The José Martí International Solidarity Project hosted the 6th International Conference for World Balance in Havana on January 28-31. The event was open to writers, historians, journalists, artists, politicians, economists, scientists and intellectuals, as well as representatives of social and solidarity movements, trade unions and feminist, youth, rural workers’ and ecological organizations, who are committed to social justice, democratic development and peace.
People’s Voice correspondent Jeremy Abbott transcribed the presentation of Dessima D. Williams, former Ambassador to the United Nations from Grenada and current President of the Senate of Grenada.
We are involved in a dialogue of trust and diplomacy of bringing greater balance back to the world. That is to re-energize the global conversations on peace on justice on equality on sovereignty and all other peoples’ rights.
High level observation and scientific research reveal rising militarism and expanding socioeconomic inequalities as the world burns, drowns or starves from climate change.
Today we hear of harrowing migration routes, sanctions, embargos and fettering of institutional rules and what we can see of misuse of power worldwide, exerting force of law as normal. Of such regulations the result is increasing inequalities, increasing injustices, human suffering, near environmental collapse.
One can argue that there is indeed a global apartheid structure, and the world must rebalance.
The world rebalanced [against] apartheid in South Africa, with the global anti-apartheid movement. And remembering that brings us to the purpose of this conference as we sit over puzzle over this global apartheid.
Well, we have all of our concerns on the table to stop the decisions breaking the Americas. We start in the Americas right here with Jose Marti, with the independence of Cuba and the Americas, for peace and justice worldwide.
We start with the ideas of Simone Bolivar with his struggle to unite the Americas.
We start with the independence movements and vision of Jean-Jacques Dessalines of Haiti and of all the enslaved Black people, that they would be free and independent.
We start with the diplomatic and military battles of Fidel Castro president of Cuba, for Cuba his vision for the world, his battles.
We start with the ambition of Maurice Bishop, Prime Minister of Grenada, for the meaning of sovereignty of the peoples at home and in the world.
We start sisters and brothers with the worldwide feminist movement wanting to close the era of patriarchy and all of its forms of domination.
We start again with a return to the vision of the new world order and with some of its economic methods and its realization here for the Americas and the Caribbean
Grenada as tried to play its part.
In 1979 in the Organization of American States, we put forward a resolution for the Caribbean to be a zone of peace, independence and development – our vision, 40 years later in need of modernization.
And the global liberation movements such as the non-aligned movement and cooperation in the Caribbean, that must belong to its people.
We again restore what Cuban history did, to find our path and to work and to be a force of hope. We in the Caribbean, in Grenada, we pledge our support for Cuba. From Cuba to Grenada, in the Caribbean we take our responsibility, and we will not be afraid.
For continued solidarity, for the entire working class!
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