Caribbean Community facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Caribbean Community Dutch: Caribische Gemeenschap French: Communauté caribéenne Spanish: Comunidad del Caribe
Flag
Anthem: "Celebrating CARICOM"
Full members      Associate members      Observers
Seat of Secretariat	Georgetown, Guyana
Largest city	Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Official languages	English
Working language	Dutch English French Spanish
Other languages	34 languages Anguillian English Creole Antillean French Creole Arabic Bajan English Bajan English Creole Bahamian English Creole Belizean English Creole Belizean Spanish Caribbean Hindustani Caribbean Spanish Cayman Islands English Chinese Dominican French Creole Grenadian English Creole Guyanese English Creole Jamaican English Jamaican Patois Montserrat English Creole Ndyuka Papiamento Plautdietsch German Saint Kitts Creole Saint Lucian French Creole Saramaccan Sranan Tongo (Taki Taki) Surinamese Dutch Tobagonian English Creole Trinidadian English Creole Trinidadian and Tobagonian English Turks and Caicos English Creole Venezuelan Spanish Vincentian English Creole Virgin Islands English Creole 16 Native non- extinct languages Arawak (Lokono) Carib (Kari'nja) Garifuna (Karif) Kapóng Macushi Mawayana (Mapidian) Mopan Pemon (Arekuna) Qʼeqchiʼ (Kʼekchi) Sikiana (Kashuyana) Tiriyó Yucatec Waiwai Wapishana Warao (Guarauno) Wayana
Ethnic groups	In full member states: 73.78% Afro-Caribbean 8.3% Multiracial 6.09% Indian 0.49% European 0.39% Indigenous (Amerindian) 0.12% Chinese 10.83% Others
Demonym(s)	Caribbean people
Type	Supranational union
Member states	15 full members  Antigua and Barbuda  Bahamas  Barbados  Belize  Dominica  Grenada  Guyana  Haiti  Jamaica  Montserrat  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and Grenadines  Suriname  Trinidad and Tobago 5 associates  Anguilla  Bermuda  British Virgin Islands  Cayman Islands  Turks and Caicos Islands 8 observers  Aruba  Colombia  Curaçao  Dominican Republic  Mexico  Puerto Rico  Sint Maarten  Venezuela
Government	Intergovernmental
• Secretary-General	Carla Barnett
• Chairman	Irfaan Ali
Establishment
• Treaty of Chaguaramas	4 July 1973
• Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas	2001
Area
• Total	458,480 km2 (177,020 sq mi)
Population
• 2019 estimate	18,482,141 (in full member states) 239,251,864 (in all states)
• Density	40.3/km2 (104.4/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)	2020 estimate
• Total	$145.3 billion
• Per capita	$18,289
GDP (nominal)	2019 estimate
• Total	$81.987 billion
• Per capita	$12,608
HDI (2018)	0.730 high
Currency	Bahamian dollar (BSD) Barbadian dollar (BBD) Belize dollar (BZD) Bermudian dollar (BMD) Cayman Islands dollar (KYD) Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD) Guyanese dollar (GYD) Haitian gourde (HTG) Jamaican dollar (JMD) Netherlands Antillean guilder (ANG) Surinamese dollar (SRD) Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD) United States dollar (USD)
Website https://caricom.org/

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a group of 15 countries and 5 associated areas in the Caribbean. It works like a team to help its members grow stronger together. CARICOM aims to boost trade and cooperation among its members. It also makes sure that everyone shares the benefits fairly. Plus, it helps coordinate how these countries deal with other nations.

CARICOM was started in 1973 when four countries signed a special agreement called the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Its main office, called the Secretariat, is in Georgetown, Guyana.

Here are some of the things CARICOM does:

• It helps plan economic policies and development for the region.
• It creates special projects for smaller or less developed countries.
• It acts as a single market for many of its members, making trade easier.
• It helps solve trade disagreements between member countries.

CARICOM was first formed by English-speaking countries. Now, it includes countries where Dutch and French are spoken too. In 2001, a new version of the Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed. This led to the idea of a CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The CSME helps create a bigger, stronger economy for the Caribbean. It also set up the Caribbean Court of Justice to handle legal matters.

History of CARICOM

CARICOM, which used to be called The Caribbean Community and Common Market, officially began on August 1, 1973. The first countries to join were Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Before CARICOM, there was another group called the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA). It existed from 1965 to 1972. CARIFTA was created to keep Caribbean countries connected economically. This happened after the West Indies Federation ended in 1962.

In 2001, a new agreement called the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed. This treaty helped turn CARICOM into the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The CSME aims to make it easier for people, goods, and services to move freely between member countries.

For a few years, from 2004 to 2006, Haiti's membership in CARICOM was paused. This happened after a change in Haiti's government. CARICOM believes that leaders of democratically elected governments should not be removed from power. After new elections, Haiti was welcomed back into the group.

Since 2013, CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic have had a special trade agreement with the European Union. This agreement is called CARIFORUM. It ensures fair trade and investment rights for all members.

Who are the Members of CARICOM?

As of 2016, CARICOM has 15 full members, 5 associate members, and 8 observer states. The associate members are all British Overseas Territories. This means they are territories that are part of the United Kingdom but have their own governments. Observer states are countries that work with CARICOM on specific projects.

CARICOM Members

Status	Name	Join date	Notes
Full member	Antigua and Barbuda	4 July 1974
	The Bahamas	4 July 1983	Not part of the customs union
	Barbados	1 August 1973	One of the four founding members
	Belize	1 May 1974
	Dominica
	Grenada
	Guyana	1 August 1973	One of the four founding members
	Haiti	2 July 2002	Provisional membership on 4 July 1998
	Jamaica	1 August 1973	One of the four founding members
	Montserrat	1 May 1974	British overseas territory
	Saint Kitts and Nevis	26 July 1974	Joined as Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla
	Saint Lucia	1 May 1974
	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	1 May 1974
	Suriname	4 July 1995
	Trinidad and Tobago	1 August 1973	One of the four founding members
Associate	Anguilla	July 1999	British overseas territory
	Bermuda	2 July 2003
	British Virgin Islands	July 1991
	Cayman Islands	16 May 2002
	Turks and Caicos Islands	July 1991
Observer	Aruba		Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
	Colombia
	Curaçao		Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
	Dominican Republic
	Mexico
	Puerto Rico		Unincorporated territory of the United States
	Sint Maarten		Constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
	Venezuela

CARICOM's Relationship with Cuba

In 2017, Cuba and CARICOM signed an agreement to improve trade. In December 2022, Cuba's President, Miguel Díaz-Canel, met with CARICOM leaders. They celebrated 50 years of diplomatic ties and 20 years of CARICOM-Cuba Day. Cuba also agreed to work more closely with CARICOM. This includes joining discussions on food production and security.

How CARICOM is Organized

CARICOM divides its 15 full member states into two groups:

• Less Developed Countries (LDCs): These are smaller countries that need more support for their development.
  • Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
• More Developed Countries (MDCs): These are larger countries with stronger economies.
  • The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

Leadership of CARICOM

The role of Chairman, who is the main leader of CARICOM, rotates among the heads of government of the 15 member states. This means different leaders take turns leading the organization.

The Secretariat

The Secretariat of the Caribbean Community is like the main office for CARICOM. It handles all the day-to-day work. The Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community is the chief executive. They are in charge of foreign relations and community matters. The Secretary-General serves for five years and can be re-elected.

The Secretariat's main goal is to help improve the lives of people in the Caribbean. It also works to build a strong, innovative, and competitive community.

Main Groups and Committees

CARICOM has several important groups that help it run smoothly:

Community Council

The Community Council is made up of ministers who handle community affairs. It is one of the two main parts of CARICOM, along with the Conference of the Heads of Government.

Important CARICOM Institutions

CARICOM has many important institutions that help with different areas. These include:

Symbols of CARICOM

The CARICOM Flag

The flag of the Caribbean Community was chosen in November 1983. It was first flown on July 4, 1984, in The Bahamas.

The flag has a blue background. The top part is light blue, like the sky. The bottom part is darker blue, representing the Caribbean Sea. In the middle, there is a yellow circle, which stands for the sun. Inside the sun, there is a black logo of two interlocking "Cs." These "Cs" look like broken links in a chain. This symbolizes both unity and breaking away from the past. A thin green ring around the sun represents the lush plants of the region.

The CARICOM Song

For CARICOM's 40th anniversary in 2013, a competition was held to find an official song. The goal was to find a song that promoted unity and pride in CARICOM. In March 2014, Celebrating CARICOM by Michele Henderson of Dominica was chosen as the winner.

The song was first performed officially on July 1, 2014. This happened at a meeting of the Heads of Government in Antigua and Barbuda.

CARICOM Celebrations

CARICOM Day

CARICOM Day is a special day when some CARICOM countries remember the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas. This treaty created CARICOM on July 4, 1973. The treaty was signed in Trinidad and Tobago by the leaders of Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago.

CARICOM Day is a public holiday in Guyana, where the main office is located. It is celebrated on the first Monday of July. Antigua and Barbuda also celebrates CARICOM Day as a holiday. On this day, governments organize events like parades and campaigns to teach people about CARICOM.

Caribbean Festival of Arts – CARIFESTA

The Caribbean Festival of Arts, or CARIFESTA, is an annual festival that celebrates Caribbean arts. A different country hosts the event each year. It started in 1972 in Guyana. The festival aims to show the life, heroes, and traditions of the Caribbean people. It also helps unite the Caribbean and inspire artists.

Statistics about CARICOM Members

Population and Economic Statistics of Full and Associate Members

Member	Membership	Land area (km2)	Population (2019)	GDP (PPP) Millions USD (2017)	GDP Per Capita (PPP) USD (2017)	Human Development Index (2022)
Anguilla	associate	91	15,174	175.4	12,200	–
Antigua and Barbuda	full member	442.6	104,084	2,390	26,300	0.826
The Bahamas	full member	10,010	385,340	9,339	25,100	0.820
Barbados	full member	430	287,010	4,919	17,500	0.809
Belize	full member	22,806	398,050	3,230	8,300	0.700
Bermuda	associate	54	63,779	5,198	85,700	–
British Virgin Islands	associate	151	32,206	500	42,300	–
Cayman Islands	associate	264	64,420	2,507	43,800	–
Dominica	full member	751	74,679	851	12,000	0.740
Grenada	full member	344	108,825	1,590	14,700	0.793
Guyana	full member	214,970	786,508	6,367	8,300	0.742
Haiti	full member	27,560	11,242,856	19,880	1,800	0.552
Jamaica	full member	10,831	2,728,864	26,200	9,200	0.706
Montserrat	full member	102	5,220	43.8	8,500	–
Saint Kitts and Nevis	full member	261	56,345	1,528	26,800	0.838
Saint Lucia	full member	606	180,454	2,384	13,500	0.725
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	full member	389	109,803	1,281	11,600	0.772
Suriname	full member	156,000	573,085	7,928	13,900	0.690
Trinidad and Tobago	full member	5,128	1,359,193	42,780	31,200	0.814
Turks and Caicos Islands	associate	948	37,910	632	29,100	–
Full members	members only	432,510	18,400,316	130,711	15,247	0.751

Thousands of people from CARICOM countries live in other member states. For example, many Jamaicans live in The Bahamas, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, and Trinidad & Tobago. Also, many Guyanese live in Barbados and Suriname. This movement of people shows how connected the CARICOM nations are.

CARICOM's Relationships with Other Caribbean Groups

A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various Supranational Caribbean Organisations and agreements.

A clickable Euler diagram showing the relationships between various multinational organizations in the Americasv • d • e

Association of Caribbean States (ACS)

CARICOM played a big part in creating the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) in 1994. The idea was to bring together all the countries in the Caribbean basin. This includes Central American and Latin American nations that border the Caribbean. The ACS aims to deepen cooperation across the wider Caribbean region.

Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)

CARICOM also helped form the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) in 2010. CELAC works to integrate the Americas. It complements other existing organizations like the Organization of American States.

Trade Agreements with the European Union

Since 2013, CARICOM countries and the Dominican Republic have a trade agreement with the European Union. This is called CARIFORUM. It gives equal trade and investment rights to all members. This agreement helps resolve trade disputes between CARIFORUM and EU states.

OHADAC Project for Business Law

In 2016, CARICOM's court, the CCJ, supported the OHADAC Project. This project aims to create common business laws across the Caribbean. It helps make trade and investment easier by having clear, shared rules.

See also

In Spanish: Comunidad del Caribe para niños

• 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

Images for kids

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  Exclusive Economic Zones of the member states of the CARICOM.