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Caribbean integration occurs when Caribbean countries come together (often using written agreements) in order to improve their economy and achieve stability. From this, organizations such as CARICOM were formed, which, in the past, allowed its members to trade freely with each other, that is, goods exported and imported to and from Caribbean countries were done so without taxes and duties, Caribbean nationals were allowed to migrate to different Caribbean countries without the need of a VISA and also could obtain employment with a work permit.  However, due to globalization and improved technology, the global market has become much smaller and Caribbean nationals are now able to import goods and services from non-Caribbean countries and are more easily able to reserve airplane tickets and hotels and so are able to travel to these countries with a VISA. Also, due to improved transport, imported goods such as fruits and food can be imported into Caribbean countries at a faster rate and Caribbean nationals tend to prefer foreign goods to local goods. Therefore, many people think that Caribbean integration no longer plays an integral part in Caribbean development and that we should all aspire to be part of the global village. However, efforts at Caribbean integration  are still relevant to Caribbean development in that, as a unit, Caribbean countries have greater bargaining power in the global market, they have a faster recovery when experiencing external shocks in the global market, they would benefit from being part of agreements with each other and have a greater global identity as a unit than as individual countries.

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Firstly,  efforts at Caribbean integration still has relevance for Caribbean development as together, Caribbean countries have greater bargaining power in the global market. Due to their small size, the significant contribution to the global market in the form of exports is often underestimated by larger nations. However, when several Caribbean nations come together, they are seen as a larger nation themselves and are better able to convince the larger nations of their contributions and are more likely to make bargains and increase their exports as well as advertise other resources, such as the tourism sector, in which foreigners consider coming to the 'Caribbean islands' as a glamorous vacation destination. Thus, efforts at Caribbean integration still has relevance to Caribbean development as it increases countries' bargaining power.
Secondly, efforts at Caribbean integration still has relevance for Caribbean development because, as a unit, the are able to make a faster recovery if they experience external shocks. If a Caribbean country is negatively affected by a natural disaster, or a sudden decrease in sales from the external market, it would readily receive aid from other Caribbean countries, especially those within its vicinity. For example, when Grenada was hit by Hurricane Ivan and lost most of its crops and basic supplies, other Caribbean countries were able to send supplies such as food and clothing to the people of Grenada until they were able to regain their resources and stabilize their economy. Thus, efforts at Caribbean developments still has relevance for Caribbean development.
Another reason why efforts at Caribbean integration  has relevance for Caribbean development as they would benefit from being part of agreements with each other such as CARICOM. As mentioned before, when Caribbean countries became members of CARIFTA and then CARICOM, they enjoyed the benefits of free trade, that is, exporting and importing goods to and from other Caribbean countries without taxes and duties and Caribbean nationals did not need a VISA to be able to travel to other Caribbean countries and still do to this day.  If they remain integrated, they will still enjoy these benefits and more as well, such as being able to obtain a discount at a Caribbean University as a Caribbean national. Therefore, efforts at Caribbean integration integration has relevance to Caribbean development as Caribbean countries can benefit from being in agreements such as CARICOM.

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Finally, efforts at Caribbean integration still has relevance for Caribbean development as Caribbean countries have a greater global identity as a unit than alone. Despite the fact that many Caribbean nationals prefer to be identified as nationals of their own country and not as 'Caribbean' nationals, there is still some level of solidarity between them as they, when they go abroad, they are still considered 'Caribbean' by persons outside the Caribbean and so bond with other nationals on that common ground. This identification of being 'Caribbean' is also due to the common history of the Caribbean islands being rediscovered by Christopher Columbus and then being overtaken by European, British and Spanish bodies that brought in slaves and indentured workers from Africa, India, China and Syria during colonial times and also due to the location of the islands as they are washed by the Caribbean Sea and have similar sunny and rainy weather patterns. Caribbean solidarity is also seen in areas such as international sports, in which the Caribbean is bonded by a West Indies cricket team.
This bond reduces the insularity many Caribbean nationals have before they meet nationals from other Caribbean countries due to their constant interaction with each other and would also generate income for the countries when nationals visit other Caribbean countries and purchase their local goods and services. Thus, efforts at Caribbean integration still has relevance for Caribbean development as Caribbean countries have a greater global identity as a unit than individually.
In conclusion, efforts at Caribbean integration still has relevance for Caribbean development as Caribbean countries have greater bargaining power in the global market, they have a faster recovery when experiencing external shocks in the global market, they would benefit from being part of agreements with each other and have a greater global identity as a unit than as individual countries.