Conclusion

• Author: UWI-CARICOM Project
• Pages: 171-180

171

Conclusion

In the 1980s two major divisive situations occurred. First, the invasion

of Grenada fragmented the Region, moving it towards the adoption of a neo-

liberal ideological system. Second, the importation of World Bank/IMF

structural adjustment programmes imposed a national free market and export-

oriented model in return for multi-annual financial assistance. These

arrangements promoted unilateral measures as against regional commitments.

By the mid-1980s both Jamaica and Haiti were World Bank/IMF models of

liberalization. Today the major distinction, rather than being the ideological

one, is that between service-based and resource-based economies. This

characteristic disposes different states to pursue alignment with different

economic powers. Accordingly, an important potential threat to cohesion

has arisen. It needs to be carefully monitored, since the Region has never

had the countervailing leverage based on the production integration industries

that were to have served as the platform for economic independence at the

regional level. It is true, however, that in the late 90s and currently, members

have found a sense of unity in defence of transitional arrangements based on

preferences and on securing SDT treatment for the grouping. They have,

with a large measure of success, resisted the OECD initiative against ‘harmful

tax regimes’ in the Caribbean. They have also remained united in their call

for reform of the United Nations system. Yet their ability to maintain and

sustain a united approach is debatable.

Any long-term arrangements for strengthening the capacity of the

Community to adopt unified approaches, once the CSME is established, would

need to be based on:

CONCLUSION