CARICOM Takes Stock of Achievements 50 Years On

Carla Barnett

The Caribbean Community was established in 1973, upon the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in Trinidad. The signatories aimed to create a common space for territories within the region to work towards economic integration. Fifty years later, CARICOM is taking stock of its achievements over that time. Today, Secretary-General of CARICOM, Doctor Carla Barnett spoke of the significance of CARICOM fifty years later.

Dr. Carla Barnett, Secretary-General, CARICOM

“The four pillars which define our core objectives: economic integration, foreign policy coordination, human and social development, and security cooperation, are central to our regional and national development policies. Our active cadre of community institutions continuously focus on priorities such as education and human resource development, health, agriculture and food security, disaster management and response, climate change, and crime and security. We are an influential voice in international fora on critical matters, and our leaders have played important roles in addressing critical issues such as the dismantling of apartheid. Today, we have a strong voice in the growing global debate on reparations for slavery, and native genocide and discussions on climate injustice and responsibility for damage caused by climate change. As a region, we number among our diverse accomplishments, the establishment of the Caribbean Development Bank, the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency, the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility, the Caribbean Examinations Council, the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV AIDS, and the Caribbean Public Health Agency.”