Consolidating our independence

Starting some twenty-five years ago, nearly all of the English-speaking Caribbean countries (or, to use the traditional term applied to our cricket team and our regional University, the West Indies) have by now achieved formal political independence. We all have flags, national anthems and a seat in the United Nations and many of its Aagencies and in the Councils of the Commonwealth. All of us (except Belize and Guyana - because of boundary and territorial disputes) are members of the Organization of American States (OAS). We all have Embassies and Missions abroad maintained at great expense and small defence forces or paramilitary Police Units; and an increasing number of us are acquiring our own national airlines.