Focus: GS II: International Relations
Why in News?
India’s External Affairs Minister co-chaired the 4th India-CARICOM ministerial meeting with his Jamaican counterpart.
About CARICOM:
CARICOM is the Caribbean Community, a regional organization of Caribbean countries and dependencies. Here are some key points:
Purpose:
- To promote economic integration and cooperation among its members.
- To ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared.
- To coordinate foreign policy.
Members:
- 15 member countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
- 5 associate member territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
- 6 observer states: Aruba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
Leadership:
- The Chairmanship of the Community rotates every six months among the member countries’ Heads.
Secretariat:
- The CARICOM Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana, is the principal administrative organ of the Community.
- It is headed by a Secretary General who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Community.
Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ):
- In 2007, CARICOM officially inaugurated the CCJ.
- It serves as the final court of appeal for CARICOM members and handles regional trade disputes
