Regional Integration

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A. Explain the concept of regional integration.

B. Outline the attempts that have been made at regional integration in the Caribbean and discuss the factors that help to hinder integration in the region.

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Name: Sushana-Gay Shepherd
Institution: Justice Training Institute
Lecturer: Farrah Christian
Due Date: October 20, 2009
Assignment No. 1
Regional Integration can be seen as a good plan for the betterment of the entire region to come together and live as one. Sharing within the region will allow each and every person a chance to achieve a goal in life, as long as they are giving the opportunity to do so. Regional Integration will allow entrepreneurs to buy and sell throughout the region, without being hassled by immigration even though there are set backs that can allow these plan to fail. A form of set back can be drug trafficking. Each region has the rules and there regulations and if it is going to be better working together they must abide by the laws so that the plan of the region will be successful.

The Caribbean was faced with global economic convulsions of unprecedented proportions, which had reinforced convictions that regional integration “is the last best hope” for the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).[1]
According to the oxford dictionary • Regional – relating to or characteristics of a region. Relating to regions of the country rather than the capital. • Integrate – bring or come into equal participation in an institution or social group.

In other words we can say that Regional integration are regions or countries that come together in equal participation to form a social group.

However, Regional Integration is where countries that have the an aim, an objective and has a goal to achieve, comes together and signs an agreement to participate together as one countries that can be located geographically close that can enhance regional cooperation and safeguard or promote participants to improve the country.
There were four different attempts that were made towards regional integration. A. West Indian Federation B. Carifta C. CARICOM D. Caribbean Single Market Economy

West Indian Federation

This federation was established in 1958, but originally was established by the British Caribbean Federation Act of 1956 with the aim of establishing a political union among its members.

“The West Indies Federation consisted of Jamaica, the Caymans and Turks and Caicos Islands (both now crown colonies and separated from Jamaica), Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Antigua, Montserrat, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Grenada, St Vincent, St Lucia and Dominica. It did not include the Bahamas or the British Virgin Islands.”[2]

The intention of the Federation was to create a political unit that would become independent from Britain as a single state. There were a number of issues that were discussed that would have strengthened the view of the federation. • Taxation by the Federal Government – this was a controversial topic because the federation was not permitted to impose on income tax for at least five years of its life. • Central planning for development • Establishment of a Regional Customs Union • Reform of the Federal Constitution
The federation even began to seek establish federal institutions, supporting structures and thereafter created the federal civil service, established the West Indies Shipping Service (in 1962) to operate two multipurpose ships - the Federal Maple and the Federal Palm - donated to it by the Government of Canada. It had embarked also on negotiations to acquire the subsidiary of the British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), namely British West Indies Airways (BWIA).

In September 1961, the people of Jamaica had voted to leave to federation, which reflected all the political effects, bickering and all the mistrust that was among the leaders. However, shortly after in May 1962, Jamaica and Trinidad became independent members of the Common wealth countries which then caused the Federation to collapse. They had tried to revive the Federation with the remaining territories but it would have failed knowing that Barbados became independent as well in 1966.

Carifta – The Caribbean Free Trade Association

Carifta was established in December 1965, by the signing of the Dickenson Bay
Agreement. Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines were all joined together on July 1, 1968, shortly after Jamaica and
Montserrat as well.
Carifta was established to encourage balance development within the Region by increasing in trade such as buying and selling more goods among the members of the states, expanding the variety of goods and services that available for trade, removing tariffs anf quotas on goods produced and traded within the areas, as well as having rules and regulations set up to protect all the members as well as protecting the small enterprises which will bring forth a fair competition amongst all the members.
In addition to providing for free trade, the Agreement sought to:

ensure that the benefits of free trade were equitably distributed
• promote industrial development in the LDCs
• promote the development of the coconut industry (through an Oils and Fats Agreement) which was significant in many of the LDCs
• rationalise agricultural production but in the interim, facilitate the marketing of selected agricultural products of particular interest to the LDCs (through the Agricultural Marketing Protocol); and
• provide a longer period to phase out customs duty on certain products which were more important for the revenue of the LDCs

In 1973, CARIFTA became the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
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[1] The Honourable David Thompson, Prime Minister of Barbados
[2] David Prothero, 20 November 1999