Issues in Caribbean Development

CARIBBEAN STUDIES staff TWO ISSUES IN CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT TOPIC THE INTEGRATION MOVEMENT 1. The exploitation of conspiracy, CARIFTA, CARICOM, OECS, ACS 2. The achievements and challenges of any THREE of the complying * Caribbean Community (Caricom) * University of the westmost Indies (UWI) * Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) * West Indies cricket Board (WICB) * Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) * Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) * regional Security System (RSS) A// The West Indian league (1958 1962) integrity and only(a) of the first major attempts at regional integration was the formation of the West Indian Federation of 1958.Member States included * Antigua * Barbados * British Guiana * Dominica * Jamaica * Montserrat * St kitts/Nevis/Anguilla * St Vincent * St lucia * Trinidad and Tobago The federal official g all overnment activity was headed by an Executive Governor-General, appointed by Britain and included * A patriarchal take care, elected from a mong and by the members of the House of Representatives * A Cabinet, comprising the Prime Minister and go other elected Members chosen by him * A Council of State presided over by the Governor General. The Council included the Prime Minister and Members of the Cabinet as well as three senators and three civil servants.The senators and civil servants were chosen by the Governor General. (The Council of State was the principal form _or_ system of government (decision)-making body at the start of the Federation. In 1960 Britain agreed to abolish this Council and allow the Cabinet to dramatize over the powers of the Council) * A forty fin-member House of Representatives, with Members elected from among the Territories and * A nineteen-member Senate, nominated by the Governor General following consultation with the Prime Minister The Governor General was Lord Hailes of Britain and the Prime Minister was Sir Grantley Adams, (Premier of Barbados).The national majuscule was located in Trinidad and Tobago. During its brief existence (1958-62), a number of original issues were debated with a view to streng thuslying the Federation. Among these were direct taxation by the Federal Government, Central formulation for victimisation, Establishment of a Regional Customs wedding and Reform of the Federal Constitution. The issue of direct taxation was particularly controversial. The Federation was not permitted to levy (impose) income tax for at least the first five years of its life.Added to this, were the greatly differing positions among the Territories with respect to how other federal taxes should be levied. In addition, the Federation began quickly to seek to effect federal institutions and hold ining structures. It created a federal civil service established the West Indies Shipping function (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 afield Airways Corporation (BOAC), namely British West Indies Airways (BWIA). Cooperation in tertiary breeding was consolidated and expanded during this period. The then University College of the West Indies (UCWI), which was established in 1948 with one campus at Mona, Jamaica, opened its second campus at St solemnine, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1960. The Federation barely faced several problems.These included the governance and administrative structures imposed by the British disagreements among the territories over policies, particularly with respect to taxation and central planning an unwillingness on the part of most Territorial Governments to give up power to the Federal Government and the location of the Federal Capital. The decisive development, which lead to the demise of the Federation was the withdrawal of Jamaica the largest member after conducting a field of study referendum in 1961 on its continued participation in the arrange ment.The results of the referendum showed majority support in favour of withdrawing from the Federation. This was to lead to a movement deep down Jamaica for depicted object freedom from Britain. It also led to the now famous statement of Dr Eric Williams, the then Premier of Trinidad and Tobago that, one from ten leaves nought, referring to the withdrawal of Jamaica and signifying and justifying his decision to withdraw Trinidad and Tobago from the Federal arrangement a short while later. The Federation collapsed in January 1962.AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To modify the movement for self government 2. To promote economic development 3. To guard responsibility the democratic system of government vis a vis dictatorship and communism ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Federation furtherd the movement from colonialism to independence finished a united voice 2. The attack together of small states strengthened their effectiveness in dealing with world-wide bodies such as the United Nations REASONS FOR FAILURE 1. The masses were not educate on the importance of Federation 2.Communication among the islands including shipping, telephone and postal services was wasteful 3. Envy and jealously among member states from their varying levels of economic prosperity 4. doubt by the smaller states of the larger members (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica) proposal to prematurely change the temperament of the Federation B//CARIFTA (1968 1973) The Caribbean waive Trade Association (CARIFTA) was founded by Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago on 15 December 1965, with the signing of the Dickenson Bay Agreement (the Agreement establishing theCaribbean Free Trade Association). They were joined on 1 July, 1968 by Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines and on 1 August, 1968 by Montserrat and Jamaica. In 1971 Belize (then British Honduras) joined the Association. These Caribbean countries had recently flummox independent, and CARIFTA was intended to unite their economies and to give them a joint presence on the outside(a) scene.Specifically, CARIFTA was intended to encourage balanced development of the Region by increasing address buying and selling more(prenominal) goods among the Member States diversifying swap expanding the variety of goods and services available for trade liberalising trade removing tariffs and quotas on goods produced and traded within the area ensuring f furrow competition setting up rules for all members to follow to protect the smaller enterprises In addition to providing for free trade, the Agreement want 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 agri heathen production but in the interim, facilitate the marketing of selected agricultural products of p articular interest to the LDCs (through the Agricultural Marketing Protocol) and result a longer period to phase out customs duty on certain products which were more important for the revenue of the LDCs In 1972, country Caribbean leaders at the Seventh Heads of Government Conference decided to vary the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) into a Common Market and establish the Caribbean Community, of which the Common Market would be an integral part. The signing of the Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community, Chaguaramas, quaternary July 1973, was a defining moment in the history of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Although a free-trade area had been established, CARIFTA did not provide for the free movement of boil and capital, or the coordination of agricultural, industrial and impertinent policies.The objectives of the Community, identified in Article 6 of the revise Treaty, are to improve standards of living and work the full employment of labour and other factors of production accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development and carrefour expansion of trade and economic relations with third States enhanced levels of international competitiveness organisation for increased production and productivity achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States and entities of any description and the enhanced co-ordination of Member States foreign and foreign economic policies and enhanced functional co-operation. In 1973, CARIFTA became the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). C//CARICOM The agreement giving birth to the Caribbean Community and common Market (CARICOM) was sign(a) on July 4, 1973 at Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Tobago. Effective operation of Caricom began on August 1, 1973. Main objectives include 1.To improve the economic development of member states through the introduction of free trade. 2. Co operation among member countries in the areas of ship ping, air transport, meteorological services, health, education, culture etc.. 3. To establish common policies in dealing with non-member states and international corporations D//OECS Organization of Eastern Caribbean States The organization of Eastern Caribbean states (OECS) was established on June 18, 1981 with the signing of a treaty among the following countries 1. Antigua and Barbuda 2. Dominica 3. Grenada 4. Montserrat 5. St Kitts/Nevis 6. St Lucia 7. St Vincent and the Grenadines Objectives 1.To promote development by the formation of a common market among member states 2. To deal more effectively with international bodies by forming a common foreign policy 3. To assist each other in defending and maintaining political independence OECS member states have a common Eastern Caribbean Currency, they all snuff it to the Lesser Antilles, they are all small, independent states, share common strategies for development, a common Central Bank, a common High Court and a Joint Stock exchange. ACS Association of Caribbean States The association of Caribbean States is an orgsanisation which at present consists of 25 Member states, 3 Associate members and 14 countries with observer status. ObjectivesThe ACS was inaugurated on July 02, 1995 with its administrative office in POS, Trinidad. The main objectives of the Association relate to cooperation, discussion and bodily function leading to the sustainable development of the entire Caribbean region. These include 1. Incorporating the collective kind and physical resources of the Caribbean for economic, social, cultural and technological advancement 2. Maximizing the potential of the Caribbean sea by working with member states and other organizations 3. To encourage increased trade and investment opportunities through cooperation 4. To provide new and improved measures to promote the cultural identities of its members.