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 FACTORS HINDERING REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN THE CARIBBEAN 

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 FACTORS HINDERING REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN THE CARIBBEAN 

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Regional integration is the process by which countries enter into an agreement in order to enhance cooperation through institutions, policies and rules that support the identity and collective action within a geographical region. There has been many attempts at Caribbean integration which were aimed at developing the territories and promoting areas of functional cooperation in economic, political, social and cultural spheres.Examples of some organizations created to foster Caribbean integration include: Caribbean community (CARICOM) ,CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME),  Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) , University of the West Indies (UWI) ,  Caribbean Development Bank  (CDB) , Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)  and Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts (CARIFESTA). However, there are several underlying factors that exist in the Caribbean which influences the effectiveness of  efforts directed towards regional integration.

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In today’s world of globalization, do efforts at  Caribbean  integration still have any relevance for Caribbean development, or should we all aspire to be citizens of the global village?                            

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In today’s world of globalization, do efforts at  Caribbean  integration still have any relevance for Caribbean development, or should we all aspire to be citizens of the global village?                            

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There are several factors hindering the integration, regional identity and the unification of Caribbean people. Overall, efforts at integrating has been ineffective towards the holistic development of the Caribbean. Due to world economics, the Caribbean is confronted with the emerging mega trend of globalization as the region  is being greatly impacted by ‘outside’ influences as it becomes more interconnected with the wider world.  Globalization is a process of interaction among people, companies and governments around the world. Thus, it involves the increasing flow of ideas, cultures, people, capital, goods and services that leads to the integration of economies and societies which we know as the global village. Caribbean economies all face similar challenges of being competitive and recognized on the global map. This serves as a unifying feature for the region as we are identified as developing or ‘third world’ countries. As we aspire to become citizens of this global village we need to come together in order to overcome challenges faced. However, one cannot underestimate the growing international presence of the Caribbean which is evident through Caribbean festivals, sports, cuisine and music which are all being embraced by foreign countries beyond the region. As we all strive to become global citizens, one must consider the powerful impact that globalization can have on our region.  I firmly believe  that we should eliminate the continual push and focus of Caribbean integration  and instead more attention and efforts should be directed towards becoming apart of the global village .

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Varying factors tend to influence efforts at regional integration. The plurality of the region must be taken into consideration when attempting to integrate. Although most Caribbean countries share a similar history of slavery, it is important to note that territories were colonized by different European powers, each with their own social and cultural heritage. Due to this, there’s English, French, Spanish and the Dutch speaking countries which make up the Caribbean today. Each has their own unique cultural identity .This difference poses a challenge to the ‘one Caribbean’ identity.

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Further, there’s insularity in the region. Caribbean islands are surrounded by vast seas.  Territories are not connected but are rather separated from each other due geographical boundaries. This has led to fragmentation where each territory identifies themselves as a unique sovereign state. Also, Caribbean people tend to identify themselves with certain political allegiances which are often passed on from one generation to another. The countries of the Caribbean have a diversity of constitutional arrangements.This therefore, makes it difficult to achieve political unity in the region. For example:  Cuba is a communist country with a one-party state, countries such as Cayman, Montserrat and Bermuda are still colonies of England, Puerto Rico is an associated-state of the United States, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana have a republican system of government .

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Different Levels of Development in the Region 

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Different Levels of Development in the Region 

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Notably, Caribbean countries are at different levels of development and are unwilling to work together. Not all territories have the same degree of development, some are classified as more economically developed and others as less economically developed.  For instance, countries such as Barbados with a high HDI (0.800) and Trinidad with a high HDI (0.784) are considered to be well developed within the Caribbean. Whereas, countries such as Haiti (0.498) is considered to be among the lesser developed countries in the Caribbean.  Also, unemployment rates vary among territories and there are varying degrees of national debt and indebtedness. This poses a challenges for implementing any development policy in the region.

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Overall, there is more of a nationalistic sentiment where territories are concerned about their own national identity rather than the rationalistic identity. Islands do not have the same economic policies or currency. Further, islands have different types and amount of resources. This results in conflict over how much should be contributed by each country.   Also, small territories view the larger ones with suspicion and fear as they believe that they will seek their own interest. This is reflected in the failure of the West Indian Federation which was the first attempt at regional integration in 1956.  It was established with the aim of bringing together Caribbean countries into one union that would promote political and economic ties. In 1961, Jamaica voted by referendum to withdrew from the West Indies Federation. This then led to Dr. Eric Williams withdrawing Trinidad and Tobago from the Federation stating “one from ten leaves nought” and this led to its collapse. However today, various developmental initiatives such as CARICOM and CSME tend to reflect regionalism and portray the concept of a Caribbean Identity.

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GROWING INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE OF THE  CARIBBEAN

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GROWING INTERNATIONAL PRESENCE OF THE  CARIBBEAN

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The ongoing phenomenon of globalization has afforded the Caribbean an opportunity at establishing its spot on the world map. Technological advancement especially the development of mass media have contributed to the growth, acceptance and appreciation of Caribbean music, cuisine , festivals and sports.

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As a result of the growing Caribbean presence, many popular festivals have emerged. For instance, Notting Hill  Carnival in the United Kingdom , Labour Day celebrations in Brooklyn, Carnival in Miami and Caribana in Toronto , Canada. These traditional Carnival celebrations have become major tourist attractions where thousands of people worldwide attend each year. Festivals such as these bring together all aspects of Caribbean culture inclusive of food, music, clothing, art and jewellery. Every year , the diversity of the Caribbean islands are well represented on an international  stage  as thousands of elaborately designed costumes illustrating the beauty  of the region can be seen as masquerades make their way  through cities enjoying themselves .

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In the Caribbean sports is seen as a binding force that brings thousands of people together and creates feelings of pride. In the past sports was a form of resisting colonialism and it continues to be an important part of the daily lives of Caribbean people. Sports such cricket, basketball, boxing, horse racing, track and field has gained much prominence and global attention over the years.  Cricket is the most popular sport in the Caribbean. In Trinidad, for example, Brian Lara is known worldwide as he holds the individual record with 501 runs in a match and is hailed a national hero. Stadiums can be found in the almost every island. Further, the CPL T20 cricket games have gained lots of international fans over the years, with games even being played outside of the Caribbea,#n in the Florida. Caribbean cricketers have garnered worldwide attention. They are now household names in India and Pakistan as they belong to various IPL cricket clubs outside the Caribbean. Examples of Caribbean players that are members of IPL clubs include: Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, and Sunil Narine. Also, recently track and field has gained prominence with Usain Bolt winning several gold Olympic medals, thus putting Jamaica and the Caribbean by extension on the global map. He is admired by all in the sporting fraternity and is deemed the 'fastest man in the world'.  Consequently, globalization has provided a platform  for both cricket and track and field to export  and display Caribbean culture to the world.

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The rich cultural diversity of the Caribbean transcends our geographical boundaries. In some instances when Caribbean migrants leave the Caribbean they carry with them their cultural practices. Caribbean cuisine is very much appreciated abroad and there is a growing demand for Caribbean eateries. Caribbean cuisine include and is not limited to a blend of African, Amerindian, European, East Indian, Arab and Chinese influences. A wide range of Caribbean foods such as callaloo, ackee, doubles, pelau and even jerk chicken can be found in Caribbean restaurants established abroad.  Many speculate that it is the unique blend of herbs and spices such as onions, garlics, rosemary, celery scotch bonnet peppers and thyme that makes Caribbean food stand out among the foreign cusine. The Tobago Blue Food festival, is known to display the Caribbean’s unique culinary heritage to the world. It focuses mainly on the ground provision dasheen and there are many other creative mouth-watering delicacies. This event attracts a multitude of local and international visitors annually thus, promoting Tobago and the wider Caribbean as destination to visit and it stimulates economic activity.

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Further, Caribbean music can be found abroad .Various forms of music such as reggae, calypso and soca music are embraced , appreciated and played all over the world.  Several local artistes such as Machel Montano are performing at international festivals such as Carnivals.
In 2018 , soca singer, Olatunji Yearwood  performed  on the X Factor UK . He represented the Caribbean  in an outstanding  performance and it was well  received by many locally and internationally.   Further in 2013, Bunji Garlin's 'Differentlogy'
gained  global attention when it was featured on an ABC's Grey's Anatomy and his song received  a  nomination at the 2013 Soul Train Awards for Best International Performance. Also, Bob Marley is an influential figure , credited with putting the Caribbean on the global map with his reggae music which exuded powerful messages that appealed to a wide audience. One of his famous songs that gathered international acceptance was ‘One Love’. Overall , Caribbean music is well loved for its versatility as it includes issues on love, happiness , unity , resistance,  death ,conflict , crime  , religion and a wide range of relevant issues facing society. Its ability to appeal to a wide range of people with varying backgrounds is what makes Caribbean music stand out and well loved. Most people use Caribbean music to relax and detress; some use it to provide a context for physical activity.  Further, the steelpan; national instrument of Trinidad, has made its way to international countries where it has garnered popularity. In some instances it has become a part of the curriculum in schools and colleges.

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                                                                                                                      EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON THE CARIBBEAN 

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                                                                                                                      EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION ON THE CARIBBEAN 

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In today’s world of Globalization, we need to be more cognizant of the effects that globalization can have  on the Caribbean. There is evidence of cultural imperialism as Caribbean culture is being lost due to the free flow of information and as a result the cultural identity is being replaced by the ‘modern’ way of life.  This can be seen in all aspects of life.  The idea of “what’s foreign is better” is being perpetuated. Due to Americanized broadcasting and TV shows ,  there is substantial appreciation for capitalism, branding and consumerism. For instance, there is a growing preference for American ‘fast food’ over local cuisine as more American franchises (KFC, Pizza Hut and Starbucks) are entering the Caribbean. More and more American festivals such as Halloween are being celebrated in the Caribbean. Further, the international sport of football has gained much attention and gathered thousands of Caribbean fans that support European Premium League clubs over local clubs. Preferences are given to foreign music such as Hip Hop and Rap over Caribbean music and the modern ‘fashionable’ way of dressing is being integrated within Caribbean societies. The increasing use of social media has influenced the linguistics of the Caribbean by introducing  American  and Western phrases and vocabulary into our daily interactions . Also, due to mass media, there has been a drastic change in the ideology , morals and values of people as to what is acceptable or not acceptable within society. This is evident in the matter of gender issues facing the Caribbean. Recently , there has been movement and resistance  towards gay rights and marriages which has prompted several discussion and protests in Caribbean countries such as Trinidad, Jamaica and St. Lucia.

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A feature of globalization is having fluid borders to allow migration ,  however this phenomenon has had negative impacts on the Caribbean . The  Caribbean region has a historical legacy of migration. Individuals move from one country to another mainly to seek a better  quality of life and employment opportunities. For many years, Caribbean nationals have been venturing out into various parts of the World to settle, work, or pursue higher education. The Caribbean region has one of the highest rates of net emigration in the world (International Migration Organization , 2008). Migration from the Caribbean continues to increase with significant levels of external migration occurring in  countries such as Jamaica, Guyana and St. Lucia.  This has led to a Caribbean Diaspora being formed in the United States , Canada and the United Kingdom .  This has resulted in loss of human capital and  brain drain where skilled and qualified individuals seek employment   abroad and  contribute towards the development of the host country rather than their homeland. In small Caribbean islands the population is becoming depopulated and the young active workforce is being lost.
In the Caribbean , particularly in Trinidad  migration is  a current issue where there is an influx of Venezuelans fleeing from political, economic and social upheaval.  This can negatively impact the region as there are increased risks of the spread of diseases,  drug trading , human trafficking ,mass refugee flows and an increase in crime.  Proper policies need to be developed in order to regulate the migration in and out of Caribbean countries .

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While increasing trade has generally increased employment in the Caribbean , the introduction of technology as well as competition by from multinational co operations have resulted in local companies downsizing their workforce. This creates social problems such as unemployment , poverty, crime and reduced revenue for the government. There is less need for unskilled workers since special skills and qualified individuals are required in an integrated global labour market . Globalization allows for greater mobility of workers , however in the Caribbean ,  there is little protection for individuals that lack certain skills. This causes an increase in poverty and takes away from development . Other labour problems include the exploitation of cheap labour and the neglect of certain areas. Example: agriculture due to the development of industries and the manufacturing sector. Globalization has negatively impacted upon food security ,  Caribbean governments need to prioritize  developing the agriculture industry  in order to reduce the high food import bill in the region.

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The Caribbean is generally categorized as developing as   colonialism has set back the development of the  Caribbean . As we become more globalized , the more powerful nations stand to reap the benefits. Integrating into the global community has perpetuated the exploitation  of the Caribbean  experienced in the past .  International organizations (World Trade Organization) determines the pricing for goods and services, thus determining the economic fortunes of the Caribbean territories. In the Caribbean islands are usually dependent upon specific commodity exports. For example, Trinidad and Tobago is heavily dependent on Oil and Gas and the lack of control in the pricing , results in the instability of the economy.  Oil and gas is in demand , this results in increased international competition from cheaper and better quality imports.

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The most important and longest established service in the Caribbean is  tourism. Many Caribbean territories rely on tourism as their major revenue earner. Globalization has assisted the Caribbean in portraying the the islands as an ideal destination getaway for holiday , wedding and cruise ship vacations . The sun, sea , sand  and the warm climate is marketed against the 'fast-paced' Western society. From an economic perspective , tourism  generates thousands of jobs within the region and attracts much needed foreign investments into the region. However, there are economic leakages, although tourism generates revenue , in some instances profits are repatriated to  the metropole. Also, increase imports drains the limited foreign exchange in the region. Overall , Caribbean identity is promoted through tourism . Visitors are able to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of Caribbean cultures.

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Globalization has increased the opportunities for Caribbean firms to export. An open financial market has made funds from abroad available to local firms for investment. Sourcing funds such as venture capital and fixed capital provides more funds to local firms. It allows Caribbean countries to trade goods which would not necessarily have been sold on the export market which is an avenue for Caribbean countries to gain revenue. An example of this is scotch bonnet peppers which are being exported from Jamaica and sold to many international pepper sauce manufacturers. Exporting to a larger foreign market can create economies of scale and increase their profit margins. However , in some cases local manufactures may face international competition and are unable to survive in a competitive environment and are forced into closure. Overall, Caribbean economies are becoming more diverse as they move away from the mono-crop culture. For example , Grenada is driven by increased economic activity in the construction, tourism, private education and manufacturing sectors. According to the Caribbean Development bank , Grenada  is the fastest growing economy in the Caribbean.

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Consequently , globalization affects all aspects of our daily lives and manifests itself in the economic, political, social and cultural spheres of society. One should eliminate the continual push and focus of Caribbean identity and instead more attention and efforts should be directed towards becoming global citizens . Without a doubt globalization has had a powerful impact upon the Caribbean region. It is arguable that globalization has had a twofold effect on the Caribbean in that there are some positive and negative impacts .However, globalization offers a multitude of opportunities for countries to develop but globalizing the Caribbean isn't a seamless feat without some risks and challenges. Due to the small size of the islands , Caribbean countries cannot survive alone in a globalizing world. Therefore, Caribbean people should come together as one, build upon their strengths and stand united in eradicating the challenges faced by globalization