Caricom

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is an association of twenty countries: fifteen member

states and five associate members. It is home to about sixteen million citizens, 60% of whom are
under 30 years old and belong to the main ethnic groups: Native American, African, Indian,
European, Chinese, Portuguese and Javanese. The community is multilingual, with English as
the main language, supplemented by French and Dutch and variations of these languages, as well
as African and Asian expressions. History of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), formerly
(1973-2001) Caribbean Community and Common Market, organization of Caribbean countries
and dependencies, originally established in 1973 by the Treaty of Chaguaramas as the Caribbean
Community and Common Market. It replaced the former Caribbean Free Trade Association
(CARIFTA), which had come into force in 1968. Some of Caricom's members include Antigua
and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. Anguilla,
Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands have
associate member status, and Aruba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico,
and Venezuela have observer status. The permanent secretariat is based in Georgetown, Guyana.

Advantages of caricom

Free movement of People - Opportunities for nationals to be able to study and work in
CARICOM countries of their choice.

Movement of Goods – there is increased production and trade in goods and services. The
competitiveness among the island helps produce better quality and affordable prices.

Opportunity for study - there is a greater ability to be able to study in any caricom country of
their choice.

Disadvantages of caricom

Food Security – a high dependency on imported goods and the high costs that is highly affected
by global insecurity due to the pandemic and War

Vulnerability to natural disasters and/or sea level rise - the smaller countries are more vulnerable
to the disasters.
Disadvantages arising directly from the establishment of the CSME infrastructure which would
influence the distribution of gains from market and economic integration

With Trinidad and Tobago being a member of caricom it will allow trinidad and tobago to trade
and receive goods and or services items from across the region doing so allows trinidad and
tobago to get better prices and quality other than if they were to trade with America or with
europe. There is a greater opportunity for travel across the region and for imigration to celebrate
the festivals like carnival or just to see the sites. This is why I disagree with the statement that
Caricom should be discontinued.

Cites sourced

Caribbean Community | international organization. (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved September 10, 2022,

from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Caribbean-Community

Ministry of Commerce Departments. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2022, from

https://www.commerce.gov.lc/departments/view/49