By Shamar Blunt
Embrace and explore your Caribbean neighbourhood and take full advantage of the opportunities available within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
This was the message delivered to students at the Bay Primary School on Friday, as the school as well as the National Library Service were presented with copies of a newly-published children’s book, I Am CARICOM: Kofi’s Journey.
The book, published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of CARICOM, tells the story of Kofi, a young boy who travels across the Caribbean region to learn about CARICOM and its member states. Through his adventures, readers are introduced to the cultural and historical diversity of the Caribbean, as well as the cooperation of CARICOM on a wide range of subjects.
Author Dawne Parris told Barbados TODAY she wanted to expand students’ understanding of the 15-member CARICOM grouping and the role it plays in their lives.
“The aim of the book really is to explain, in the way that children can understand, what CARICOM is, how it impacts them, what it means for them, and the opportunities that it presents,” she said, adding that the story touches on trade, travel, culture, and regional cooperation and demonstrates how CARICOM works to improve the lives of Caribbean people.
Principal of the Bay Primary School, Heather Parris, seen here receiving a new copy of I Am CARICOM: Kofi’s Journey from Barbados’ CARICOM Ambassador, David Comissiong.
“The book also shows [them] that even though we are from many nations, have many different cultures, some of us even speak different languages, we are all one family. I also believe that through the story told in this book, with the assistance of the beautiful images done by illustrator Natalie Jackson, that we can take students to places they have never been and encourage them to want to go to those places within our Caribbean Community.”
CARICOM Youth Ambassador Shakeem Howell speaking to some Bay Primary students on the importance of CARICOM.
The 28-page book which also features activity pages and displays flags and facts of CARICOM member and associate member nations, targets children ages eight to 12.
Students Nairobi Webster (left) and Malachi Messiah (right) seen here receiving copies of the new book from their Principal Heather Parris and CARICOM Ambassador, David Comissiong.
Communications specialist with the CARICOM Secretariat CSME Unit Salas Hamiliton pointed to his personal experience as a native of Montserrat during the 1997 eruption of Soufrière Hills volcano – which forced 7 000 people or two-thirds of the population at the time to flee their homes – as proof of the true strength of CARICOM.
“Many nationals of Montserrat had to leave and some even came to Barbados – some children just like you,” he told the attentive students. “Barbados was gracious enough to say take a break during the summer, get away from the ash and what we call pyroclastic flows. CARICOM countries said ‘come children from the St George’s Primary School, from the Montserrat Secondary School’. That further established how we operate as CARICOM… as a family, uniting together.”
Hamilton urged students that as they continue the educational journey and move on to pursue various careers, they should fully embrace the numerous resources available within the regional community.
“When you put all of those countries together now, you are talking about 18 million [people]. That is a wider pool for your resources, for your opportunities, [and] for your careers. Think carefully as you look at your future, you don’t have to limit yourself to Barbados. You have millions of people to sell your goods and services [to].
“This entire Caribbean community is yours…. Embrace it; it has a lot of opportunities for you. And believe in the motto that ‘I Am CARICOM’,” Hamilton said.
shamarblunt@barbadostoday.bb
