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The Caribbean, also known as the West Indies, is a region of the Americas consisting of the Caribbean Sea and its islands. The islands of the Caribbean are sorted into three main island groups, the Bahamas, the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. Countries within the Caribbean have created a niche for themselves in world tourism as it is a favourite destination for travelers because of the beaches and its lovely greeneries and tropical climate.  Through the efforts of different organizations, Caribbean integration is achieved. Although successful integration has been an outcome of these organizations, there are also disadvantages.  Efforts in promoting Caribbean integration has led to the founding of many organizations in the Caribbean and these help with progression of the region.  Organizations such as CARIFTA, CARICOM and CSME were all established in the Caribbean and have assisted in the region’s development through sports, imports and exports of goods and services and to help each other become recognized worldwide through various activities and this has led to globalization… But, does this help us (The Caribbean) to be accepted globally?

Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), a multilateral free trade area, was established in 1965 and ended in 1972 was made up of Caribbean nations, after the West Indian Federation failed.  Four islands formed CARIFTA because they thought this establishment was necessary to continue economic integration.  CARIFTA’s intention was to encourage development and integration by increasing, liberalising and diversifying trade.  When other Caribbean countries realized that benefits of increasing trade were possible they joined the trade. Later, this resulted in a reduction of prices coming from other small islands who contributed in the free trade agreement.  Issues were raised because some of these islands were reliant on the income from tariffs and this caused governments to deny the removal of trade barriers.  Hence, CARIFTA was short-lived because of such issues and CARICOM was formed to continue Caribbean Integration and Development.

Caribbean Community (CARICOM), formerly known as Caribbean Community and Commons Market is an organization of Caribbean countries and dependencies formed on July 4th, 1973 by the Treaty of Chaguaramas by Prime ministers Errol Barrow for Barbados, Forbes Burnham for Guyana, Michael Manley for Jamaica and Eric Williams for Trinidad and Tobago. This improved the development of associate institutions which involved the Caribbean Development Bank and Organization of East Caribbean States which promoted economic growth.  The establishment’s main purpose was to promote economic integration and unity among one another so that the benefits from the organization could be equally shared. As such, CARICOM was used to endorse globalization in the Caribbean. Nevertheless, although these Caribbean countries were relatively small, there was much diversity regarding the population and economic and social development was established. The Caribbean establishment had set its foundation on four main pillars of integration which were, economic integration; human and social development; foreign policy coordination and security. CARICOM had set its objectives which comprised, improvement of standards of living, achieving greater measures of economic leverage, enhances levels of international competitiveness and expansion of trade and economic relations with Third States. As such, the organization became successful after setting these aims and improved function in health, education, culture and security and today, it is still present and useful in the Caribbean.

CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), another firm established to continue integration and development in the Caribbean, is an arrangement among the Caribbean states.  This organization consisted of twelve member states which involved my beautiful twin island Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Belize and Grenada.  CSME purposes were to create the availability of employment, make greater chances for production and sale of goods and services and encourage increased investments so that it would be beneficial to the people of the region.  This gave CARICOM nationals rights such as free movement of goods and services, free movement of people and free movement of capital. Most importantly the right to establish a business in any CARICOM member state.  I appreciated this the most about this organization because it showed that they were looking out for their sister isles.  CARICOM, CARIFTA AND CSME impacted globalization in the Caribbean.

With regards to world globalization and Caribbean integration, Caribbean Integration is still relevant for Caribbean development in different aspects. “Globalization is a process that is based on international strategies, aims to expand business operations on a worldwide level, and was precipitated by the facilitation of global communications due to technological advancements, and socioeconomic, political and environmental developments.”

Globalization is beneficial to the Caribbean but there are also risks that are involved. Globalization may cause interdependence between nations that may cause regional and international insecurities of local economic variations and may result in many countries depending on them. National Sovereignty since multinational, global and other international organizations may see globalization as a threat to their power.  This may cause leaders to become prejudiced or biased to globalization respectively.  Equity distribution can also be a risk of globalization. This happens when the benefits of globalization can be unfair towards more developed countries and may create greater inequalities. As a result, this will eventually lead to conflicts nationally and internationally.  Just like living life, one must take chances to know the dangers and benefits of an event.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) may sometimes increase in a greater amount than the world trade, which helps to improve technologies, industrial restructuring and help to advance global companies.  Technological Innovation is beneficial through globalization when there is increased competition relating to the growth of the FDI, which may assist with the improvement with the output economically by making process more useful and enough.  Economies of Scale can also be a benefit due to globalization.  Hence, this will allow larger companies to realize that it reduces costs prices and sale prices of goods and services. This will lead to support of economic growth although there may be smaller businesses competing internally.

In my opinion, Globalization does benefit and assist with efforts at Caribbean integration and is relevant to Caribbean development because in the world something new happens every day.  There are always new technological advances around the world, while some countries may be more advanced than the Caribbean and specifically referring to the Caribbean because it is a place where tourist visit regularly so it should be maintained through globalization.

CARICOM, CARFITA AND CSME impacted the Caribbean and although there were risks, these organizations helped to make globalization present in the Caribbean.  For example, CARICOM united and is still uniting Caribbean islands through sport.  The West Indies (WI) Cricket team consists of members from Caribbean countries of T&T, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis and Grenada just to name a few. These countries united the WI by engaging in the sport (cricket) and competing against many other countries internationally.  When they gain victory, they celebrate with one another and same as if they lose a match they still stick together.  On many occasions I have seen where members of the team chant and give one another words of encouragement and support in friendly matches, test matches and tournaments. Most importantly, globalization helped them to have gain support both regionally and internationally.  International sport lovers have been present in many of the WI cricket matches and display love and support, not only for the team but for the sport.

Cricket is providing a platform for the export of the Caribbean through cricket leagues like Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Indian Premier League (IPL), and Caribbean Premier League (CPL) aside from the WI team itself.  These cricket leagues have helped the Caribbean’s recognition and development because people from all over the world come to the Caribbean to experience it.  The Caribbean Premier League is a tournament played between six teams and is divided into a group stage and a knockout stage in which the teams are made up of regional and international players.  Tridents of Barbados, Guyana Amazon Warriors, Jamaica Tallawahs, St. Kits and Nevis Patriots, St. Lucia Stars and of course my favourite team the Trinbago Knight Riders are the teams that compete in CPL.  Specifically speaking about CPL, in my judgement, it is the best tournament in the Caribbean. When there are games it is held once or twice in each of the teams’ home grounds. I’ve experienced one of the CPL tournaments in Trinidad.  It was a one of a kind experiences which I enjoyed every moment. There were many activities; fun, music and folks from other countries came to experience the games in held Trinidad.  There were shared cultures, because many brought their different foods and drinks to share in the moment. If a person did not have food, a patron would offer their food to persons sitting next to them and for me, that’s where some unity was displayed.  The support for the game was from the smallest person in the crowd; the love, togetherness and support. Although cricket unifies the region through sport, there are some conflicts and local rivalries that may arise between Caribbean countries.

Globalization did not only help the Caribbean to be recognized for sporting activities, but it also impacted the Caribbean’s recognition for other tourists’ attractions such as the beaches, rivers and culture, music, and diversification.  Still, globalization gives the Caribbean region recognition on a global scale.

Caribbean culture is different in most of the islands.  However, Carnival is an important factor of the Caribbean’s Culture.  Carnival has helped many Caribbean countries as well as other countries to diversify.  The music and the celebration of the festival brings people to the Caribbean.  T&T, Grenada. Barbados, St. Lucia and Jamaica just to name a few has expanded celebrations in their festival and globalization has helped with that aspect of development.  Although the Caribbean is classed as third world we are recognized for our culture which includes our food, the way we dress, our language and our music; soca and calypso just to name a few, which ‘outsiders’ love.

Furthermore, globalization has also caused a comparison between the ‘first world’ and ‘third world’ (the Caribbean) countries due to the size of the population.  Briguglio,1995 et al, stressed that the Caribbean suffered from many limitations, some of which include lack of both natural resources and skills. Expenses of international transportation, environmental fragility and being dependent on a small number of exports and limited markets which made it difficult for effective competition.

Although the Caribbean is classed as third world, globalization has improved the quality and diversity of the region’s education system. Since technology has evolved, through globalization which resulted in the world’s development.  The Education system has been better, easier, more accessible and even more understandable and it has opened greater opportunities for persons who are unable to make it to face to face classes.  Online classes have been introduced to universities like University of the West Indies (UWI), and University of the Southern Caribbean. Online Student Portals are now available, compared to ancient times when this information used to be written on paper now, students and staff can now access it electronically.  As I am a student at the UWI, I personally rather the online plenary method, as my reasons vary; it is faster, focus is better than sitting in a lecture room with hundreds of students, and it is more convenient as one can partake in the plenaries on the go.

The Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme has been implemented to provide financial assistance to citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, who are pursuing approved programmes at public and private tertiary level institutions (local and regional). When GATE was introduced, the documenting was done manually. Persons would have had to visit GATE offices to drop off documents and information would have to be written on paper. At present there is an online system for GATE where students can fill out information and upload mandatory documents on the application that is automatically accessible to GATE.  These activities are done using the internet. As such, since technology has been advanced it has helped the Caribbean to be more diversified and has made it easier for everyone by gaining access to such programmes.

Personally, I think that efforts put into achieving Caribbean integration by the Caribbean Organizations should not be discontinued because although globalization puts us on the world map, Caribbean integration is more important for development of the region.  The Caribbean stands out as a people for its cultural differences.