CARIBBEAN in EUROPE THINK TANK

OBJECTIVE
The Caribbean Community in the UK requires a collective voice to tell the untold stories, promoting a positive balanced image of the Caribbean region, its peoples and their descendents.

This Caribbean Think Tank, based in the UK but operating globally, will seek to inform, educate and influence in a positive manner the UK public and key decision makers therein. It will bring views and news of current modern Caribbean region to the UK and serve to connect the Caribbean with the UK and broader EU context.

The Think Tank will also serve to integrate the links of individual countries in the Caribbean to forge a pan-Caribbean understanding in a global setting.

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BACKGROUND
There are substantial numbers of Caribbean peoples and their descendents living and making a vital contribution to the European Union and the UK in particular.
However our peoples have little collective voice in the UK mainstream domain. Furthermore the link between the Diaspora and the modern states of the Caribbean Region is in danger of weakening as the generations progress.

The current geopolitical issues in the UK and beyond tend to revolve around Identity, Immigration, Nationalism, Diversity.
Many EU states are grappling with accommodating diverse perspectives and facilitating better understanding between their constituent members.
We believe that as diverse Caribbean nationals living in the UK we have a positive contribution to make to this debate and assist with people living in harmony and not just “tolerance” !!

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TOPICS
This Think Tank – the Caribbean in Europe Forum - will seek to influence decision makers in the UK and elsewhere in four key areas:
- Business & Entrepreneurship
- Social Policy & Education & Government
- Law & Politics & Economics
- Media & Communications

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MEMBERS
This Think Tank is staffed by volunteers who will provide an alternative perspective – a modern Caribbean perspective – on the current affairs of the day in their home state of the UK and EU.

All are graduates of the University of the West Indies and, although born and educated in the Caribbean have resided outside the Caribbean Region - in the UK – for more than a decade. They have also lived and worked in more than one Caribbean island.

VERNON BARRETT leads on Media and Public Affairs (Jamaica)
PENNY CABALLO leads on Cultural, Education and Social Affairs (Trinidad)
ALAN SMITH leads on Finance, Business and Politics (Barbados)

The Think Tank operates by individuals researching, preparing and writing papers on topics which are important to the overseas Caribbean Community but which are not picked up or addressed by the local UK media.

It will propose constructive suggestions and practical actions to address shortcomings in their Caribbean community overseas. This may extend to commentary on articles already on the media and press – in the UK or elsewhere.

In addition to its membership, the Caribbean Think Tank will seek out partnerships with other organisations with a strong interest in global Caribbean Affairs.

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TARGET AUDIENCE
There are many audiences for the Caribbean Think Tank:
• UK Thought Leaders – politicians, academics,
• Caribbean Governments and their UK representatives
• Other UK Think Tanks
• Policy makers and decision makers
• UK Caribbean Community Leaders

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OUTPUTS
Although the Think Tank does not have the resources to conduct in depth academic longitudinal studies and oft favoured institutional research we believe that experiential living, group discussion (e.g. focus group) perceptive observations and innovative ideas are equally important when it comes to problem solving and effecting positive change.

Outputs will consist of written documents – White & Green Papers – which will be posted onto the website currently under development.
We will be clear to distinguish between the views of the individual contributors (where we shall accommodate as broad a spectrum of reasoned debate and viewpoint as possible) and the views and recommendations of the Think Tank itself.

The Think Tank also proposes to host Events such as Lectures, Panel Discussions, and to launch practical small scale Initiatives/Projects.

Together these will constitute elements of the change process the Think Tank is seeking to effect: Ideas, Actions, Visions and Demonstrations.

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OUTCOMES
Success in this endeavour of a Caribbean Think Tank in the UK will include:

• Recognised Leadership in the British Caribbean Community
• Engagement with key UK mainstream Policy Makers
• Evidence of influencing Policy Formulation & Practice in the wider UK domain
• Adoption of recommendations and actions

For more information please contact us: info@newerworlds.com