ABSTRACT
In late 1994, this author (Randall) chaired three series of symposia in the Caribbean, Central and South America organized by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Significantly, countries such as Colombia were incorporated into the South American rather than Caribbean segments of the meetings, reflective of the external perception that they belong more to the continent than to their Caribbean brethren. The participants, other than CIDA officials, included a number of prominent political, business, cultural and academic figures from the region. The objectives of those meetings were varied: to listen to the range of ideas held by the participants on the main challenges, problems and opportunities confronting their countries and regions at that moment and in the coming decades; to explore with them the most likely and viable directions in development, political and social policies; and to provide CIDA with clearer insights into the most effective development policies into which it could direct increasingly scarce development dollars. 1
