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self-supporting.
Others may be brought to this position by such
a programme. As already noted complete self-reliance is not a
pre-requisite of independence.
;
But greater economic
self-reliance than exists at present, for example in TCI and
Montserrat, almost certainly is.
Political and Constitutional Factors
28 Unless specific steps are taken to make independence seem
more attractive than the status quo, attachment to dependent
status could persist indefinitely. The economic measures
outlined in the previous section would help to place the islands on a more self reliant footing. But in isolation they might
simply serve to perpetuate HMG's role as financial prop. A
programme of education accustoming and fitting the population at large and future leaders in particular to the prospect of
independence would be important. Without this, HMG is unlikely
ever to create sufficient room for manoeuvre for itself to set
dates for independence.
29 Such a programme might include:
i)
ii)
More vigorous efforts at identifying and cultivating
potential future leaders (political, commercial, civil
service etc).
The establishment of a programme of political and administrative training for a selection of current, and potential, leaders. This might be done partly in the UK and partly in situ.
iii) A programme of public education designed to highlight the
degree of economic interdependence between the Caribbean
dependencies, the US and other states in the area.
iv) A more concerted drive (through better policing etc) to
prevent corrupt practices before they take root.
30 In addition some constitutional change would become
necessary in the years before independence so as gradually to transfer powers from the Governor's office to the locally elected government. This would be particularly necessary in those territories with relatively backward constitutions such as the
Caymans
-
a comparative analysis of the constitutions in question
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