Editing Caribbean Community

{{Short description|Regional intergovernmental organisation}}
{{redirect|Caricom=Caribbean Community and Commmon Market|Caricom|Caricom Airways}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{use British English|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox Geopolitical organization
| name                   = {{collapsible list
 | titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:center;line-height:normal;font-size:84%;
 | title = {{resize|1.25em|Caribbean Community}}<ref name="UIA">{{Cite web |url=https://uia.org/s/or/en/1100057610 |url-access= |title=Caribbean Community (CARICOM) |author1=Staff writer |year=2024 |department=UIA Global Civil Society Database |website=uia.org |publisher=[[Union of International Associations]] |agency=Yearbook of International Organizations Online |location=Brussels, Belgium |format= |arxiv= |asin= |bibcode= |doi= |doi-broken-date= |isbn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |lccn= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |osti= |pmc= |pmid= |rfc= |ssrn= |zbl= |id= |access-date=24 December 2024 |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |via= |quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}</ref>
 | {{Infobox
 | subbox=yes
 | bodystyle=font-size:77%;font-weight:normal;
 | rowclass1 = mergedrow
 | label1 = [[Dutch language|Dutch]]:
 | data1 = {{lang|nl|Caribische Gemeenschap}}
 | rowclass2 = mergedrow
 | label2 = [[French language|French]]:
 | data2 = {{lang|fr|Communauté caribéenne}}
 | rowclass3 = mergedrow
 | label3 = [[Spanish language|Spanish]]:
 | data3 = {{lang|es|Comunidad del Caribe}}
  }}
 }}
| image_symbol           = CARICOM logo official.svg
| symbol_type            = Official Logo
| image_flag             = Flag of CARICOM.svg
| anthem                 = "Celebrating CARICOM"<ref>{{cite web |url=https://caricom.org/about-caricom/who-we-are/our-symbols/ |title=Our Symbols — Caribbean Community (CARICOM) |access-date=5 November 2019 |archive-date=31 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131051917/https://caricom.org/about-caricom/who-we-are/our-symbols |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| image_map              = Caricom Member states 2024.png
| map_caption            = {{legend|#2D5F2C|Full members}}
{{legend|#66C804|Associate members}}
{{legend|#C2C572|Observers}}
| org_type               = [[Supranational union]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071016135704/http://student.dcu.ie/~mulloom2/CARICOM.html EU Style Structure Evident in CARICOM]</ref>
| government_type        = [[Intergovernmentalism|Intergovernmental]]
| membership_type        = [[Member state of the Caribbean Community|Member states]]
| membership             = {{collapsible list
  |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;white-space:nowrap;
  |title = 15 full members
  |{{flagcountry|Antigua and Barbuda}}
  |{{flagcountry|Bahamas}} |{{flagcountry|Barbados}} |{{flagcountry|Belize}}
  |{{flagcountry|Dominica}} |{{flagcountry|Grenada}} |{{flagcountry|Guyana}}
  |{{flagcountry|Haiti}}
|  |{{flagcountry|Jamaica}} |{{flagcountry|Montserrat}}
  |{{flagcountry|Saint Kitts and Nevis|name=Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
  |{{flagcountry|Saint Lucia}}
  |{{nowrap|{{flagcountry|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines|name=Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}}}
  |{{flagcountry|Suriname}}
  |{{flagcountry|Trinidad and Tobago}}
 }}
 {{collapsible list
  |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;white-space:nowrap;
  |title = 7 associates
  |{{flagcountry|Anguilla}} |{{flagcountry|Bermuda}}
  |{{flagcountry|British Virgin Islands}}
  |{{flagcountry|Cayman Islands}}
  |{{flagcountry|Curaçao}}
  |{{nowrap|{{flagcountry|Turks and Caicos Islands|name=Turks and Caicos Islands}}}}
  |{{flagcountry|Martinique}}|
  
 }}
 {{collapsible list
  |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;white-space:nowrap;
  |title = 7 observers
  |{{flagcountry|Aruba}} |{{flagcountry|Colombia}}
  |{{flagcountry|Dominican Republic}}
  |{{flagcountry|Mexico}} |{{flagcountry|Puerto Rico}}
  |{{flagcountry|Sint Maarten}} | {{flagcountry|Venezuela}}
 }}
| admin_center_type      = [[Secretariat (administrative office)|Seat of Secretariat]]
| admin_center           = {{nowrap|[[Georgetown, Guyana]]}}
| largest_settlement     = [[Port-au-Prince]], Haiti
| largest_settlement_type = city
| official_languages     = [[English language|English]]<ref name="auto"/>
| languages_type         = [[Working language]]
| languages              = {{hlist|[[Dutch language|Dutch]]
|[[English language|English]]
| [[French language|French]]
|[[Spanish language|Spanish]]}}<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=http://www.landofsixpeoples.com/news304/nc310133.htm|title=Spanish agreed as CARICOM second language|website=www.landofsixpeoples.com|access-date=4 August 2020|archive-date=18 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818060949/http://www.landofsixpeoples.com/news304/nc310133.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://caricom.org/our-community/who-we-are/|title=Who we are|access-date=4 August 2020|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814200923/https://caricom.org/our-community/who-we-are/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| languages2_type        = Other languages
| languages2             = {{collapsible list
 |framestyle = text-align:left;border:0;padding:0;line-height:16px;
 |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 |title = [[Languages of the Caribbean|34 languages]]<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://caricom.org/our-community/who-we-are/our-culture/|title=Our Culture|access-date=4 August 2020|archive-date=26 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926145727/https://caricom.org/our-community/who-we-are/our-culture/|url-status=live}}</ref>
 |hlist = true
 |[[Anguillian Creole|Anguillian English Creole]] |[[Antillean Creole|Antillean French Creole]]|[[Arabic]] |  [[English in Barbados|Bajan English]] | [[Bajan Creole|Bajan English Creole]] | [[Bahamian Creole|Bahamian English Creole]] | [[Belizean Creole|Belizean English Creole]] | [[Belizean Spanish]] | [[Caribbean Hindustani]] | [[Caribbean Spanish]] || [[Cayman Islands English]] | [[Chinese language|Chinese]] | [[Dominican Creole French|Dominican French Creole]] | [[Grenadian Creole English|Grenadian English Creole]] | [[Guyanese Creole|Guyanese English Creole]] | [[Jamaican English]] | [[Jamaican Patois]] | [[Martinican Creole ]]| [[Montserrat Creole|Montserrat English Creole]] | [[Ndyuka language|Ndyuka]] | [[Papiamento]] | [[Plautdietsch language|Plautdietsch German]] | [[Saint Kitts Creole]] | [[Saint Lucian Creole|Saint Lucian French Creole]] | [[Saramaccan language|Saramaccan]] | [[Sranan Tongo]] | [[Surinamese Dutch]] | [[Tobagonian Creole|Tobagonian English Creole]] | [[Trinidadian Creole|Trinidadian English Creole]] | [[Trinidadian and Tobagonian English]] | [[Turks and Caicos Creole|Turks and Caicos English Creole]] | [[Venezuelan Spanish]] | [[Vincentian Creole|Vincentian English Creole]] | [[Virgin Islands Creole|Virgin Islands English Creole]]
}}
{{collapsible list
 |framestyle = text-align:left;border:0;padding:0;line-height:16px;
 |titlestyle = background:transparent;text-align:left;font-weight:normal;
 |title = 16 [[Indigenous languages of the Americas|Native non-<br />extinct languages]]<ref name="auto2"/>
 |hlist = true
 |[[Arawak language|Arawak (Lokono)]]
| [[Carib language|Carib (Kari'nja)]]
| [[Garifuna language|Garifuna (Karif)]]
| [[Kapóng language|Kapóng]]
|[[Macushi language|Macushi]]
| [[Mawayana language|Mawayana (Mapidian)]]
| [[Mopan language|Mopan]]
| [[Pemon language|Pemon (Arekuna)]]
| [[Qʼeqchiʼ language|Qʼeqchiʼ (Kʼekchi)]]
 | [[Sikiana language|Sikiana (Kashuyana)]]
| [[Tiriyó language|Tiriyó]]
| [[Yucatec Maya language|Yucatec]] | [[Waiwai language|Waiwai]]
| [[Wapishana language|Wapishana]] | [[Warao language|Warao (Guarauno)]]
| [[Wayana language|Wayana]]}}
| leader_title2          = Chairwoman
| leader_name2           = [[Mia Mottley]]
| leader_title1          = [[Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community|Secretary-General]]
| leader_name1           = [[Carla Barnett]]
| established            = 
| established_event1     = [[Treaty of Chaguaramas]]
| established_date1      = 4 July 1973
| established_event2     = Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas
| established_date2      = 2001
| ethnic_groups          = '''In full member states:''' {{unbulleted list
|73.78% [[Afro-Caribbean]]
|8.3% [[Multiracial]]
|6.09% [[Indo-Caribbeans|Indian]]
|0.49% [[White Caribbeans|European]]
|0.39% [[Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean|Indigenous (Amerindian)]]
|0.12% [[Chinese Caribbean|Chinese]]
|10.83% Others
}}
| ethnic_groups_ref      = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/|title=The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|access-date=15 May 2007|archive-date=10 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510200259/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| demonym                = [[Caribbean people]]
| area_rank              = 
| area_magnitude         = 
| area_km2               = 458,480
| area_sq_mi             = 177,020
| percent_water          = 
| area_label             = Total
| population_estimate    = 18,482,141 (in full member states)<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=https://countryeconomy.com/countries/groups/caribbean-community|title=CARICOM – Caribbean Community 2021|website=countryeconomy.com|access-date=18 November 2017|archive-date=1 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035226/https://countryeconomy.com/countries/groups/caribbean-community|url-status=live}}</ref><br />239,251,864<ref name="auto1"/> (in all states)
| population_estimate_rank = 
| population_estimate_year = 2019
| population_density_km2 = 40.3
| population_density_sq_mi = 104
| population_density_rank = 
| GDP_PPP                = $145.3 billion<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/PPPGDP@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD |title=GDP, current prices. Purchasing power parity; billions of international dollars |date= |website=IMF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122001107/https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/PPPGDP@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD |archive-date=22 January 2021}}</ref>
| GDP_PPP_rank           = 
| GDP_PPP_year           = 2020
| GDP_PPP_per_capita     = $18,289
| GDP_PPP_per_capita_rank = 
| GDP_nominal            = $81.987 billion
| GDP_nominal_rank       = 
| GDP_nominal_year       = 2019
| GDP_nominal_per_capita = $12,608
| GDP_nominal_per_capita_rank = 
| Gini_year              = 
| Gini_change            = <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| Gini                   = <!--number only-->
| Gini_ref               = 
| Gini_rank              = 
| HDI_year               = 2023
| HDI_change             = increase <!--increase/decrease/steady-->
| HDI                    = 0.765 <!--number only-->
| HDI_ref                = <ref>[[List of countries by HDI]]</ref>
| HDI_rank               = 
| currency               = {{plainlist|
*{{flagicon|Bahamas}} [[Bahamian dollar]] (BSD)
*{{flagicon|Barbados}} [[Barbadian dollar]] (BBD)
*{{flagicon|Belize}} [[Belize dollar]] (BZD)
*{{flagicon|Bermuda}} [[Bermudian dollar]] (BMD)
*{{flagicon|Cayman Islands}} [[Cayman Islands dollar]] (KYD)
*[[File:Flag of Eastern Caribean.png|24px]] [[Eastern Caribbean dollar]] (XCD)
*{{flagicon|Guyana}} [[Guyanese dollar]] (GYD)
*{{flagicon|Haiti}} [[Haitian gourde]] (HTG)
*{{flagicon|Jamaica}} [[Jamaican dollar]] (JMD)
*{{flagicon|Curaçao}} {{flagicon|Sint Maarten}} [[Caribbean guilder]] (XCG)
*{{flagicon|Suriname}} [[Surinamese dollar]] (SRD)
* {{flagicon|Trinidad and Tobago}} [[Trinidad and Tobago dollar]] (TTD)
*{{flagicon|British Virgin Islands}} {{flagicon|Turks and Caicos Islands}} [[United States dollar]] (USD)
}}
| time_zone              = 
| utc_offset             = 
| official_website       = https://caricom.org/
| today                  = 
}}

The '''Caribbean Community''' (abbreviated as '''CARICOM''' or '''CC''') is an [[intergovernmental organisation]] that is a [[Political association|political]] and [[economic union]] of 15 member states (14 nation-states and one dependency) and five associated members throughout the [[Americas]], The Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean.<ref name="UIA" /> It has the primary objective to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and coordinate foreign policy. The organisation was established in 1973,<ref>{{cite news |last=Ramjeet |first=Oscar |date=16 April 2009 |title=CARICOM countries will speak with one voice in meetings with US and Canadian leaders |url=https://idsa.in/idsacomments/wither-caricom-prospects-post-brexit_sbmagaraj_110716 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713154312/http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/wither-caricom-prospects-post-brexit_sbmagaraj_110716 |archive-date=13 July 2016 |access-date=16 April 2009 |work=Caribbean Net News}}</ref> by its four founding members signing the [[Treaty of Chaguaramas]].

The secretariat headquarters is in [[Georgetown, Guyana]]. CARICOM has been granted the official [[United Nations General Assembly observers|United Nations General Assembly observer]] status.<ref>{{cite web |title=Intergovernmental Organizations |url=https://www.un.org/en/sections/member-states/intergovernmental-organizations/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523053652/http://www.un.org/en/sections/member-states/intergovernmental-organizations/index.html |archive-date=23 May 2017 |access-date=28 April 2017 |website=United Nations}}</ref>

== History ==
CARICOM, originally The Caribbean Community and Common Market, was established by the [[Treaty of Chaguaramas]] which took effect on 1 August 1973.<ref>{{cite web |title=Original Treaty of Chaguaramas |url=http://www.caricomlaw.org/doc.php?id=21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011055645/http://www.caricomlaw.org/doc.php?id=21 |archive-date=11 October 2007}}</ref> Founding states were [[Barbados]], [[Jamaica]], [[Guyana]] and [[Trinidad and Tobago]].

The Caribbean Community superseded the 1965–1972 [[Caribbean Free Trade Association]] organised to provide a continued economic linkage between the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean after the dissolution of the [[West Indies Federation]], which lasted from 3 January 1958 to 31 May 1962.

A revised Treaty of Chaguaramas established ''The Caribbean Community including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy'' and was signed by the [[CARICOM Heads of Government]] of the Caribbean Community on 5 July 2001 at their Twenty-Second Meeting of the Conference in Nassau, The [[Bahamas]].<ref name="revised_chaguaramas2">{{cite web |title=Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas |url=http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community/revised_treaty-text.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110061815/http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community/revised_treaty-text.pdf |archive-date=10 November 2011}}</ref> The revised treaty cleared the way to transform the idea of a [[common market]] CARICOM into the [[CARICOM Single Market and Economy|Caribbean (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy]].

Haiti's membership in CARICOM remained effectively suspended from 29 February 2004 through early June 2006 following the [[2004 Haitian coup d'état]] and the removal of [[Jean-Bertrand Aristide]] from the presidency.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/aristide-accuses-u-s-of-forcing-him-out-1.502442
|title=Aristide accuses U.S. of forcing him out
|publisher=Canadian Broadcast Corporation
|date=2 March 2004
|access-date=25 March 2011
|archive-date=24 September 2020
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924063446/https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/aristide-accuses-u-s-of-forcing-him-out-1.502442
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3587777.stm
|title=Aristide launches kidnap lawsuit
|work=BBC News
|date=31 March 2004
|access-date=25 March 2011
|archive-date=9 December 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209032804/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3587777.stm
|url-status=live
}}</ref> CARICOM announced that no democratically elected government in CARICOM should have its leader deposed. The fourteen other heads of government sought to have Aristide fly from Africa to Jamaica and share his account of events with them, which infuriated the interim Haitian prime minister, [[Gérard Latortue]], who announced he would take steps to take Haiti out of CARICOM.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl?md=read;id=1721|title=Haiti suspends ties with CARICOM|website=www.trinidadandtobagonews.com|accessdate=14 April 2024}}</ref> CARICOM thus voted on suspending the participation of Haitian officials from the councils of CARICOM.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1721
|title=Haiti suspends ties with CARICOM
|publisher=Trinidadandtobagonews.com
|access-date=25 March 2011
|archive-date=22 September 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090922080811/http://www.trinidadandtobagonews.com/forum/webbbs_config.pl/noframes/read/1721
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060210/carib/carib2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923204656/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20060210/carib/carib2.html |work=[[The Gleaner]] |title=Haiti could return to CARICOM|date=2006-02-10|archive-date=2010-09-23}}</ref> Following the presidential election of [[René Préval]], Haitian officials were readmitted and Préval himself gave the opening address at the CARICOM Council of Ministers meeting in July.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2006/02/060209_haitipollupdate.shtml|title=BBCCaribbean.com &#124; Haitian results in next two days|website=www.bbc.co.uk|accessdate=14 April 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061008/focus/focus5.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923204701/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20061008/focus/focus5.html|title= Caricom and Haiti: The raising of the Caribbean's 'Iron Curtain'|date=2006-10-08|archive-date=2010-09-23|work=[[The Gleaner]]}}</ref>

Since 2013 the CARICOM-bloc and with the Dominican Republic have been tied to the [[European Union]] via an [[Economic Partnership Agreements]] signed in 2008 known as [[CARIFORUM]].<ref name="cpdcngo.org"/> The treaty grants all members of the European Union and CARIFORUM equal rights in terms of trade and investment. Under Article 234 of the agreement, the [[European Court of Justice]] handles dispute resolution between CARIFORUM and European Union states.<ref name="jamaica-gleaner.com"/>

== Agenda and goals ==
CARICOM was established by the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean and currently includes all the independent [[Anglophone]] island countries plus [[Belize]], [[Guyana]], [[Montserrat]] and [[Suriname]], as well as all other British Caribbean territories and [[Bermuda]] as associate members. English was its sole working language into the 1990s. The organisation became multilingual with the addition of [[Dutch language|Dutch]] and [[Sranan Tongo]]-speaking Suriname in 1995 and the [[French language|French]] and [[Haitian Creole|Haitian Creole-speaking Haiti]] in 2002. Furthermore, it added [[Spanish language|Spanish]] as the fourth official language in 2003. In July 2012, CARICOM announced they considered making French and Dutch official languages.<ref>[http://www.caricom.org/jsp/pressreleases/press_releases_2012/pres185_12.jsp "Communiqué Issued at the Conclusion of the Thirty-Third Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, 4–6 July 2012, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116170406/http://caricom.org/jsp/pressreleases/press_releases_2012/pres185_12.jsp|date=16 January 2013}}, "Heads of Government recognized that, although English was the official language of the Community, the facility to communicate in their languages could enhance the participation of Haiti and Suriname in the integration process. They therefore requested the conduct of a study to examine the possibilities and implications, including costs, of introducing French and Dutch."</ref> In 2001, the Conference of Heads of Governments signed a revised [[Treaty of Chaguaramas]] that cleared the way to transform the idea of a [[common market]] CARICOM into the [[CARICOM Single Market and Economy]].<ref>{{cite web |title=CARICOM (Revised Treaty) |url=http://www.worldtradelaw.net/fta/agreements/caricomrevisedfta.pdf}}&nbsp;{{small|(573&nbsp;KB)}}</ref> Part of the revised treaty establishes and implements the [[Caribbean Court of Justice]]. Its primary activities involve:
* Coordinating economic policies and development planning.
* Devising and instituting [[Projects of the Caribbean Community|special projects]] for the less-developed countries within its jurisdiction.
* Operating as a regional single market for many of its members (Caricom Single Market).
* Handling regional trade disputes.

== Organisational structure ==
The following is the overall structure of Caribbean Community (CARICOM).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.caricom.org/jsp/secretariat/organogram_mar_07.pdf |title=Organisational structure |website=CARICOM |date=13 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128025719/http://www.caricom.org/jsp/secretariat/organogram_mar_07.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2010}}</ref>

=== Administration and staff ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Institution
!Abbreviation
!Location
!Country
|-
|[[Secretariat of the Caribbean Community]]
|CCS||[[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]]||[[Guyana]]
|-
|[[CARICOM heads of government|Caricom heads of government]]
|PCC||variable||
|-
|[[Conference of Heads of Governments]]
|HGC||variable||
|-
|[[Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians]]
|ACCP||variable||
|-
|[[Caribbean Community Administrative Tribunal]]
|CCAT||[[Port of Spain]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|}

=== Chairmanship ===
The post of Chairman (Head of CARICOM) is held in rotation by the regional Heads of Government of CARICOM's 15 member states. These include Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

=== Heads of government ===
CARICOM contains a quasi-Cabinet of the individual [[CARICOM Heads of Government|Heads of Government]]. These heads are given specialised portfolios of responsibility for regional development and integration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community/regional_portfolio.jsp?menu=community|title=Regional Portfolios of CARICOM Heads of Government|date=2 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080502211904/http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community/regional_portfolio.jsp?menu=community|archive-date=2 May 2008}}</ref>

=== Secretariat ===
The [[Secretariat of the Caribbean Community]] is the Chief Administrative Organ for CARICOM. The [[Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community]] is the chief executive and handles foreign and community relations. Five years is the term of office of the Secretary-General, which may be renewed. The Deputy Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community handles human and Social Development. The General Counsel of the Caribbean Community handles trade and economic integration.

The goal statement of the CARICOM Secretariat is: "To contribute, in support of Member States, to the improvement of the quality of life of the People of the Community and the development of an innovative and productive society in partnership with institutions and groups working towards attaining a people-centred, sustainable and internationally competitive Community."<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 September 2023 |title=Overview- CARICOM Secretariat |url=https://caricom.org/20357-2-2/ |access-date=21 September 2023 |website=CARICOM |language=en-US |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527225825/https://caricom.org/20357-2-2/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Organs and bodies ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+Principal organs
!Organ
!Description
|-
|CARICOM Heads of Government
|Consisting of the various heads of Government from each member state
|-
|Standing Committee of Ministers
|Ministerial responsibilities for specific areas, for example the Standing Committee of Ministers responsible for Health will consist of Ministers of Health from each member state
|}

==== Community Council ====
The Community Council comprises ministers responsible for community affairs and any other Minister designated by the member states at their discretion. It is one of the community's principal organs; the other is the Conference of the Heads of Government. Four other organs and three bodies support it.

{| class="wikitable"
|+Secondary organs
!Secondary organ
!Abbreviation
|-
|Council for Finance and Planning
|COFAP
|-
|Council for Foreign and Community Relations
|COFCOR
|-
|Council for Human and Social Development
|COHSOD
|-
|Council for Trade and Economic Development
|COTED
|}

{| class="wikitable"
|+Bodies
!Body
!Description
|-
|Legal Affairs Committee of the Caribbean Community|Legal Affairs Committee<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070609083722/http://www.caricomlaw.org/ Caricom Law]: Website and online database of the CARICOM Legislative Drafting Facility (CLDF)</ref>

|provides legal advice
|-
|Budget Committee of the Caribbean Community|Budget Committee
|examines the draft budget and work programme of the Secretariat and submits recommendations to the Community Council.
|-
|Committee of the Central Bank Governors
|provides recommendations to the COFAP on monetary and financial matters.
|}

== Institutions ==
The following institutions are founded by or affiliated to the Caricom:<ref>Caricom, [https://caricom.org/institutions/ Institutions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230504025054/https://caricom.org/institutions/ |date=4 May 2023 }}</ref>

=== Caricom Institutions ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Institution
!Abbreviation
!Location
!Country
|-
|[[Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency]]
|CCREEE||[[Bridgetown]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caricom Development Fund]]
|CDF||[[Bridgetown]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Telecommunications Union]]
|CTU||[[Port of Spain]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre]]
|CCCCC||[[Belmopan]]||[[Belize]]
|-
|[[Caricom Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality]]<ref>[http://www.crosq.org/ CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality] (CROSQ)</ref>
|CROSQ||[[Bridgetown]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Meteorological Organisation]]
|CMO||[[Port of Spain]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism]]
|CRFM||[[Belize City]]||[[Belize]]
|-
|[[Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security]]
|IMPACS||[[Port of Spain]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology]]
|CIMH||[[Bridgetown]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Examinations Council]]
|CXC||[[Bridgetown]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Court of Justice]]
|CCtJ/CCJ||[[Port of Spain]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|[[Caricom Competition Commission]]
|CCC||[[Paramaribo]]||[[Suriname]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency]]
|CDEMA||[[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Agricultural Health and Food Safety Agency]]
|CAHFSA||[[Paramaribo]]||[[Suriname]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Aviation Safety and Security Oversight System]]
|CASSOS||[[Kingston (Jamaica)|Kingston]]||[[Jamaica]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Public Health Agency]]
|CARPHA||[[Port of Spain]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Centre for Development Administration]]
|CARICAD||[[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Agriculture Research and Development Institute]]
|CARDI||[[Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago|Saint Augustine]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Organisation of Tax Administrators]]
|COTA||[[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]]||[[Guyana]]
|}

=== Functional cooperation ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Institution
!Abbreviation
!Location
!Country
|-
| [[Caribbean Tourism Organization]]
||CTO|||[[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Council of Legal Education]]
|CLE||several||
|-
|[[Caribbean Export Development Agency]]
|Caribbean Export||[[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Regional Information and Translation Institute]]
|CRITI||[[Paramaribo]]||[[Suriname]]
|}

=== Associate ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Institution
!Abbreviation
!Location
!Country
|-
|[[Caribbean Congress of Labour]]
|CCL||[[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caricom Private Sector Organization]]
|CPSO||[[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[University of the West Indies]]
|UWI||several||
|-
|[[University of Guyana]]
|UG||[[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]]||[[Guyana]]
|-
| [[Caribbean Law Institute]]
|CLI||[[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]]||[[Barbados]]
|-
|[[Caribbean Development Bank]]
|CDB||[[Saint Michael, Barbados|Saint Michael]]||[[Barbados]]
|}

=== Cancelled ===
The following institutions have been cancelled or merged into other ones:
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Institution
!Abbreviation
!Location
!Country
|-
|Regional Educational Programme for Animal Health Assistants
|REPAHA||[[New Amsterdam, Guyana|New Amsterdam]]||[[Guyana]]
|-
|Caribbean Food Corporation
|CFC||[[Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago|Saint Augustine]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
|CEHI||[[Castries]]||[[Saint Lucia]]
|-
|The Caribbean Epidemiology Centre
|CAREC||[[Port of Spain]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute
|CFNI||[[Kingston (Jamaica)|Kingston]]||[[Jamaica]]
|-
|Caribbean Health Research Council
|CHRC||[[Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago|Saint Augustine]]||[[Trinidad and Tobago]]
|-
|Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory
|CRDTL||[[Georgetown, Guyana|Georgetown]]||[[Guyana]]
|}

== Relationship to other supranational Caribbean organisations ==
{{update|Anguilla and other associate CARICOM members|date=February 2012}} <!-- It would also be nice if the flags were clickable and linked to country articles, otherwise you have to learn all the flags to make any sense of the diagram. -->
{{Supranational Caribbean Organisations|align=center|size=550px}}
{{Supranational American bodies|size=400px|align=right}}

=== Association of Caribbean States ===
CARICOM was instrumental in the formation of the [[Association of Caribbean States]] (ACS) on 24 July 1994. The original idea for the Association came from a recommendation of the West Indian Commission, established in 1989 by the CARICOM heads of state and government. The Commission advocated both deepening the integration process (through the CARICOM Single Market and Economy) and complementing it through a separate regional organisation encompassing all states in the Caribbean.<ref name="Evolution of the ACS">{{cite web|url=http://www.sela.org/media/268462/evolution_of_the_association_of_caribbean_states_-acs.pdf|title=Evolution of the Association of Caribbean States|access-date=10 June 2016|archive-date=9 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809043948/http://www.sela.org/media/268462/evolution_of_the_association_of_caribbean_states_-acs.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

CARICOM accepted the commission's recommendations and opened dialogue with other Caribbean states, the Central American states and the Latin American nations of Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico which border the Caribbean, for consultation on the proposals of the West Indian Commission.<ref name="Evolution of the ACS"/>

At an October 1993 summit, the heads of state and government of CARICOM and the presidents of the then-[[G-3 (Latin America)|Group of Three]] (Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela) formally decided to create an association grouping all states of the Caribbean basin. A work schedule for its formation was adopted. The aim was to create the association in less than a year, an objective which was achieved with the formal creation of the ACS.<ref name="Evolution of the ACS"/>

=== Community of Latin American and Caribbean States ===
CARICOM was also involved in the formation of the [[Community of Latin American and Caribbean States]] (CELAC) on 3 December 2010. The idea for CELAC originated at the [[Rio Group]]–Caribbean Community Unity Summit on 23 February 2010 in Mexico. This act caters to the integration of the Americas process, complimenting well-established initiatives of the Organization of American States.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mexidata.info/id2573.html
|title=''Mexidata'' (English) March 1, 2010
|publisher=Mexidata.info
|access-date=25 May 2012
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426015931/http://www.mexidata.info/id2573.html
|archive-date=26 April 2012
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite news
 |url=http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AML_GEN_CUMBRE_SPLA-?SITE=WFMZ&SECTION=ASIA&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-02-23-11-44-02
 |title=Acuerdan crear Comunidad de Estados Latinoamericanos y Caribeños
 |agency=[[Associated Press]]
 |date=23 February 2010
}} {{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
</ref><ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/America/Latina/crea/OEA/Estados/Unidos/elpepuint/20100223elpepuint_1/Tes
|title=América Latina crea una OEA sin Estados Unidos
|work=[[El País]]
|date=23 February 2010
|access-date=13 June 2016
|archive-date=22 February 2022
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220222185222/https://elpais.com/internacional/2010/02/23/actualidad/1266879601_850215.html
|url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name="Rio Group approves expansion at Unity Summit">{{cite web|url=http://www.mexicocancun.net/blog/?p=321|title=Rio Group approves its expansion at Unity Summit|access-date=13 June 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810213245/http://www.mexicocancun.net/blog/?p=321|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== European Union: Economic Partnership Agreements ===
Since 2013, the CARICOM-bloc and the Dominican Republic have been tied to the [[European Union]] via an [[Economic Partnership Agreements]] known as [[CARIFORUM]] signed in 2008.<ref name="cpdcngo.org">[http://www.cpdcngo.org/barbados/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102:caribbean-moves-afoot-to-restructure-cariforum&catid=3:news&Itemid=57 Caribbean moves afoot to restructure CARIFORUM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617132117/http://www.cpdcngo.org/barbados/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102:caribbean-moves-afoot-to-restructure-cariforum&catid=3:news&Itemid=57 |date=17 June 2013 }}, Peter Richards, Tuesday 12 April 2011</ref> The treaty grants all members of the European Union and CARIFORUM equal rights in terms of trade and investment. Within the agreement under Article 234, the [[European Court of Justice]] also carries dispute resolution mechanisms between CARIFORUM and the [[Member state of the European Union|states of the European Union]].<ref name="jamaica-gleaner.com">{{cite news|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091008/letters/letters1.html |title=Letter: Privy Council and EPA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821110351/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091008/letters/letters1.html |archive-date=2014-08-21|date=2009-10-08 |work=[[The Gleaner]]}}</ref>

=== OHADAC Project ===
In May 2016, Caricom's court of original jurisdiction, the CCJ, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the [[African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States|ACP]] Legal Association based in Guadeloupe recognising and supporting the goals of implementing a harmonised business law framework in the Caribbean through ACP Legal Association's OHADAC Project.<ref name="CCJ signs MOU on OHADAC">{{cite web|url=https://today.caricom.org/2016/05/20/ccj-signs-mou-on-harmonising-business-law-in-caribbean/|title=CCJ signs MOU on harmonising business law in Caribbean|date=20 May 2016|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125103226/https://today.caricom.org/2016/05/20/ccj-signs-mou-on-harmonising-business-law-in-caribbean/|url-status=live|website=today.caricom.org}}</ref>

OHADAC is the acronym for the French "Organisation pour l'Harmonisation du Droit des Affaires en les Caraïbes", which translates into English as "Organisation for the Harmonisation of Business Law in the Caribbean". The OHADAC Project takes inspiration from a [[OHADA|similar organisation in Africa]] and aims to enhance economic integration across the entire Caribbean and facilitate increased trade and international investment through unified laws and alternative dispute resolution methods.<ref name="CCJ signs MOU on OHADAC"/>

== Member states ==
{{See also|Member states of the Caribbean Community}}

{{as of|2024}} CARICOM has 15 full members, seven associate members and eight observers. The associated members are five [[British Overseas Territories]], one constituent county of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]] and one [[French Overseas Territory]]. It is currently not established what the role of the associate members will be. The observers are states which engage in at least one of CARICOM's technical committees.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qf6LDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA971|title=CIA World Factbook|year=2017|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|page=971|isbn=9781510712898|access-date=5 July 2017|archive-date=22 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022060431/https://books.google.com/books?id=qf6LDAAAQBAJ&pg=PA971|url-status=live}}</ref>{{page needed|date=January 2023}}

Under Article 4 CARICOM breaks its 15 member states into two groups: Less Developed Countries (LDCs) and More Developed Countries (MDCs).<ref name="revised_chaguaramas">{{cite web |title=Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas |url=http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community/revised_treaty-text.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111110061815/http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community/revised_treaty-text.pdf |archive-date=10 November 2011}}</ref>

The countries of CARICOM which are designated as Less Developed Countries (LDCs) are as follows:<ref name=revised_chaguaramas />

* Antigua and Barbuda
* Belize
* Commonwealth of Dominica
* Grenada
* Republic of Haiti
* Montserrat
* Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis
* St Lucia
* St Vincent and the Grenadines

The countries of CARICOM which are designated as More Developed Countries (MDCs) are:<ref name=revised_chaguaramas />

* Commonwealth of The Bahamas
* Barbados
* Co-operative Republic of Guyana
* Jamaica
* Republic of Suriname
* Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+CARICOM members
! Status
! Name
! Join date
! Notes
|-
| rowspan=15 |Full member
| {{Country|Antigua and Barbuda}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 4 July 1974
|
|-
| {{Country|The Bahamas}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 4 July 1983
| Not a part of the customs union
|-
| {{Country|Barbados}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 August 1973
| One of the four founding members
|-
| {{Country|Belize}}
| rowspan="3" style="text-align:right;" | 1 May 1974
|
|-
| {{Country|Dominica}}
|
|-
| {{Country|Grenada}}
|
|-
| {{Country|Guyana}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 August 1973
| One of the four founding members
|-
| {{Country|Haiti}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 2 July 2002
| Provisional membership on 4 July 1998
|-
| {{Country|Jamaica}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 August 1973
| One of the four founding members
|-
| {{Country|Montserrat}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 May 1974
| [[British Overseas Territories|British overseas territory]]
|-
| {{Country|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 26 July 1974
| Joined as [[Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla]]
|-
| {{Country|Saint Lucia}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 May 1974
|
|-
| {{Country|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 May 1974
|
|-
| {{Country|Suriname}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 4 July 1995
|
|-
| {{Country|Trinidad and Tobago}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 1 August 1973
| One of the four founding members
|-
| rowspan=7 | Associate 
| {{Country|Anguilla}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 4 July 1999
| rowspan="4" | [[British Overseas Territories|British overseas territory]]
|-
| {{Country|Bermuda}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 2 July 2003
|-
| {{Country|British Virgin Islands}}
| style="text-align:right;"|  2 July 1991 
|-
| {{Country|Cayman Islands}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 16 May 2002
|-
| {{Country|Curaçao}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 28 July 2024
| Constituent country of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
|-
|{{Country|Martinique}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 20 February 2025
|[[French overseas territory]]
|-
| {{Country|Turks and Caicos Islands}}
| style="text-align:right;"| 2 July 1991
| [[British Overseas Territories|British overseas territory]]
|-
|rowspan="7" | Observer
| {{Country|Aruba}}
| 
| Constituent country of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
|-
| {{Country|Colombia}}
|
|
|-
| {{Country|Dominican Republic}}
|
|
|-
|{{Country|Mexico}}
|
|
|-
| {{Country|Puerto Rico}}
|
| [[Unincorporated territories of the United States|Unincorporated territory]] of the [[United States]]
|-
| {{Country|Sint Maarten}}
|
| Constituent country of the [[Kingdom of the Netherlands]]
|-
| {{Country|Venezuela}}
|
|
|}

Thousands of Caricom nationals live within other member states of the Community.

An estimated 30,000 Jamaicans legally reside in other CARICOM member states,<ref name="30,000 Jamaicans residing in CARICOM member states">{{cite web |url=http://www.caricomnews.net/index.php/caricom/caricom-news/regional-news/1889-skilled-jamaicans-refused-entry-into-some-caricom-states |title=30,000 Jamaicans residing in other CARICOM member states |access-date=20 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310162757/http://caricomnews.net/index.php/caricom/caricom-news/regional-news/1889-skilled-jamaicans-refused-entry-into-some-caricom-states |archive-date=10 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> mainly in The Bahamas (6,200), Antigua & Barbuda (estimated 12,000),<ref name="Golding calls on Jamaicans in Antigua">{{cite web|url=https://jis.gov.jm/pm-golding-calls-on-jamaicans-in-antigua-barbuda-to-co-operate-with-government-people-there/|title=PM Golding Calls on Jamaicans in Antigua & Barbuda to Co-Operate with Government & People There|date=7 July 2008|website=Jamaica Information Service|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=28 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128033751/https://jis.gov.jm/pm-golding-calls-on-jamaicans-in-antigua-barbuda-to-co-operate-with-government-people-there/|url-status=live}}</ref> Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago).<ref name="30,000 Jamaicans residing in CARICOM member states" /> Also, an estimated 150 Jamaicans live and work in Montserrat.<ref name="Golding calls on Jamaicans in Antigua"/> A 21 November 2013 estimated put 16,958 Jamaicans residing illegally in Trinidad & Tobago, as according to the records of the Office of the Chief Immigration Officer, their entry certificates would have since expired.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Close-to-17-000-Jamaicans-residing-illegally-in-Trinidad--newspapers-says|title=Close to 17,000 Jamaicans residing illegally in Trinidad, newspapers says |date=26 November 2013 |website=Jamaica Observer|access-date=20 April 2015|archive-date=27 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427111412/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Close-to-17-000-Jamaicans-residing-illegally-in-Trinidad--newspapers-says|url-status=dead }}</ref> By October 2014, the estimated Jamaicans residing illegally in Trinidad and Tobago was 19,000 along with an estimated 7,169 Barbadians and 25,884 Guyanese residing illegally.<ref name="7,000 illegal Bajans in T&T">{{cite web|url=https://www.nationnews.com/2014/10/16/7-000-illegal-bajans-in-tt/|title=7 000 illegal Bajans in T&T|date=16 October 2014|website=NationNews |access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122220929/https://www.nationnews.com/2014/10/16/7-000-illegal-bajans-in-tt/|url-status=live}}</ref> An estimated 8,000 Trinidadians and Tobagonians live in Jamaica.<ref name="Bissessar celebrates new high commission">{{cite news|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/social/20150417/bissessar-celebrates-new-trinidad-tobago-high-commission|title=Bissessar celebrates new Trinidad &Tobago high commission|date=17 April 2015|work=[[The Gleaner]] |access-date=20 April 2015|archive-date=20 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150420223714/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/social/20150417/bissessar-celebrates-new-trinidad-tobago-high-commission|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Aguas territoriales CARICOM.svg|thumb|right|[[Exclusive Economic Zones]] of the member states of the CARICOM. Considering them, the total area reaches the 2 300 297 km<sup>2</sup>.]]

Barbados hosts a large diaspora population of Guyanese, of whom (in 2005) 5,032 lived there permanently as citizens, permanent residents, immigrants (with immigrant status) and Caricom skilled nationals; 3,200 were residing in Barbados temporarily under work permits, as students, or with "reside and work" status. A further 2,000–3,000 Guyanese were estimated to be living illegally in Barbados at the time.<ref name="Guyanese, British and Americans in Barbados">{{cite web|url=https://cnewsnow.tripod.com/id376.html|title=Guyanese, British and Americans among illegal immigrants living in Barbados|website=Carib News Now |access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=28 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228162625/https://cnewsnow.tripod.com/id376.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Migration between Barbados and Guyana has deep roots, going back over 150 years, with the most intense period of Barbadian migration to then-British Guiana occurring between 1863 and 1886, although as late as the 1920s and 1930s Barbadians were still leaving Barbados for British Guiana.<ref name="When Barbadians emigrated to Guyana">{{cite web|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/08/01/features/in-the-diaspora/mudheads-in-barbados-a-lived-experience/|title=Mudheads in Barbados: A Lived Experience|date=1 August 2011 |website=Stabroek News |first1= Linden |last1=Lewis |url-status=live |archive-url= https://archive.today/20240129213710/https://www.stabroeknews.com/2011/08/01/features/in-the-diaspora/mudheads-in-barbados-a-lived-experience/ |archive-date= 29 January 2024 }}</ref>

Migration between Guyana and Suriname also goes back a number of years. An estimated 50,000 Guyanese had migrated to Suriname by 1986<ref name="Ethnologue Suriname">{{cite web |title=Languages of Suriname|url=http://archive.ethnologue.com/15/show_country.asp?name=SR|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427143354/http://archive.ethnologue.com/15/show_country.asp?name=SR|archive-date=27 April 2015|access-date=|website=[[Ethnologue]]}}</ref><ref name="Guyanese Creole Survey Report">
{{cite web |title=Guyanese Creole Survey Report|url=http://www2.sil.org/silesr/2002/011/SILESR2002-011.pdf |date=2001 |first1=David J. |last1=Holbrook |first2=Holly A. |last2=Holbrook |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314021642/http://www-01.sil.org/silesr/2002/011/SILESR2002-011.pdf|archive-date=14 March 2016|access-date=|website=[[SIL International]]}}
</ref> In 1987 an estimated 30–40,000 Guyanese were in Suriname.<ref name="Guyanese Vital In Suriname">{{cite web |url=http://www.guyana-cricket.com/news/guyanese-vital-suriname |last= |first= |date= |title=Guyanese vital in Suriname |access-date= |website=guyana-cricket.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729200021/https://www.guyana-cricket.com/news/guyanese-vital-suriname |archive-date=29 July 2020}}</ref> Many Guyanese left Suriname in the 1970s and 1980s, either voluntarily or by expulsion. Citing a [[national security]] concern, over 5,000 were expelled in January 1985 alone.<ref name="Nervous neighbours">{{cite web|url=https://www.stabroeknews.com/2008/11/05/guyana-review/nervous-neighbours-guyana-and-suriname/|title=Nervous neighbours: Guyana and Suriname|date=5 November 2008}}</ref> In the instability Suriname experienced following independence, both coups and civil war.<ref name="Guyanese Creole Survey Report"/> In 2013, an estimated 11,530 Guyanese had emigrated to Suriname and 4,662 Surinamese to Guyana.<ref name="Guyana Migration Profiles">{{cite web
|url=http://esa.un.org/MigGMGProfiles/indicators/files/Guyana.pdf
|title=Guyana Migration Profiles
|access-date=21 April 2015
|archive-date=27 April 2015
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150427124722/http://esa.un.org/MigGMGProfiles/indicators/files/Guyana.pdf
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

=== Relationship with Cuba ===
In 2017, the [[Cuba|Republic of Cuba]] and CARICOM signed the "CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://caricom.org/Document-Library/view-document/caricom-cuba-trade-and-economic-cooperation-agreement|title=CARICOM-Cuba Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement|accessdate=14 April 2024}}</ref> to facilitate closer trade ties.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rodriguez Parrilla |first1=Bruno Eduardo |date=14 June 2019 |title=CARICOM-Cuba: Only integration will allow us to prosper |url=http://www.cubadebate.cu/opinion/2019/06/14/caricom-cuba-solo-la-integracion-nos-permitira-prosperar/ |url-status=live |language=es |work=CubaDebate.cu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309143137/http://www.cubadebate.cu/opinion/2019/06/14/caricom-cuba-solo-la-integracion-nos-permitira-prosperar/ |archive-date=9 March 2021 |access-date=10 March 2021 |quote= }}</ref> In December 2022, [[President of Cuba]] [[Miguel Díaz-Canel]] met in [[Bridgetown]], Barbados with the Heads of State and Government of CARICOM. On the occasion of the 8th CARICOM-Cuba Summit to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations with the independent States of CARICOM and Cuba and the 20th Anniversary of CARICOM-Cuba Day. Cuba also accepted CARICOM's offer to deepen bilateral cooperation and to join robust discussions in the bloc's regional 'Joint Ministerial Taskforce on Food production and Security'.

== Dialogue partners / accreditation to CARICOM ==
A number of global partners have established diplomatic representation to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat located in [[Georgetown, Guyana]].  Nations with non-resident representatives to CARICOM in ''italics:''<ref>[https://caricom.org/wp-content/uploads/Ambassadors-Accredited-to-CARICOM-for-Website-7-Dec-2024.pdf AMBASSADORS ACCREDITED TO THE CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM)] (As of December 2024)</ref><ref>[https://www.minfor.gov.gy/diplomatic-consular-services/foreign-heads-of-missions-resident Foreign Heads Of Missions Resident In Guyana], Guyana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation</ref>
{{Div col}}
# {{Flag|Argentina}}<ref>[https://eguya.cancilleria.gob.ar/es/institucional Embassy of Argentina in Guyana]</ref>
# ''{{Flag|Australia}}''<ref>[https://trinidadandtobago.embassy.gov.au/ Australian High Commission Trinidad and Tobago]</ref>
# {{Flag|Austria}}
# {{Flag|Belgium}}
# {{Flag|Brazil}}
# {{Flag|Canada}}<ref>[https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/caricom/index.aspx?lang=eng#_Our_office Canada and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)], Global Affairs Canada</ref>
# {{Flag|Chile}}
# {{Flag|Colombia}}
# {{Flag|Costa Rica}}
# {{Flag|Cuba}}
# {{Flag|El Salvador}}
# {{Flag|European Union}}
# {{Flag|Finland}}
# {{Flag|France}}
# {{Flag|Germany}}
# {{Flag|Greece}}
# {{Flag|India}}<ref>[https://hcigeorgetown.gov.in/pages/Njcy Relations], High Commission of India, Georgetown, Guyana</ref>
# {{Flag|Indonesia}}
# {{Flag|Ireland}}
# ''{{Flag|Israel}}''<ref>[https://new.embassies.gov.il/panama/en/the-embassy/the-ambassador Embassy of Israel, Panama]</ref>
# ''{{Flag|Italy}}''
# ''{{Flag|Japan}}''<ref>[https://www.tt.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/accredited_countries.html Countries and Regional Organizations the Embassy of Japan in T&T Covers]</ref>
# {{Flag|Korea}}
# {{Flag|Latvia}}
# {{Flag|Lithuania}}
# {{Flag|Mexico}}<ref>[https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/guyana/index.php/en/embassy/directorio About the ambassador of MX to Guyana]</ref><ref>[https://embamex.sre.gob.mx/guyana/index.php/en/ MX Embassy to Guyana]</ref>
# {{Flag|Netherlands}}
# ''{{Flag|New Zealand}}''<ref>[https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas/caribbean NZ Embassies and consular services for Caribbean]</ref><ref>[https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/countries-and-regions/americas NZ and the Americas], New Zealand Foreign Affairs & Trade</ref>
# {{Flag|Panama}}
# {{Flag|Portugal}}
# {{Flag|Romania}}
# ''{{Flag|Singapore}}''<ref>[https://www.sgdi.gov.sg/ministries/mfa/departments/om/departments/io/departments/(caricom) Singapore Plenipotentiary Representative to the Caribbean Community (Caricom)]</ref>
# {{Flag|Slovenia}}
# {{Flag|Sweden}}
# {{Flag|Switzerland}}
# {{Flag|Turkey}}
# {{Flag|United Kingdom}}
# {{Flag|United States of America}}
# ''{{Flag|Venezuela}}''
{{Div col end}}

== Free-trade agreements ==
* [[List of bilateral free-trade agreements#CARICOM]]

== Statistics ==
{{See also|Trade bloc}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:right"
|+ Population and economic statistics of full and associate members<ref>[http://www.caricomstats.org/ CARICOM Statistics]: Statistical information compiled through the CARICOM Secretariat</ref>
|-
! Member
! Membership
! Land area (km<sup>2</sup>)<ref name="land_area">{{cite book|title=The World Factbook|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2147.html|access-date=23 December 2017|language=en|chapter=Land area rankings|archive-date=20 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020000737/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2147.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! Population (2019)
! [[GDP]] ([[Purchasing power parity|PPP]]) Millions USD (2017)<ref>"[http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=89&pr.y=9&sy=2013&ey=2013&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=subject&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=PPPGDP&grp=0&a= Gross domestic product based on purchasing-power-parity (PPP) valuation of country GDP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209180026/http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2014/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=89&pr.y=9&sy=2013&ey=2013&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=subject&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=PPPGDP&grp=0&a= |date=2015-02-09 }}" (2013). ''World Economic Outlook Database 2014''. International Monetary Fund. {{Retrieved|access-date=23 December 2017}}.</ref>
! GDP Per Capita (PPP) USD (2017)
! Human Development Index (2023)<ref name="2022 components32">{{cite book |url=https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-2025 |title=Human Development Report 2025 - A matter of choice: People and possibilities in the age of AI |date=6 May 2025 |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |isbn= |publication-date=6 May 2025 |pages= |access-date=6 May 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506064128/https://hdr.undp.org/content/human-development-report-2025 |archive-date=6 May 2025}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Anguilla}}
| associate
| 91
| 15,174
| 175.4
| 12,200
| –
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Antigua and Barbuda}}
| full member
| 442.6
| 104,084
| 2,390
| 26,300
| 0.851
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|The Bahamas}}
| full member
| 10,010
| 385,340
| 9,339
| 25,100
| 0.820
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Barbados}}
| full member
| 430
| 287,010
| 4,919
| 17,500
| 0.811
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Belize}}
| full member
| 22,806
| 398,050
| 3,230
| 8,300
| 0.721
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Bermuda}}
| associate
| 54
| 63,779
| 5,198
| 85,700
| –
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|British Virgin Islands}}
| associate
| 151
| 32,206
| 500
| 42,300
| –
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Cayman Islands}}
| associate
| 264
| 64,420
| 2,507
| 43,800
| –
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Dominica}}
| full member
| 751
| 74,679
| 851
| 12,000
| 0.761
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Grenada}}
| full member
| 344
| 108,825
| 1,590
| 14,700
| 0.791
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Guyana}}
| full member
| 214,970
| 786,508
| 6,367
| 8,300
| 0.776
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Haiti}}
| full member
| 27,560
| 11,242,856
| 19,880
| 1,800
| 0.554
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Jamaica}}
| full member
| 10,831
| 2,728,864
| 26,200
| 9,200
| 0.720
|-
| sscope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Montserrat}}
| full member
| 102
| 5,220
| 43.8
| 8,500
| –
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}
| full member
| 261
| 56,345
| 1,528
| 26,800
| 0.840
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Saint Lucia}}
| full member
| 606
| 180,454
| 2,384
| 13,500
| 0.748
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}}
| full member
| 389
| 109,803
| 1,281
| 11,600
| 0.798
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Suriname}}
| full member
| 156,000
| 573,085
| 7,928
| 13,900
| 0.722
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Trinidad and Tobago}}
| full member
| 5,128
| 1,359,193
| 42,780
| 31,200
| 0.807
|-
| scope="row" style="text-align: left; font-weight: normal;" | {{flag|Turks and Caicos Islands}}
| associate
| 948
| 37,910
| 632
| 29,100
| –
|-

! style="text-align: left;" | Full members
! style="text-align: right;" | members only
! style="text-align: right;" | 432,510
! style="text-align: right;" | 18,400,316
! style="text-align: right;" | 130,711
! style="text-align: right;" | 15,247
! style="text-align: right;" | 0.751
|}

== Symbols ==
=== Standard ===
The flag of the Caribbean Community was chosen and approved in November 1983 at the Conference of Heads of Government Meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad. The original design by the firm of WINART Studies in Georgetown, Guyana was substantially modified at the July 1983 Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.<ref name="CARICOM Standard">{{cite web|url=https://caricom.org/about-caricom/who-we-are/our-symbols|title=CARICOM: Our Symbols|access-date=7 July 2019|archive-date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131051917/https://caricom.org/about-caricom/who-we-are/our-symbols|url-status=live}}</ref> The flag was first flown on 4 July 1984 in Nassau, The Bahamas at the fifth Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government.<ref name="CRW Flags CARICOM">{{cite web|url=https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/int-cari.html|title=Caribbean Community and Common Market|website=www.crwflags.com|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125014552/https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/int-cari.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The flag features a blue background, but the upper part is a light blue representing sky and the lower, a darker blue representing the Caribbean Sea. The yellow circle in the centre represents the sun on which is printed in black the logo of the Caribbean Community, two interlocking Cs. The two Cs are in the form of broken links in a chain, symbolising both unity and a break with the colonial past. The narrow ring of green around the sun represents the vegetation of the region.<ref name="CARICOM Standard"/>

=== Song ===
For CARICOM's 40th anniversary, a competition to compose an official song or anthem for CARICOM was launched in April 2013<ref name="History created with new CARICOM song">{{cite web|url=http://www.caricom.org/jsp/pressreleases/press_releases_2014/pres168_14.jsp|title=History created as new CARICOM song is launched|access-date=12 July 2014|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714165926/http://www.caricom.org/jsp/pressreleases/press_releases_2014/pres168_14.jsp|url-status=live}}</ref> to promote choosing a song that promoted unity and inspired CARICOM identity and pride. A regional panel of judges comprising independent experts in music was nominated by member states and the CARICOM Secretariat. Three rounds of competition condensed 63 entries to a final three, from which judges chose ''Celebrating CARICOM'' by Michele Henderson of Dominica<ref name="History created with new CARICOM song"/> in March 2014.<ref name="Song Factsheet"/> Henderson won a US$10,000 prize.<ref name="Song Competition Terms of Reference">{{cite web|url=http://www.caricom.org/jsp/community_organs/cohsod_culture/carifesta_X1_2013/TOR_CARICOM_song_competition.pdf|title=CARICOM Song Competition: Terms of Reference|access-date=12 July 2014|archive-date=10 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510131609/http://caricom.org/jsp/community_organs/cohsod_culture/carifesta_X1_2013/TOR_CARICOM_song_competition.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> Her song was produced by her husband, Roland Delsol Jr., and arranged by Earlson Matthew. It also featured Michael Ferrol on drums and choral input from the St. Alphonsus Choir. It was re-produced for CARICOM by Carl Beaver Henderson of Trinidad and Tobago.<ref name="Song Factsheet"/>

A second-place entry titled ''My CARICOM'' came from Jamaican Adiel Thomas<ref name="History created with new CARICOM song"/> who won US$5,000,<ref name="Song Competition Terms of Reference"/> and a third-place song titled ''One CARICOM'' by Carmella Lawrence of St. Kitts and Nevis,<ref name="History created with new CARICOM song"/> won US$2,500.<ref name="Song Competition Terms of Reference"/> The other songs from the top-ten finalists (in no particular order) were:

* ''One Region one Caribbean'' from Anguilla,
* ''One Caribbean Family'' from Jamaica,
* ''CARICOM’s Light'' from St. Vincent & the Grenadines,
* ''We Are CARICOM'' from Dominica,
* ''Together As one'' from Dominica,
* ''Blessed CARICOM'' from Jamaica,
* ''Together We Rise'' from Jamaica.<ref name="Song Factsheet">{{cite web|url=https://tropicalfete.com/2014/07/03/word-version-of-caricom-song-competition-fact-sheet/|title=WORD Version of CARICOM song competition Fact Sheet|date=3 July 2014|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=22 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122155818/https://tropicalfete.com/2014/07/03/word-version-of-caricom-song-competition-fact-sheet/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first official performance of ''Celebrating CARICOM'' by Henderson took place on Tuesday 1 July 2014 at the opening ceremony for the Thirty-Fifth Regional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government in Antigua and Barbuda.<ref name="History created with new CARICOM song"/>

=== Celebration ===
==== CARICOM Day ====
The celebration of '''CARICOM Day''' is the selected day some Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries officially recognise the commemorative date of signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, the agreement that established CARICOM on 4 July 1973. The Treaty was signed in Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago by then leaders of: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago. CARICOM Day is recognised as an official public holiday in Guyana where the secretariat is based, and is [[Public holidays in Guyana|observed]] on the first Monday of July. The government of Antigua and Barbuda has also implemented CARICOM Day as a [[Public holidays in Antigua and Barbuda|holiday]].

The day features activities that are organised by government entities such as parades, pageants, and campaigns to educate people about CARICOM.

=== Caribbean Festival of Arts – CARIFESTA ===
{{Further|Caribbean Festival of Arts}}
'''Caribbean Festival of Arts''', commonly known as '''CARIFESTA''', is an annual festival for promoting arts of the [[Caribbean]] with a different country hosting the event each year. It was started to provide a venue to "depict the life of the people of the Region, their heroes, morals, myths, traditions, beliefs, creativity and ways of expression"<ref>{{cite web|title=History of CARIFESTA|url=https://caricom.org/history-of-carifesta/|access-date=15 March 2021|website=CARICOM|language=en-US|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418024701/https://caricom.org/history-of-carifesta/|url-status=live}}</ref> by fostering a sense of Caribbean unity, and motivating artists by showing the best of their home country. It began under the auspices of Guyana's then President [[Forbes Burnham]] in 1972, who was inspired by other singular arts festivals in the region.

== See also ==
{{portal|Geography|Caribbean}}
{{Div col}}
*[[List of diplomatic missions in Guyana]]
*[[Association of Caribbean States]]
*EU/UK–[[CARIFORUM]]
*[[CSME]]
*[[Caribbean Financial Action Task Force]]
*[[Caribbean Initiative]]
*[[Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)]]
*[[Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions]]
*[[Caribbean Knowledge and Learning Network]]
*[[Community of Latin American and Caribbean States]]
*[[Commonwealth of Nations]]
*[[Languages of the Caribbean]]
*[[List of regional organizations by population]]
*[[North American Free Trade Agreement]] (NAFTA)
*[[North American Union]] (NAU)
*[[Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States]]
*[[Organization of American States]]
*[[Petrocaribe]]
*[[Projects of the Caribbean Community]]
*[[Small Island Developing States]]
*[[Union of South American Nations]] (UNASUR)
*[[West Indies]]
{{Div col end}}
{{clear}}

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
*{{cite news |last1=Quinones de Longo |first1=Clara |author-link1= |date=21 September 2005 |location= |title=The Dominican Republic in Caricom? Yes, we can |script-title= |title-link= |url=http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/2005/09/21/can.shtml |url-access= |trans-title= |script-work= |trans-work= |publication-place= |publisher=Caribbean Net News |publication-date=21 September 2005 |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214834/http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/2005/09/21/can.shtml |archive-format= |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=11 February 2025 |via= |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* {{cite news |author=Staff writer |author-link1= |date=19 October 2006 |location= |title=Bureau recommends re-examination of Dominican Republic's proposed membership in CARICOM |script-title= |title-link= |url=http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000037/003787.htm |url-access= |trans-title= |work= |script-work= |trans-work= |publication-place= |publisher=Caribbean News Now |publication-date=19 October 2006 |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214838/http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000037/003787.htm |archive-format= |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=11 February 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* {{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Al |author-link1= |date=27 October 2006 |location= |title=How viable is a single Caribbean currency? Part II |script-title= |title-link= |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20061026T190000-0500_114553_OBS_HOW_VIABLE_IS_A_SINGLE_CARIBBEAN_CURRENCY____PART___.asp |url-access= |trans-title= |work= |script-work= |trans-work= |language=en-jm |publication-place= |publisher=Jamaica Observer |publication-date=27 October 2006 |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231600/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/Business/html/20061026T190000-0500_114553_OBS_HOW_VIABLE_IS_A_SINGLE_CARIBBEAN_CURRENCY____PART___.asp |archive-format= |archive-date=26 September 2007 |access-date=10 February 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* {{cite news |last1=Edwards |first1=Al |author-link1= |date=27 October 2006 |location= |title=How viable is a single Caribbean currency? Part III |script-title= |title-link= |url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/business/html/20061207t200000-0500_116323_obs_how_viable_is_a_single_caribbean_currency____part_iii_.asp |url-access= |trans-title= |work= |script-work= |trans-work= |language=en-jm |publication-place= |publisher=Jamaica Observer |publication-date=7 December 2006 |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926231221/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/business/html/20061207t200000-0500_116323_obs_how_viable_is_a_single_caribbean_currency____part_iii_.asp |archive-format= |archive-date=26 September 2007 |access-date=10 February 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* {{cite news |last1=Ishmael |first1=Odeen  |author-link1= |date=July 2007 |location= |title=Advancing Integration Between Caricom and Central America |script-title= |title-link= |url=http://www.guyanajournal.com/caricom_integration.html |url-access= |trans-title= |work= |script-work= |trans-work= |publication-place= |publisher=Guyana Journal |publication-date=July 2007 |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928075553/http://www.guyanajournal.com/caricom_integration.html |archive-format= |archive-date=28 September 2007 |access-date=11 February 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* {{cite news |date=4 July 2010 |location= |editor-last1=writer |editor-first1=writer |editor-link1= |title=EDITORIAL: We may just have to dump CARICOM |script-title= |title-link= |url=http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100704/cleisure/cleisure1.html |url-access= |trans-title= |script-work= |trans-work= |publication-place= |publisher=Jamaica Gleaner |publication-date=4 July 2010 |page= |pages= |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=11 February 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* {{cite news |last1=Ramjeet |first1=Oscar |author-link1= |date=5 July 2010 |location= |title=Commentary: Gleaner newspaper suggests disbanding CARICOM |script-title= |title-link= |url=http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/caricom/caricom.php?news_id=23847&start=0&category_id=39 |url-access= |trans-title= |publication-place= |publisher=Caribbean New Now |publication-date=5 July 2010 |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214840/http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/caricom/caricom.php?news_id=23847&start=0&category_id=39 |archive-format= |archive-date=1 February 2014 |access-date=11 February 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* {{cite news |author=Staff writer |author-link1= |date=12 July 2010 |location= |title=Does Caricom have a future? |script-title= |title-link= |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2010/07/100706_cariforum.shtml |url-access= |trans-title= |work= |script-work= |trans-work= |publication-place= |publisher=BBC Caribbean |publication-date= |agency=BBC UK |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=11 February 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* {{cite news |author=Staff writer |author-link1= |date=7 July 2010 |location= |title=That elusive governance structure |script-title= |title-link= |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/news/story/2010/07/100707_caricomupdate.shtml |url-access= |trans-title= |work= |script-work= |trans-work= |publication-place= |publisher=BBC Caribbean |publication-date= |agency=BBC UK |arxiv= |asin= |asin-tld= |bibcode= |bibcode-access= |biorxiv= |citeseerx= |doi= |doi-access= |doi-broken-date= |eissn= |hdl= |hdl-access= |isbn= |ismn= |issn= |jfm= |jstor= |jstor-access= |lccn= |medrxiv= |mr= |oclc= |ol= |ol-access= |osti= |osti-access= |pmc= |pmc-embargo-date= |pmid= |rfc= |sbn= |ssrn= |s2cid= |s2cid-access= |zbl= |id= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=11 February 2025 |quote-page= |quote-pages= |quote= |script-quote= |trans-quote= |ref= |postscript=}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120914222611/http://caricomhaiti.org/en/the-haiti-csme-project/ CARICOM Representation Office in Haiti] (CROH)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051124183315/http://www.radiocaricom.org/ Radio CARICOM]: the voice of the Caribbean Community ([https://web.archive.org/web/20060212172618/http://www.caricom.org/jsp/pressreleases/pres103_04.htm Press Release])

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Caribbean Community}}
* {{official website|https://www.caricom.org/}}
* [http://today.caricom.org/ Official Blog] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130100420/https://today.caricom.org/ |date=30 January 2020 }} CARICOM Today
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080216075048/http://www.caricomtradesupport.org/ Caricom Trade Support Programme]: Government of Trinidad and Tobago
* [http://www.ttconnect.gov.tt/gortt/portal/ttconnect/Non_investorDetail/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/gortt/wcm/connect/gortt+web+content/TTConnect/Non-National/Role/AnInvestor/LawsandTaxes/CARICOM+Trade+Support+Programme+Loan CARICOM Trade Support Programme Loan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329013005/http://www.ttconnect.gov.tt/gortt/portal/ttconnect/Non_investorDetail/?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=%2Fgortt%2Fwcm%2Fconnect%2Fgortt+web+content%2FTTConnect%2FNon-National%2FRole%2FAnInvestor%2FLawsandTaxes%2FCARICOM+Trade+Support+Programme+Loan |date=29 March 2015 }}
* [http://carrex.caricom.org/CARICOM Rapid Exchange System for Dangerous Non-food Consumer Goods (CARREX): Front end for Consumer Product Incident Reporting] {{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

{{Caribbean Community (CARICOM)|expanded}}
{{Caribbean topics}}
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{{International power}}
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[[Category:Caribbean Community| ]]
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