9.2 Citizenship, Rights, National Symbols & Regional Integration
Key Takeaways
- A right of a child includes a name, an education and protection; marriage is not a right of a child.
- A patriot is a person who loves and is loyal to their country and works for its good.
- National symbols such as the flag, coat of arms and anthem matter because they represent a country's identity and unite its people.
- CARICOM was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973 and has 15 Member States, with its secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana.
- The OECS was created by the Treaty of Basseterre in 1981 and has seven full member states sharing the Eastern Caribbean dollar.
9.2 Citizenship, Rights, National Symbols & Regional Integration
Quick Summary: A citizen is a legally recognised member of a country who holds rights and owes duties in return. This section covers both sides of that bargain, then widens out to national symbols, national heroes and the regional organisations that bind Caribbean countries together.
Becoming a Citizen
Citizenship is usually acquired in one of three ways:
- By birth - being born in the country.
- By descent - being born abroad to a parent who is a citizen.
- By registration or naturalisation - applying after living in the country lawfully for a required period.
Rights of the Child
The very first item on the CXC Social Studies specimen paper asks which of the options is NOT a right of a child. The answer is marriage.
| Rights a Child Has | Not a Right of a Child |
|---|---|
| A name and a nationality | Marriage |
| An education | Paid full-time employment |
| Health care | Voting |
| Food, clothing and shelter | Driving |
| Protection from abuse, neglect and exploitation | |
| To be heard and to express an opinion | |
| Play, rest and leisure | |
| Protection from discrimination |
The distinction being tested is between what a child is entitled to and what an adult may do. Marriage, voting and driving are adult activities regulated by law.
Rights and Duties of Citizens
Every right carries a matching duty. Examiners test the pairing.
| Rights of a Citizen | Duties and Responsibilities of a Citizen |
|---|---|
| Freedom of speech and expression | Speak truthfully; do not spread harmful falsehoods |
| Freedom of movement | Obey traffic and immigration laws |
| Freedom of worship | Respect the beliefs of others |
| Freedom of association | Keep associations peaceful and lawful |
| Right to vote | Register, and vote responsibly |
| Right to education | Attend school; use the opportunity well |
| Right to a fair trial | Serve on a jury; give evidence honestly |
| Right to own property | Pay taxes; respect the property of others |
| Right to protection | Report crime; assist the authorities |
Behaviour Expected of a Good Citizen
A specimen item asks which behaviour is expected of a good citizen. Look for: obeying the law, paying taxes, voting, keeping the environment clean, respecting others' rights, helping in the community, reporting wrongdoing and caring for public property.
What Is a Patriot?
A specimen item asks directly. A patriot is a person who loves and is loyal to their country and works for its good - by honouring national symbols, defending the country's good name, contributing their skills at home, and taking pride in national achievements.
Patriotism is not believing your country is superior to all others, and it is not refusing to criticise your government. A patriot may criticise in order to improve.
National Symbols and National Heroes
A specimen item asks why national symbols are important to a country. Because they represent the country's identity and history and help to unite its people and foster pride.
| Symbol | What It Is |
|---|---|
| National flag | The country's banner; its colours carry agreed meanings |
| Coat of arms | The official emblem, often with a motto and supporters |
| National anthem | The official song, sung standing and in silence |
| National pledge | A spoken promise of loyalty and service |
| National motto | A short statement of the country's ideals |
| National flower, bird, tree, dish | Natural and cultural emblems of the country |
| National dress | Traditional clothing worn on official occasions |
National heroes are people officially honoured for outstanding service to their country. Jamaica has seven National Heroes, among them Marcus Garvey and Nanny of the Maroons. St Vincent and the Grenadines honours Joseph Chatoyer, Paramount Chief of the Garifuna, as its National Hero. Learn your own country's heroes and what each did - CPEA items often ask for which achievement a named hero is honoured.
Showing respect: stand for the anthem, do not let the flag touch the ground, fly the flag the correct way up, and treat national monuments with care.
Regional Integration
Small island states gain strength by working together. A specimen item asks which institution was formed when the majority of Caribbean countries came together - the answer is CARICOM.
CARICOM - the Caribbean Community
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established by | The Treaty of Chaguaramas, signed in 1973 |
| Replaced | CARIFTA, the Caribbean Free Trade Association |
| Member States | 15 |
| Secretariat | Georgetown, Guyana |
| Revised Treaty (2001) | Established the CSME - the CARICOM Single Market and Economy |
CARICOM also has Associate Members, which are mostly British Overseas Territories.
The four pillars of CARICOM are economic integration, foreign policy co-ordination, human and social development, and security.
The CSME aims to let goods, services, capital and skilled people move freely among member states, so that the region trades as one market rather than as fifteen small ones.
The OECS - Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Established by | The Treaty of Basseterre, signed in 1981 |
| Full members | Seven: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Associate members | Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Martinique, Guadeloupe and Saint Martin |
| Commission | Castries, Saint Lucia |
| Revised Treaty (2010) | Created the OECS Economic Union |
OECS members share a common currency, the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank in Basseterre, St Kitts and Nevis. It has been pegged to the United States dollar since 1976 at EC$2.70 = US$1.00 - a fact worth remembering, because it appears in money questions on the Mathematics paper as well.
The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, based in Castries, serves the OECS states as their shared court.
Functional Co-operation
When Caribbean countries pool resources to run a shared service, that is functional co-operation. Examples:
- CXC - the Caribbean Examinations Council, which sets the very assessment you are preparing for.
- The University of the West Indies (UWI) - a regional university.
- CDEMA - the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency.
- CARPHA - the Caribbean Public Health Agency.
- The Regional Security System (RSS) - shared security for the Eastern Caribbean.
- The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), established in 2005 and seated in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, which interprets the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
The logic is simple, and it is the answer to any "why co-operate?" item: no single small island can afford a university, a disaster agency and an examinations council on its own - together they can.
Which of the following is NOT considered to be a right of a child?
Which treaty established the Caribbean Community, and in what year was it signed?
A patriot is BEST described as a person who
Why do Caribbean countries pool their resources to run shared institutions such as CXC, the University of the West Indies and CDEMA?