Caribbean Community

Short description: Organisation of fifteen states and dependencies throughout the Americas

Caribbean Community

* | Dutch:| Caribische Gemeenschap

|

French:| Communauté caribéenne
Spanish:| Comunidad del Caribe

Flag

Anthem: "Celebrating CARICOM"[1]

Full members

Associate members

Observers

Seat of Secretariat| Georgetown, Guyana
Largest city| Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Official languages| English[2]
Working language|

* Dutch
* English
* French
* Spanish

[3][2]
Other languages|

34 languages[2][4]

* Anguillian English Creole
* Antillean French Creole
* Arabic
* Bajan English
* Bajan English Creole
* Bahamian English Creole
* Belizean English Creole
* Belizean Spanish
* Caribbean Hindustani
* Caribbean Spanish
* Cayman Islands English
* Chinese
* Dominican French Creole
* Grenadian English Creole
* Guyanese English Creole
* Jamaican English
* Jamaican Patois
* Montserrat English Creole
* Ndyuka
* Papiamento
* Plautdietsch German
* Saint Kitts Creole
* Saint Lucian French Creole
* Saramaccan
* Sranan Tongo (Taki Taki)
* Surinamese Dutch
* Tobagonian English Creole
* Trinidadian English Creole
* Trinidadian and Tobagonian English
* Turks and Caicos English Creole
* Venezuelan Spanish
* Vincentian English Creole
* Virgin Islands English Creole

16 Native non-
extinct languages[4]

* Arawak (Lokono)
* Carib (Kari'nja)
* Garifuna (Karif)
* Kapóng
* Macushi
* Mawayana (Mapidian)
* Mopan
* Pemon (Arekuna)
* Qʼeqchiʼ (Kʼekchi)
* Sikiana (Kashuyana)
* Tiriyó
* Yucatec
* Waiwai
* Wapishana
* Warao (Guarauno)
* Wayana

Ethnic groups

[5]

| In full member states:

* 73.78% Afro-Caribbean
* 8.3% Multiracial
* 6.09% Indian
* 0.49% European
* 0.39% Indigenous (Amerindian)
* 0.12% Chinese
* 10.83% Others

Demonym(s)| Caribbean people
Type| Supranational union[6]
Member states|

15 full members

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Bahamas
* Barbados
* Belize
* Dominica
* Grenada
* Guyana
* Haiti
* Jamaica
* Montserrat
* Saint Kitts and Nevis
* Saint Lucia
* Saint Vincent and Grenadines
* Suriname
* Trinidad and Tobago

5 associates

* Anguilla
* Bermuda
* British Virgin Islands
* Cayman Islands
* Turks and Caicos Islands

8 observers

* Aruba
* Colombia
* Curaçao
* Dominican Republic
* Mexico
* Puerto Rico
* Sint Maarten
* Venezuela

Government| Intergovernmental

• Secretary-General

| Carla Barnett

• Chairman

| Roosevelt Skerrit[7]
Establishment

• Treaty of Chaguaramas

| 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)|  0.730[10]
high
Currency|

* Bahamian dollar (BSD)
* Barbadian dollar (BBD)
* Belize dollar (BZD)
* Bermudian dollar (BMD)
* Cayman Islands dollar (KYD)
* Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD)
* Guyanese dollar (GYD)
* Haitian gourde (HTG)
* Jamaican dollar (JMD)
* Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG)
* Surinamese dollar (SRD)
* Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
* United States dollar (USD)

Website
www.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) throughout the Americas and Atlantic Ocean. They have primary objectives 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] with its four founding members signing the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Its primary activities involve:

* Coordinating economic policies and development planning.
* Devising and instituting special projects for the less-developed countries within its jurisdiction.
* Operating as a regional single market for many of its members (Caricom Single Market).
* Handling regional trade disputes.

The secretariat headquarters is in Georgetown, Guyana. CARICOM is an official United Nations Observer beneficiary.[12]

CARICOM was established by the English-speaking parts of the Caribbean and currently includes all the independent Anglophone island countries plus Belize, Guyana and Montserrat, 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-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.[3] In July 2012, CARICOM announced they considered making French and Dutch official languages.[13] In 2001, the heads of government signed a revised Treaty of Chaguaramas[14] that cleared the way to transform the idea of a common market CARICOM into the Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy. Part of the revised treaty establishes and implements the Caribbean Court of Justice.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Membership
* 2.1 Relationship with Cuba
* 3 Organizational Structure
* 3.1 Chairmanship
* 3.2 Heads of government
* 3.3 Secretariat
* 3.4 Organs and bodies
* 3.4.1 Community Council
* 4 Institutions
* 4.1 Caricom Institutions
* 4.2 Functional cooperation
* 4.3 Associate
* 4.4 Administration and staff
* 4.5 Cancelled
* 5 Symbols
* 5.1 Standard
* 5.2 Song
* 6 Celebration
* 6.1 CARICOM Day
* 6.2 Caribbean Festival of Arts – CARIFESTA
* 7 Statistics
* 8 Relationship to other supranational Caribbean organisations
* 8.1 Association of Caribbean States
* 8.2 Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
* 8.3 European Union: Economic Partnership Agreements
* 8.4 OHADAC Project
* 9 Free Trade Agreements
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

## History

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

CARICOM 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

CARICOM members  Status  | Name  | Join date  | Notes

|
|
|

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

### Relationship with Cuba

In 2017 the Republic of Cuba and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) signed the "CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement"[26] to facilitate closer trade ties.[27] In December, 2022 President of the Republic of Cuba, H.E. 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

Structures comprised by the overall Caribbean Community (CARICOM).[28]

Under Article 4 CARICOM breaks its 15 member states into two groups: Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and More Developed Countries (MDCs).[16]

The countries of CARICOM which are designated as Less Developed Countries (LDCs) are:[16]

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Belize
* Commonwealth of Dominica
* Grenada
* Republic of Haiti
* Montserrat
* Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis
* St Lucia
* St Vincent and the Grenadines

The countries of CARICOM which are designated as More Developed Countries (MDCs) are:[16]

* Commonwealth of The Bahamas
* Barbados
* Co-operative Republic of Guyana
* Jamaica
* Republic of Suriname
* Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

### Chairmanship

The post of Chairman (Head of CARICOM) is held in rotation by the regional Heads of State (for the republics) and Heads of Government (for the realms) 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.[29]

### 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."[30]

### Organs and bodies

Principal organs  Organ  | Description

|

CARICOM Heads of Government  | Consisting of the various heads of Government from each member state
Standing Committee of Ministers  | Ministerial 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 organ  | Abbreviation

|

Council for Finance and Planning  | COFAP
Council for Foreign and Community Relations  | COFCOR
Council for Human and Social Development  | COHSOD
Council for Trade and Economic Development  | COTED
Bodies  Body  | Description

|

Legal Affairs Committee  | provides legal advice
Budget Committee  | examines the draft budget and work programme of the Secretariat and submits recommendations to the Community Council.
Committee of the Central Bank Governors  | provides recommendations to the COFAP on monetary and financial matters.

## Institutions

The following institutions are founded by or affiliated to the Caricom:[31]

### Caricom Institutions

Institution  | Abbreviation  | Location  | Country

|
|
|

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[32] | 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

Institution  | Abbreviation  | Location  | Country

|
|
|

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

### Associate

Institution  | Abbreviation  | Location  | Country

|
|
|

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

### Administration and staff

Institution  | Abbreviation  | Location  | Country

|
|
|

Secretariat of the Caribbean Community  | CCS | Georgetown | Guyana
Caricom heads of government  | PCC | variable |
Conference of Heads of Governments  | HGC | variable |
Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians  | ACCP | variable |
Caribbean Community Administrative Tribunal  | CCAT | Port of Spain | Trinidad and Tobago

### Cancelled

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

Institution  | Abbreviation  | Location  | Country

|
|
|

Regional Educational Programme for Animal Health Assistants  | REPAHA | New Amsterdam | Guyana
Caribbean Food Corporation  | CFC | Saint Augustine | Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Environmental Health Institute  | CEHI | Castries | Saint Lucia
The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre  | CAREC | Port of Spain | Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute  | CFNI | Kingston | Jamaica
Caribbean Health Research Council  | CHRC | Saint Augustine | Trinidad and Tobago
Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory  | CRDTL | 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.[33] The flag was first flown on 4 July 1984 in Nassau, The Bahamas at the fifth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.[34]

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.[33]

### Song

For CARICOM's 40th anniversary, a competition to compose an official song or anthem for CARICOM was launched in April 2013[35] 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[35] in March 2014.[36] Henderson won a US$10,000 prize.[37] 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.[36]

A second-place entry titled My CARICOM came from Jamaican Adiel Thomas[35] who won US$5,000,[37] and a third-place song titled One CARICOM by Carmella Lawrence of St. Kitts and Nevis,[35] won US$2,500.[37] The other songs from the top-ten finalists (in no particular order) were:

* One Region one Caribbean from Anguilla,
* One Caribbean Family from Jamaica,
* CARICOM’s Light from St. Vincent & the Grenadines,
* We Are CARICOM from Dominica,
* Together As one from Dominica,
* Blessed CARICOM from Jamaica,
* Together We Rise from Jamaica.[36]

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.[35]

## 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 July 4, 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

Further information: Caribbean Festival of Arts

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"[38] 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  Member  | Membership  | Land area (km2)[39] | Population (2019)  | GDP (PPP) Millions USD (2017)[40] | GDP Per Capita (PPP) USD (2017)  | Human Development Index (2018)[41]

|
|
|
|
|
|

Anguilla  | associate  | 91  | 15,174  | 175.4  | 12,200  | –
Antigua and Barbuda  | full member  | 442.6  | 104,084  | 2,390  | 26,300  | 0.776
The Bahamas  | full member  | 10,010  | 385,340  | 9,339  | 25,100  | 0.805
Barbados  | full member  | 430  | 287,010  | 4,919  | 17,500  | 0.813
Belize  | full member  | 22,806  | 398,050  | 3,230  | 8,300  | 0.720
Bermuda  | associate  | 54  | 63,779  | 5,198  | 85,700  | –
British Virgin Islands  | associate  | 151  | 32,206  | 500  | 42,300  | –
Cayman Islands  | associate  | 264  | 64,420  | 2,507  | 43,800  | –
Dominica  | full member  | 751  | 74,679  | 851  | 12,000  | 0.724
Grenada  | full member  | 344  | 108,825  | 1,590  | 14,700  | 0.763
Guyana  | full member  | 214,970  | 786,508  | 6,367  | 8,300  | 0.670
Haiti  | full member  | 27,560  | 11,242,856  | 19,880  | 1,800  | 0.503
Jamaica  | full member  | 10,831  | 2,728,864  | 26,200  | 9,200  | 0.726
Montserrat  | full member  | 102  | 5,220  | 43.8  | 8,500  | –
Saint Kitts and Nevis  | full member  | 261  | 56,345  | 1,528  | 26,800  | 0.777
Saint Lucia  | full member  | 606  | 180,454  | 2,384  | 13,500  | 0.745
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  | full member  | 389  | 109,803  | 1,281  | 11,600  | 0.728
Suriname  | full member  | 156,000  | 573,085  | 7,928  | 13,900  | 0.724
Trinidad and Tobago  | full member  | 5,128  | 1,359,193  | 42,780  | 31,200  | 0.799
Turks and Caicos Islands  | associate  | 948  | 37,910  | 632  | 29,100  | –
Full members  | members only  | 432,510  | 18,400,316  | 130,711  | 15,247  | 0.730

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

An estimated 30,000 Jamaicans legally reside in other CARICOM member states,[42] mainly in The Bahamas (6,200),[43] Antigua & Barbuda (estimated 12,000),[44] Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago).[42] Also, an estimated 150 Jamaicans live and work in Montserrat.[44] A November 21, 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.[45] 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.[46] An estimated 8,000 Trinidadians and Tobagonians live in Jamaica.[47]

Exclusive Economic Zones of the member states of the CARICOM. Considering them, the total area reaches the 2 300 297 km².

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.[48] 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.[49]

Migration between Guyana and Suriname also goes back a number of years. An estimated 50,000 Guyanese had migrated to Suriname by 1986[50][51] In 1987 an estimated 30–40,000 Guyanese were in Suriname.[52] 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.[53] In the instability Suriname experienced following independence, both coups and civil war.[51] In 2013, an estimated 11,530 Guyanese had emigrated to Suriname and 4,662 Surinamese to Guyana.[54]

## Relationship to other supranational Caribbean organisations

### 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 complimenting it through a separate regional organisation encompassing all states in the Caribbean.[55]

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.[55]

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.[55]

### 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.[56][57][58][59]

### 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.[60]

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.[60]

## Free Trade Agreements

* List of bilateral free-trade agreements

## See also

* Projects of the Caribbean Community
* CSME
* Association of Caribbean States
* North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
* North American Union (NAU)
* Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)
* EU/UK–CARIFORUM
* Caribbean Financial Action Task Force
* Caribbean Initiative
* Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)
* Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions
* Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network
* Community of Latin American and Caribbean States
* Commonwealth of Nations
* Languages of the Caribbean
* List of regional organizations by population
* Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States
* Organization of American States
* Petrocaribe
* Small Island Developing States
* West Indies

## References

1. ↑ "Our Symbols — Caribbean Community (CARICOM)". https://caricom.org/about-caricom/who-we-are/our-symbols/.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Who we are". https://caricom.org/our-community/who-we-are/.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Spanish agreed as CARICOM second language". http://www.landofsixpeoples.com/news304/nc310133.htm.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Our Culture". https://caricom.org/our-community/who-we-are/our-culture/.
5. ↑ "The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency". https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/.
6. ↑ EU Style Structure Evident in CARICOM
7. ↑ "Archived copy". https://caricom.org/wp-content/uploads/ROTATION-SCHEDULE-HGC.pdf.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "CARICOM – Caribbean Community 2021". https://countryeconomy.com/countries/groups/caribbean-community.
9. ↑ "GDP, current prices. Purchasing power parity; billions of international dollars". https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/PPPGDP@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD.
10. ↑ List of countries by HDI
11. ↑ Ramjeet, Oscar (2009-04-16). "CARICOM countries will speak with one voice in meetings with US and Canadian leaders". Caribbean Net News. https://idsa.in/idsacomments/wither-caricom-prospects-post-brexit_sbmagaraj_110716.
12. ↑ "Intergovernmental Organizations". https://www.un.org/en/sections/member-states/intergovernmental-organizations/index.html.
13. ↑ "Communiqué Issued at the Conclusion of the Thirty-Third Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, 4–6 July 2012, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia" , "Heads of Government recognized that, although English was the official language of the Community, the facility to communicate in their languages could enhance the participation of Haiti and Suriname in the integration process. They therefore requested the conduct of a study to examine the possibilities and implications, including costs, of introducing French and Dutch."
14. ↑ "CARICOM (Revised Treaty)". http://www.worldtradelaw.net/fta/agreements/caricomrevisedfta.pdf. (573 KB)
15. ↑ "Original Treaty of Chaguaramas". http://www.caricomlaw.org/doc.php?id=21.
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 "Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas". http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community/revised_treaty-text.pdf.
17. ↑ "Aristide accuses U.S. of forcing him out". Canadian Broadcast Corporation. 2004-03-02. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/aristide-accuses-u-s-of-forcing-him-out-1.502442.
18. ↑ "Aristide launches kidnap lawsuit". BBC News. 2004-03-31. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3587777.stm.
19. ↑ Haiti suspends ties with CARICOM
20. ↑ "Haiti suspends ties with CARICOM". Trinidadandtobagonews.com. http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1721.
21. ↑ Jamaica Gleaner News – Haiti could return to CARICOM
22. ↑ Haiti re-admitted?
23. ↑ Caricom and Haiti: The raising of the Caribbean's 'Iron Curtain'
24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 Caribbean moves afoot to restructure CARIFORUM , Peter Richards, Tuesday April 12th 2011
25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "Letter: Privy Council and EPA" , October 8, 2009, Jamaica Gleaner
26. ↑ "CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement". https://caricom.org/Document-Library/view-document/caricom-cuba-trade-and-economic-cooperation-agreement. [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
27. ↑ Rodriguez Parrilla, Bruno Eduardo (June 14, 2019). "CARICOM-Cuba: Only integration will allow us to prosper" (in es). CubaDebate.cu. http://www.cubadebate.cu/opinion/2019/06/14/caricom-cuba-solo-la-integracion-nos-permitira-prosperar/.
28. ↑ "Organisational structure". 13 March 2007. http://www.caricom.org/jsp/secretariat/organogram_mar_07.pdf.
29. ↑ "Regional Portfolios of CARICOM Heads of Government". May 2, 2008. http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community/regional_portfolio.jsp?menu=community.
30. ↑ "Overview- CARICOM Secretariat" (in en-US). 2023-09-19. https://caricom.org/20357-2-2/.
31. ↑ Caricom, Institutions
32. ↑ CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ)
33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "CARICOM: Our Symbols". https://caricom.org/about-caricom/who-we-are/our-symbols.
34. ↑ "Caribbean Community and Common Market". https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/int-cari.html.
35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 35.2 35.3 35.4 "History created as new CARICOM song is launched". http://www.caricom.org/jsp/pressreleases/press_releases_2014/pres168_14.jsp.
36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 36.2 "WORD Version of CARICOM song competition Fact Sheet". July 3, 2014. https://tropicalfete.com/2014/07/03/word-version-of-caricom-song-competition-fact-sheet/.
37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 37.2 "CARICOM Song Competition: Terms of Reference". http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community_organs/cohsod_culture/carifesta_X1_2013/TOR_CARICOM_song_competition.pdf.
38. ↑ "History of CARIFESTA" (in en-US). https://caricom.org/history-of-carifesta/.
39. ↑ "Land area rankings" (in en). The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2147.html. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
40. ↑ "Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) valuation of country GDP " (2013). World Economic Outlook Database 2014. International Monetary Fund. .
41. ↑ "Human Development Report 2019". http://hdr.undp.org/sites/default/files/hdr2019.pdf.
42. ↑ 42.0 42.1 "30,000 Jamaicans residing in other CARICOM member states". http://www.caricomnews.net/index.php/caricom/caricom-news/regional-news/1889-skilled-jamaicans-refused-entry-into-some-caricom-states.
43. ↑ "People Groups | Joshua Project". https://www.joshuaproject.net/people_groups/12316.
44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 "PM Golding Calls on Jamaicans in Antigua & Barbuda to Co-Operate with Government & People There". July 7, 2008. https://jis.gov.jm/pm-golding-calls-on-jamaicans-in-antigua-barbuda-to-co-operate-with-government-people-there/.
45. ↑ "Close to 17,000 Jamaicans residing illegally in Trinidad, newspapers says". November 26, 2013. http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Close-to-17-000-Jamaicans-residing-illegally-in-Trinidad--newspapers-says.
46. ↑ "7 000 illegal Bajans in T&T". October 16, 2014. https://www.nationnews.com/2014/10/16/7-000-illegal-bajans-in-tt/.
47. ↑ "Bissessar celebrates new Trinidad &Tobago high commission". April 17, 2015. http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/social/20150417/bissessar-celebrates-new-trinidad-tobago-high-commission.
48. ↑ "Guyanese, British and Americans among illegal immigrants living in Barbados". https://cnewsnow.tripod.com/id376.html.
49. ↑ Lewis, Linden (August 1, 2011). "Mudheads in Barbados: A Lived Experience". https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/08/01/features/in-the-diaspora/mudheads-in-barbados-a-lived-experience/.
50. ↑ "Languages of Suriname". http://archive.ethnologue.com/15/show_country.asp?name=SR.
51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 Holbrook, David J.; Holbrook, Holly A. (2001). "Guyanese Creole Survey Report". http://www2.sil.org/silesr/2002/011/SILESR2002-011.pdf.
52. ↑ "Guyanese vital in Suriname". http://www.guyana-cricket.com/news/guyanese-vital-suriname.
53. ↑ "Nervous neighbours: Guyana and Suriname". November 5, 2008. https://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/11/05/guyana-review/nervous-neighbours-guyana-and-suriname/.
54. ↑ "Guyana Migration Profiles". http://esa.un.org/MigGMGProfiles/indicators/files/Guyana.pdf.
55. ↑ 55.0 55.1 55.2 "Evolution of the Association of Caribbean States". http://www.sela.org/media/268462/evolution_of_the_association_of_caribbean_states_-acs.pdf.
56. ↑ "Mexidata (English) March 1, 2010". Mexidata.info. http://www.mexidata.info/id2573.html.
57. ↑ {{cite news |url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AML_GEN_CUMBRE_SPLA-?SITE=WFMZ&SECTION=ASIA&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-02-23-11-44-02 |title=Acuerdan crear Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños |agency=Associated Press |date=February 23, 2010
58. ↑ "América Latina crea una OEA sin Estados Unidos". El País. February 23, 2010. http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/America/Latina/crea/OEA/Estados/Unidos/elpepuint/20100223elpepuint_1/Tes.
59. ↑ "Rio Group approves its expansion at Unity Summit". http://www.mexicocancun.net/blog/?p=321.
60. ↑ 60.0 60.1 "CCJ signs MOU on harmonising business law in Caribbean". May 20, 2016. https://today.caricom.org/2016/05/20/ccj-signs-mou-on-harmonising-business-law-in-caribbean/.

## External links

* Official Blog CARICOM Today
* CARICOM Representation Office in Haiti (CROH)
* CARICOM Statistics: Statistical information compiled through the CARICOM Secretariat
* Radio CARICOM: the voice of the Caribbean Community (Press Release)
* Caricom Law: Website and online database of the CARICOM Legislative Drafting Facility (CLDF)
* Caricom Trade Support Programme: Government of Trinidad and Tobago
* CARICOM Trade Support Programme Loan
* Rapid Exchange System for Dangerous Non-food Consumer Goods (CARREX): Front end for Consumer Product Incident Reporting [yes|permanent dead link|dead link}}]
* How viable is a single Caribbean currency? Part II
* How viable is a single Caribbean currency? Part III
* The Dominican Republic in Caricom? Yes, we can
* Bureau recommends re-examination of Dominican Republic's proposed membership in CARICOM
* Guyana Journal (2007–07): Advancing Integration Between Caricom and Central America
* EDITORIAL: We may just have to dump CARICOM, July 4, 2010, Jamaica Gleaner
* Commentary: Gleaner newspaper suggests disbanding CARICOM , July 5, 2010, Caribbean Net News
* Does Caricom have a future? , 6 July 2010, BBC.co.uk
* That elusive governance structure, 7 July 2010, BBC.co.uk

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International trade

Terminology|

* Absolute advantage
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