Issues in Caribbean Development

CARIBBEAN STUDIES MODULE TWO ISSUES IN CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT TOPIC THE consolidation MOVEMENT 1. The evolution of compact, CARIFTA, CARICOM, OECS, ACS 2. The achievements and challenges of any THREE of the following * Caribbean Community (Caricom) * University of the westernmost Indies (UWI) * Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) * West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) * Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) * Caribbean Single Market and thrift (CSME) * Regional Security System (RSS) A// The West Indian compact (1958 1962) One of the first major attempts at regional integration was the formation of the West Indian Federation of 1958.Member affirms included * Antigua * Barbados * British Guiana * Dominica * Jamaica * Montserrat * St kitts/Nevis/Anguilla * St Vincent * St lucia * Trinidad and Tobago The Federal government was headed by an Executive governor-General, appointed by Britain and included * A Prime diplomatic minister, elected from among and by the members of the hearth of Representatives * A Cabinet, comprising the Prime Minister and ten 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 policy (decision)-making body at the start of the Federation. In 1960 Britain agreed to abolish this Council and allow the Cabinet to take over the powers of the Council) * A forty five-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(a) of Barbados).The Federal capital was located in Trinidad and Tobago. During its brief existence (1958-62), a number of fundamental issues were debated with a view to strengthening the Federation. Among these were direct tax income by the Federal Government, Central planning for development, Establishment of a Regional Customs Union 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 give federal institutions and keep uping structures. It created a federal civil service established the West Indies Shipping Service (in 1962) to operate devil 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 Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC), namely British West Indies Airways (BWIA). Cooperation in tertiary education 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 Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, in 1960. The Federation however 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 important development, which led to the demise of the Federation was the withdrawal of Jamaica the largest member after conducting a national referendum in 1961 on its continued participation in the arrangement.The results of the referendum showed majority support in favour of withdrawing from the Federation. This was to lead to a movement within Jamaica for national independence 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 strengthen the movement for self-importance government 2. To promote frugal development 3. To safeguard the democratic system of government vis a vis dictatorship and communism ACHIEVEMENTS 1. Federation facilitated the movement from colonialism to independence through with(predicate) a united voice 2. The coming together of small states strengthened their effectiveness in dealing with worldwideist bodies such as the United Nations REASONS FOR distress 1. The masses were not educated on the importance of Federation 2. Communication among the islands including shipping, telephone and postal operate was inefficient 3. Envy and jealously among member states from their varying levels of scotch prosperity 4. Distrust by the smaller states of the larger members (Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica) proposal to prematurely change the constitution of the Federation B//CARIFTA (1968 1973) The Caribbean Free 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 become independent, and CARIFTA was intended to unite their economies and to give them a joint presence on the international scene.Specifically, CARIFTA was intended to encourage balanced development of the Region by increasing mint buying and selling more goods among the Member States diversifying trade expanding the variety of goods and services available for trade liberalising trade removing tariffs and quotas on goods produced and traded within the playing field ensuring f stemma competition setting up rules for all members to follow to protect the smaller enterprises In addition to providing for free trade, the Agreement sought to ensure that the benefits of free trade were equitably distributed promote industrial development in the LDCs promote the development of the coco industry (through an Oils and Fats Agreement) which was significant in many of the LDCs rationalise agricultural production but in the interim, facilitate the marketing of selected agricultural products of particular interest to the LDCs (through the pastoral Marketing Protocol) and p rovide a longer period to phase out customs duty on certain products which were more important for the revenue of the LDCs In 1972, Commonwealth Caribbean leaders at the Seventh Heads of Government Conference decided to transform 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, 4th 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 labour and capital, or the coordination of agricultural, industrial and foreign policies.The objectives of the Community, identified in Article 6 of the Revised Treaty, are to remedy standards of living and work the full employment of labour and other factors of production accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development and convergen ce 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 supplement 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 public Market (CARICOM) was signed 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 shipping, air transport, meteorological services, health, education, culture etc.. 3. To establish common policies in dealing with non-member states and transnational 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 belong 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 a n orgsanisation which at present consists of 25 Member states, 3 Associate members and 14 countries with percipient 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 action leading to the sustainable development of the entire Caribbean region. These include 1. Incorporating the corporal human 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.