Caribbean unity a must

OBJECTIVES

1. Outline the factors that promote regional integration.

2. Analyse the benefits of regional integration.

3. Describe the factors that hinder regional integration.

“The Caribbean has tremendous economic potential and growth opportunities,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. EWashington, March 30, 2017.

THE CARICOM FLAG SYMBOLISING UNITY

The blue represents the sky and the lower part of the dark blue represents the Caribbean Sea. The yellow circle in the centre of the standard 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 unity. The narrow ring of green around the sun represents the vegetation of the region.

Answer the following question.

Can Caribbean countries work together effectively? Give reasons for your answer.

The journey towards regional integration within the Caribbean has been long. Progress has been made, but there are still challenges which are preventing integration within the region from being optimally effective. The major challenge towards the integration movement is not just the wide disparity in levels of development among member states, but a mixture of the desire for political power and a tendency towards insular pride and economic recognition. Until it is realised that integration requires not insularity on political, economic and social front, but a sense of one Caribbean identity, regional development may never fully be achieved.

FACTORS PROMOTING REGIONAL INTEGRATION

Factors that promote regional integration may be looked upon as both domestic and external aspects that affect the region; chief among them are globalisation and trade liberalization.

(a) There is a common history and cultural heritage, especially as colonies of European powers – chiefly Britain.

(b) Caribbean countries share common economic and social issues.

(c) These countries are also affected by the effects of globalisation, trade liberalization and trading blocs.

(d) The region is vulnerable to economic shocks and natural disasters.

(e) Human resources that are underdeveloped – as a group, they are able to financially support facilities to enhance and develop education and skills development in the region.

(f) Cooperation by working together as a region will help to overcome the challenges of having a small population and economy. This is so as cooperation and integration, particularly in trade, will produce a larger regional market.

BENEFITS OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION

The Caribbean must take this literally if we are to promote and benefit from regional integration.

a) It will increase necessary cooperation among island states as we venture more into the 21st century.

b) As a group, they will be better able to negotiate among the world’s most powerful nations.

c) Integration will further help them to compete internationally as a united group. Regional collaboration and integration will also help overcome the limitations and vulnerabilities inherent in the relatively small size of individual economies.

d) This venture will also help them to reduce the negative effects that are presumed to be associated with issues such as globalisation. It should, therefore, help us to be better able to respond to economic implications of globalisation and trade liberalisation.

e) There will be an improvement in the quality of life of the population as a result of access to a variety of goods and services.

f) Each individual island will have many more persons to sell its goods to, apart from those within its own immediate borders.

g) The development of various groups, institutions and organisations that will respond to the needs of each island.

h) It will promote the freedom of travel among islands and the ability to find work, which should decrease unemployment and underemployment.

i) Most of all, it should see the improvement in the quality of life and the reduction in the inequality of wealth distribution.

j) The improved levels of international competitiveness of the region will, undoubtedly, see the expansion of trade on the world market.

k) There should be strength in unity as the increased cooperation among member states will make us more world renown.

BARRIERS TO REGIONAL INTEGRATION

The barriers, problems, challenges are many, far-reaching and intertwined; the Caribbean, in its endeavour to promote growth through regional integration, faces an uphill task in many instances. Why is this so?

1. The islands are all at different stages of development, which does not promote a willingness to actively work together.

2. No two islands in the Caribbean follow the same economic policies.

3. Patriotism to island homes stir conflict between territorial and regional demands.

4. Except for countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, islands do not have the same currency.

5. Islands in the Caribbean do not have the same type and amount of resources.

6. The islands are scattered all over the Caribbean.

7. Many countries are all producing the same goods for trade.

8. There is conflict over how much is to be contributed by each country.

9. There are problems with multinational cooperations and how they should be dealt with in the region.

10. The geography of the region – islands, though in proximity, are scattered all over the region.

11. In the region, there is an absence of a common model or strategy for development. Each country tends to follow its own policy.

12. There are differences in stages of growth and development; some countries are referred to as ‘developed’, some as ‘developing’, and some as ‘underdeveloped’ in the region.

13. There is competition for location of industries, as each territory needs investments to promote job opportunities for its population.

CHALLENGES FACING THE CARIBBEAN REGION THAT MUST BE OVERCOME NOW

Challenges are never easy to overcome. In an economic, problematic world, where First-World countries are facing grave problems, the Caribbean must draw even closer. It is so easy to suggest what must be done; the greatest problem lies in how to carry out these suggestions to solve them.

1. Each individual island does not have enough persons that it can sell to within its borders (a large market).

2. There is a lack of diversification of resources; islands in the Caribbean do not necessarily produce a variety of goods (diversification in production).

3. In many Caribbean islands, there is a high unemployment problem (job creation by setting up industries collectively).

4. Many islands also do not produce enough goods to sell in order to make profits (increased production and investment).

5. The Caribbean is vulnerable to natural disasters (aid and information).

6. Capital for improvement and investment is lacking in the Caribbean region, so there is very little to develop industries (capital accumulation).

“There is strength in unity.”

7. One of the worst problems faced by the Caribbean people is that we tend to import much more than we export (increased local production, buying of local goods ,and use of skills).

8. With the ‘advent’ of borrowing from organisations such as the International Monetary Fund, some Caribbean countries owe a lot of money as a result of borrowing to sustain themselves (reduce borrowing as much as possible).

9. Markets are not available in areas that are most lucrative.

10. In a technological age, many Caribbean countries still do not possess and use adequate technology that could greatly increase production (investment in technology to help in the creation of goods and services).

11. In many countries, skilled persons in certain areas, who could booster production with their expertise, are generally lacking. (development of human resources)

ACTIVITIES

1. Suggest THREE reasons why regional integration is so crucial to the Caribbean region. Explain your answer.

2. Suggest THREE reasons why Caribbean integration is facing problems and state how they may be best resolved.

http://www.caribbeanelections.com/education/integration/defau lt.asp and http://slideplayer.com/slide/5296487/

Monday, February 22, 2010: REGIONAL INTEGRATION ESSAY http://caribbeanstudiesmccall6.blogspot.com/2010/02/regionalintegration-essay.html

NB:

Your examination will be on Thursday, May 10, 2018. Paper 01: 9 a.m. (2 hours and 40 minutes) Papers 02 and 03: 1 p.m.