Is the Caribbean Basin Initiative still active?

Which countries are part of the Caribbean Basin trade Initiative?

Countries whose GDP is more than 60% generated by the tourism sector include Belize, Bahamas, Barbados, Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Turks & Caicos. Where are the Carribean islands? Many people choose to start their Caribbean holidays by visiting one of the many Caribbean islands. From the volcanic, mountainous, rainforested island of Hawaii, it is only a few hours' flight by jet to the Caribbean - a small, peaceful world full of palm trees, azure water and tropical sunshine. From here, you can visit St Lucia, Anguilla, Barbados, Aruba, British Virgin Islands, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, St Maarten or Trinidad and Tobago.

There's nothing better than relaxing on a sun-kissed Caribbean beach - a perfect way to enjoy the sun and sand during your vacation. There are over 2,000 beautiful Caribbean beaches where you can enjoy the white sands of your choice - from the idyllic waters of the Dominican Republic to the turquoise and coconut husk waters of Grenada.

A popular winter escape among those who would rather leave their home countries behind. The US, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean countries have a lot of common heritage, so visitors can find that little bit of home.

An exotic paradise - the Maldives is an alluring place, with its stunning beaches and crystal-clear blue sea. The archipelago of more than 1,000 tiny islands is not only one of the most beautiful places in the world, but also a haven for divers - you'll see thousands of fish and manta rays swimming through the clear waters.

An elegant resort with an international reputation, which still retains its island feel. The area is full of pristine beaches, tropical rainforests, quaint towns and friendly villages.

What is the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative?

The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) is an alliance of countries in the Caribbean that has the objective of promoting regional security and cooperation, and countering transnational threats, through cooperation in a shared sense of purpose. The CBSI was launched on April 26, 2024, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, at the sixth CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting. The CBSI is a regional initiative of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC). The CBSI is led by the heads of state or government of the member countries.

In October 2024, the CBSI launched its secretariat in Washington, D. To ensure greater coordination and coherence between the various initiatives and programmes of the CBSI.

In March 2024, the CBSI was endorsed by the Organization of American States. The CBSI is a dynamic entity with many elements. It is comprised of the Heads of State or Government of the member countries. It also includes the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which is the coordinating body for the CBSI.

The CBSI is comprised of the Heads of State or Government of the member countries. It also includes the Secretariat of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which is the coordinating body for the CBSI. This is a common security policy which seeks to contribute to the security of the Caribbean Basin by fostering collective efforts and regional cooperation in the field of security. The CBSI seeks to address and resolve threats posed by the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), illicit drugs and transnational crime, terrorism, piracy, and other transnational threats.

Is the Caribbean Basin Initiative still active?

It is now over two decades since the Caribbean Basin Initiative was launched in 1997.

The question is: Is it still active? The CBI had its origins in the need to improve access to medicines for the large number of people living in the Caribbean basin. The initiative was established by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and Caribbean Health Research Council (CHRC) to develop a blueprint for action that would provide guidelines to address the problems of access to medicines.

While initially focused on the area of medicine, the CBI's aims were to identify priorities for action, promote and support research to address identified challenges, strengthen and expand community-based research and disseminate information on good practices in public health. There was a need to bring together different stakeholders to discuss and define the priorities for action in the region. The initiative provided a forum where these stakeholders could come together to discuss the issues.

In 2024, the CBI adopted the Principles of Good Governance in Health, a document prepared by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IAICA). This became a key reference point for the initiative and has been used to assess the progress made towards meeting the priorities for action.

One of the CBI's priorities was to address the health disparities that exist between the different Caribbean countries. The CBI decided to work with civil society organisations, such as the Caribbean Women in Development Network (CWIDN), to engage in a process of community dialogue.

CWIDN developed the Caribbean Women in Development Network's Principles for Gender-Based Responsible Development, which addresses gender and gender-based issues such as inequality, women's participation and leadership, sexual and reproductive health, and gender-based violence. CWIDN has also worked on the development of a toolkit, the Caribbean Women's Health Action Plan, which provides information on the impact of women's participation and leadership on the economic, social and political aspects of development in the Caribbean. CWIDN also supports the development of a curriculum for gender and development for schools in the region, which has been used in selected countries. Another priority of the CBI is to strengthen capacity of researchers and policy makers in the region to undertake research that would inform policy decisions.

What are the benefits of the Caribbean Basin Initiative?

The objective of the Caribbean Basin Initiative is to ensure greater trade integration, regional development and sustainable growth for all of its participating nations.

In doing so, countries in the Caribbean Basin would have better access to new markets and trade opportunities in these markets - through increased investments on their part. We are seeking to reduce trade barriers, eliminate asymmetric distortions, eliminate excessive delays or other obstacles that undermine the free movement of trade-sensitive goods; increase protectionism; increase customs duties; adopt measures that protect, restore and conserve environment, natural resources, water; and undertake other measures that contribute towards integrated regional development and growth.

For a more comprehensive understanding on the benefits for each country participating in the Initiative, please refer to The Economic and Social Benefits to CARICOM. How will CARICOM benefit? Regional economic integration has generated greater prosperity for its citizens, benefiting them in significant ways. We know that in the countries that are currently part of the Caribbean Region - including Trinidad and Tobago and the other Caribbean Islands - there are positive outcomes associated with greater regional integration, such as greater regional stability, more open financial sectors and other private sector oriented developments.

CARICOM benefits include: Increased trade competitiveness and better overall economic performance;. Greater regional stability by preventing spillovers, ensuring that there is only one sovereign in the region and minimizing the possibility of conflict;. Promotion of economic growth through regional trading arrangements and the avoidance of unnecessary trade frictions;. Greater access to new markets, including global markets, and increasing exports from the participating economies;. Lessening dependence on single source of energy/exports;. Enhanced security and prosperity and peace through stronger and integrated states that can assist in promoting and upholding the principles of good governance; and. The potential development of common market for goods, services and capital and the creation of free movement of labour among the participating economies - all of which is aimed at providing the greatest benefit for its citizens. These are the key goals set forth by the Heads of State at the Fourth Caribbean Community Summit held in Barbados in December 2024. These are the principles that CARICOM is working towards, as part of its Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) since 2024.

How will CARICOM benefit from trade liberalization and reduction of tariff and other barriers?