Achievements and challenges of:

Caricom, uwi, cxc & csme, wicb, carimac,cdb,rss

CARICOM- Caribbean Community

UWI – University of the West Indies
CXC- Caribbean Examinations Council
CSME- Caribbean Single Market and Economy

University of the West Indies

This was established in 1948 and is concerned with finding new ways of ensuring that the commonwealth
Caribbean would always have people to assist with regional development. It is the commonwealth Caribbean’s
largest institution of higher learning and the flagship of Caribbean unity and regional integration. There are
three campuses located in Barbados (Cave Hill), Jamaica (Mona) and Trinidad (St. Augustine).

Achievements of UWI include [1] Providing the region with qualified persons in most areas of endeavour at the
undergraduate level [2] Development of cricket via the establishment of the three W’s Oval. [3] Producing
many of the region’s leaders [4] Providing opportunities for regional integration at the social level.

Challenges of UWI include [a] Unable to meet the demand of all those who want to achieve post-secondary education.
[b] Competing with the international universities, including those which have arrangements with non-UWI
institutions. N.B this may be referred to as the internationalisation of education. [c] Competing with the
distance learning programmes offered by other universities. [d] It does not cater to the needs of those who wish
to pursue post-secondary training in the arts, industrial and technical subjects. [e] Dealing with the
establishment of local universities such as The University of Technology and the University of Trinidad and
Tobago.

Caribbean Examinations Council

CXC is the principal examining body for secondary school students throughout the Commonwealth Caribbean.
It was established on April 29, 1972 by the agreement of 15 participating territories and the territories which
participate in CXC are; Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman

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Islands, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, Grenada,
Montserrat, Guyana, Turks and Caicos and St. Kitts-Nevis.
CXC aims to provide relevant secondary school leaving examinations at both the 5th and 6th years. The CSEC
examinations are taken at the end of the 5th year while the CAPE exams are taken at the end of each of the two
years spent in 6th form. CAPE exams were first introduced in 1998. In recent years CXC has been supervising
the common entrance exam in Barbados.
Achievements of CXC [1] By replacing Cambridge O and A’level exams, CXC has catered to the academic
needs of the region at the secondary level. [2] Testing students in both academic and vocational subject areas.
[3] Assisting with the professional development of teachers via training workshops which deal specifically with
the CXC syllabi. [4] It has acted as a catalyst for the development of a common Caribbean school system. [5]
Altering the methods of assessment via the introduction of a teacher graded school based assessment in some
subject areas. [6] Offering associate degrees at the end of the two year CAPE programme.

Challenges of CXC [1] Developing acceptable syllabi [2] Developing exams that are internationally
recognised and accepted. [3] diversification of subject areas. [4] Funding [5] Catering to the needs of all. N.B
the removal of the basic syllabus [6] Competing with exams such as SATs

CARICOM
Achievements of CARICOM
∗ CARICOM has a stronger, more influential voice in global matters.
∗ Settling the border dispute between Guyana and Surinam over oil
∗ Monitoring elections in both Guyana and Haiti in order to ensure that the democratic process was not
abused by the elected or the electorate.
∗ Promoting integration in free trade.
∗ Addressing political disputes in Haiti
∗ The creation of regional negotiating machinery such as the CDB, CTO, CDERA and CARIFESTA

Challenges of CARICOM
∗ Competition among member states in areas such as air travel and fishing.
∗ Reducing competition among member states.
∗ Failure of member states to live up to their financial obligations.
∗ Establishing protocols to deal with resource sharing.

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 ∗ Failure to ratify treaties dealing with freedom of movement
∗ Failure of member states to live up to free trade agreements and the continued barriers to free trade.
∗ Failure to establish a common currency
∗ Failure to improve or equalise the trading imbalance existing within the region.
N.B- Trinidad’s imports < exports
∗ Presence of trans-national companies
∗ Finalising the establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice ie getting more members to accept this
court as the final court of appeal.

CSME
In 1989, the Heads of Government of CARICOM countries began the establishment of the CSME and its
implementation began one year later.
CSME is an attempt to ‘create a single economic space without cross border restrictions and to allow for the
free movement of goods and services, labour and capital among CARICOM members.’ CSME seeks to respond
to the challenges of and fully exploit the opportunities presented by an ever changing global economy. CSME
provides a legal framework within which the common market could be transformed into a single market and
economy.

Achievements of CSME; [1] Establishment of the CCJ, a regional court which will ensure an environment of
economic stability and legal certainty in the CSME. Its President is Michad de la Bastide of Trinidad. [2]
Revising the 1973 Treaty of Chaguaramas which gave effect to a limited concept of integration. This revision
provided the legal framework for CSME.

Expected Achievements of CSME; [1] Increased production of goods and trade in a regional market of
15million. [2] Creation of enterprises. [3] Ability to recruit highly skilled individuals from across the region.
[4] Attract non-local investors [5] Access to a wider range of goods at a better quality and at a better price. [6]
Increased employment [7] Improved standards of living [8] Freedom of movement [9] The right of
establishment ie the right to establish a business in any CARICOM territory.

Challenges of CSME
∗ Increased demand for social amenities such as housing, education and transport.
∗ Changing public attitude to non-nationals and removing xenophobia

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 ∗ Ensuring that there will be no loss of ‘country identity’
∗ Insularity
∗ Competition among member states
∗ The response of local businesses to increased competition in the domestic market. This will occur
because the new players will stimulate greater activity and provide the consumers with a wider choice.
∗ Providing adequate and accurate public education on all issues relating to CSME. This has to be done
with the help of all social institutions and organisations.

West Indies Cricket Board

Its headquarters is located in Antigua and its members are Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago,
the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands. The member associations are the Barbados Cricket Association,
Guyana Cricket Board, Jamaica Cricket Association, T&T Cricket Board, Leeward Island Cricket Association(
the cricket associations of Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Maarten and the
USVI) and the Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control (the cricket associations of Dominica, Grenada, St.
Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines). It is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in the
West Indies. It was formed in the early 20s. It is a member if the International Cricket Council (ICC) since
1926. Its President is Whycliffe Dave Cameron.

The achievements of the WICB include; [1] Promoting Caribbean unity [2] Encouraging regional first class and
one day matches. This encourages the development of future regional players. [3] Promoting the regional
facilities to international teams as a way of generating income.

The challenges of the WICB include: [1] The growing lack of interest in the sport due to the competition from
other sports. [2] The refusal of many Caribbean people to pay to see a failing team perform. This directly
impacts the WICBs ability to generate income via match fixtures. Additionally this makes it difficult to
promote sports tourism. [3] Maintaining harmony between players, represented by the West Indies Players
Association and the management of the WICB. [4] The possibility of losing their status in the ICC [5]
Reduced sponsorship by regional companies due to the failing performance of the team.

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Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication
This started in 1947 to give regional communicators a Caribbean orientation with professional grounding. It
started with 31 students doing a one year diploma in Mass Communications. In 1977 it introduced the B.A in
Mass Communications, in 1994 the MA in Communication Studies and in 2004, the MA in Communication
for Social Behaviour Change. It currently offers four undergraduate programmes; a one year Diploma in
Media and Communication, BA of Media and Communication, BA in Digital Media Production and BA in
Journalism. CARIMAC is located at the Mona campus of UWI and there are no part-time programmes offered.

Caribbean Development Bank

This started on January 26, 1970. It was established to contribute to the harmonious economic growth and
development of the member countries in the Caribbean and to promote economic cooperation among them… The CDB
finances specific projects in national, sub-regional, or regional development programmes in such fields as agriculture,
livestock, fisheries, forestry, marketing, manufacturing, mining, refining, tourism, export, transportation, housing,
education among others.
The Bank has 26 members including; 18 regional borrowing members- Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The
Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti,
Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and
Turks and Caicos Islands; 3 Regional Non-Borrowing Members, namely: Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela;
and 5 non-Regional, non-borrowing members; Canada, China, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The
current President of the Bank is Dr. Warren Smith.
Challenges of the CDB include; [1] the inability of borrowing entities to repay their loans in a timely manner.
This has negative implications for the bank’s ability to borrow from other banks and to offer loans to territories
when the need arises.
Achievements of the CDB include [1] in 2009 the CDB allowed householders to Belize to have access to drinking
water. [2] repairing a roadway a Hayfield, St. Thomas Jamaica with funds secured from the CDB. [3] funding the
expansion and upgrading of an irrigation system in St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. [4] funding improvements to the wharf in the
mining community of Bartica, Guyana. [5] financing the construction of the Carib Model Village in Dominica. This
village was established to provide social and economic infrastructure, generate entrepreneurship and employment, and
reduce poverty in the Kalinago village.

Regional Security Systems

It was formed in 1982 to provide for the defence and security of the Eastern Caribbean and its headquarter is in
Barbados. It was originally started to prevent the spread of communism in the region. Its members include;
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Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the
Grenadines. RSS ensures that there is a unified approach to regional security and defence. They can also
intervene in national disputes which may be a threat to national security. The RSS plays a key role in
minimising the impact of illegal drugs and it assists with post-disaster cleanup, and search and rescue. The
RSS is mandated to assist members with the prevention of smuggling, search and rescue, national emergencies,
immigration control, fishery protection, customs and excise control, maritime policing duties, the protection of
off-shore installations, pollution control… The RSS gets some assistance from the US and Canada, especially
in training. Prime Minister Freundel Stuart is the organisation’s chairman.

Caribbean Court of Justice

According to the CCJ’s website, the genesis of the CCJ began in 1901 when in an editorial in the Jamaican
Gleaner newspaper, argued that the judicial committee of the Privy Council might be out of joint with the times
and serious consideration must be given to establishing a replacement, a regional court of last resort. This idea
was brought up again in 1947 at a meeting in Barbados.

In 1992 it was again suggested that a Caribbean Supreme Court was needed because West Indian jurists would
have a better understanding and knowledge of regional problems, language, and culture, coupled with its
identification with the ethos of the Caribbean Community. In 1999, the establishment of the CCJ was approved
by the Heads of Government who asked that a preparatory committee develop and implement a programme of
public education. At the same time Trinidad announced that she had a site for the CCJ. She is therefore referred
to as the seat of the court. The CCJ is however a travelling court and can operate in any contracting party.

On February 14, 2001, the agreement establishing the CCJ was signed by Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados,
Belize, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. A year
later Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines joined. In August 2004, Michael de la Bastide was
appointed as the first President. In 2005, the CCJ’s inauguration was held at Queen’s Hall in Port of Spain.

The members of the CCJ are: the Right Honourable Sir Charles Michael Byron (President), the Honourable Mr
Justice Rolston Nelson, the Honourable Mr Justice Adrian Saunders, the Honourable Mme Justice Desiree
Bernard, the Honourable Mr Justice Jacob Wit, the Honourable Justice David Hayton and the Honourable Mr
Justice Winston Anderson.
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The CCJ has two functions: [1] it is considered an original jurisdiction because it deals with the rights of
caricom citizens to move freely within that unit and to move their money and business. [2] it is also considered
an appellate jurisdiction because it hears from courts of those countries which decide to use it for appeals.

The daily running of the CCJ is supported by its member states via a trust fund of US$ 100 million. The
money was supplied by the C’bean Development Bank but it is repaid to the CDB by the members of the CCJ.
This arrangement guarantees that there is no direct political link to the finances of the Court. It is the only court
with this type of financing.

The CCJ judges are the only ones who can hear cases dealing with how CARICOM countries must act and what
CARICOM nationals are allowed or not allowed to do under the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the CSME.
The revised Treaty of Chaguaramas binds CARICOM countries to promote efficiency in the production of
goods and services in the region, and to make easier access by nationals of all CARICOM countries to the
resources of the region without discrimination. The CCJ has the authority to decide how CARICOM organs and
institutions, member states, businesses and citizens must function under the CSME (free movement of skilled
workers, capital and business across the region.)

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