Africa Speaks Reasoning Forum

South African President THABO MBEKI urges Caribbean countries to unite with Africa against poverty

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica (AP) - South African President Thabo Mbeki urged Caribbean countries Wednesday to unite with Africa to confront common challenges of poverty and underdevelopment.

In a keynote address to a summit of Caribbean leaders, Mbeki said the cultural and historic ties between the regions compel them to work together to improve life for millions of citizens.

``I am certain that we will pledge ourselves never to waver in the pursuit of this goal, because we know that we will not achieve victory unless we are united,'' Mbeki told the summit in the northern Jamaican town. ``We must be our own liberators from poverty and underdevelopment.''

The South African president didn't give specifics on cooperative efforts between the regions, but he thanked Caribbean countries for their support in his country's struggle to end apartheid.

He invited Caribbean citizens to join in 10th anniversary celebrations of the end of the country's white minority regime next year.

``Despite the physical distance between the Caribbean and Africa, you nevertheless saw it as your duty to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us as we fought our emancipation,'' he said.

On Monday and Tuesday, Mbeki held closed talks with Caribbean leaders. In a statement Wednesday, Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell praised the success of South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission in healing wounds from the apartheid era.

Mitchell said he asked Mbeki for advice in the handling of Grenada's own truth commission to resolve conflicts stemming from a 1983 coup that sparked a U.S. invasion of the tiny island.

``I asked him to give a report on the success of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the President advised us that although there were areas of difficulty, by and large it was a success,'' Mitchell said. ``While our situations are different, I believe this is most instructive for Grenada in that once the Truth and Reconciliation Commission presents its report, the healing must continue.''

It was Mbeki's first visit to Jamaica as South Africa's president. He was departing Wednesday to return to Johannesburg.

"I am a child of God, a servant of Allah, a child of Shango, a child of Oshun, no matter what anyone does to me."

I will keep my fingers crossed and hopes this works!  :)

Kelani-

Greetings. There is no reason why majority African caribbean countries should not apply to be members of the AU (African Union). "African for Africans at home and Abroad"-Marcus Garvey. After 400 years of seperation acoss the see Africa Caribbia still have not lost its identity. We are African and will always be. One word Unity.

One note an the truth and reconcilliation Commitee "it is bullshit." You can never convince me that murders, rapist and white supremacist who practiced these things all of their lives have over night stop being murders, rapist and White supremacist. Let alone been allowed to get away with it simply by telling their stories and faking sympathy. The unofficial sustem of APARTHIDE is south Africa is no longer un official, it is now official. They just blame it on crime now. They gave Winnie mandella a harder time at those hearings that they did the white supremacist. IT WAS AND IS ALL "BULLSHIT."

JAH

Finally, unity! It's almost like going home.

The challenge for Africans and for people worldwide is to stop saying the same thing over and over and just do it. Selassie made the same suggestion decades ago - its all nothing new - just words.

So then let us organize some things that we can readily do. Sort of like a trial run. What do you say to that?
What is our agenda?
Where should we forcus our efforts?
How should we focus those efforts?
What can we just do without substantial aid or massive resources?

Being that He didn't elaborate on what his intention was, it is hard for me to have a good idea of what to think. If trade is whats on his mind , it would be of great benifit to the Carribbean and South Afrika.

I too will keep my fingers crossed.