By Junior Rose, Contributor
THE CARIBBEAN Community and Common Market (CARICOM) has its foundations in the collapse of the West Indies Federation in 1962 and the formation of CARIFTA in 1965. Both, in their respective ideologies, embodied the purpose of CARICOM as spelt out in the two main sections of the 1973 Treaty of Chaguaramas:
The Main Treaty basically deals with social/political integration and relates to
The Annex relates to economic integration. The idea of a Caribbean community (as initially proposed by the government of Trinidad and Tobago upon its departure from the Federation), is indeed the reason for the first ever Heads of Government Conference. At this conference, the leaders of Barbados, British Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago reiterated the economic and social importance of integration and the world economy.
CARICOM's stance on the current events taking place in Haiti highlights the need for common ground on local, regional and international socio-political issues.
It is imposing that CARICOM calls for an independent investigation at the level of the United Nations, which was supported by South Africa. This shows the recognition of the organisation within diplomatic circles.
ECONOMIC UNIONS
The determination of CARICOM highlighted above should strengthen its resolve while participating in this post-cold war era of highly competitive international markets and trading blocks. Economic unions present viable bargaining units as for example the European Union; the North American answer to the EEC is NAFTA and the Canadian/US Free Trade block. Hence, in this race for economic strength and development, the benefits of integration far outweigh any negative aspects that may be enumerated.
The post-colonial economies of the Caribbean tend to show extreme dependence on one or two products/services to bring in substantial revenue. This lack of diversification is a common feature of any monoculture economy.
The reliance on such few products/services, (eg. tourism), can be disastrous as those products could falter on the international market. Therefore, without a variety of products to depend on, it becomes the equivalent of "putting all your eggs into one basket," thereby creating vulnerable economies.
INTEGRATION
This problem would be solved by integration because the region would combine its various markets and form a regional economy that is based on a variety of products/services.
There are also other factors that hinder the development of the CARICOM countries. The small sizes of the region's widely dispersed countries already puts them at a considerable disadvantage as it pertains to
competing with economies the size of the United States (some 280 million people), or the EU, (some 400 million). Coupled with this is the high cost of production/communication due to the region's distance from extra-regional markets. These issues would seem to create a barrier on the ability to increase trade and to strengthen individual markets.
Through regional co-operation, the governments of the 15 CARICOM nations hope to overcome these hindrances to their development. It has been the accepted premise that through integration, the CARICOM member states can become strong competitors on the world market scene. Thus, in their goal to be competitive CARICOM aims to engender (among its members) economic integration, the creation of common foreign policies and functional integration on the social, educational and cultural levels. This regional co-operation is all directed at achieving high employment levels and improved work and living conditions for the region's people.
This idea of regional integration leading to greater economic strength has been proven time and again. The most obvious case being that of the European Union whose objectives enumerated in the Treaty of Rome are almost identical to those in the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Holding fast to this purpose, CARICOM has developed the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) in an effort to attain economic integration by way of market integration.
The CSME consists of nine protocols- the first two having been the focus of the recent 24th Heads of Government Conference. The first protocol calls for a restructuring of the Community's institutions so as to better address the economic and social challenges to be faced by the region in the 21st century- an overhaul that is long overdue! The second protocol operates on the premise that in order for regional markets to be integrated, free movement of capital, goods/services and people are essential. This protocol, should it be successful, will lead to the actual physical integration of the region allowing the Caribbean to become a community in the truest sense of the word. The University of the West Indies has been one of the major achievements of regional integration. It is important to underscore that regional co-operation will be necessary to surge ahead in the international arena.
However, it cannot be ignored that the market and economic amalgamation of so many varied countries will be fraught with contrary social and political interests; thus, the reawakened interest in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). The court is to replace the anachronistic Privy Council. The CCJ will function as a final appellate court for the CARICOM member states, as well as an international tribunal with original jurisdiction over the interpretation and application of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Therefore, the CCJ is critical to the success of the CSME. In interpreting the treaty that establishes the CSME, the court will determine how the CSME functions. The CCJ, being a product of the region, will, (unlike the Privy Council), be able to understand and correctly respond to the needs of the region. Concerns as to the independence of the Judiciary are allayed by the methodology of appointment of judges, not by the governments or ministers but by an independent commission. Its independence is also secured financially by its administrations support via a trust fund administered by the Caribbean Development Bank. Many feel that the CCJ is the final "stop" on the road to the region's complete independence from its colonial past. However, the CCJ is an instrument meant to assist in surmounting whatever hindrances may develop on the path to total integration and thereby coalescing in the successful implementation of the CSME.
Perhaps the most serious problem facing the 15 CARICOM nations is the fact that member states, especially in this time of economic unrest, can essentially relegate their responsibilities to the Community to the back burner in favour of matters of "national importance". The issue that many of the countries that operate in this manner do not seem to grasp is that this intra-regional co-operation is the solution to many of their national problems, in that unifying the region is the only way small economies could ever hope to survive. The problems facing member countries are similar: crime and violence, high rates unemployment, HIV/Aids and low social capital. These problems are better solved at a regional level which requires dedication. It is imperative that there be a more aggressive campaign to educate the general public about CARICOM providing evidence of such success of integration as UWI.
Junior Rose is chairman, jamaica Union Tertiary Students and president Guild of Students, UWI.
competing with economies the size of the United States (some 280 million people), or the EU, (some 400 million). Coupled with this is the high cost of production/communication due to the region's distance from extra-regional markets. These issues would seem to create a barrier on the ability to increase trade and to strengthen individual markets.
Through regional co-operation, the governments of the 15 CARICOM nations hope to overcome these hindrances to their development. It has been the accepted premise that through integration, the CARICOM member states can become strong competitors on the world market scene.
COMMON FOREIGN POLICIES
Thus, in their goal to be competitive CARICOM aims to engender (among its members) economic integration, the creation of common foreign policies and functional integration on the social, educational and cultural levels. This regional co-operation is all directed at achieving high employment levels and improved work and living conditions for the region's people.
This idea of regional integration leading to greater economic strength has been proven time and again. The most obvious case being that of the European Union whose objectives enumerated in the Treaty of Rome are almost identical to those in the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
CARIBBEAN SINGLE MARKET AND ECONOMY
Holding fast to this purpose, CARICOM has developed the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) in an effort to attain economic integration by way of market integration.
The CSME consists of nine protocols- the first two having been the focus of the recent 24th Heads of Government Conference. The first protocol calls for a restructuring of the Community's institutions so as to better address the economic and social challenges to be faced by the region in the 21st century- an overhaul that is long overdue! The second protocol operates on the premise that in order for regional markets to be integrated, free movement of capital, goods/services and people are essential. This protocol, should it be successful, will lead to the actual physical integration of the region, allowing the Caribbean to become a community in the truest sense of the word.
The University of the West Indies has been one of the major achievements of regional integration. It is important to underscore that regional co-operation will be necessary to surge ahead in the international arena.
CARIBBEAN COURT OF JUSTICE
However, it cannot be ignored that the market and economic amalgamation of so many varied countries will be fraught with contrary social and political interests; thus, the reawakened interest in the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).
The court is to replace the anachronistic Privy Council. The CCJ will function as a final appellate court for the CARICOM member states, as well as an international tribunal with original jurisdiction over the interpretation and application of the Treaty of Chaguaramas.
Therefore, the CCJ is critical to the success of the CSME. In interpreting the treaty that establishes the CSME, the court will determine how the CSME functions. The CCJ, being a product of the region, will, (unlike the Privy Council), be able to understand and correctly respond to the needs of the region.
Concerns as to the independence of the Judiciary are allayed by the methodology of appointment of judges, not by the governments or ministers but by an independent commission.
Its independence is also secured financially by its administration's support via a trust fund administered by the Caribbean Development Bank. Many feel that the CCJ is the final 'stop' on the road to the region's complete independence from its colonial past. However, the CCJ is an instrument meant to assist in surmounting whatever hindrances may develop on the path to total integration and thereby coalescing in the successful implementation of the CSME.
SERIOUS PROBLEM
Perhaps the most serious problem facing the 15 CARICOM nations is the fact that member states, especially in this time of economic unrest, can essentially relegate their responsibilities to the Community to the back burner in favour of matters of "national importance".
The issue that many of the countries that operate in this manner do not seem to grasp is that this intra-regional co-operation is the solution to many of their national problems, in that unifying the region is the only way small economies could ever hope to survive.
The problems facing member countries are similar: crime and violence, high rates of unemployment, HIV/AIDS and low social capital. These problems are better solved at a regional level that requires dedication. It is imperative that there be a more aggressive campaign to educate the general public about CARICOM providing evidence of such success of integration
as UWI.
* Junior Rose is chairman, Jamaica Union of Tertiary Students and president Guild of Students, UWI.
