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What Is The Integration Movement in The

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What Is The Integration Movement in The

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What is the integration movement in the Caribbean?

The Caribbean integration movement is the first example of a free trade area moving to a custom
union. It was created from the signing of the treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973 and the subsequent
adherence of all the member countries of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) and
the Caribbean Community and Common Market (Axline, 2000, par.1).

The evolution of integration movement in the Caribbean

The Caribbean is divided among European languages and traditions and any form of regional
integration which was relatively unthinkable. As a result of this the association of Caribbean
states was formed 1994 (Lindsey, 2013, p49). Also the English speaking Caribbean had long
formed their different association including: CARIFTA CARICOM, West Indies Federation.
While at the sub regional level of the Organization of the East Caribbean was established. With
the West Indies Federation all British territory was included except for Guyana, Belize, the
Bahamas and the Virgin Islands. The federation can alive on January 1958(Lindsey, 2013, p51).
He stated that first prime minister of the WIF was Eric Williams from Trinidad and The
Headquarter was also located in Trinidad. The aim of the WIF was to:

 Strengthen the movement of self-government.


 Promote economic development
 Self-guard the democratic system achieving dictatorship and communism.
 Facilitation of the movement from colonization to independence
 Coming together of smaller states made their effectiveness in dealing with international
bodies such as the UN(Lindsey, 2013, p53). ,

CARIFTA came alive in1968 with followed the Dickenson Bay Agreement which was signed in
1965.CARIFTAcontained former federation members including Belize (Lindsey, 2013, p54). .
The aim of CARIFTA was to promote economic and social development in the region by
encouraging freed trade among members (Lindsey, 2013, p54). . This would help to remove
custom duties, taxes etc. Benefits included

 Region opened up to free trade


 A larger market and enhanced economic growth

As a result from the benefits that were been brought by CARIFTA it was evolved in CARICOM
(Lindsey, 2013, 54). .

Lindsey (2013), stated that CARICOM came alive on July 4, 1973 by Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad
and Barbados but it was fully in operation on 1st of August (p55). Some of their main objectives
are:

 Improvement in economic development through trade liberalization


 Functional cooperation in area such as health, education, cultures etc.
 Establishing the CJJ and CSME
 Benefits of talents of individual member states.

He also stated that there were three main failure of CARICOM

 Competition among member states in air transport


 WISCO plagued problem
 Ideals of the common currency and passport still not achieved

While on the other hand the OECS (Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States) was
established on June 8, 1981 by 7eastern Caribbean countries which agreed to sign a treaty called
the treaty of Basseterre (Lindsey, 2013, p56). . This treaty was signed in St. Kitts and Nevis. The
treaty of Basseterre had created two caretakers which was the West Indies Association States
Council of Minister (WIAS) and Eastern Caribbean Common Market (ECCM). Their mission is
be a major regional institution contribution to the sustainable development of the OECS Member
states by assisting them to maximizes the benefits from their collective space, by faciliting their
intelligent integration with the global economy (Lindsey, 2013, p56). .

Within the Caribbean region in 1994 along with 25 countries the ACS (Association of Caribbean
States) was established. Their aim was established a wider Caribbean body that promotes
economic cooperation and to encouraged a coordinated approached to issues of importance to all
the countries of the region (Lindsey, 2013, p57). .

Also the Free Trade Area of Americas (FTAA) is a proposed agreement to eliminate or reduce
trading barriers among nation states of the western hemisphere except for Cub (Lindsey, 2013,
p58).

Institutions in the integration movement are

 University if the West Indies (UWI) which was established in 1948, this institution takes
care o tertiary system of education in the region. It brings regional co-operation through
various courses which help the needs of the English speaking Caribbean. Some problems
that UWI faced with are; off shore teaching and individual governments which sec need
for local universities (Lindsey, 2013, p60).

 Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) which was established in 1972 which is used in
secondary education system. CXC is used to gear towards the needs of the region thus
fostering economic development (Lindsey, 2013, p62).

 Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) which can alive in 1989. Which the merging of
CTO and CTRC its aim the development of sustainable tourism in the region ( economic
and social benefits). This they do through: tourism marketing, research and information
management etc. (Lindsey, 2013, p63). .

 West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) which functions is to select a cricket team to
represent the region in international competitions and arranged matches. The WICB was
established 1925(Lindsey, 2013, p64). .

 CARICOM Single Marking Economic (CSME), was created through the removal of
restrictions and resulting in the free movement of goods, services and people, capital and
technology (Lindsey, 2013, p65). .

The success and failures of the Integration movement in


the Caribbean.
A table below showing the main reasons why the integration movement was successful and the
main reasons why it fell apart (Lindsey, 2013, p59). .

Factors the promoting integration Factors hindering integration


Close proximity to each other through air Different strategies for economic growth.
and sea travel.
Share common history Territorial interest supercedes regional interest.
Share common culture in terms of dress, Some concessions to foreign investors run
food, language, music and the general contrary to CARICOM objectives.
way of life.
Similar economic, political and social Stifled regional trade due to similarity in
problems. products.

Separatism and particularism; until recently


distrust, self-interest and disunity among
Anglophone, francophone and Hispanic
nations.

Reference
Axline. A, (2000), Integration and Development in the Commonwealth Caribbean: The politics
of regional negotiations, par1. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org on October 27, 2014

Lindsey. A,(2013), Caribbean Studies Modules 2, pp56-65. Retrieved from


http://www.slideshare.net on October 27,2014

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