2. CARICOMCARICOM
Nobody knows what the Caribbean
population is capable of. Nobody
has even attempted to find out.
C.L.R. James in A The Birth of a Nation
3. THE CARIBBEANTHE CARIBBEAN
COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY
• In 1972, Commonwealth Caribbean leaders at the Seventh Heads of GovernmentIn 1972, Commonwealth Caribbean leaders at the Seventh Heads of Government
Conference decided to transform the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA)Conference decided to transform the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA)
into a Common Market and establish the Caribbean Community, of which theinto a Common Market and establish the Caribbean Community, of which the
Common Market would be an integral part.Common Market would be an integral part.
• The signing of the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community, Chaguaramas, 4thThe signing of the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community, Chaguaramas, 4th
July 1973, was a defining moment in the history of the Commonwealth Caribbean.July 1973, was a defining moment in the history of the Commonwealth Caribbean.
Although a free-trade area had been established, CARIFTA did not provide for theAlthough a free-trade area had been established, CARIFTA did not provide for the
free movement of labour and capital, or the coordination of agricultural, industrial andfree movement of labour and capital, or the coordination of agricultural, industrial and
foreign policies.foreign policies.
• The objectives of the Community, identified in Article 6 of the Revised Treaty, are: toThe objectives of the Community, identified in Article 6 of the Revised Treaty, are: to
improve standards of living and work; the full employment of labour and other factorsimprove standards of living and work; the full employment of labour and other factors
of production; accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development andof production; accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development and
convergence; expansion of trade and economic relations with third States; enhancedconvergence; expansion of trade and economic relations with third States; enhanced
levels of international competitiveness; organisation for increased production andlevels of international competitiveness; organisation for increased production and
productivity; achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage andproductivity; achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and
effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States andeffectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States and
entities of any description and the enhanced co-ordination of Member States’ foreignentities of any description and the enhanced co-ordination of Member States’ foreign
and foreign economic policies and enhanced functional co-operation.and foreign economic policies and enhanced functional co-operation.
4. HistoryHistory
• The West Indies FederationThe West Indies Federation
Established in 1958, the West Indies Federation comprised the ten territories of:Established in 1958, the West Indies Federation comprised the ten territories of:
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, the thenAntigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, the then
St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago. TheSt Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and Trinidad and Tobago. The
Federation was established by the British Caribbean Federation Act of 1956 with theFederation was established by the British Caribbean Federation Act of 1956 with the
aim of establishing a political union among its members.aim of establishing a political union among its members.
• During its brief existence (1958-62), a number of fundamental issues were debatedDuring its brief existence (1958-62), a number of fundamental issues were debated
with a view to strengthening the Federation. Among these were direct taxation by thewith a view to strengthening the Federation. Among these were direct taxation by the
Federal Government, Central planning for development, Establishment of a RegionalFederal Government, Central planning for development, Establishment of a Regional
Customs Union and Reform of the Federal Constitution. The issue of direct taxationCustoms Union and Reform of the Federal Constitution. The issue of direct taxation
was particularly controversial. The Federation was not permitted to levy (impose)was particularly controversial. The Federation was not permitted to levy (impose)
income tax for at least the first five years of its life. Added to this, were the greatlyincome tax for at least the first five years of its life. Added to this, were the greatly
differing positions among the Territories with respect to how other federal taxesdiffering positions among the Territories with respect to how other federal taxes
should be levied.should be levied.
• In addition, the Federation began quickly to seek to establish federal institutions andIn addition, the Federation began quickly to seek to establish federal institutions and
supporting structures. It created a federal civil service; established the West Indiessupporting structures. It created a federal civil service; established the West Indies
Shipping Service (in 1962) to operate two multipurpose ships - the Federal Maple andShipping Service (in 1962) to operate two multipurpose ships - the Federal Maple and
the Federal Palm - donated to it by the Government of Canada. It had embarked alsothe Federal Palm - donated to it by the Government of Canada. It had embarked also
on negotiations to acquire the subsidiary of the British Overseas Airways Corporationon negotiations to acquire the subsidiary of the British Overseas Airways Corporation
(BOAC), namely British West Indies Airways (BWIA).(BOAC), namely British West Indies Airways (BWIA).
5. Cooperation in tertiary education was consolidated and expanded during this period. The thenCooperation in tertiary education was consolidated and expanded during this period. The then
University College of the West Indies (UCWI), which was established in 1948 with one campus atUniversity College of the West Indies (UCWI), which was established in 1948 with one campus at
Mona, Jamaica, opened its second campus at St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1960.Mona, Jamaica, opened its second campus at St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1960.
The Federation however faced several problems. These included: the governance andThe Federation however faced several problems. These included: the governance and
administrative structures imposed by the British; disagreements among the territories overadministrative structures imposed by the British; disagreements among the territories over
policies, particularly with respect to taxation and central planning; an unwillingness on the part ofpolicies, particularly with respect to taxation and central planning; an unwillingness on the part of
most Territorial Governments to give up power to the Federal Government; and the location ofmost Territorial Governments to give up power to the Federal Government; and the location of
the Federal Capital.the Federal Capital.
The decisive development, which led to the demise of the Federation was the withdrawal ofThe decisive development, which led to the demise of the Federation was the withdrawal of
Jamaica - the largest member - after conducting a national referendum in 1961 on its continuedJamaica - the largest member - after conducting a national referendum in 1961 on its continued
participation in the arrangement. The results of the referendum showed majority support in favourparticipation in the arrangement. The results of the referendum showed majority support in favour
of withdrawing from the Federation. This was to lead to a movement within Jamaica for nationalof withdrawing from the Federation. This was to lead to a movement within Jamaica for national
independence from Britain. It also led to the now famous statement of Dr Eric Williams, the thenindependence from Britain. It also led to the now famous statement of Dr Eric Williams, the then
Premier of Trinidad and Tobago that, one from ten leaves nought, referring to the withdrawal ofPremier of Trinidad and Tobago that, one from ten leaves nought, referring to the withdrawal of
Jamaica and signifying and justifying his decision to withdraw Trinidad and Tobago from theJamaica and signifying and justifying his decision to withdraw Trinidad and Tobago from the
Federal arrangement a short while later.Federal arrangement a short while later.
The Federation collapsed in January 1962.The Federation collapsed in January 1962.
6. CARICOM MEMBER STATESCARICOM MEMBER STATES
ST. LUCIA
ST. KITTS & NEVIS
MONTSERRATT
GUYANA
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
THE BAHAMAS
BELIZE DOMINICA
SURINAME
HAITI (SUSPENDED)
ST. VINCENT & THE GRENADINES
GRENADA
BARBADOS
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
JAMAICA
CARICOM
7. CARICOM ASSOCIATE MEMBERSCARICOM ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
• CARICOM ASSOCIATE MEMBERSCARICOM ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
• AnguillaAnguilla - 4 July 1999- 4 July 1999
• Bermuda - 2 July 2003Bermuda - 2 July 2003
• British Virgin Islands - 2 July 1991British Virgin Islands - 2 July 1991
• Cayman Islands - 15 May 2002Cayman Islands - 15 May 2002
• Turks andTurks and CaicosCaicos Islands - 2 July 1991Islands - 2 July 1991
8. Institutions of the CommunityInstitutions of the Community
• Under the Treaty there are severalUnder the Treaty there are several
institutions responsible for formulatinginstitutions responsible for formulating
policies and performing functions inpolicies and performing functions in
relation to cooperation. A Minister ofrelation to cooperation. A Minister of
Government represents each MemberGovernment represents each Member
State on each Institution.State on each Institution.
The following entities established by orThe following entities established by or
under the auspices of the Communityunder the auspices of the Community
are recognised as Institutions of theare recognised as Institutions of the
Community:Community:
• CXCCXC
• CTUCTU
• CCJCCJ
• CMOCMO
• CFNICFNI
• CARDICARDI
• CMICMI
• CARICADCARICAD
• ACCPACCP
• CLECLE
• CFCCFC
ASSOCIATE INSTITUTIONSASSOCIATE INSTITUTIONS
• UWIUWI
• CDBCDB
• UGUG
• OECSOECS
• CLI/ CLICCLI/ CLIC
9. REGIONAL ISSUESREGIONAL ISSUES
• Air TransportAir Transport
• CARICOM 30th Anniversary Lecture seriesCARICOM 30th Anniversary Lecture series
• Civil SocietyCivil Society
• Crime and SecurityCrime and Security
• E-LearningE-Learning
• Economic PerformanceEconomic Performance
• Governance of the CommunityGovernance of the Community
• HealthHealth
• International ConferencesInternational Conferences
• InvestmentInvestment
• Regional Stock ExchangeRegional Stock Exchange
10. Caribbean Single Market & EconomyCaribbean Single Market & Economy
• The creation of a Caribbean Single Market and Economy will unquestionably be the
most complex, the most ambitious and the most difficult enterprise ever contemplated
in our region. And in a region which, as Philip Sherlock has observed, division is the
heritage, contrast is the keynote, and competition is the dominant theme, economic
integration requiring cooperation on the scale and of the depth envisioned by the
CSME will be substantially more difficult to attain than integration on the political
plane.
• To the popular imagination, the creation of the CSME is increasingly being
represented as the meeting of a set of elusive deadlines, the putting in place of a
number of economic institutions, the management of a number
of discreet economic events involving the removal of barriers, and the
prescription of legal frameworks within which economic activity can be
given new regional definitions and dimensions.
CSME LECTURE BY THE
HON. OWEN ARTHUR
PRIME MINISTER OF BARBADOS
