Caribbean Community

The Caribbean Community

The Caribbean Community, often called CARICOM, is a group of countries and regions that work together. It includes 15 member states and five associated members across the Americas, the Caribbean, and the Atlantic Ocean. The main goal of CARICOM is to help its members grow their economies, share benefits fairly, and work together on international issues.

CARICOM was created in 1973 when four countries signed the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Today, it plays an important role in supporting the countries of the Caribbean and helping them become stronger together. The main office of CARICOM is located in Georgetown, Guyana. CARICOM also has special status as an observer at the United Nations General Assembly.

History

CARICOM, also called The Caribbean Community and Common Market, started with the Treaty of Chaguaramas on 1 August 1973. The first members were Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.

Before CARICOM, there was the Caribbean Free Trade Association from 1965 to 1972. This group helped the English-speaking countries in the Caribbean work together after another group, the West Indies Federation, ended in 1962.

In 2001, leaders from CARICOM met in The Bahamas and signed a new treaty. This helped turn CARICOM into a bigger market and economy area.

Haiti’s membership was paused from 2004 to 2006. After new leaders were chosen, Haiti joined again.

Since 2013, CARICOM and the Dominican Republic have had a special agreement with the European Union. This helps with trade and investment.

Symbols

The flag of the Caribbean Community was chosen in November 1983 in Trinidad. The flag has a blue background with a yellow circle in the middle. The circle shows two interlocking Cs, which mean unity and moving forward. The blue is for the sky and the Caribbean Sea, and the green ring stands for the plants of the region.

In 2013, for CARICOM's 40th anniversary, a competition chose an official song. The winning song, Celebrating CARICOM by Michele Henderson of Dominica, was first sung in July 2014 in Antigua and Barbuda.

CARICOM Day

CARICOM Day is a special day some Caribbean countries celebrate to remember the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973. This treaty created CARICOM. In Guyana, where the CARICOM office is, CARICOM Day is a public holiday on the first Monday of July. There are parades and events to learn about CARICOM.