The Summit of the Future!

By Bille Anthony Sinclair

The conferences, labeled as “The Summit of the Americas”, were launched in 1994 as a bold initiative by leaders of nations within the inter-American sphere. These summits, a functional by-product under the loose aegis of the Organization of the American States (OAS), were established to foster the exchange of mutually beneficial ideas and information and to push recommendations to enhance international cooperation within the region.

Serving as a substitute arm for multilateral development, the summits provide a forum for the 34 democratic Heads of State to initiate discussions and promote core collective values on issues that impact the common good of member nations. With that mandate, the summits create the machinery to devise projects which shape decision-making and offer direction toward the resolution of challenges and other regional problems.

From the First Summit in Miami in 1994 until the most recent event in Argentina in 2005, the thematic content has included heady, hot-button, topical matter such as: terrorism, drugs, corruption, technology, trade, poverty, economic development, education, and employment.

This year, the 5th Summit of the Americas 2009 will be held in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago during April. With the timely and compelling theme, “Securing Our Citizens’ Future by Promoting Human Prosperity, Energy, Security and Environmental Sustainability,” much will be placed on the plate of the attendees. In the past few years, the region has withstood a significant drop-off in tourism, the devastation of sea and terrain due to the proliferation of waste dumping, the ravages of hurricanes and other global climate stress, and economic pressure from the spiraling cost of fossil fuels throughout the Americas.

Given that crucial imperative, and in view of the global economic catastrophe, the 5th Summit will attempt to extend its natural reach and formulate results that are tangible and demonstrable. There are, however, systemic limitations within the summit conference agenda.

Unfortunately, no effective mechanism or methodology exists within the summit structure to impose any policy or legislation upon the general membership body.

Indeed, no legal procedure can be invoked to enforce any formal consensus or concrete actions on the member nations—and that is a major shortcoming. The OAS, the umbrella agency for the summits, remains as the reliable, legitimate authority for specific resolution.

Still, the summit conferences do construct a platform for dialogue, discourse, and ultimately a forum for change.

(Bille Anthony Sinclair is a contributor to Island Vibes Magazine. For comments, please feel free to contact him at bille@islandvibesmag.com.)