News

What Would Be the Cost of Not Having CARICOM in the Caribbean?

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - May 30, 2014 - 6:20 pm

By the Caribbean Journal staff

How much does regional integration mean to the Caribbean?

It might be time to explore the opportunity costs of not having the Caribbean Community in place, according to Ewout Sandker, head of cooperation at the delegation of the European Union to Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and the Dutch Caribbean.

The idea, Sandker said, is not to discourage regional integration — indeed, it is to show just how much an integrated economy brings to the region.

In the 1980s, as Europe was developing its own integration movement, the European Union conducted a study that calculated the opportunity costs of not having a fully integrated market in Europe.

The results, he said, were “quite amazing.”

Indeed, their showing led to an “enormous push” toward regional integration and provided a “good opportunity for mobilizing the private sector in Europe which saw the benefits they were not getting by not having a fully integrated market.”

“Something like that could be done in the Caribbean as well, and we would be happy to provide funding for such a study (of) the cost of not having CARICOM,” Sandker said this week at the High Level Advocacy Forum on Statistics in Grenada on Monday.

Popular Posts antigua long bay

25 Perfect Caribbean Beaches to Add to Your Summer Bucket List

There’s nothing like a Caribbean beach in summer. The crowds thin out, the winds relax, and the islands start breathing in a different way. The beaches you thought you knew feel new again— stretches of sand once packed with winter […]


The 15 Best Hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, From Hidden Eco-Retreats to Luxury Towers

trinidad and tobago hotels where to stay

From Port of Spain to Tobago’s quiet coasts, these are the places to check in now No two Caribbean islands are quite like Trinidad and Tobago—and no two hotels here feel the same. This is a destination of contrast: Carnival […]


This Marriott All-Inclusive Resort Is Coming to Barbados —  And You Can Book It With Points

new brand for the caribbean

Barbados has long been a haven for adults in search of refinement — the kind of place where luxury and culture blend in quiet, confident harmony. Now, that ethos is becoming the foundation of a new resort concept that aims […]


Related Posts old san juan puerto rico caribbean cities

These 5 Caribbean Cities Are Perfect for a Quick Weekend Getaway

The Caribbean is about more than just its stunning natural beauty — it’s about culture, character, and city streets that feel like they’ve lived a hundred lives. Some of the most memorable escapes happen not on a remote cay, but […]


The Dreamiest Rainforest Resorts in the Caribbean, From Dominica to Belize

rainforest resorts

The Caribbean is often imagined as a string of sun-drenched beaches — white sand, turquoise water, and endless horizon. And while that version of the Caribbean is very real, it’s only part of the story. Move beyond the shoreline, and […]


Delta Is Adding a New Caribbean Island With Waterfalls, Beach-Hopping and Luxury Hideaways

bequia delta caribbean island st vincent

Delta is launching new nonstop service from Atlanta to the island of Saint Vincent, opening up a fresh, seamless connection between the United States and one of the Caribbean’s most untouched destinations. The new flight, which begins in late December, […]