Summary of Conventions

Country	Status	Year
Antigua and Barbuda	member	01-Jan-1970
Bahamas	member	01-Jan-1970
Barbados	member	01-Jan-1970
Belize	member	01-Jan-1970
Dominica	member	01-Jan-1970
Grenada	member	01-Jan-1970
Guyana	member	01-Jan-1970
Haiti	member	01-Jan-1970
Jamaica	member	01-Jan-1970
Montserrat	member	01-Jan-1970
Saint Kitts and Nevis	member	01-Jan-1970
Saint Lucia	member	01-Jan-1970
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines	member	01-Jan-1970
Suriname	member	01-Jan-1970
Trinidad and Tobago	member	01-Jan-1970

Language
English

Document text

	
	Caribbean Community (CARICOM)

Bank of Guyana Building, P 0 Box 10827, Georgetown, Guyana
Tel: (592) 2 69281-9; Fax: (592) 2 67816;
Telex: 295 2263/3024 CARISEC GY
WWW: http://www.caricom.org/

The Caribbean Community and Common Market (Caricom) works for the economic integration of the member
countries through the common market; co-ordination of the foreign policies of member states; and functional
co-operation, especially in areas of social and human endeavour.

Foundation 

Founded in 1973 by agreement of Commonwealth Caribbean Heads of Government, on the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Caricom succeeded the Caribbean Free Trade Association (Carifta), established in 1968.

Structure

    Antigua and Barbuda
    The Bahamas
    Barbados
    Belize
    Dominica 
    Grenada
    Guyana
    Jamaica
    Montserrat
    St Kitts and Nevis
    St Lucia
    St Vincent and the Grenadines 
    Suriname
    Trinidad and Tobago
    British Virgin Islands and Turks and Caicos Islands are associate members.

    The Conference of Heads of Government is the supreme authority of the community; it determines its policy and is responsible for the conclusion of treaties on behalf of the community and relations between the community and
international organizations and states. A common market council of ministers is responsible for the development
and operation of the common market. The Bureau of Heads of Government initiates proposals and secures
implementation. Caricom is serviced by a secretariat, based in Georgetown, Guyana.

Caricom has several institutions

The conference of ministers (health), and standing committees of ministers responsible for: agriculture, education,
energy, mines and natural resources, finance, foreign affairs, science and technology, tourism and transportation,
and the environment.

Associated organizations

Under the Treaty of Chaguaramas, the following bodies are associate institutions of the Community:

    Caribbean Development Bank
    Caribbean Examinations Council
    Caribbean Meteorological Organization
    Council of Legal Education
    Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
    University of Guyana
    University of the West Indies

Aims

Economic integration of the member countries through the common market; co-ordination of the foreign policies of
member states; and functional co-operation, especially in areas of social and human endeavour. 

Activities

Some of the principal issues of the regional agenda include: 

restructuring of regional institutions and organs
participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and analysis of its impact on existing arrangements strengthening relations with the wider Caribbean through existing organizations and deepening the integration process in the community through the formation of the single market

The inaugural meeting of the Association of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians (ACCP) took place in    Barbados in May 1996. The ACCP arose out of a concept presented by the Prime Minister of Barbados at the
Caricom summit of 1987.

Technical co-operation is carried out through the secretariat, which is organized into 15 programme areas:

executive management
organizational and human development 
corporate services
financial planning
accounting and reporting
information and communication
development and operation of the single market and economy
co-ordination of economic policy and sectoral programmes
sustainable development 
external economic and trade relations
co-ordinated foreign policy and community relations
mobilisation of resources from external agencies
human resource development
health sector development
participation in the development of the Caribbean 
and legal and institutional framework

The secretariat services meetings, takes appropriate follow-up action, carries out studies on economic and
functional co-operation relating to the region, and provides services to member states at their request in respect of
matters relating to the objectives of the community.

Short Name:	CARICOM
Full Name:	Caribbean Community
Purpose:	general
Established:	04-Jul-1973
Entered into force:
Type:	body, multi-lateral
Place where established:	Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago
Schedule to expire:
Goals and Objectives:	The Caribbean Community has three areas of activity: economic integration (that is, the Caribbean Common Market which replaces CARIFTA); cooperation in non-economic areas and the operation of certain common services; and coordination of foreign policies of independent member states.
Related Legislation:	CARICOM succeeded the Caribbean Free Trade Association (Carifta), established in 1968. [04 Jul 1973] Treaty establishing the Caribbean Community and Common Market (entered into force on 01 Aug 1973). The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which came into effect on August 1, 1973.
Internet source:	#http://www.caricom.org/#

Secretariat's address	CARICOM Bank of Guyana Building Church Street & Avenue of the Republic P.O. Box 10827 Georgetown Guyana
Telephone	+592-2-69281 - 9
Fax	+592-2-67816
E-Mail	carisec3@caricom.org#mailto:carisec3@caricom.org#
Home Page	#http://www.caricom.org/#