Mind Map: Caribbean Eaminations Council (CXC®)

Central Idea

• Formation of CXC® in 1972 to address the unique needs of the Caribbean region.

Achievements

• Offers various certifications and degrees

• Education geared towards regional needs

• Syllabus reflects Caribbean perspective

• Creates employment opportunities

• Keeps finance in the region

• Promotes regional integration and awareness

Challenges

• Desire for more diverse evaluation methods

• Imbalance in references to different Caribbean states

• Transition to online tools faces resource challenges

• Recognition of CXC® results by tertiary institutions

Mind Map: CARICOM Achievements

Central Idea:

• CARICOM has achieved significant milestones in regional integration and economic cooperation.

Main Branches:

1. Incorporation of Regional Groups

   • OECS as a sub-group of CARICOM

2. Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME)

   • Facilitating economic needs

   • Free movement of professionals

3. Market Expansion

   • Access to a larger customer base

   • Marketing products and services regionally

4. Negotiation and Border Control

   • Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM)

   • Establishment of CARICOM passport

5. Economic Strength and Cooperation

   • Pooling of resources

   • Assistance in disaster relief

6. Institutional Developments

   • Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

   • Global advocacy

7. Cultural Unity and Trade Promotion

   • Promotion of Caribbean industries

   • Encouragement of regional trade

8. Talent and Cultural Exchange

   • Free movement for artists and professionals

   • Enhanced understanding of diverse cultures

Sub-branches:

1. Challenges

   • Implementation difficulties

   • Economic disparities

   • Divergence in member state strategies

   • Nationalistic attitudes

2. Specific Challenges

   • Trade imbalances

   • Common currency unachieved

   • Labor movement restrictions

3. Leadership and Sovereignty

   • Skepticism towards CARICOM

   • Integration of Haiti and Cuba

   • Global economic insertion challenges

CARICOM Achievements and Challenges

Achievements

• Incorporating Regional Groups

  • OECS is now a subgroup of CARICOM.

• Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME)

• • Facilitates economic needs across states.

• Free Movement of Capital

• Larger Market for Member States

• Better Negotiations with CRNM

• Improved Economic Strength

• Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

• Stronger Global Voice

• Promotion of Caribbean Industries

• Cultural Exchange

• Talent Benefits

Challenges

• Implementing Regional Goals

• Disparities in Economic Resources

• Divergent Development Strategies

• Nationalistic Attitudes

• Resource Pooling Reluctance

• Trade Deficit

• Common Currency

• Free Movement of Labor

• Integration of Haiti and Cuba

CARICOM Achievements and Challenges

Achievements

• Incorporating Regional Groups

  • One significant achievement of CARICOM is the successful incorporation of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as a subgroup within its framework. This move has strengthened the unity and cooperation among Caribbean nations.

• Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME)

  • The establishment of the Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME) stands out as a major milestone for CARICOM. This initiative has played a crucial role in harmonizing economic policies and facilitating the seamless movement of goods and services across member states, thereby boosting regional economic growth and development.

• Free Movement of Capital

  • Another notable achievement of CARICOM is the implementation of the free movement of capital among member states. This policy has enhanced investment opportunities and financial integration within the region.

• Larger Market for Member States

  • By creating a larger market for member states, CARICOM has enabled businesses to expand their reach and access a broader customer base, leading to increased trade and economic opportunities.

• Better Negotiations with CRNM

  • CARICOM's improved negotiation power with external entities, such as the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM), has resulted in more favorable trade agreements and partnerships for the region.

• Improved Economic Strength

  • Through collective efforts and cooperation, CARICOM has bolstered the economic strength of its member states, fostering stability and resilience in the face of global economic challenges.

• Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

  • The establishment of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has provided a regional judicial forum for resolving disputes and upholding the rule of law, promoting legal certainty and accountability within the Caribbean community.

• Stronger Global Voice

  • As a unified bloc, CARICOM has amplified the voice of Caribbean nations on the global stage, advocating for common interests and addressing shared concerns with a stronger collective impact.

• Promotion of Caribbean Industries

  • CARICOM has actively promoted the development of key Caribbean industries, fostering innovation, competitiveness, and sustainable growth in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, and renewable energy.

• Cultural Exchange

  • The promotion of cultural exchange within CARICOM has enriched the region's diversity, heritage, and identity, fostering mutual understanding and appreciation among member states.

• Talent Benefits

  • By facilitating the movement of skilled

• Global Economic Integration

Mind Map: CARICOM Achievements

Central Idea: CARICOM has achieved significant milestones in regional integration and economic cooperation.

Main Branches:

1. Incorporation of Regional Groups

   • OECS as a sub-group of CARICOM

2. Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME)

   • Free movement of professionals

   • Free movement of capital

3. Economic Strength and Cooperation

   • Larger market for member states

   • Improved economic assistance and cooperation

4. Institutional Developments

   • Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ)

   • Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM)

5. Cultural Unity and Identity

   • Promotion of Caribbean industries and trade

   • Appreciation of diverse Caribbean cultures

Sub-Branches:

• Challenges Faced by CARICOM

  • Difficulties in implementing regional goals

  • Disparities in economic resources

  • Deviation from objectives by member states

  • Lack of shared impetus and functional inefficiencies

• Specific Challenges for CSME

  • Trade imbalances between member states

  • Absence of a common currency

  • Restrictions on free movement of labor

• Concerns and Criticisms

  • Skepticism about CARICOM's usefulness

  • Integration of Haiti and Cuba

  • Insertion of member economies into the global economy

Mind Map: CARICOM Achievements and Challenges

Central Idea: CARICOM has made significant strides in fostering regional integration and economic cooperation, despite facing various challenges.

Main Branches:

1. Incorporation of Regional Groups

   • The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) operates as a vital sub-group within CARICOM, enhancing collaboration and coordination among member states.

2. Caribbean Single Market Economy (CSME)

   • The establishment of the CSME has facilitated the free movement of professionals and capital within the region, promoting economic growth and development.

3. Economic Strength and Cooperation

   • By creating a larger market for member states, CARICOM has enabled economies of scale and enhanced economic assistance and cooperation among nations.

4. Institutional Developments

   • The introduction of institutions like the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) and the Caribbean Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) has strengthened the legal framework and negotiation capabilities within the region.

5. Cultural Unity and Identity

   • CARICOM has actively promoted Caribbean industries and trade, fostering a sense of unity and pride in the diverse cultures and heritage of the region.

Sub-Branches:

• Challenges Faced by CARICOM

  • Implementing regional goals has been challenging due to disparities in economic resources and deviations from objectives by some member states, leading to functional inefficiencies.

• Specific Challenges for CSME

  • Trade imbalances, absence of a common currency, and restrictions on the free movement of labor have posed significant hurdles to the full realization of the CSME's potential.

• Concerns and Criticisms

  • Skepticism regarding the effectiveness of CARICOM, integration challenges with countries like Haiti and Cuba, and the need to effectively position member economies in the global marketplace are key areas of concern for the organization.

This comprehensive mind map offers insights into the achievements, obstacles, and future directions of CARICOM in its mission to promote regional integration and economic cooperation.

This mind map illustrates the achievements, challenges, and future prospects of CARICOM in promoting regional integration and economic cooperation.

What is Regional Integration in the Caribbean? Reasons for Integration The Caribbean is generally perceived as a natural regional entity and regional integration in the Caribbean refers to a series of attempts by Caribbean states to form a union in an attempt to create a political, economic, cultural or trade block that would better enable them to meet the needs of the Caribbean people and to provide combined political and economic weight to gain recognition and infl uence on the international scene. Attempts at integration have been made because: • individual states in the region are small, with little political or economic international clout; • resources of individual states are limited; • states have encountered similar problems and issues with trading partners; • states share backgrounds historically and culturally and these similarities assist in the creation of partnerships among them. The three main areas where integration has been attempted are: • political integration or unity, particularly in the coordination of foreign policy; • economic integration and cooperation, through the Caribbean Common Market (CARICOM).

functional cooperation among states in areas of health, education, law, tourism, disaster relief, media, agriculture, financing and industrial relations. The movement towards regional integration in the Caribbean is often seen as being initiated by Britain in the 1950s in the form of the West Indian Federation to promote Caribbean economic and political cooperation, while also easing the responsibilities Britain would have for her colonies as the ‘Mother Country’. This ‘union’ also came at a time when many Caribbean nationals sought employment opportunities outside of agriculture, without having to travel too far (to Europe or North America) from their families and friends. Growing Caribbean industries, such as the petroleum in Trinidad and bauxite in Jamaica, also absorbed a large portion of the Caribbean labour force and gave confidence to workers that the Caribbean was a place of growing opportunities. It is for these reasons that many Caribbean nationals also saw regional integration as the bridge that would enable them to access the opportunities of their neighbouring islands without any political or even cultural barriers preventing transition or making it diffi cult. The fi rst attempts at regional integration were made by English speaking territories, recognising the similarities between them. Many regional integration movements over the years have been responses to increased globalisation and the perceived need for smaller states to work together to protect their interests, economically speaking. They have also aimed to educate Caribbean nationals in matters of regional importance. Factors that Hinder Regional Integration Why, then, is the movement towards the development of the region socially, politically and economically through integration not as advanced as it could be? And why are organisations set up to promote integration so frequently unpopular in individual states? The answer lies in nationalism and diversity, which can result from, and manifest themselves in, the following ways: • Territories are at different stages of development, which gives rise to differences in priorities and concerns about economic disparity, especially among the more developed territories who are reluctant to use their resources to support those that are less developed. • Members of an organisation may be unwilling to cooperate for various reasons to do with protection of their own interests, autonomy, jealousies, competitiveness and so on. • Confl icts exist between territorial and regional demands. • Territories do not have the same currency. • Territories do not have the same types or amounts of resources. • Territories have incompatibile or different political systems. • Territories have dissimilar economic policies. • Territories have differences in their social and racial make up, giving rise to very basic differences in value systems, beliefs, approaches and priorities. • Territories are scattered over the region. Fundamental to all this is a varied understanding of what it actually means to belong to one Caribbean. Race and colour continue to defi ne people and, as a result, create distinctions between them. Stratifi cation along the lines of class has also created fundamental social divisions that stand in the way of a unfi ed outlook

West Indies Federation 1994–present Association of Caribbean States (ACS) The West Indies Federation (WIF) came into being in January 1958 as an attempt to create a political union among British colonies, with the exception of Guyana, Belize, the Virgin Islands and The Bahamas. A regional economic committee was also set up to investigate means of achieving economic unity. Britain retained responsibility for defence, external affairs and fi nancial stability. The thinking behind the WIF involved: • a desire to strengthen the movement towards self-government with the hope that the political union would eventually become independent of Britain (in the belief that small individual territories could only achieve this together as a group); Key Term Federation – a group of states under a central government, but with independence in internal affairs. • a desire to strengthen internal and regional development by establishing federal institutions and supporting regional structures, for example the development of the University of the West Indies and the establishment of the Regional Shipping Service; • the fact that federation was among the measures taken by the British government for better administration of the colonies and to save on administrative costs. Elections for seats in the House of Representatives were held in March 1958 with the West Indies Federal Labour Party (WIFLP) supported by N.W. Manley, Eric Williams and Grantley Adams gaining more seats than the Democratic Labour Party (DLP) supported by Sir Alexander Bustamante and Sir Stanley Eugene Gomes. THE INTEGRATION MOVEMENT 285 This integration step was mainly a political one and it lasted only four years. The reasons for its failure were many: • The masses were not educated in the meaning and importance of federation. Many did not understand what it meant or how it worked and this insecurity was played on by anti-federation politicians, such as Bustamante in Jamaica who argued that it was a ploy by the British to prolong colonisation. • The federal government had very little or no authority as individual territories were unwilling to give up their own power and the largest territories of Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago vied for leadership. • There were insuffi cient communications (shipping, telephone, postal services) between the islands and unsuitable government and administrative structures imposed by the British. • Envy and jealousy reigned among the states because of their varying degrees of economic development and prosperity and of the location of the capital in Trinidad. • The insecurities of the smaller states persisted, as they feared the potential takeover of the organisation by Jamaica and Trinidad, especially after they proposed to prematurely change the constitution of the Federation. • Disputes arose, especially between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago, over the movement of people from one territory to another, taxation and central planning. After a referendum in 1961, Jamaica withdrew. After the withdrawal of Jamaica, Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, famously stated that ‘one from ten leaves zero’, and Trinidad and Tobago also withdrew because the withdrawal of Jamaica, which was one of the region’s largest economies at the time, made the aims of the movement seem futile. The remaining eight territories tried to continue for a few years, but their attempt collapsed. As a result of its withdrawal, Jamaica itself embarked on the journey towards full independence.

To what extent to you agree with the statement that the cultural diversity of the Caribbean led to the failure of the West Indian Federation?

• Lack of finance • Territories were at different stages of development. This led to differences in priorities and concerns about economic disparities. This must be mentioned as contributing to the failure apart from cultural diversity. The Federation suffered from a lack of fi nance. Dues were to be paid to the Federation, but they were inadequate; the amount collected could not help fi nance projects and activities. The currencies were different. Jamaica and Trinidad felt that too much fi nancial responsibility was placed upon them. This resulted in alienation between the federal authorities and the local governing bodies. • Seeking own interests • Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica wanted to prioritise their own interests and they bickered over it. This contributed to the distrust the small islands had of the larger ones. The smaller islands felt that their interests would be sidelined. Trinidad and Jamaica did not want to give up their political power to the Federation. These larger countries also hosted most Federation buildings and offices.This led to the smaller islands feeling as if this was a show of how the decision making in the Federation would be pursued, with the larger islands being the focus and at the centre. • Unrestricted movement • The West Indian Federation allowed unrestricted movement of islanders between the islands. The Trinidadian Prime Minister, Eric Williams, disliked this idea as he feared the poor would flock to Trinidad. He felt too many unskilled workers would enter the island leading to unemployment and overcrowded towns. This contributed to the shakiness of the Federation. • The people spoke • Jamaica was not really interested in getting involved in the political union, despite being a member of the Federation. She held a referendum in 1961, allowing her citizens to vote on whether to stay or leave the union. The majority voted against staying a member, so she withdrew. This led to the fi nal downward spiral and prompted the withdrawal of Trinidad from the doomed political union. Eventually, the Federation was disbanded in 1962. • Political rivalry/distrust between the island states • There were disputes as to where the capital of the Federation should be. Barbadians felt that since the premier was Barbadian, the capital should be there. It was argued that Trinidad and Jamaica politically dominated the Federation. This contributed to the distrust between the island states. The conclusion needs to agree or disagree with the statement. Was it more due to cultural diversity or for economic reasons

The aims of the West Indian Federation were:

• To promote regional unity and cooperation among British Caribbean colonies.

• To create a single political entity for the Caribbean region.

• To enhance economic development and strengthen the region's international presence.

Mind Map: University of the West Indies

Central Idea

• Founded in 1948 to address the lack of training facilities in the Caribbean region.

Main Branches

1. Achievements

   • Offering relevant curriculum

   • Inclusion of Caribbean gender studies

   • Distance learning opportunities

   • Producing skilled personnel

   • Training future professionals

   • Research contributions

   • Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship

   • Breaking barriers and prejudices

   • Forum for regional integration

2. Challenges

   • Competition from foreign universities

   • Costly faculties of medicine and law

   • Delayed contributions from member states

   • Lack of full integration of programs across campuses

Sub-Branches

• Under each main branch, further details and examples can be added to elaborate on the achievements and challenges faced by the University of the West Indies.

Mind Map: University of the West Indies

Central Idea

• The University of the West Indies was established in 1948 with the primary goal of addressing the shortage of educational institutions in the Caribbean region. This initiative aimed to provide accessible and high-quality education to the local population, fostering intellectual growth and professional development within the community.

Main Branches

1. Achievements

   • The university has excelled in offering a relevant curriculum that meets the specific needs of the Caribbean region, incorporating subjects such as Caribbean gender studies to promote inclusivity and diversity.

   • Through its distance learning opportunities, the institution has been able to reach a wider audience and provide education to individuals who may not have access to traditional on-campus programs.

   • The University of the West Indies has been successful in producing skilled personnel across various industries, contributing to the growth and development of the region.

   • By training future professionals in fields such as medicine, law, engineering, and business, the university plays a crucial role in shaping the workforce of the Caribbean.

   • The institution has made significant research contributions in areas such as environmental sustainability, public health, and social sciences, driving innovation and progress in the region.

   • Through initiatives that promote innovation and entrepreneurship, the university encourages students to think creatively and develop solutions to local and global challenges.

   • By breaking barriers and prejudices through education and research, the University of the West Indies serves as a catalyst for social change and equality in the Caribbean.

   • The university also serves as a forum for regional integration, bringing together students and scholars from different Caribbean nations to foster collaboration and mutual understanding.

2. Challenges

   • Despite its achievements, the University of the West Indies faces challenges such as competition from foreign universities that may offer more resources and attract students away from the region.

   • Faculties of medicine and law, while essential for the development of the region, can be costly to maintain and may require additional funding to ensure their sustainability.

   • Delayed contributions from member states can impact the university's operations and hinder its ability to provide quality education and research opportunities.

   • The lack of full integration of programs across campuses can lead to inconsistencies in academic offerings and student experiences, posing a challenge to the university's goal of providing a cohesive educational experience across its locations.

Sub-Branches

• Each main branch of achievements and challenges can be further expanded with specific examples and details to provide a comprehensive overview of the University of the

The University of the West Indies The University of the West Indies was founded in 1948, and started with the Mona campus in Jamaica, at the suggestion of the Moyne Commission, as a solution to the lack of training facilities for skilled workers in the region. The three campuses today continue to bring solutions to issues facing the Caribbean, although there are challenges along the way. It is an Associate Institution of CARICOM. Achievements • Offering a curriculum that is relevant to the needs of the region. • Inclusion of Caribbean gender studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences as a way of promoting the inclusion of women in Caribbean development

Having distance learning as a solution for many working Caribbean people who seek training and an education in order to advance social mobility. • Producing skilled personnel in business, government and industry, and people who are committed to the region by developing science and technology. • Training professionals (doctors, teachers, lawyers and so on) of the future to work in both public and private sectors to meet the needs of the region. • Producing research which contributes to development of the private sector and which helps in solving society’s problems. • Raising levels of innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. • Breaking down barriers and dispelling ignorance and prejudice of and towards other nationals. • Acting as a forum for regional integration by uniting scholars, academics and intellectuals in the common purpose of serving the Caribbean

Challenges

Strong competition from foreign universities that offer degrees by distance teaching. • Can be costly for faculties of medicine and law. The university has been fi nding it diffi cult to lower the cost of these programmes to increase the enrolment of future Caribbean doctors and lawyers. • Contributing states sometimes lag behind with their required contributions, leading to a depletion of funds to pay lecturers and procure items/tools necessary for the teaching of some programmes. • Still no full integration of programmes across campuses. Students still have to travel across the region for some programmes that are offered only on a specifi c campus