5.3 CARICOM & Regional Relations

CARICOM & Regional Relations

Origins and History of CARICOM

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a regional integration movement established to foster economic cooperation, coordinate foreign policy, and promote social development among Caribbean nations. The drive for regional integration arose in the post-colonial era, as newly independent Caribbean nations realized that their small populations, limited resources, and vulnerability to global economic fluctuations made it difficult to compete individually.

Prior to CARICOM, early integration attempts included:

• The West Indies Federation (1958–1962): A political union of ten British territories that collapsed due to internal political divisions.
• The Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) (1965–1973): Established to promote trade liberalization and economic development among member states. However, CARIFTA was limited to trade in goods and did not address broader social, political, or security integration.

To deepen cooperation, the leaders of the four independent Caribbean nations met in Trinidad and Tobago and signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas on July 4, 1973. The treaty took effect on August 1, 1973, formally establishing CARICOM and replacing CARIFTA. The four signing leaders, revered as the "Founding Fathers" of CARICOM, were:

• Dr. Eric Williams (Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago)
• Errol Barrow (Prime Minister of Barbados)
• Forbes Burnham (Prime Minister of Guyana)
• Michael Manley (Prime Minister of Jamaica)

In 2001, the member states signed the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which updated the community's mandate to establish the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), transforming the regional bloc into a single, integrated economic space.

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Headquarters and Institutional Structure

CARICOM is an international organization consisting of 15 Member States and 8 Associate Members (mostly British Overseas Territories).

• The Secretariat: The permanent administrative headquarters of CARICOM is located in Georgetown, Guyana. The Secretariat is the principal administrative organ of the Community, responsible for executing decisions made by the heads of government, coordinating regional programs, and managing the organization's budget. It is led by a Secretary-General, who serves as the chief executive officer. Dr. Carla Barnett of Belize is the current Secretary-General (appointed in 2021).
• The Conference of Heads of Government: This is the supreme organ of CARICOM. It consists of the heads of government (Prime Ministers, Presidents, or Premiers) of the member states. The Conference determines the policy direction of the Community, concludes treaties on its behalf, and meets biannually. The chairmanship rotates every six months among the heads of government.
• The Community Council of Ministers: The second-highest organ of CARICOM, consisting of government ministers designated by member states (usually Ministers of Foreign Affairs or CARICOM Affairs). It is responsible for strategic planning and coordinating the administrative and financial functions of the Community.
• Supporting Councils: To execute specific portfolios, several councils report to the Community Council of Ministers:
  • COTED (Council for Trade and Economic Development): Oversees the operation of the CSME and regional trade policy.
  • COFAP (Council for Finance and Planning): Coordinates monetary and financial policies.
  • COFCOR (Council for Foreign and Community Relations): Directs the foreign policy positions of member states.
  • COHSOD (Council for Human and Social Development): Focuses on education, health, labor, and youth.
  • CONSLE (Council for National Security and Law Enforcement): Coordinates regional security, border management, disaster response, and intelligence sharing. CONSLE is highly relevant to police officers as it guides regional policing policies.

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The Four Pillars of CARICOM Integration

CARICOM’s integration efforts are organized around four core pillars:

1. Economic Integration (The CSME)

The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) is the centerpiece of CARICOM's economic agenda. It aims to create a barrier-free economic space to encourage investment, trade, and employment. The CSME operates under five main regimes:

• Free Movement of Goods: Elimination of import duties and trade barriers on goods produced within CARICOM.
• Free Movement of Services: Allowing businesses to provide services across national borders without restrictions.
• Free Movement of Capital: Allowing citizens to invest and transfer money throughout the region.
• Right of Establishment: The freedom of CARICOM citizens to set up businesses in any member state.
• Free Movement of Skilled Nationals: Allowing specific categories of CARICOM citizens to live and work in any member state without a work permit. These categories include university graduates, media workers, artists, musicians, sports professionals, nurses, teachers, agricultural workers, and artisans (holding a Caribbean Vocational Qualification or CVQ).

2. Foreign Policy Coordination

By coordinating foreign policy, CARICOM member states seek to speak with a single, unified voice in international organizations (like the United Nations or the Organization of American States) to increase their diplomatic leverage.

3. Functional Cooperation

Functional cooperation involves pooling resources to address common developmental challenges. Key regional institutions include:

• Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC): Sets regional educational standards and administers examinations (CSEC and CAPE).
• University of the West Indies (UWI): Provides tertiary education across multiple regional campuses (including St. Augustine in T&T).
• Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA): Headquartered in Port of Spain, T&T, it coordinates public health responses and disease surveillance.
• Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA): Coordinates disaster relief and emergency response across the region.

4. Security Cooperation

Given the vulnerability of Caribbean nations to transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, and arms smuggling, security cooperation is a critical pillar. The primary operational body is:

• CARICOM IMPACS (Implementation Agency for Crime and Security): Headquartered in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. IMPACS is the administrative center for CARICOM's security architecture. It manages intelligence sharing, operates the Joint Regional Communications Centre (JRCC) to screen passengers traveling throughout the region, and coordinates joint capacity building and training for police and military services.

CARICOM Pillars and Key Initiatives