What is Regional Integration?

Regional integration refers to the process by which neighboring countries or states come together to
form regional groupings or alliances aimed at enhancing economic, political, social, and cultural
cooperation and integration.

Why CARICOM worked and CARIFTA didn’t:

Caribbean Community (CARICOM) replaced the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) in
1973.
● CARIFTA focused solely on promoting trade among member states.
● CARICOM was established to expand cooperation beyond trade to include economic
integration, foreign policy coordination, and functional cooperation.
● CARICOM aimed to deepen integration among Caribbean countries through initiatives such
as the Single Market and Economy (CSME).
● The shift from CARIFTA to CARICOM reflected a broader vision for regional development
and cooperation beyond trade liberalization alone.

Reasons why CARICOM countries enter into agreement with other

countries.
1. It allows for manufacturers to share techniques which will lead to general overall economic
agreement.
2. It allows Caribbean businessmen to develop partnerships and meet the challenges of globalization.
3. It enables scarce skills to be shared across countries.
4. It allows for people to be fully utilized in the area in which they are qualified.
5. It makes available a wider variety of goods to countries.

Factors promoting Regional Integration

1. Common language- all the member states, except Haiti and Surinam, use English as their official
language. This allows for ease of communication among them.
2. The common history and cultural heritage.
3. Small population- this makes it necessary for them to co-operate to a form large regional market.
Their small size also makes it difficult for them to influence international organizations or countries
individually.
4. The limited resources (human and physical) available in the region demands that countries should
pool and share what they have for the development of the region.
5. The common local and international problems for example, difficulty in accessing international
markets, pressure from international organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the
International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and exploitation by international businesses require a
united approach.
6. The challenges of Globalization.
7. The challenges of Trade Liberalization- Caribbean governments can no longer restrict extra-regional
imports to regional manufacturers. Caribbean people must therefore support regional manufacturers
in order to ensure their survival and economic development of the region.
8. The increase in the number of trading blocs: the trend throughout the world is moving towards the
establishment of turing an Union (E., me Free Tiade, Area of the Americas (FTAA).

FACTORS HINDERING REGIONAL COOPERATION

1. Conflicts between territorial and regional demands and loyalties- Some governments and citizens
may be torn between the loyalty to their own country's needs and demands and the regional
integration objectives. For example, some governments have continued to retain barriers to
intra-regional trade in order to protect jobs and manufacturers.
2. Differences in resource distribution- The unequal distribution of natural resources in the region
makes those countries with limited resources feel that they would be at a disadvantage when trading
with countries that have greater resources.
3. Countries produce similar products and this may hinder trading relationships.
4. Competition between countries, for example, in the tourist industry.

Regional Integration in Jamaica

In Jamaica, regional integration primarily takes place within the framework of the Caribbean
Community (CARICOM), an organization of 15 member states in the Caribbean region.
CARICOM was established in 1973 with the Treaty of Chaguaramas, and its main objectives include
promoting economic integration, cooperation in foreign policy, and functional cooperation among
member states.

CARICOM Effect on Regional Integration in Jamaica:

1. Common Market and Free Trade: Jamaica participates in CARICOM's common market,
which allows for the free movement of goods, services, capital, and skilled labor within the
region. This promotes trade and economic integration among member states, benefiting
Jamaican businesses and consumers by expanding market access and opportunities.
 2. Single Market and Economy (CSME): Jamaica is a participant in CARICOM's efforts to
establish a Single Market and Economy (CSME), which aims to deepen economic integration
by harmonizing policies and regulations in areas such as trade, investment, and labor mobility.
While progress towards full implementation of the CSME has been gradual, it offers potential
benefits for Jamaica in terms of increased competitiveness and economic growth.
3. Regional Institutions and Cooperation: Jamaica collaborates with other CARICOM member
states through various regional institutions and mechanisms, including the CARICOM
Secretariat, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), and
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). These institutions facilitate
cooperation in areas such as trade, finance, legal affairs, and disaster management.
4. Regional Initiatives and Projects: Jamaica participates in regional initiatives and projects aimed
at addressing common challenges and promoting sustainable development in areas such as
agriculture, tourism, health, education, and climate resilience. These initiatives often involve
joint efforts, resource-sharing, and technical cooperation among CARICOM member states.
5. Diplomatic and Foreign Policy Coordination: Jamaica engages in diplomatic and foreign policy
coordination with other CARICOM member states on regional and international issues of
common concern. This includes advocacy on behalf of the Caribbean region in forums such as
the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of American States (OAS), as well as
collaboration on matters such as security, climate change, and sustainable development.

Summary:
Regional integration within CARICOM plays a significant role in Jamaica's efforts to promote
economic growth, social development, and regional cooperation. By working together with other
Caribbean countries, Jamaica seeks to leverage shared resources, expertise, and opportunities to address
common challenges and achieve common goals for the benefit of its citizens and the wider Caribbean
community.

Problems in CARICOM
CARICOM has existed since 1973. However, the integrated and co-operation desired for
the region’s people have been slow. Here are some of the problems in CARICOM:
• One reason for this is member states conflict between national and regional
loyalties. Countries have been more concerned with achieving the mandate given
to them by their electorate than attending to and implement regional goals which
would result in benefits for the region. Elected governments often attach more
importance to seeing their member states achieve status in international areas as
nations than as a part of caricom, even though they understand that small
individual nation states wield little power.
• Some CARICOM member’s states have more resources than others. The more developed countries
are fortunate to have deposits of mineral resources.
Throughout caricom’s history, they have wanted to utilize income gained from
wealth for their country’s benefits rather than for regional benefits. The more developed countries
compete among themselves to attract investors, offering a
variety of incentives to woo multinational companies.
• Each country wants its own factories to produce items for its people as it seeks to
export goods. This is preferred to strategically placing different types of factories
in several caricom countries to produce items for the entire region and other
countries.
There are other organizations that work with CARICOM for the purpose of integration
regionally and internationally each having their own objectives to be met and it also takes
on membership from various member states.

These are:
Organization of Eastern Caribbean State (OECS)
OECS is a governmental organization dedicated to economic harmony and integration
protection of human rights and the encouragement of good governance between
countries. It is also responsible and liable in the event of natural disaster (hurricane).
Some of the objectives of OECS are:
• Wants to strengthen-operation among member states at regional and international
levels;
• Promotion of unity and solidarity among member states and defending their
sovereignty and independence;
• Promotion of economic integration through the eastern Caribbean common
market;
• Arrange for overseas representatives to work together for common foreign policy
objectives.
Members of OECS: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica,
Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Association of Caribbean states (ACS)
The association of the Caribbean states bring together for the first time the English,
Spanish French and Dutch speaking countries and territories of the Caribbean Sea.
Objectives of ACS
• Wants to strengthen cooperation and integration among member states through
economic activities by trading raw materials and finished products among
members
• Preserve the Caribbean environment
• Member countries should work together on pollution problems and to develop
conservation strategies thus ensuring sustainable development in the Caribbean
region
Members of ACS: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Columbia, Costa
Rica, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Dominica Republic,
Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St.
Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela