Bruce Golding, Jamaica's Prime Minister, recently displayed the kind of conviction, and importantly, a clear grasp of the emerging global dynamic that marks him, potentially, as the leader to fill the vacuum left by the transitioning of a number of senior Caribbean statesmen.

We hope that Mr Golding has not flattered to deceive and will, therefore, not be intimidated by the likely backlash from those who may have been offended by his frankness. Hopefully, too, he will maintain the courage of his convictions to ignore the scepticism of some of his domestic political colleagues and follow the route he has begun to hew.

Our observation relates to the Jamaican leader's January 29 speech at an economics conference in Montego Bay, in which he not only made the case for the free-trade deal between the European Union and Caribbean countries, but highlighted the spinelessness of those who signed on to the pact but sought to retreat at the first sign of criticism. Mr Golding did not name names, but Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo could not have been very far from his mind.

Mr Jagdeo, his supporters and others in the Caribbean opposed to the EPA may have been offended by Golding's remarks, but, personal feelings apart, we believe that all should welcome the Jamaican PM's stance for two reasons.

First, his position suggests that he will be willing to stand by his regional colleagues and not cut and run when issues become sticky for the Caribbean. The second is related to the first, but of far more profound consequence. The regional instincts being displayed by Mr Golding did not come easily. He comes from a political tradition and party that has not always readily embraced the Caribbean and the notions and ideals of integration. What is emerging in Mr Golding, it seems, is an appreciation that the potential strength of the Caribbean Community is greater that the sum of its individual parts.

The timing of his transition is fortuitous for the Caribbean. Jamaica, as the politically most significant member of CARICOM, has a natural leadership role, a position that was easily occupied by P.J. Patterson as the community's elder statesman. Patterson has left the scene, and so too, has Owen Arthur, the former Barbadian Prime Minister who used to provide the region with intellectual leadership.

Kenny Anthony of St Lucia, another of the profound regionalists, is out of office, and Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent is now consumed with personal and domestic issues. Trinidad and Tobago's Patrick Manning might have been considered to assume the leadership role, but while he remains committed to the Caribbean, he remains primarily focused on CARICOM's strongest domestic economy.

Of the new crop of leaders, Barbados' David Thompson, Stephenson King of St Lucia and Mr Golding, the Jamaican PM is best placed to assume the mantle as regional front-man, leveraging his country's stature on the community and residual goodwill built up by Mr Patterson.

Mr Golding has a grand opportunity to stake the claim firmly at the regional summit in The Bahamas next month when the defence of the EPA will be on the table. But in the chair will be the Bahamian leader, whose country does not subscribe to the trade aspect of CARICOM.

History beckons Mr Golding.