DERICK TIDORT

Regional integration is the unity and teamwork among Caribbean countries which have multiple
ethnic and religious communities, to give benefits for the people of the region in order to achieve
sustainable development. Since 1950 regional attempts had been made. The first attempt made
was the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA). The second attempt was Caribbean
Community (CARICOM). The last attempt carried out was the West Indies Federation. The
Caribbean Free Trade Association ended because in 1967 (CARIFTA) became the
commonwealth Caribbean Regional Secretariat and was later referred to as the Caribbean
Community Secretariat. The Caribbean Community did not end and is very effective. The West
Indies Federation ended was because of the withdrawal of Jamaica - the largest member - after
conducting a national referendum in 1961 on its continued participation in the arrangement.
There are several institutions which have responsibility for the developing policies. Three of
them are Caribbean Court of Justice (CJJ), Caribbean Environmental and Health Institute (CEHI)
and Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). Caribbean court of justice
is the final court of resort (appeal) for member states which do not have ties with the Privy
Council in London, United Kingdom. Caribbean Environmental and Health Institute is an
organization that aims to improve environmental health in the Caribbean. Caribbean Disaster
Emergency Management Agency is an organization that provides construction assistance in times
of disaster. There are three strategies I think that can help assist the integration movement among
individuals. The first strategy they can use is to utilize the natural recourses of the region to
create new products. The second strategy is that airlines should provide affordable rates of inter-
island travel. The third strategy is by educating the citizens about integration. The first strategy
will assist by helping the region to increase trade and as a result create more employment. The
second strategy would assist by boosting regional tourism so that individuals can attend different
activities, conventions, concerts and festivals in different territories. The third strategy will assist
by making the citizens know about it and would make them participate in the process.