Integrating Our CARICOM Family

• Author: Rosalea Hamilton
• Pages: 244-246

244 THE CARIBBEAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM

After 30 years of CARICOM, the significance of economic integration in

the context of globalisation is lost on the vast majority of citizens in Jamaica

and the rest of the Caribbean. This issue, among others, was discussed at the

University of the West Indies (UWI) conference on October 17–19, 2003

celebrating the 30th anniversary of the establishment of CARICOM.

Most of us have long accepted the need for some form of integration.

This is based on kinship, a common heritage and our common struggle for

economic development out of the bowels of slavery and indentureship. This

has created the foundation of a ‘CARICOM Family’. A key concern, however,

has been the appropriate form of integration.

After rejecting political integration through Federation, the focus has

been on economic integration in various degrees. First, the Caribbean Free

Trade Area (CARIFTA) was established in 1968 with the aim of eliminating

tariffs and other measures that restrict trade. Later, with the signing of the

Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973, we established the Caribbean Community

and Common Market (CARICOM). In addition to the free trade provisions of

CARIFTA, a Common External Tariff (CET) and other provisions for a

Common Market deepened our economic integration in CARICOM. In the

face of the vicissitudes of globalization, the Heads of Governments in

CARICOM decided in 1989 to further deepen our economic integration by

establishing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

However, in making all of these decisions the Heads of Government did

not seek a specific mandate from the people. Unlike the European Union,

which pursued a similar economic integration strategy since their 1957

Treaty of Rome, no referendum was held in any CARICOM country. While

somewhat understandable in the context of the Federation fiasco, it robbed

the Caribbean people of an opportunity to discuss, grapple with and

understand the full implications of deeper economic integration.

As a consequence, we have ‘Integration from the Top’. Our parents

(governments) have formally integrated while most of the children in the

region have no clue what is happening. It is a kind of ‘arranged marriage!’

This in spite of the 1990 Kingston Declaration on Democracy & Popular

Participation where Heads declared their determination to ‘strengthen the

INTEGRATING OUR CARICOM FAMILYINTEGRATING OUR CARICOM FAMILY

INTEGRATING OUR CARICOM FAMILYINTEGRATING OUR CARICOM FAMILY

INTEGRATING OUR CARICOM FAMILY

Rosalea Hamilton

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