Forty-five years ago Guyana was among four territories that signed the treaty of Chaguaramas thus forming the Caribbean Community and Common Market or what has since become known today as the Caribbean Community [CARICOM].
This historic occurrence materialized on July 4, 1973 in Trinidad and Tobago. The participating territories were Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Jamaica and Guyana.
The treaty however came into effect almost one month later, August 1, 1973, effectively bringing to an end the Caribbean Free Trade Association.
However, by 2001 a revised Treaty of Chaguaramas was signed allowing for the introduction of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy [CSME].
In addition to economic issues, the Community instrument addressed issues of foreign policy coordination and functional cooperation and issues of economic integration, particularly those related to trade arrangements.
Today CARICOM is made up of 15 territories including: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.
The CARICOM Secretariat is headquartered right here in Guyana at Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown.
To reflect on the signing of the treaty more than four decades ago, territories have set aside a day of commemoration. Moreover, CARICOM Day is celebrated by several territories, including Guyana, on the first Monday in July annually. Although there is little fanfare, here in Guyana CARICOM Day [July 3, 2017] is a national holiday that reflects on the coming together of territories for a common goal of working together towards a collective collaborative strategy.