Caricom: 43 years later

The founding fathers of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) came together some 43 years ago and signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established the Caribbean Community. On Monday – a day set aside to celebrate all things Caricom – we celebrate Caricom Day.
In setting up the community, the objectives in its most recent formulation were described as to improve standards of living and work; the full employment of labour and other factors of production; accelerated, coordinated, and sustained economic development and convergence; expansion of trade and economic relations with third states; enhanced levels of international competitiveness; organisation for increased production and productivity; achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage; effectiveness of member states in dealing with third states, groups of states, and entities of any description; and the enhanced coordination of member states’ foreign economic policies and enhanced functional cooperation.
However, 43 years later where are we as a community?
Economic Professor Paul Clement in his article, “The Politics of Regional Integration in the Developing World: The Case of the Caribbean Community (Caricom),” argued that Caricom is at a crossroad. He pointed of that the decision in 2011 to “pause” the Single Economy project brought to the forefront the longstanding frustration with deepening regional integration.
Impressive goals and grand meetings cannot after 43 years be the yardstick of real success but rather member states in Caricom are ready or have made genuine commitments to the rules embodied in the institution to deliver the stated objectives.
It is these laudable and striking meetings, which have resulted in very motivated policy proposals but lack of implementation in territories that have led to much criticism of Caricom. To a greater extent, the inability to implement policies in individual territories is one of the contributing factors that have led to the negative criticism that Caricom is a “talk shop”.
The recent impasse between Jamaica and Trinidad, to a greater extent gave weight to this criticism. This arose out of the latest round of Jamaicans being denied entry to Trinidad. Guyanese have also suffered the same fate at the hands of Barbados’ immigration. These instances have once again raised the question of the purpose of the CSME and more so Caricom.
Is it a case that this latest in a long line of events is demonstrating the ineffectiveness of the integration bloc? If so then it reflects a serious lack of leadership in the region. It now begs the question as to why are we still at this point 43 years later?
The reality is that too many of our decision-makers in this integration bloc seem to have lost the vision that inspired the inauguration of Caricom.
Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat, Erwin La Rocque, as far as 2013, in delivering an address on “The status of the Regional Integration Process and Vision for the Future of Caricom” conceded, the hopes raised in the bosoms of Caribbean peoples by the launch of Caribbean Free Trade Area (CARIFTA) in 1968 and its successor Caricom in 1973 had been dashed in the opinions of most ordinary citizens. At that presentation he noted that the thrust for integration had long preceded these two initiatives.
As the veracity of the world changes – to which globalisation is leading through technology – institutions such as Caricom needs to keep up with these drastic and fast-paced realities.
The Caricom Heads of Governments will be meeting in Guyana next week. It is hoped that this meeting bear real fruits of practicality and not just a recommitment or renewal of commitments in the issuance of communiqués. Our nations have been integrated by agreements, memorandum of understandings, and declarations, however the time has come for us to strive towards achieving actionable integration that emphasises the importance of all nations in this integration bloc.