Preface

• Author: Kenneth Hall/Denis Benn
• Profession: Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal, University of the West Indies, Mona/Michael Manley Professor of Public Affairs and Public Policy, University of the West Indies, Mona
• Pages: 9-9

Introduction ix

The 30th anniversary of the Caribbean Community provides an

important opportunity to analyse what has been a historic journey for the

people of the Caribbean as they seek to promote closer forms of economic

integration and cooperation. Such an analysis also provides an indispensable

backdrop for the identification of the challenges facing the Community as it

seeks to chart its future in a rapidly changing external environment that is

inexorably shaped by the twin forces of globalisation and economic

liberalization. Faced with these challenges, the Community will need to

promote a dynamic process of integration based on the formulation of a

creative and pragmatic approach to regional governance and the adoption

of an integrated strategy of production aimed at optimising the development

possibilities of the region.

It was for this reason that, as part of the events marking the 30th

anniversary of the Community, the University of the West Indies, Mona,

organized a conference on Regional Governance and Integrated

Development which was held at the Mona Campus from October 17–29,

2003. The Conference brought together academics, policy makers from

government and the private sector as well as representatives from regional

and international organizations to exchange ideas on various aspects of the

theme of the Conference which was in fact the subject of the Rose Hall

Declaration adopted by the CARICOM Heads of Government at their twenty-

fourth meeting held in July 2003.

This volume, which is based on the papers presented at the Conference,

contains insightful analyses on a wide range of issues dealing with the

overall conception of the Community, the structuring of systems of regional

governance, the exercise of sovereignty, the CARICOM Single Market and

Economy as well as the Community in the international system — all of

which are relevant to an understanding of the challenges facing the

Community at this stage of its evolution.

I therefore wish to commend the volume to the academic community,

to policy makers in government and the private sector and to the general

public — all of whose interests the integration movement must continue to

address as a priority concern.

Professor the Honourable Kenneth O. Hall

Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal

University of the West Indies

Mona Campus

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