Caribbean Governance

The term Caribbean governance relates to the formal and informal ways in which Caribbean states have sought to respond to the changing nature of the [Page 73]regional and global order. The Caribbean region consists of twenty-three small, independent islands, dependent territories, and sovereign states. These countries have developed governance mechanisms in order to deal with regional problems that are beyond the scope of any single state and in order to create an enabling environment for effective cooperation on intraregional economic interactions.

Caribbean governance dates back some years. Regional integration was set in motion with the establishment of the British West Indies Federation in 1958. The Federation ended in 1962, but this was a precursor for further initiatives. For instance, by 1968, a Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) had been established; it aimed to reduce trade barriers to facilitate the free flow of goods in the region. However, Caribbean governance has evolved since the 1970s.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is the principal governance mechanism existing today. It was established in 1973 to facilitate enhanced coordination of member states' policies in relation to issues of regional importance. CARICOM is an intergovernmental organization; its membership has increased from four states in 1973 to fifteen in 2005. CARI-COM's main administrative organ is the CARICOM Secretariat; there are also fifteen CARICOM institutions. These bodies act in partnership with the Secretariat and civil society groups to formulate and implement CARICOM policies. Thus, member states have transferred certain functions upward to regional bodies yet have also devolved certain decision-making input outward to civil society groups, such as nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Under the auspices of CARICOM, CARIFTA was transformed into a common market and then, in 1989, the common market was replaced by plans to work toward a CARI-COM Single Market and Economy (CSME). CSME envisages a single market and economy where factors such as labor and capital move freely among participating states. This freeing up of markets effectively relinquishes the state's previous function of controlling the goods and services crossing its borders.

At the subregional level, the other notable governance initiative is the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). It came into being in 1981 and has nine member states; states can be members of both CARICOM and OECS. It coexists alongside CARICOM in that it has separate administrative bodies, such as a Secretariat; yet both organizations collaborate closely and deal with broadly analogous issues.

CARICOM and OECS are blocs that constrain the policy orientation of their member states; they look to achieve political unity and consensus among members so the organizations can act with one voice. It is argued that the formation of such blocs engenders a greater degree of homogenization of state policy in the region.

Caribbean countries, through CARICOM and OECS, have identified various critical governance issues. First, economic development is of particular importance; Caribbean states are thought of as underdeveloped in terms of the size of their economies and poverty levels. Collective regional action, such as the establishment of regional free trade or regional HIV/AIDS programs, can further economic development.

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