Middle East Conflict Casts Shadow Over Caribbean’s Post-COVID Recovery, Says Expert.

By Aabigayle McIntosh

There is growing concern about the implications of the ongoing war in Israel on oil prices in Antigua and Barbuda and the rest of the region.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) has already labeled the war as abhorrent and devastating to ordinary people as thousands of people have lost their lives in non-stop attacks since October 7.

The regional grouping has also stressed that if the conflict is not immediately brought to an end, it could escalate into a wider regional conflict with significant implications for the stability and welfare not just of that region, but also of the broader international community, with devastating consequences, especially for vulnerable small island states such as those in CARICOM who are already struggling to overcome multi-faceted challenges.

Closer to home, renowned Social Commentator Peter Wickham said while Antigua and Barbuda is miles away from the conflict, the twin island nation will face an unprecedented increase in the cost of oil.

“And then you will also have diversions with international traffic and so on and then you will also have diversions with international traffic and so on which again is an additional cost that we are bearing. So, we have nothing to do with this, but we are going to be facing these costs in a way that is pretty significant and disturbing,” Wickham said.

In the latest row, an Israel official has warned that the country will respond to Iran’s drome and missile barrage, and such revenge will be coordinated with the Americans.

It comes as Iran vowed to launch ten times the number of missiles in a fresh strike against Israel if it unleashes a retaliatory hit on Tehran.

The new threat could see 1,460 missiles hurled at Israel as world leaders hold their breath to see if an “uncontrollable war” breaks out in the Middle East.

Wickham said the threat of a wider Middle East conflict is coming at a crucial time when Caribbean economies continue to recover from sharp contractions.

‘We are coming out of COVID trying to recover our economies and so on. We had a good winter tourism season in Antigua and the prospects for summer are great, but ultimately it is been sorted by decision,” Wickham said.

He also believed that international conflict will lead to political challenges for political leaders.

“When you look at polling and so on, the cost of living is what bothers most people and is directly related to this nonsense that is going on in the Middle East that is driving up the cost of everything. Politicians are being told they need to fix this but the reality is the devices that need to fix this are not necessarily present simply because it is something completely different, in a different theatre that we have no access to or control over,” Wickham said.