This time of the year, starting from July to September is a very busy and festive period for most of us immigrants especially from the Caribbean islands, as we celebrate our independence.

While, some of us are proud and view independence as a significant milestone towards our development as a nation, in the opinions of a significant number of people, they are still not really independent. While these islands have achieved political independence or self-governance, they cannot feed their people. We are nine years into a century that is driven my technology and global interdependence.

Caribbean nations must positions themselves to be leaders in commerce, education and healthcare in this new century. We must focus on revitalizing our greatest strength : Our people. In our quest to achieve complete economic independence, human capital is the most powerful tool in our arsenal.

However, we are in danger of losing it because of inter-identity politics that fragments and weakens us. There is a growing divide between Caribbean nationals abroad and those in the homeland. The only meaningful connection that remains between these two groups comes through remittances. This is good, but it should not end there. Caribbean nationals living abroad have contributed immensely to and made remarkable strides in the fields of medicine, technology, business, law, agriculture and education in their new homes.

Now it is time for them to give back to where they got their start: back home. But, the homeland, must make our brothers and sisters living abroad feel welcome to come back home. Several laws and policies related to voting, citizenship, property rights alienate those in the Diaspora from their home countries. Then there are the big issues of safety and crime. People want to “go back home” but are hesitant because of stories in the media about violence.

We are convinced that to make Independence Day celebrations more meaningful, Caribbean nations must refocus on what made independence possible: The enormous strength of our people when united to accomplish a common goal.