It is with great interest that I have read in today's issue (Thursday March 21) your leading article about the launching of "small islands voice 2004" project and on page 3 about the re-assessment by small island states of their policy vis-à-vis the pros and cons of globalization. In this connection I would like to share with your readers what I wrote about small island nations in my recently published book War on America seen from the Indian Ocean (paragonhouse.com).

"At the moment there is a total of forty-two member states of the UN that fall under the category of small islands out of a total of 189 members. These island states take their membership in the United Nations very seriously because of the many vulnerabilities which surround them and their survival.

Unfortunately, island nations are never fully in control of their destiny because their geographic location can render them to become "of strategic interest" in the competing arena of bigger and more powerful nations.

Small island nations are mostly fragile and delicate and, therefore, need to pursue a policy of balanced development and strict conservation. Nonetheless, they can still suddenly find themselves victims of major environmental disasters beyond their control. Like the recent oil spill off the Galapagos when a tanker carrying about 243,000 gallons of fuel ran aground and began leaking diesel oil, destroying tortoises and rare species of birds and plants.

There is the problem of global warning, which according to a report issued at the Shanghai Conference, pictured a world not far in the future when so many small island nations, especially the low-lying islands of coral formations, would be adversely affected by the consequence of an ever-rising tide.

The prime economy of several island nations has over the last few generations been based on the success of their hotels and tourism industry. There is today a great menace. In the short-term by the events of September 11, 2001 and its ongoing consequences and in the longterm by the increasing number of cruise ships and floating hotels which are being built. As a Caribbean friend recently told me, "Our American visitors today come ashore for only four P's - to buy some postcards, to take some photos, to drink a Pepsi, and to have a pee."

In order to counteract against the decline of the tourism receipts, many leaders of island nations have succumbed to the urge and arguments of lawyers from the United States and Europe to turn their country into tax havens and to introduce offshore banking systems - only to be blamed ultimately by the bigger and more prosperous nations to have become protective of their mafias and as well as becoming money-laundering centers.

Under the law of the Sea Convention, several island nations have economic jurisdiction over areas of oil and mineral deposits still to be discovered and exploited as well as rich fishing grounds. But as I Pointed out in a conference held in Seoul last year (2000), "As long as your island produces coconut oil, its internal peace and cohesion will not be disturbed but beware the day you discover the real stuff."

Most islands constitute living laboratories of successful multi-racial living which in a world plagued by tribalism, Communalism and racism is no mean achievement.

In fact, international law has conferred the privilege of sovereignty, which has given each island nation the right to speak and vote on international issues, be they big or small. Unfortunately, there is in this area the politics of "sphere of influence" within which we see important decisions taken more often for immediate regional consideration rather than longterm global interest.

For the above reasons, it is only reasonable to expect small island nations to support the need of a respected and effective United Nations, as part and parcel of an effective and respected world order."

Hence the "small islands voice 2004" project and the SIDS re-assessment of policy are both important and timely.

SOURCE: James R. Mancham Seychelles Nation 22 March 2002