The Caribbean Single Market and Economy: Towards a Single Economic Space This publication offers essays that represent an attempt to satisfy the needs of laypersons busy with daily survival and progress issues, students, seeking to understand the nature of the evolution towards a CARICOM Single Market and Economy, academics, interested in the comments of their peers and politicians needing to improve the acuity with which they perceive the efforts of and prescribe actions for their individual countries. The Most Honourable Professor Sir Kenneth, former Governor-General of Jamaica, is a well known and respected Caribbean academic who utilised the skills of his profession to analyse the main factors leading to the success of the Caribbean Integration process. Professor Sir Kenneth joined his academic work to a passion for education and has held positions of Chairman of the Caribbean Examination Council(CXC), Pro Vice Chancellor and Principal, UWI, Chancellor, University College of the Caribbean and Deputy Secretary-General, Caribbean Community. He is currently a Distinguished Research Fellow of the University of the West Indies. Myrtle Veronica Chuck-A-Sang, M.A. has co-edited several publications with Professor Sir Kenneth Hall on a range of issues relating to Caribbean Regional integration and International Relations. She was the former Director of the UWI-CARICOM Institutional Relations Project, Caribbean Community Secretariat and is currently the Editor and Managing Director of the Integrationist, Editor of the Integration Quarterly and Company Secretary, Caribbean Fellowship Inc.

"The CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) has for years been touted as the most critical pillar in Caribbean regional integration. Yet, for years, the implementation of the CSME stalled due to the absence of a common view as to its feasibility, the speed of its implementation, the institutional capacity, programming for public education and ultimately, its benefits. In this work, a special edition of the Integrationist, and put together by the UWI-CARICOM project, the CSME is explained in all its dimensions. The contents cover the background to the establishment of the CSME and perspectives on its implementation. The main provisions and expected benefits of the Single Market are also presented along with the strategic framework and efforts at resource mobilisation to make the CSME a reality. The importance of the Caribbean Court of Justice to the effective functioning of the CSME is also outlined. The book concludes with a call to the member states for a unity in both understanding and action in the pursuit of integration, not as choice, but rather as necessity. The work is complemented by the inclusion of several appendices notably the original 1989 Grand Anse Declaration, the 2005 PetroCaribe Agreement as well as an indicative plan of action by priorities and an outline of major technical assistance resource gaps. "

Foci of publications This publication is intended to be an invaluable tool to the avid researcher on Caribbean regionalism and related subjects. The range of papers presented, probe areas such as the institutional development of one of the most enduring economic integration systems in the international community, the workings of its major institutions and indeed its very survival. The importance of record keeping to the survival of any institution or major grouping is the message that permeates this volume given its role in enabling an understanding of our past and in the holistic development and preservation of the region’s cultural identity.

This publication contains a number of papers on issues which are key to Caribbean survival and prosperity. They critically review the challenges facing Member States of CARICOM. Written by a number of outstanding authors of recognized academic pedigree, these analyses look at the Region across a spectrum of issues: political, economic, social and environmental, among others. Attention is focused on efforts at regional integration as well as on the options to be pursued be CARICOM if it is to survive in the new political, economic and social dispensation. The book is replete with insightful; presentations on the evolution of the Community at this point in its history.

This is an open access title available under the terms of a CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 License. It is free to read, download and share on Elgaronline.com. This timely Handbook offers a detailed cross-policy assessment on the need, locale and impact of regional cooperation and integration, addressing how the principles of regional integration have affected multi-level governance and subsequent public policy. Individual chapters provide explanations of what regional cooperation means in a specific policy area, identify relevant theories, and present empirical evidence to support the arguments outlined.

"With the launch of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy and the Caribbean Court of Justice, the Caribbean Community has taken major steps to promote closer and more intensive forms of economic cooperation among its constituent members. This effort requires the adoption of innovative approaches to regional governance and creative regional development strategies aimed at maximizing the exercise of sovereignty within the Community and also optimizing the development possibilities of the region. The 30th anniversary of the establishment of the Caribbean Community in 2003 marked an important milestone in the historical evolution of regional integration in the Caribbean. Caribbean Imperatives focuses on several important topics relevant to the future of the community by addressing issues such as the conception of the Caribbean Community; integration theory; the exercise of sovereignty; the Single Market and Economy; production integration; the external relations of the community; and the importance of multilateralism for the viability of small states in the international system. The analysis contained in the volume is extremely relevant to policy makers in the region in managing the transition to more intensive forms of regional integration aimed at improving the well-being of the people of the Caribbean. "