By Sir Ronald Sanders
When powerful states act, small states are tempted to personalise the action. When small states fragment, powerful states do not need to explain themselves.
That is the lesson CARICOM should draw from the recent US decision to impose partial visa restrictions and to pause the issuance of certain immigrant visas – commonly known as “green cards” – to nationals of several countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.
Across the region, a misleading narrative quickly took hold. Opposition parties and political actors rushed to portray the US action as a sanction against governments in power, each tailoring the claim to domestic political advantage. Some governments stayed silent. One appeared to exult, pleased that neighbours had been named while it had not.
That reaction revealed more about Caribbean weakness than American intent. The truth, supported by US statements and data, is that this is not a diplomatic punishment directed at Caribbean governments. It is a domestic US policy decision, driven by internal political and financial considerations that extend far beyond the Caribbean.