A people closer and closer

And they meeting regularly

Drawing up all kind o' treaty

And after they drink their whisky

The treaty dead already.

At their Heads Of Government Conference

Is much shop talk and ignorance

Lots of talk, but no action ever commence. - Mighty Chalkdust (Sea Water And Sand)

THE VICISSITUDES OF LIFE are often far more compelling than the promises, visions and pronouncements of politicians.

It is a lesson our political leaders have need to learn: change of circumstance or fortune can bring a people closer - naturally and without synthetic fanfare.

Just this week, the acting general manager of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA), Dr John Mwanza, advised Barbadians that if they didn't stop wasting their precious water, they could face another rate increase.

One possible reason for the hike: the BWA might have to import water from neighbouring Dominica to keep local levels up.

Well, what could be wrong with a neighbourly solution to one's island problem? Nothing, really, short of a military invasion or intervention.

When our Bajan fishermen came up against the dearth in flying fish, where did they go? To Trinidad and Tobago - never mind our national dish was encroached upon by callaloo; never mind the politicians started putting limits on quantities and maritime distance.

We await the much mooted Ambassador Denis Kellman Flying Fish Agreement.

And when we didn't have enough local sugar to sweeten our tea and golden apple juice, whom did we turn to? The Guatemalans first and then the much-maligned Guyanese.

Now that we are short of policemen and policewomen, where are we looking? To the entire Caribbean: Jamaica, Trinidad, Antigua, St Lucia, anywhere!

So far as we know, it has not required much political will, if any at all, to consider or take these neighbourly routes of problem-solving. The execution was rooted in people's consciousness, awareness and practicality.

Our Caribbean leaders don't seem able to implement their agreements with such ease and consensus, which moved Chalkdust to write "is much shop talk and ignorance, lots of talk, but no action ever commence".

Caribbean leaders need to understand they cannot fix their burdened economies until they summon the angst and determination to fight the scourge of insularity and one-upmanship. For all the statesmanship speeches about change and harmony, most of our leaders seem dead set on circumventing this fundamental challenge.

Our lead Caribbean advocates must make those around them who aren't quite as rich or prominent feel equally good. It is time for a new conversation among the island-nations: the kind that is people-inspired. That which sees an end to politicians shooting from the lip.

CSME must have as its ultimate goal one happy people - and common wealth. Otherwise we could be sharing equally only in "sea water and sand".