CS Module 2 Practice Essay

2004 P2
Discuss the view that a major challenge to the integration movement in the
Caribbean, is the wide disparity in levels of development among member
countries of CARICOM. (30marks)

Points to note:
1) Focus should be on:
● Integration movement in the Caribbean (Factors that unite or
separate Caribbean states from achieving full corporation)
● Disparity in levels of development (What are these disparities/how
can these be minimised to promote development?)

2) Introduction
● Explain the importance of integration within the region.
● Give a view on your opinion on the thesis (the question). Do you
agree or disagree?

3) Body: Outline arguments that will support the view taken

● What accounts for disparities?
i. Size
ii. Population
iii. Historical development (relate to the fact that it remained
predominantly agricultural) – Certain territories were given
greater interest by the British government such as Jamaica,
Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana. Were considered prized.
iv. Availability of resources (bauxite, oil, hydropower in
Barbados)

● What are the economic challenges/imbalance/disparities?

i. How has this been addressed in the past?
ii. Reason certain early attempts (for e.g Federation) failed in
the past. The failure was due to the less developed countries
 afraid that they would be overpowered by the GDC (greater
developed countries)
iii. Concerns over by Jamaica and Trinidad after that they
would be burdened with responsibilities of the LDCs after
Jamaica left.

● Efforts to integrate
i. CARIFTA 1st initiative, then CARICOM – this is the single
most important body that forges Caribbean integration
Umbrella organisation for many sub intra-regional bodies
e.g CARDI, CXC, UWI, CMC, CARDEMA, CCJ, WICB
ii. Each body works to enhance regional integration via
scientific research, education, natural disaster, law and
justice and even sports/recreation.
Regional integration is an important concern within the states of the Caribbean.
When there is true unity, it will be easier to network for achieving political,
economic, cultural, and trading goals to meet the needs of all Caribbean people.
This unity can assist in achieving recognition and influence on global affairs.
Regional integration can also protect Caribbean countries’ borders, increase the
efficiency of citizens, and can become a way to pool resources to aid
governments in providing for their citizens. It is with these goals in mind that
CARICOM was established in 1973 and prior to this, several other attempts
were made for regional integration. However, though Caribbean regional
integration is certainly beneficial, at the same time, a great challenge lies in the
disparity in levels of development, especially the member countries of
CARICOM.
Disparity is a major hinderance to regional integration in the Caribbean. There
are certain fixed factors that contribute to this disparity. These include
geographic and demographic size, historical development, and the availability
of resources. Firstly, The differences in size among the Caribbean countries is
vast. For instance, the Greater Antilles is in many cases double the size of
territories in the sizes of the Caribbean countries in the Lesser Antilles. in
contrast to those in the Lesser Antilles. Due to this size difference, it is
understood that the limitations on each country’s resources and production will
be dependent on what is available. and contribution becomes wide-ranging. The
amount of resources Jamaica can produce in relation to Grenada would be
greater. Also, most CARICOM member countries are from the Lesser Antilles.
Their contribution altogether might be less or equal to Jamaica’s contribution.
leading less impact. Additionally, this carries over into the differences in
population size too. the population in the Cayman Islands Grenada would be
only a fraction of Jamaica, further limiting each country’s resource potential.
Yet despite this, the contribution to small-scale Grenada towards regional
integration, is just as significant as large-scale Jamaica. Certainly size would
not matter if there is a concerted effort on the part of all territories to become a
united regional body.
Another factor that highlights disparity comes from the is historical
development of Caribbean countries. During the period of the colonisation by
the European powers, many Caribbean countries have remained predominantly
agricultural. Furthermore, certain territories were given much more interest by
the colonial powers than others furthering their development. For example,
under the British colonial rule, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, and Guyana were
considered prized due to their size and availability of resources in relation to the
other islands. They also generated great income Income generated for Britain
was significantly high resulting in more attention being spent on them. This led
to more greater infrastructural development of the land. Due to this, these
countries today are considered more developed than the others. Additionally,
the availability of resources varying varied among the Caribbean countries. is
another factor. Most countries have one main resource which is agriculture for
instance Grenada’s Nutmeg production and St Vincent ground provision
production. In contrast, while fewer countries like Jamaica and Trinidad have
a mixture of both traditional agricultural industry and natural resources such as
multiple like access to bauxite and oil. in addition to their agricultural industry,
This diversification is a viable source of income which put these territories on a
higher developmental scale over others. diversifies their sources of income.
This disparity of resources, further limits the availability of funds that can be
generated to aid countries and thus, slows the achievement of goals set in order
to achieve regional integration national goals. Yet again, while territories such
like Jamaica and Trinidad have greater resources than many in the Lesser
Antilles, efforts towards integration all depends on the mindset of regional
people to become united rather than what their economic potential might be.

In the early 20th century, pre-independent period, the most significant effort at
integration was the formation of the Caribbean Federation. The West Indies
Federation was a political union geared towards regional integration.
Unfortunately, the West Indies Federation failed in 1962, existing for only 4
years. The main factors which contributed to its failure is fear amongst the
countries, uneven contribution, discontentment amongst citizens. Due to the
vast disparity amongst the Caribbean territories, various fears took place. The
fear of being overpowered by the more developed countries (those being
Trinidad and Jamaica) among the lesser developed countries. Fear of mass
migration from the lesser developed countries to their more developed
counterparts among the more developed countries which led to the restriction of
movement among countries. There was a larger contribution by Jamaica and
Trinidad than the smaller countries due to the difference in development among
them. This became more of a burden to them due to the significantly smaller
contribution the other countries could give especially as the lesser developed
countries would ask or demand more funding so that they can provide for the
needs of their citizens.

Disparities led
Despite the failure of Federation the dream of integration remained CARIFTA
and then CARICOM.
Disparity is a major hinderance to regional integration in the Caribbean. Factors
that contribute to this disparity among the Caribbean countries include size,
population, historical development, and availability of resource. Firstly, the
difference in sizes in the Caribbean countries is vast. Like the sizes of the
Caribbean countries in the Lesser Antilles in contrast to those in the Greater
Antilles. Due to this size difference, the limitations on what each country can
contribute and produce becomes evident. The amount of resources Jamaica can
produce in relation to a country like Grenada would be much greater. Also,
most CARICOM member countries are from the Lesser Antilles. Their
contribution altogether might be equal to Jamaica contribution, leading to not
much of an impact. Additionally, this carries over into the population size
differences too. The population in the Cayman Islands would be only a fraction
of Jamaica, furthering the limits of how much each country can really
contribute.
Another factor is historical development of the Caribbean countries. During the
period of the colonisation of the European powers, many Caribbean countries
have remained predominantly agricultural. Furthermore, certain territories were
given much more interest by the colonial powers than others furthering their
development. For example, under the British colonial rule, Jamaica, Barbados,
Trinidad, and Guyana were considered prized due to their size in relation to the
other islands and the availability of resources. They also generated great income
for the mother country which resulted in more attention being spent on them.
This led to more development of the land. Due to this, these countries today are
considered more developed than the others. Additionally, the availability of
resources varying among the Caribbean countries is another factor. Most
countries have one main resource which is agriculture for instance Grenada and
their Nutmeg production, while fewer countries like Jamaica and Trinidad have
multiple, like access to bauxite and oil in addition to their agricultural industry,
which diversifies their sources of income. This disparity of resources, further
limits the availability of funds that can be generated to aid countries and thus,
slows the achievement of goals set in order to achieve regional integration.