Whither Caricom?

Fri Nov 29, 2013

by Kezron J.S. Walters

I have always been a strong supporter of regional integration. It has always been my belief that in this age of trade blocs and regional groupings, the Commonwealth Caribbean ought to band together to stave off the trying times, strengthen one another and formulate solutions. I believed that our common backgrounds made us alike, and even though the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas makes distinctions between More Developed Countries and Less Developed Countries (MDC’s and LDC’s), that the development of our economies was more or less similar and intertwined. We are all (perhaps except Trinidad and Tobago) still actively engaged in the process of self-definition.{{more}}

All of the countries, barring Trinidad and Guyana probably, still do not have a defined national industry, bouncing back and forth between agriculture and tourism. St Vincent and the Grenadines is now constructing an international airport. When complete, Dominica will be the only country not serviced by international airlines. Jamaica is contemplating moving towards being a logistics hub in the Caribbean. Some countries, including St Vincent are investing in cocoa and others are finding creative ways to market their tourism product, e.g. the nature isle, the Caribbean you’re looking for. The banana industry is crawling along and the sugar industry is painstakingly grinding to a halt. The point I am making is that in moving towards a “modern post-colonial economy”, all of our Commonwealth Caribbean countries (save for Trinidad and Tobago) are still taking baby steps, and in in light of this quite apparent fact, I hoped that we would find the well needed motivation toward integration. For Pete’s sake, we all still practically use those inherited independence constitutions and the Privy Council, much to its own dismay is still our final appellate court.