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Integration and development in the Commonwealth Caribbean: the politics of regional negotiations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 May 2009

W. Andrew Axline
W. Andrew Axline
Affiliation:
Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Ottawa, Canada. During 1977–78 he is a Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies at the University of Sussex, England.
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Abstract

In 1968, just ten years after the ill-fated West Indies Federation had been established, Caribbean regional integration was re-launched with the creation of the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA). By 1974, the twelve Commonwealth Caribbean member countries had adhered to the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) which had evolved out of CARIFTA. This progress in the evolution of Caribbean integration stopped with the failure to adopt the Draft Agreement on Foreign Investment and Development of Technology, and since that time regional negotiations have been undermined by conflicts over intraregional trade and bilateral arrangements at the expense of regional cooperation. Analysis of the politics of regional negotiations in the Caribbean provides an interesting example of the process of integration among developing countries.

Type
Articles
Information
International Organization , Volume 32 , Issue 4 , Autumn 1978 , pp. 953 - 973
Copyright
Copyright © The IO Foundation 1978

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References

1 For a comprehensive study of economic integration among developing countries prior to this event see Kahnert, F. et al. , Economic Integration among Developing Countries (Paris: OECD, 1969)Google Scholar.

2 The complete theoretical framework is found in Axline, W. Andrew, “Underdevelopment, Dependence and Integration: The Politics of Regionalism in the Third World,” International Organization 31 (Winter 1977): 83–105CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

3 The theoretical basis for this distinction is found in Haskel, Barbara, “Disparities, Strategies, and Opportunity Costs: the Example of Scandinavian Economic Market Negotiations,” International Studies Quarterly 18 (03 1974): 3–30CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

4 This categorization was originally made by Mytelka, Lynn K., “Transnational Relations and Regulation at the Regional Level: The Andean Pact,” Unpublished research proposal, University of Ottawa, 1974Google Scholar. Also Mytelka, Lynn K., “Regional Integration in the Third World: Some Internal Factors,” in International Dimensions of Regional Integration in the Third World (Ottawa: University of Ottawa Press, 1975), pp. 15–39Google Scholar.

5 This point is elaborated in Axline, , op. cit., p. 93Google Scholar.

6 The material from this section relies mainly on the official publications of the Secretariat, principally Carifta and the New Caribbean (Georgetown: 1971)Google Scholar, From Carifta to Caribbean Community (Georgetown: 1972)Google Scholar, and The Caribbean Community-A Guide (Georgetown: 1973)Google Scholar.

7 The relationship between dependence and lack of integration of the national economy is conceptualized in Brewster, Havelock, “Economic Dependence: A Quantitative Interpretation,” Social and Economic Studies, 22 (03 1973): 90–95Google Scholar.

8 The Caribbean Community. A Guide, op. cit., pp. 68–69.

9 lbid., pp. 66–68. For a detailed analysis of CARICOM institutions see Geiser, Hans, Alleyne, Pamela, and Grajraj, Caroll, Legal Problems of Caribbean Integration, A Study on the Legal Problems of CARICOM (Leyden: Sijthoff, 1976)Google Scholar. See also Hall, Kenneth and Blalke, Byron, “The Caribbean Community: Administrative Aspects,” Journal of Common Market Studies (03 1978): 211–228CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

10 At the time of Federation, 1958–1962, a customs union was proposed as part of the Federation in the Craft report of the Trade and Tariff Commission. For comments on that proposal see Balogh, T., “Making a Customs Union,” Social and Economic Studies, 9 (03 1960): 37–40Google Scholar; William G. Demas, “The Economics of West Indies Customs Union,” Ibid., pp. 13–28; Gerald M. Meier, “The Effects of Customs Union on Economic Development,” Ibid., pp. 29–36. A summary of the events leading up to the establishment of CARIFTA can be found in CCRS, CARIFTA and the New Caribbean (Georgetown: 1971), pp. 13–16Google Scholar.

11 This association is variously referred to in its own documents as The Incorporated Commonwealth Chambers of Industry and Commerce of the Caribbean, The Incorporated Chambers of Industry and Commerce of the British Caribbean, and The Incorporated Commonwealth Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Caribbean. The organization subsequently changed its name to the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC).

12 ICCC, Report of the Phased Freeing of Trade Delegation Which Visited Governments and Member Organizations in the Islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, Montserrat, St. Kitts, Jamaica and Guyana, September 10th to October 9th, 1966. (Port of Spain: 20 10 1966)Google Scholar. Also Trinidad Chamber of Commerce, Inc., A Caribbean Business Community, Discussion Paper Submitted to the Directors of the ICCC (Port of Spain: 10 06 1965)Google Scholar; and reports commissioned by the ICCC evaluating the UWI studies and potential distribution of benefits in CARIFTA: St. Cyr, E.B.A., Studies in Regional Integration-Preliminary Report (Port of Spain: 26 06 1967)Google Scholar and St. Cyr, E.B.A., Caribbean Economic Integration—The Distribution of Benefits with Special Reference to the Smaller Units (Port of Spain: 31 07 1967)Google Scholar.

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14 Committee A of the conference dealt with the general measures of integration. Committee B dealt with the Caribbean Development Bank, and Committee C dealt with other immediately required regional institutions and services. Conference of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, 14–18 August 1967. Resolution Representing Item A of the Agenda, para. (i)(a) and (b), para. (iii).

15 Conference of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, 14–18 August 1967, Resolution on Item “B” of the Agenda.

16 Resolution Representing Item A of the Agenda, op. cit., paras, (ii)–(viii).

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20 Caribbean Development Bank, Annual Report (Bridgetown, Barbados: 1971)Google Scholar. At this time, E.C. $1.00 was worth approximately $.50 U.S.

21 Caribbean Development Bank, Annual Report (Bridgetown, Barbados: 1973), p. 11Google Scholar.

22 Demas, William G., “Statement at the Sixteenth Session of the Economic Commission for Latin America, Port-of-Spain, 6–14 05 1975Google Scholar. Speeches and Resolutions, p. 13. See also Demas, William G., Address to the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors, 26 and 27 05 1975, (Bridgetown, Barbados: 1975)Google Scholar.

23 ECLA, The Caribbean Integration Programme (1968–1972), op. cit., p. 17Google Scholar.

24 Economic Commission for Latin America. Office for the Caribbean, Economic Activity. Caribbean Community Countries—1974. (Port-of-Spain: 1975) ECLA/POS 75/4Google Scholar.

25 Ibid.

26 ECLA, The Caribbean Integration Programme, (1968–1972), op. cit., p. 19Google Scholar.

27 A discussion and critical evaluation of the Agricultural Marketing Protocol and Guaranteed Market Scheme is provided by agricultural economist Smith, Louis L., Critical evaluation of the Performance of the ECCM countries under the Agricultural Marketing Protocol (AMP) and the Guaranteed Market Scheme (GMS) (Port-of-Spain: ECLA, Office for the Caribbean, 1974), ECLA/POS 74/16Google Scholar.

28 Barbados, Advocate-News, 12 05 1969Google Scholar.

29 Ibid., 27 June 1970 and 4 October 1970.

30 Trinidad, Express, 6 06 1970Google Scholar.

31 Jamaica, Daily Gleaner, 25 02 1971Google Scholar.

32 Trinidad, Express, supplement, 19 07 1970Google Scholar.

33 Guyana, Graphic, 15 04 1970Google Scholar.

34 As early as 1969 the Barbados Manufacturers Association called for protection from third country imports. Barbados, Advocate-News, 28 12 1969Google Scholar.

35 Trinidad Guardian, 21 February 1968.

36 Trinidad Guardian, 8 October 1972.

37 Barbados, Advocate-News, 5 10 1969Google Scholar.

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39 Barbados, Advocate-News, 8 10 1971Google Scholar.

40 Ibid.

41 Trinidad Guardian, 4 October 1971.

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43 Trinidad Guardian, 11 October 1972.

44 The Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce, Inc., Report of the Mission Undertaken by the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) to the LDCs of CARIFTA to Discuss and Stimulate the Establishment of Industrial Ventures in the LDCs, 10 1972: 2–3Google Scholar.

45 Guyana, Graphic, 17 10 1972Google Scholar.

46 Barbados, Advocate-News, 7 04 1973Google Scholar.

47 Commonwealth Caribbean Regional Secretariat, Eighth Conference of Heads of Government of Commonwealth Caribbean Countries, Georgetown, , Guyana, , 9th to 12th 04 1973, Monserrat's Proposals on the Caribbean Common Market (Submitted by Montserrat) HGC 18/73, 30th March 1973, p. 2Google Scholar.

48 Ibid., pp. 4–5.

49 Ibid., p. 6.

50 Jamaica, Daily Gleaner, 12 04 1973Google Scholar.

51 Trinidad, Express, 11 04 1973Google Scholar.

52 Ibid.

53 “The Georgetown Accord,” Commonwealth Caribbean Regional Secretariat, The Caribbean Community. A Guide, (Georgetown, Guyana: 1973), Appendix A, pp. 93–96Google Scholar.

54 Caribbean Community Secretariat, Progress in Caribbean Integration During 1973 (Georgetown: 1974), p. 13Google Scholar. Commonwealth Caribbean Regional Secretariat, From Carifta to Caribbean Community, op. cit. pp. 65–68Google Scholar. The following summary follows closely this analysis. Mclntyre, Alister and Watson, Beverly, Studies in Foreign Investment in the Commonwealth Caribbean. No. 1 Trinidad and Tobago, (Mona, Jamaica: ISER, 1970)Google Scholar. Also Watson, Beverley, Supplementary Notes on Foreign Investment in the Commonwealth Caribbean (Mona, Jamaica: ISER, 1974)Google Scholar. Chen-Young, Paul L., Report on Private Investment in the Caribbean (Kingston, Jamaica: Atlas Publishing Company, 1973)Google Scholar.

53 Caribbean Community Secretariat, One Year of CARICOM (Georgetown: 1974), p. 33Google Scholar.

56 The politics of the failure of CARICOM to move up to this stage is discussed in comparison with the Andean Group's success in this area in Axline, W. Andrew and Mytelka, Lynn K., “Société multinationale et intégration régionale dans le Groupe andin et dans la Communauté des Caraibes,” Etudes Internationales VII (juin 1976): 163–192CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

57 Jamaica, Daily Gleaner, 17 09 1977Google Scholar. For details of the new rules of origin see ECCM Secretariat (Draft) The New Origin System n.d. Also CARICOM Secretariat Press Release no. 16/1976, “Rules for Local Origin.”

58 CARICOM Secretariat, Agreement Establishing the Caribbean Food Corporation, n.d.

59 Caribbean Development Bank, Annual Report 1976 (Bridgetown: Barbados, 1977)Google Scholar. Caribbean Investment Corporation, Annual Report and Statement of Accounts for the Year Ended 31st December 1976 (Castries, St. Lucia: 1977)Google Scholar.

60 Axline, op. cit.

61 An analysis of Guyana's participation in Caribbean integration is provided by Milne, R. Stephen, “Impulses and Obstacles to Caribbean Political Integration: Academic Theory and Guyana's Experience,” International Studies Quarterly 18 (09 1974): 291–316CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

62 On this point see Greene, J.E., Race vs. Politics in Guyana (Mona, Jamaica: ISER, 1974)Google Scholar. For a recent analysis see Ramsoran, Ramesh, “CARICOM: The Integration Process in Crisis,” Journal of World Trade Law 12 (05–06 1978). 208–217Google Scholar.