DETERMINATION AND GOVERNANCE
SBC3- SELF- SUFFICIENCY,
created an environment for new business, or increasing financial services business as this put them in competition with the U.K. Such international norms are not assistive of the processes of self-sufficiency and self-governance. He believed that in order to self-govern there has to be sufficiency without depending on bigger neighbouring states, and be able to self-determine. In the current environment the regime felt pressured.
A Minister from the Bahamas said that the use of a country’s own resources through self-sustaining programmes suitable to national circumstances is necessary in being able to solve your own problems. Hon. Anglu Farrugia, MP, Malta, spoke about Malta being a neutral country and not having experienced similar challenges with their first constitution being adopted in the 1950’s and only gaining independence in 1964. The country changed from a Monarchist State in 1974 and in 1976 Malta became the first country to have a constitution entrenched by a two-thirds majority. He acknowledged that there are countries that could never be fully independent or self-governing and that there should be solidarity with countries that seek to achieve self- determination and independence by using Parliamentarians in the EU to put the matter there for debate, especially in relation to Gibraltar and the Isle of Man.
Hon. Glenn Blakeney, JP, MP, Bermuda, said that self-sufficiency and determination has the following ambiguities: the country has no control over the military or the police; airspace is controlled by British Airways with no ability to negotiate its own airline contracts; and yet the country has evolved and matured, having been granted its own constitution and thus independent to a degree. The former Premier of Bermuda had sought full independence in 1995 but failed. It was a regrettable move and detrimental to the country.
Deputy Jon Le Tocq, MP, Guernsey, said that Small States suffer from an identity crisis which needed to be examined. Mr Singer agreed and called for the U.K. to offer more support with what small countries are doing and pay more attention to the issue of identity. Mr Edwards also emphasized and agreed with the importance of identity in making your own mark in the world as a country and telling the world. Hon. Glenys Hanna Martin, MP, Bahamas, stated that with her country having recently celebrated 40 years of independence, it has learnt a lot from colonialism.
The issue of self-identity as highlighted is unfortunate but the Bahamas take this as a concrete concept. She said there is general conflict when it comes to determining a country’s self-determination and governance, sustaining its own economy, citing the U.S.’ similar crisis as an example. No country should fear being alone as an island and there should be a collective self which is a concept that assisted in development.
Lord George Foulkes of Cumnock, U.K., reinforced the country’s support to Gibraltar that the U.K. is fully backing against them in its endeavour to remain self-governing. The U.K./British Government encouraged the notion and supported that independence to be granted to any country that wished to do so. If the majority of the Scottish people vote for independence, they would be granted that and the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association should provide more platforms for re-affirming the belief in self-governance through a resolution based on what the majority of the people want, which in turn will be also be supported.
Speaker Randolph Horton, JP, MP, Bermuda, argued it was critical to have education systems rich in history and agreed with Ms Martin on the concept of self-identity. He was impressed with the visits by schoolchildren at the South Africa Apartheid Museum and pressed for it to be encouraged. Children
are the future leaders but this can only be achieved through knowing and understanding their countries’ history. He reaffirmed the mistake that his own party did not opt for independence when the opportunity presented itself as the country would have progressed.
Hon. Hadyn Evans, MLA, Norfolk Island, spoke about the country being self-sufficient and not dependent on the Australian economy. With the decline of tourism however migration laws have since changed.
Hon. Tara A. Rivers, MP, Cayman Islands, also agreed with Ms Martin on the concept of self-identity and added that self-determination should not be utilized for political motives when mobilizing and having dialogue with the people.
People have to be given space to make their own decision in a non-political matter otherwise there will be no progress in this regard. Mr Edwards agreed with the latter part of her comment.
Hon. N.H. Cole Simons, MP, Bermuda, supported the notion that the need for independence is about providing more supremacy to the Parliament, taking care of own Foreign Affairs and taking care of its people.
Education in Bermuda is doing well but the economy has also been hampered by the recession. Yet he still believes that the country can sustain itself and survive. Hon. Patricia Gordon-Pamplin, JP, MP, Bermuda supported the inputs by fellow delegates from Bermuda and stressed it is critical that the focal point is the economy and placing resources to ensure that they benefit the people at large. MPL’s should see themselves as servants of the people not about self-motivated political power.
The contribution made by Hon. Marie-Antoinette Rose, MP, Seychelles, was sparked by the issue of self-identity and the issues of gender and race after independence. She highlighted that the country is now moving to cultural tourism so as to understand and make use of the history of the country.
There is a need for wealth redistribution and encouraging the young to learn the history of the country. With the country growing, class divides are no longer prominent in the country.
Concluding remarks and responses from panel The discussion leaders emphasized the following and responded to some of the comments made:
• Self-determination should be premised on the will of the people as opposed to the interest which can be determined by outsiders. • Innovation towards economic growth should be encouraged, for instance, in the Isle of Man in the 1950s, the economy relied on fishing with no economical income during winter, forcing young people to work in the U.K. E-gaming which counts for 11 per cent, engineering and the film industry, are examples of innova- tive industries. • It is critical to note that as mem- bers of the Commonwealth, ongoing support for one another is necessary; • The deliberations emphasizes commonalities among the countries presented in this session; and • Mr Singer agreed with the com- ments made on the issue of identity but was more inclined to peaceful revolution or evolution as the speak- ers alluded to.
Recommendations from the session:
Recommendation One:
“The Past, the present and the future of the Falkland Islands in terms of its progress to Self Determination, self Sufficiency and Self Government”. Recommendation Two: “Small Countries should seek to achieve self-determination, self- sufficiency and self-governance by a process of peaceful evolution and/or peaceful revolution”.
The first recommendation was noted, while the second was endorsed, but only after an amendment had been agreed by the majority of delegates.
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