1. Sistema Económico
Latinoamericano y del Caribe
Latin American and Caribbean
Economic System
Sistema Econômico
Latino-Americano e do Caribe
Système Economique
Latinoaméricain et Caribéen
Social Integration in the Caribbean
Community
Sandra Plummer
Deputy Programme Manager
Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM)
II Regional Meeting on Social Dimension of Integration in Latin America and the Caribbean
Caracas, Venezuela
18 July 2008
SP/RRDSIALC/Di 7-08

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3. CARICOM SOCIAL INTEGRATION IN
THE CARIBBEAN
COMMUNITY
Panel Presentation at
II Regional Meeting on Social Dimension
of Integration in Latin America and
The Caribbean
by
Sandra Plummer
Caribbean Community Secretariat
Caracas,Venezuela
July 18 ,2008

4. CARICOM FORMAT OF PRESENTATION
•BACKGROUND OF THE
CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY
(CARICOM)
•BACKGROUND ON THE
CARIBBEAN SINGLE MARKET AND
ECONOMY (CSME)
•REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN
SOCIAL AREAS: HEALTH,
EDUCATION , EMPLOYMENT AND
HOUSING
•POSSIBLE AREAS OF CARICOM-LA
CO-OPERATION

5. Longstanding Vision of Regional
CARICOM
Cooperation and Integration
1928 Regional Cricket Team to England
1948 Regional University - UCWI
1958 Political Federation (-1962)
1968 Caribbean Free Trade Area (CARIFTA)
1973 Caribbean Community and Common Market
1989 Decision to establish the CSME
2006 Entry into force of the Revised Treaty

6. Member States of the
CARICOM
Caribbean Community
• Antigua & Barbuda • Jamaica
• Bahamas • Montserrat
• Barbados • Saint Kitts & Nevis
• Belize • Saint Lucia
• Dominica • St Vincent and the
• Grenada Grenadines
• Guyana • Suriname
• Haiti • Trinidad and
Tobago

7. Main Pillars of the Community
Eco 1
Fu
Inte nomi nc 2
c tio
(inc gratio So nal
the ludin n Co
op cial and
g era
CS
ME ti o
) 3 n
Foreign Policy
Coordination
With a security underpinning

8. Governance and Decision Making
CARICOM
Structure
The principal Organs of the Community
(a) the Conference of Heads of Government
(b) the Community Council of Ministers
Principal Organs assisted by the following Organs:
(a) The Council for Finance and Planning
(b) The Council for Trade and Economic Development
(c) The Council for Foreign and Community Relations
(d) The Council for Human and Social Development
(e) The Council for National Security and Law Enforcement
and serviced by
The CARICOM Secretariat, headed by the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of the Community, the Secretary General

9. CARICOM
The CSME
A single enlarged
economic space
-
croc and
Ma mi Fu
l co nct
ono ctora
ec se cy
Free movement op ion
er
ati al
of goods, services,
oli ation
p in capital, technology, on
d
coor labour
Non- discriminatory
Common access to the region’s
external resources & markets
trade policy for CARICOM
nationals
The Single Market

10. CARICOM
CSME - The Context
In deciding to establish
the CARICOM Single Building, out of
Market and Economy
separate national
(CSME), The Heads of
Government noted the economies, a
single, integrated,
‘need to work expeditiously globally
together to deepen the competitive,
integration process and modern market
strengthen the Caribbean economy within an
Community in all of its
economic space
dimensions to respond to
the challenges and called the CSME
opportunities presented by
the global economy’

11. The CSME
CARICOM
Framework
Expected Outcomes
Greater opportunities for
employment, investment, Full employment of labour
production and trade for and other factors of
Caribbean people production
Competitive products of Improved standards of
better quality and prices living and work
Improved services provided Accelerated. co-ordinated
by enterprises and and sustained economic
development
individuals
Increased economic
Greater opportunity for travel leverage and effectiveness
for nationals to study and vis a vis other states,
work in CARICOM countries groups of states and
entities

12. The Single Market
CARICOM
Free intra-CARICOM movement of
goods
Single
Intra-CARICOM trade accounts for nearly
Market 20% of merchandise exports and 12%
Policy of merchandise imports
Framework
is in place Free intra-CARICOM trade in
services
Regimes Free movement of capital and skills
exist for :
Right of establishment
Access to land

13. CARICOM
New market
opportunities
Collective
The CSME
negotiation of
facilitates a trade rules and
collective agreements
approach to Negotiation to
trade attract new
investment and
relations joint ventures
with third
Collective defense
countries of economic
interests in the
global
marketplace

14. CARICOM The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
Legal
Architecture Inter-governmental Agreements
of the CSME
Implementation of harmonised
laws, regulations, orders and rules
Dispute Settlement Regime
Enforcement under Domestic
Law
Enforcement under the
Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

15. January 2006 --Revised Treaty of
January 2006 Revised Treaty of
Chaguaramas entered into force through
Chaguaramas entered into force through
ratification by twelve Member States
ratification by twelve Member States
January 2006 -- The CSM became
January 2006 The CSM became
operational; six Member States
operational; six Member States
signed the Agreement
signed the Agreement
July 2006 – Six other Member States
July 2006 – Six other Member States
signed the Agreement
signed the Agreement
--The Bahamas is not a part of the CSM
The Bahamas is not a part of the CSM
--Haiti is not yet a member of the CSM
Haiti is not yet a member of the CSM
--Montserrat is awaiting entrustment
Montserrat is awaiting entrustment

16. Specialised Institutions and
CARICOM
Structures
Caribbean Court of Justice
Caribbean Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality
Regional Accreditation Agency for Education and Training
Competition Commission
Caribbean Agriculture Health and Food Safety Agency
CARICOM Development Fund and Development Agency
Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery

17. CARICOM
CS
M
E
The CSME - providing a platform
and enabling environment for a
more effective interface with the
global economy

18. CARICOM
CARICOM Development Fund
To compensate for the adverse effects of trade
distortion and economic dislocation arising
during intra-CARICOM integration process
To foster and support economic
transformation to enhance competitiveness
in the global economy
To promote cohesion and to counter
polarization discrepancies and anti-
convergence tendencies and asymmetries

19. CARICOM Development Fund (2)
CARICOM
Assistance in the form of loans, grants
and interest subsidy grants
Initial capitalisation of US 250M
US$120M to be provided by Member States
US$130M to be raised from development
partners
Expected to be operational by mid 2007

20. CARICOM Regional Development Agency
Operationalisation of the CARICOM Development Fund
to be complemented with the establishment of a
Regional Development Agency (RDA)
Purpose: - to identify and mobilise technical assistance,
“to assist disadvantaged countries, regions and sectors
towards becoming economically viable and competitive by
appropriate interventions of a transitional or temporary
nature”
Proposals for the establishment of the Agency
currently being elaborated
Agency expected to become operational within the next
year

21. CARICOM Challenges
Significant geopolitical and geo-strategic shifts
Need to improve standard of living
Imperative of optimising development potential of the Region
Crime and security, disaster management
Need for Improved management of the regional environment

22. CARICOM The Human Face of the CSME
Key Desired Outputs
The CSME is anchored in
the skills, abilities, attitudes, An informed public
perceptions, motivations which understands
and expectations of people and supports the
CSME and
The extent to which the participates actively
provisions translate into in the CSME
real opportunities
depends on the adequate Stronger sense of
development of our Community and
Human Resources greater social
cohesion

23. CARICOM
Human Resource Development
Elements of the Regional Agenda
HRD - An iterative Refocusing and harmonisation
process involving of systems for education and
training at all levels
Development of
human capital Preparation for the Information
Society
Efficient use of
human capital Youth empowerment
Preparation for Addressing key health and
involvement in lifestyle issues – NCDs, HIV/AIDS
life of the Development of sense of
Community at all Caribbean identity
levels Preparation for citizenship of the
region

24. CARICOM HEALTH
•NASSAU DECLARATION
•CARIBBEAN COOPERATION
IN HEALTH INITIATIVE
•DECLARATION OF PORT-OF-
SPAIN ON NCDS

25. Addressing Social Dimensions
CARICOM of Integration – Education and
Employment
Some Major Issues
• Reorienting education systems to prepare students
for a changing workplace and world of work
• Gender issues in education and employment
• Re-tooling of existing workforce/ guaranteeing
employability
• Qualification Frameworks /portability of
Qualifications in the integrated labour market

26. CARICOM EDUCATION
CARIBBEAN EXAMINATIONS
HEALTH AND FAMILY LIFE
EDUCATION
REGIONAL ACCREDITATION
-TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL
QUALIFICATIONS
-REGIONAL EXAMINATIONS FOR
NURSES AND PHYSICIANS

27. CARICOM
EMPLOYMENT:
Social Floor & The CSME
• Member States should adhere to the same minimum
standards to ensure that
– CARICOM Nationals who move for employment
purposes moving are not disadvantaged
– there is no unfair competition in the CSME, be it
among businesses or for investment.
– Since 1995 the Caribbean Community adopted a
Declaration on Labour and Industrial Relations
Principles,
• Workers Rights are highlighted in the Charter of Civil
Society, however, no decision was taken to make these
rights mandatory.

28. CARICOM
HOUSING
• NOT MUCH DONE ON REGIONAL LEVEL
• COUNTRIES HAVE INDIVIDUAL HOUSING SCHEMES
• MORE WORK NEEDS TO BE DONE IN THIS AREA

29. POSSIBLE AREAS FOR INTRA-REGIONAL
CARICOM
COLLABORATION
• INFORMATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF
MECHANISMS WHICH SUPPORT REGIONAL
INTEGRATION
e.g. Free Movement, Regional Framework for
Children, CCH Initiative
• EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON
CHILDREN
• SOCIAL DIMENSIONS OF TRADE AGREEMENTS E.G
TRADE AND HEALTH
( utilising the flexibilities in WTO Agreements which
address public health )

30. CARICOM
Thank You