NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT

Throughout the past decade, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in th e Caribbean have been attempting to redefine their role vis-a-vis the state and civil society in order to be able to contribute substantivel y to the regional debate on development strategies. Their role has mos t often centered on both political and economic priorities, in contras t with the position of most international NGOs, which tend to stress t heir own apolitical character and to define Third World requirements i n terms of economic rather than political necessities. This has meant a rethinking of the relationship with the state, promoting a debate be tween NGOs concerning the question of how NGOs should interact with th e state.