, financial services, disaster management, agriculture and fisheries, climate change and conservation, and history and culture. Other topics will focus on health, social and economic development, entrepreneurship, Caribbean governance and business, alternative energy and sustainable development, education and literature, philanthropy, and information technology.
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