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Efforts of Caribbean Integration that still have relevance in Caribbean Development despite Globalization.

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Efforts of Caribbean Integration that still have relevance in Caribbean Development despite Globalization.

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The Caribbean is the region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its island and the surrounding areas. As such, there are several Caribbean islands which brought about the process of integration. Integration amongst the Caribbean islands is also referred as regional integration and was brought about to achieve economic integration to cooperate and achieve equity amongst one another. This brought about the formation of the CARICOM which is made up of fifteen Caribbean nations. The impacts of Caribbean integration are still present in today's world, though some may have changed completely. These efforts helped in shaping the Caribbean as we know it today as well as the exposure to foreign influence. There are four key items which are efforts of Caribbean integration that still has relevance in Caribbean development.

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1. Music has always been a big part in Caribbean culture it is a means of expression and recreation. Through the process of slavery, some slaves brought with them musical instruments or would have use any material there can find to create musical instruments bringing about different forms of music. Music has impacted the development of the Caribbean in several ways. It brings people together as a means of recreation. Music has contributed to the way individuals may think and the message they get from songs is what they convey in society. Calypso if a form of music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the early to mid-19th century. Calypso rhythms can be traced back to the arrival of the first African slaves of Trinidad. Forbidden to talk to each other, and robbed of all links to family and home, the African slaves began to sing songs. They used calypso as a means of communication and to mock the slave masters. It is seen that calypso is a form of Caribbean identity as such, it is an important aspect for the development of the Caribbean today. This is shown as calypso music is embedded in a famous festival called carnival that is held in Trinidad and Tobago annually showing its importance even in modern society. An artist named Bob Marley was associated with reggae music, his aim was not only for purpose of entertainment but to spread the message of Rastafari. His songs were mainly about freedom, love and politics which were mostly protest songs against the system of slavery. A famous song he sang was, "One Love" this song depicts unity, peace and love. Reggae helped shaped the Caribbean as it sends out positive messages of overcoming oppression. This would have impacted the way we as a people, both elderly and youths would have acted and carry on in life. This form of music is still seen in the Caribbean today and has even become globalized. There are many more reggae songs that stilI promotes peace and a sense of living a better life impacting development of the youths today positively. Though they are some forms of music that may contradict in the sense of conveying a positive message such as dancehall which is a sparse version of reggae. These songs mostly are about violence and can corrupt minds. A song sang by Popcaan named, "El Chapo" which depicts an individual shooting another man in his face, this gives off bad messages especially to the youths who can and are easily corrupted. Music has a major part to play in Caribbean development presently contributing both positive and negative messages to the youths of today which is the Caribbean's future leading to criminal activity in some cases for songs such as dancehall which was mention above and a better future if youths listen to tunes as reggae and calypso.

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2.There are various festivals celebrated throughout the world which brings people together. In the Caribbean a festival called carnival is celebrated and is popular globally. Carnival came about as slaves would see the slave owners having masquerades, not being able to attend their created their own masquerade a form of resistance. This festival with various colour and mask still is a major part of the Caribbean as it is not only celebrated annually but is a major tourist attraction for the Caribbean namely, Trinidad. This is one of the biggest events held in Trinidad which generates a lot of revenue for the country as well. People around the world come to take part in this event. The fact that other countries celebrate this festival shows how influential it is as a form of recreation. According to an article," Trinidad and Tobago plays host to the 'Great Show on Earth' known as carnival. Many people like to play traditional characters (mas) on the streets from the past which helps to preserve the various social customs of an evolving culture, that provides a vital and essential link to the country's rich heritage." This shows the influence that this festival has have on the Caribbean even today and has developed tremendously, as carnival has lost its sense of how it has started and the purpose of it. Clothing has changed from what it was to now individuals are seen wearing what is called a bikini to parade and play mas. Its music has changed as well into what is known as soca which a faster more upbeat tempo than calypso. This festival also promotes integration amongst people of different race and religion as all are joined to celebrate this festival though is still celebrated it has lost some of its key aspects. Due to globalization we are often influenced by foreign festivals such as Halloween which is of American culture. This festival is about dressing up like different scary characters and visiting doors of individuals to get candy. Though the practice of visiting individuals house and getting candy isn't practice in the Caribbean they are parties which host such events in the Caribbean such as, a party that is hosted at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad and Tobago, which entails individuals dressing up like scary characters. The fact that costumes are sold in various stores in the Caribbean. This shows the impact that foreign culture has on the Caribbean as it is now seen to be celebrated annually, festivals are evolving the Caribbean as we know it.

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3.Food, Caribbean food is derived from the diverse cultural influences that were bestowed on the Caribbean islands. Various people and cultures (Arawak, Caribs, Dutch, Spanish, Scottish, British, African, Asians) have added their own touch to Caribbean foods, transforming it into an ultimate exotic indulgence. Caribbean tribal foods were a healthy daily diet which comprised of fruits, vegetables, meat and fish and various spices and pepper in their cooking, which are now highlighted in Caribbean cuisine. With the invasion of Europeans in the Caribbean islands, its food and culture face a major change, African slaves had to live off the Europeans (owners) leftovers, which they took and added different spices to make their own blend of food, which became famous in the Caribbean like jerk cooking. The arrivals of Indian labourer bought curries and rice, which is a famous ingredient in Caribbean meals. Caribbean food hasn’t changed over time as it is globalized on networks such as YouTube, which list a number of videos showing step by step instructions in preparing the meals. Though the Caribbean hasn’t lost its touch of culture, they are some foods that are adopted such as pasta and various foreign restaurants like KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken), star bucks, Little Ceasers. Having all these various dishes produced locally, Caribbean people still sometimes prefer to buy foreign items that reflects again how greatly other countries have influenced us in the Caribbean.

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4.Education, Indigenous people didn’t have opportunities to attend and receive a proper education due to slavery, the British made the people covert their religion to Christianity just to attend school .Some would have converted but continued to practice their religion at homes. For a while Christianity was the main religion, later the Sanatan Dharma Association was formed in Trinidad and Tobago allowing Hindus to have their own schools to teach their beliefs along with Asja a Muslim school which was built. Having a wider form of educational system along with more freedom of choice for individuals of different race and religion to attend schools and attain an education. The Caribbean has well been developed in the field of education as they are primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education today. In Trinidad and Tobago there is the University of the West Indies which the education system also helps to provide financial aid to students in order to attend, this program is called GATE helping to make education at tertiary level attainable. This is especially helpful to those who are unable to afford to attend such institutions. Schools now offer scholarships to attend schools internationally to study or even pay for schooling at the tertiary level locally. This shows how much the education system has evolved overtime. On a global scale job opportunities are better abroad due to advancement in technology and even better learning institutions, as a result most of our skilled and educated citizens go abroad to work. This can lead to a brain drain in the Caribbean which is the emigration of highly trained or qualified people from a particular country which can impact the Caribbean negatively. It gives citizens of the Caribbean greater chances to elevate themselves and achieve a better standard of living. Though, the exposure of foreign culture may be bad as previously mentioned a brain drain, it can also impact the Caribbean positively as citizens may go abroad attain skills and education and return home to get a job. This has the power to boost economic growth in the Caribbean.

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Overall, there are many aspects of the Caribbean that is still present in the today’s world and of great importance, like its sense of identity its heritage. These are still seen today like certain festivals as mentioned above. Music is still of similar essence in the form of reggae and calypso which tunes still rings in the Caribbean. The food present in the Caribbean today is due to the process of slavery, along with the slaves who bought with them various forms of instruments and foods. These are very symbolic and is used to represent the Caribbean nation. Its education system has seen to evolve drastically from what it used to be where the rich and whites mainly owners of the slaves whose offsprings’ and those who were mixed with the white were offered such opportunities over others. There are indeed much more aspects of Caribbean integration which still has relevance in Caribbean development, but due to globalization some of these has changed a lot. Exposure to foreign culture has seen to impact the Caribbean a great deal not only our music, festivals, food and education but also the way we dress for example shirt and tie. Though each nation has its own culture we all are similar one way or the other.