The Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) was established by the Treaty of Chaguaramas, which was signed by Barbados, Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago and came into effect on August 1, 1973. Subsequently the other eigth Caribbean territories joint CARICOM. The Bahamas became the 13th Member State of the Community on July 4, 1983. Suriname became the 14th Member State of the Caribbean Community on July 4, 1995.

In July 1991, the British Virgin Islands and the Turks and Caicos became Associated Members of CARICOM. Twelve other States from Latin America and the Caribbean enjoy Observer Status in various Institutions of the Community and CARICOM Ministerial bodies.

Caricom Members

Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Turks and Caicos Islands, The Bahamas, British Virgin Islands,Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Barbados, Dominica, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago.

Caricom Observers

Anguilla, The Cayman Islands, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Aruba, Colombia, Mexico, Venezuela, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Netherlands Antilles.

Caricom aims at the eventual integration of its members and economies, and the creation of a common market. From its inception, the Community has concentrated on the promotion of the integration of the economies of Member States, coordinating the foreign policies of the independent Member States and in Functional Cooperation, especially in relation to various areas of social and human endeavour.

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