Caribbean Community

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Caribbean Community
Flag of CARICOM.svg
Flag
CARICOM logo official.svg
Official Logo
Anthem: "Celebrating CARICOM" [1]
Caricom Member states 2024.png
  Full members
  Associate members
  Observers
Seat of Secretariat Georgetown, Guyana
Largest city Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Official languages English [2]
Working language
[3] [2]
Other languages
Ethnic groups
[5]
In full member states:
Demonym(s) Caribbean people
Type Supranational union [6]
Member states
15 full members
6 associates
7 observers
Government Intergovernmental
Carla Barnett
• Chairman
Dickon Mitchell [7]
Establishment
4 July 1973
• Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
2001
Area
• Total
458,480 km2 (177,020 sq mi)
Population
• 2019 estimate
18,482,141 (in full member states) [8]
239,251,864 [8] (in all states)
• Density
40.3/km2 (104.4/sq mi)
GDP  (PPP)2020 estimate
• Total
$145.3 billion [9]
• Per capita
$18,289
GDP  (nominal)2019 estimate
• Total
$81.987 billion
• Per capita
$12,608
HDI  (2018)Increase2.svg 0.730 [10]
high
Currency
Website
https://caricom.org/

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM or CC) is an intergovernmental organisation that is a political and economic union of 15 member states (14 nation-states and one dependency) and five associated members throughout the Americas, The Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. It has the primary objective to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and coordinate foreign policy. The organisation was established in 1973, [11] by its four founding members signing the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Its primary activities involve:

Contents

The secretariat headquarters is in Georgetown, Guyana. CARICOM has been granted the official United Nations General Assembly observer status. [12]

CARICOM was established by the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean and currently includes all the independent Anglophone island countries plus Belize, Guyana, Montserrat and Suriname, as well as all other British Caribbean territories and Bermuda as associate members. English was its sole working language into the 1990s. The organisation became multilingual with the addition of Dutch and Sranan Tongo-speaking Suriname in 1995 and the French and Haitian Creole-speaking Haiti in 2002. Furthermore, it added Spanish as the fourth official language in 2003. In July 2012, CARICOM announced they considered making French and Dutch official languages. [13] In 2001, the Conference of Heads of Governments signed a revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that cleared the way to transform the idea of a common market CARICOM into the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). [14] Part of the revised treaty establishes and implements the Caribbean Court of Justice.

History

CARICOM, originally The Caribbean Community and Common Market, was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas which took effect on 1 August 1973. [15] Founding states were Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

The Caribbean Community superseded the 1965–1972 Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) organised to provide a continued economic linkage between the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean after the dissolution of the West Indies Federation, which lasted from 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962.

A revised Treaty of Chaguaramas established The Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and was signed by the CARICOM Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community on 5 July 2001 at their Twenty-Second Meeting of the Conference in Nassau, The Bahamas. [16] The revised treaty cleared the way to transform the idea of a common market CARICOM into the Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy.

Haiti's membership in CARICOM remained effectively suspended from 29 February 2004 through early June 2006 following the 2004 Haitian coup d'état and the removal of Jean-Bertrand Aristide from the presidency. [17] [18] CARICOM announced that no democratically elected government in CARICOM should have its leader deposed. The fourteen other heads of government sought to have Aristide fly from Africa to Jamaica and share his account of events with them, which infuriated the interim Haitian prime minister, Gérard Latortue, who announced he would take steps to take Haiti out of CARICOM. [19] CARICOM thus voted on suspending the participation of Haitian officials from the councils of CARICOM. [20] [21] Following the presidential election of René Préval, Haitian officials were readmitted and Préval himself gave the opening address at the CARICOM Council of Ministers meeting in July. [22] [23]

Since 2013 the CARICOM-bloc and with the Dominican Republic have been tied to the European Union via an Economic Partnership Agreements signed in 2008 known as CARIFORUM. [24] The treaty grants all members of the European Union and CARIFORUM equal rights in terms of trade and investment. Under Article 234 of the agreement, the European Court of Justice handles dispute resolution between CARIFORUM and European Union states. [25]

Membership

As of 2024 CARICOM has 15 full members, six associate members and eight observers. The associated members are five British Overseas Territories and one constituent county of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is currently not established what the role of the associate members will be. The observers are states which engage in at least one of CARICOM's technical committees. [26] [ page needed ]

CARICOM members
StatusNameJoin dateNotes
Full memberFlag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda 4 July 1974
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  The Bahamas 4 July 1983Not a part of the customs union
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados 1 August 1973One of the four founding members
Flag of Belize.svg  Belize 1 May 1974
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana 1 August 1973One of the four founding members
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti 2 July 2002Provisional membership on 4 July 1998
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 1 August 1973One of the four founding members
Flag of Montserrat.svg  Montserrat 1 May 1974 British overseas territory
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis 26 July 1974Joined as Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia 1 May 1974
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 1 May 1974
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname 4 July 1995
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago 1 August 1973One of the four founding members
AssociateFlag of Anguilla.svg  Anguilla 4 July 1999 British overseas territory
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda 2 July 2003
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands 2 July 1991
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands 16 May 2002
Flag of Curacao.svg  Curaçao 28 July 2024Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg  Turks and Caicos Islands 2 July 1991 British overseas territory
ObserverFlag of Aruba.svg  Aruba Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of the Dominican Republic.svg  Dominican Republic
Flag of Mexico.svg  Mexico
Flag of Puerto Rico.svg  Puerto Rico Unincorporated territory of the United States
Flag of Sint Maarten.svg  Sint Maarten Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Flag of Venezuela.svg  Venezuela

Relationship with Cuba

In 2017, the Republic of Cuba and CARICOM signed the "CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement" [27] to facilitate closer trade ties. [28] In December 2022, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel met in Bridgetown, Barbados with the Heads of State and Government of CARICOM. On the occasion of the 8th CARICOM-Cuba Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations with the independent States of CARICOM and Cuba and the 20th Anniversary of CARICOM-Cuba Day. Cuba also accepted CARICOM's offer to deepen bilateral cooperation and to join robust discussions in the bloc's regional 'Joint Ministerial Taskforce on Food production and Security'.

Organizational structure

The following is the overall structure of Caribbean Community (CARICOM). [29]

Under Article 4 CARICOM breaks its 15 member states into two groups: Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and More Developed Countries (MDCs). [30]

The countries of CARICOM which are designated as Less Developed Countries (LDCs) are as follows: [30]

The countries of CARICOM which are designated as More Developed Countries (MDCs) are: [30]

Chairmanship

The post of Chairman (Head of CARICOM) is held in rotation by the regional Heads of Government of CARICOM's 15 member states. These include Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

Heads of government

CARICOM contains a quasi-Cabinet of the individual Heads of Government. These heads are given specialised portfolios of responsibility for regional development and integration. [31]

Secretariat

The Secretariat of the Caribbean Community is the Chief Administrative Organ for CARICOM. The Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community is the chief executive and handles foreign and community relations. Five years is the term of office of the Secretary-General, which may be renewed. The Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community handles human and Social Development. The General Counsel of the Caribbean Community handles trade and economic integration.

The goal statement of the CARICOM Secretariat is: "To contribute, in support of Member States, to the improvement of the quality of life of the People of the Community and the development of an innovative and productive society in partnership with institutions and groups working towards attaining a people-centred, sustainable and internationally competitive Community." [32]

Organs and bodies

Principal organs
OrganDescription
CARICOM Heads of GovernmentConsisting of the various heads of Government from each member state
Standing Committee of MinistersMinisterial responsibilities for specific areas, for example the Standing Committee of Ministers responsible for Health will consist of Ministers of Health from each member state

Community Council

The Community Council comprises ministers responsible for community affairs and any other Minister designated by the member states at their discretion. It is one of the community's principal organs; the other is the Conference of the Heads of Government. Four other organs and three bodies support it.

Secondary organs
Secondary organAbbreviation
Council for Finance and PlanningCOFAP
Council for Foreign and Community RelationsCOFCOR
Council for Human and Social DevelopmentCOHSOD
Council for Trade and Economic DevelopmentCOTED
Bodies
BodyDescription
Legal Affairs Committeeprovides legal advice
Budget Committeeexamines the draft budget and work programme of the Secretariat and submits recommendations to the Community Council.
Committee of the Central Bank Governorsprovides recommendations to the COFAP on monetary and financial matters.

Institutions

The following institutions are founded by or affiliated to the Caricom: [33]

Caricom Institutions

InstitutionAbbreviationLocationCountry
Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency CCREEE Bridgetown Barbados
Caricom Development Fund CDF Bridgetown Barbados
Caribbean Telecommunications Union CTU Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre CCCCC Belmopan Belize
Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality [34] CROSQ Bridgetown Barbados
Caribbean Meteorological Organisation CMO Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism CRFM Belize City Belize
Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security IMPACS Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology CIMH Bridgetown Barbados
Caribbean Examinations Council CXC Bridgetown Barbados
Caribbean Court of Justice CCtJ/CCJ Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago
Caricom Competition Commission CCC Paramaribo Suriname
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency CDEMA Saint Michael Barbados
Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency CAHFSA Paramaribo Suriname
Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System CASSOS Kingston Jamaica
Caribbean Public Health Agency CARPHA Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Centre for Development Administration CARICAD Saint Michael Barbados
Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute CARDI Saint Augustine Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators COTA Georgetown Guyana

Functional cooperation

InstitutionAbbreviationLocationCountry
Caribbean Tourism Organization CTO Saint Michael Barbados
Caribbean Council of Legal Education CLEseveral
Caribbean Export Development Agency Caribbean Export Saint Michael Barbados
Caribbean Regional Information and Translation Institute CRITI Paramaribo Suriname

Associate

InstitutionAbbreviationLocationCountry
Caribbean Congress of Labour CCL Saint Michael Barbados
Caricom Private Sector Organization CPSO Saint Michael Barbados
University of the West Indies UWIseveral
University of Guyana UG Georgetown Guyana
Caribbean Law Institute CLI Saint Michael Barbados
Caribbean Development Bank CDB Saint Michael Barbados

Administration and staff

InstitutionAbbreviationLocationCountry
Secretariat of the Caribbean Community CCS Georgetown Guyana
Caricom heads of government PCCvariable
Conference of Heads of Governments HGCvariable
Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians ACCPvariable
Caribbean Community Administrative Tribunal CCAT Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago

Cancelled

The following institutions have been cancelled or merged into other ones:

InstitutionAbbreviationLocationCountry
Regional Educational Programme for Animal Health AssistantsREPAHA New Amsterdam Guyana
Caribbean Food CorporationCFC Saint Augustine Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Environmental Health InstituteCEHI Castries Saint Lucia
The Caribbean Epidemiology CentreCAREC Port of Spain Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Food and Nutrition InstituteCFNI Kingston Jamaica
Caribbean Health Research CouncilCHRC Saint Augustine Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Regional Drug Testing LaboratoryCRDTL Georgetown Guyana

Symbols

Standard

The flag of the Caribbean Community was chosen and approved in November 1983 at the Conference of Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The original design by the firm of WINART Studies in Georgetown, Guyana was substantially modified at the July 1983 Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government. [35] The flag was first flown on 4 July 1984 in Nassau, The Bahamas at the fifth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government. [36]

The flag features a blue background, but the upper part is a light blue representing sky and the lower, a darker blue representing the Caribbean Sea. The yellow circle in the centre represents the sun on which is printed in black the logo of the Caribbean Community, two interlocking Cs. The two Cs are in the form of broken links in a chain, symbolising both unity and a break with the colonial past. The narrow ring of green around the sun represents the vegetation of the region. [35]

Song

For CARICOM's 40th anniversary, a competition to compose an official song or anthem for CARICOM was launched in April 2013 [37] to promote choosing a song that promoted unity and inspired CARICOM identity and pride. A regional panel of judges comprising independent experts in music was nominated by member states and the CARICOM Secretariat. Three rounds of competition condensed 63 entries to a final three, from which judges chose Celebrating CARICOM by Michele Henderson of Dominica [37] in March 2014. [38] Henderson won a US$10,000 prize. [39] Her song was produced by her husband, Roland Delsol Jr., and arranged by Earlson Matthew. It also featured Michael Ferrol on drums and choral input from the St. Alphonsus Choir. It was re-produced for CARICOM by Carl Beaver Henderson of Trinidad and Tobago. [38]

A second-place entry titled My CARICOM came from Jamaican Adiel Thomas [37] who won US$5,000, [39] and a third-place song titled One CARICOM by Carmella Lawrence of St. Kitts and Nevis, [37] won US$2,500. [39] The other songs from the top-ten finalists (in no particular order) were:

The first official performance of Celebrating CARICOM by Henderson took place on Tuesday 1 July 2014 at the opening ceremony for the Thirty-Fifth Regional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Antigua and Barbuda. [37]

Celebration

CARICOM Day

The celebration of CARICOM Day is the selected day some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries officially recognise the commemorative date of signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, the agreement that established CARICOM on 4 July 1973. The Treaty was signed in Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago by then leaders of: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. CARICOM Day is recognised as an official public holiday in Guyana where the secretariat is based, and is observed on the first Monday of July. The government of Antigua and Barbuda has also implemented CARICOM Day as a holiday.

The day features activities that are organised by government entities such as parades, pageants, and campaigns to educate people about CARICOM.

Caribbean Festival of Arts – CARIFESTA

Caribbean Festival of Arts, commonly known as CARIFESTA, is an annual festival for promoting arts of the Caribbean with a different country hosting the event each year. It was started to provide a venue to "depict the life of the people of the Region, their heroes, morals, myths, traditions, beliefs, creativity and ways of expression" [40] by fostering a sense of Caribbean unity, and motivating artists by showing the best of their home country. It began under the auspices of Guyana's then President Forbes Burnham in 1972, who was inspired by other singular arts festivals in the region.

Statistics

Population and economic statistics of full and associate members
MemberMembershipLand area (km2) [41] Population (2019) GDP (PPP) Millions USD (2017) [42] GDP Per Capita (PPP) USD (2017)Human Development Index (2022) [43]
Flag of Anguilla.svg  Anguilla associate9115,174175.412,200–
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda full member442.6104,0842,39026,3000.826
Flag of the Bahamas.svg  The Bahamas full member10,010385,3409,33925,1000.820
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados full member430287,0104,91917,5000.809
Flag of Belize.svg  Belize full member22,806398,0503,2308,3000.700
Flag of Bermuda.svg  Bermuda associate5463,7795,19885,700–
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands associate15132,20650042,300–
Flag of the Cayman Islands.svg  Cayman Islands associate26464,4202,50743,800–
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica full member75174,67985112,0000.740
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada full member344108,8251,59014,7000.793
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana full member214,970786,5086,3678,3000.742
Flag of Haiti.svg  Haiti full member27,56011,242,85619,8801,8000.552
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica full member10,8312,728,86426,2009,2000.706
Flag of Montserrat.svg  Montserrat full member1025,22043.88,500–
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis full member26156,3451,52826,8000.838
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia full member606180,4542,38413,5000.725
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines full member389109,8031,28111,6000.772
Flag of Suriname.svg  Suriname full member156,000573,0857,92813,9000.690
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago full member5,1281,359,19342,78031,2000.814
Flag of the Turks and Caicos Islands.svg  Turks and Caicos Islands associate94837,91063229,100–
Full membersmembers only432,51018,400,316130,71115,2470.751

Thousands of Caricom nationals live within other member states of the Community.

An estimated 30,000 Jamaicans legally reside in other CARICOM member states, [44] mainly in The Bahamas (6,200), Antigua & Barbuda (estimated 12,000), [45] Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago). [44] Also, an estimated 150 Jamaicans live and work in Montserrat. [45] A 21 November 2013 estimated put 16,958 Jamaicans residing illegally in Trinidad & Tobago, as according to the records of the Office of the Chief Immigration Officer, their entry certificates would have since expired. [46] By October 2014, the estimated Jamaicans residing illegally in Trinidad and Tobago was 19,000 along with an estimated 7,169 Barbadians and 25,884 Guyanese residing illegally. [47] An estimated 8,000 Trinidadians and Tobagonians live in Jamaica. [48]

Exclusive Economic Zones of the member states of the CARICOM. Considering them, the total area reaches the 2 300 297 km . Aguas territoriales CARICOM.svg
Exclusive Economic Zones of the member states of the CARICOM. Considering them, the total area reaches the 2 300 297 km .

Barbados hosts a large diaspora population of Guyanese, of whom (in 2005) 5,032 lived there permanently as citizens, permanent residents, immigrants (with immigrant status) and Caricom skilled nationals; 3,200 were residing in Barbados temporarily under work permits, as students, or with "reside and work" status. A further 2,000–3,000 Guyanese were estimated to be living illegally in Barbados at the time. [49] Migration between Barbados and Guyana has deep roots, going back over 150 years, with the most intense period of Barbadian migration to then-British Guiana occurring between 1863 and 1886, although as late as the 1920s and 1930s Barbadians were still leaving Barbados for British Guiana. [50]

Migration between Guyana and Suriname also goes back a number of years. An estimated 50,000 Guyanese had migrated to Suriname by 1986 [51] [52] In 1987 an estimated 30–40,000 Guyanese were in Suriname. [53] Many Guyanese left Suriname in the 1970s and 1980s, either voluntarily or by expulsion. Citing a national security concern, over 5,000 were expelled in January 1985 alone. [54] In the instability Suriname experienced following independence, both coups and civil war. [52] In 2013, an estimated 11,530 Guyanese had emigrated to Suriname and 4,662 Surinamese to Guyana. [55]

Relationship to other supranational Caribbean organisations

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Association of Caribbean States

CARICOM was instrumental in the formation of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) on 24 July 1994. The original idea for the Association came from a recommendation of the West Indian Commission, established in 1989 by the CARICOM heads of state and government. The Commission advocated both deepening the integration process (through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy) and complementing it through a separate regional organisation encompassing all states in the Caribbean. [56]

CARICOM accepted the commission's recommendations and opened dialogue with other Caribbean states, the Central American states and the Latin American nations of Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico which border the Caribbean, for consultation on the proposals of the West Indian Commission. [56]

At an October 1993 summit, the heads of state and government of CARICOM and the presidents of the then-Group of Three (Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela) formally decided to create an association grouping all states of the Caribbean basin. A work schedule for its formation was adopted. The aim was to create the association in less than a year, an objective which was achieved with the formal creation of the ACS. [56]

Community of Latin American and Caribbean States

CARICOM was also involved in the formation of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on 3 December 2010. The idea for CELAC originated at the Rio Group–Caribbean Community Unity Summit on 23 February 2010 in Mexico. This act caters to the integration of the Americas process, complimenting well-established initiatives of the Organization of American States. [57] [58] [59] [60]

European Union: Economic Partnership Agreements

Since 2013, the CARICOM-bloc and the Dominican Republic have been tied to the European Union via an Economic Partnership Agreements known as CARIFORUM signed in 2008. [24] The treaty grants all members of the European Union and CARIFORUM equal rights in terms of trade and investment. Within the agreement under Article 234, the European Court of Justice also carries dispute resolution mechanisms between CARIFORUM and the states of the European Union. [25]

OHADAC Project

In May 2016, Caricom's court of original jurisdiction, the CCJ, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the ACP Legal Association based in Guadeloupe recognising and supporting the goals of implementing a harmonised business law framework in the Caribbean through ACP Legal Association's OHADAC Project. [61]

OHADAC is the acronym for the French "Organisation pour l'Harmonisation du Droit des Affaires en les Caraïbes", which translates into English as "Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in the Caribbean". The OHADAC Project takes inspiration from a similar organisation in Africa and aims to enhance economic integration across the entire Caribbean and facilitate increased trade and international investment through unified laws and alternative dispute resolution methods. [61]

Free-trade agreements

See also

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partnership for Prosperity and Security in the Caribbean</span>

The Partnership for Prosperity and Security in the Caribbean (PPS) is a regional-level dialogue with the stated purpose of providing greater cooperation on security and economic issues. The Partnership was founded in Bridgetown, Barbados on March 10, 1997 by the Governments of the United States of America, Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, the Commonwealth of Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, the Republic of Haiti, Jamaica, the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the Republic of Suriname and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

CARIPASS is a voluntary travel card programme that will provide secure and simple border crossings for Caribbean Community (CARICOM) citizens and some legal residents of CARICOM nations. The CARIPASS initiative is coordinated by the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security, and seeks to provide standardised border control facilities within participating Caribbean communities.

The nation of Trinidad and Tobago has been the leading supporter of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Trinidad and Tobago was one of the four members in 1973 which then along with Barbados, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda moved to establish the organisation that today it known as the Caribbean Community and Common Market. The new organisation because a successor to the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, of which Trinidad and Tobago was a leading member and also a founding member.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Member states of the Caribbean Community</span> Member nations of CARICOM, an economic and political union in the Caribbean

A member state of the Caribbean Community is a state that has been specified as a member state within the Treaty of Chaguaramas or any other Caribbean state that is in the opinion of the Conference, able and willing to exercise the rights and assume the obligations of membership in accordance with article 29 of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Member states are designated as either More economically developed country (MDCs) or Less economically developed countries (LDCs). These designations are not intended to create disparity among member states. The Community was established by mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, but has since become a multilingual organisation in practice with the addition of Dutch-speaking Suriname in 1995 and French-speaking Haiti in 2002. There are fifteen full members of the Caribbean Community, four of which are founding members.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbados–Cuba relations</span> Bilateral relations

Barbados-Cuban relations refers to the bilateral relations between Barbados and the Republic of Cuba. Barbados has an embassy in Havana and Cuba has an embassy in Bridgetown. Barbados and the Republic of Cuba are both members of the Association of Caribbean States, Belt and Road Initiative, ECLAC, EU-CARIFORUM, the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific State and CARICOM.

References

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  4. 1 2 "Our Culture". Archived from the original on 26 September 2020. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
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