In 1991 I was the recipient of an international award to conduct research on the “Effect of a North American Free Trade Agreement on the Commonwealth Caribbean.” This was the topic of my master’s thesis.

The award came through the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE). I could hardly believe my luck. The award enabled me to conduct original research in ten countries. These included all major Caricom or Caribbean Community states, North America as well as Mexico .

The result of that work was stunning. The Caribbean had one available option: regional integration. The challenges of mega markets or economic blocs in Western Europe and the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta), along with the increasing prosperity of Asian countries, could and would most likely have a negative impact on the region’s future relations with its major trading partners and credit sources in Europe and North American.

One leading regional politician of the time described the situation of the British Caribbean as “in an economic vice.”

In 1998, as technical adviser on trade with the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), I was tasked—along with a team of experts—to explore the interests of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) in relation to the Free Trade Area of the Americas and the European Union.

Once again, the conclusion pointed to the need for deepening the regional integration effort.

In 2008 we are faced with an even more alarming situation for the region. Having run out of options and faced with a worldwide economic downturn, the Commonwealth Caribbean must finally face reality.

The world is more and more marginalising small states. In something of a desperate effort we appear to be grasping for solutions.

Should we sign on to the proposed European Partnership Agreement (EPA)?

Should we sign a free trade agreement with Canada ?

Indeed, what else should we sign to ensure that we are not left out of a global system that appears to be moving at a pace to form strategic trading blocs, both in the west and the east.

Any truly responsible and knowledgeable regional leader with a sense of history and economics should be taking serious steps to grasp this latest opportunity for deepening the economic and political unity of these countries.

Whatever anyone thinks of the Prime Minister of T&T, and regardless of his political motivations, we as a region must agree that this initiative should be embraced and the proposed plan for an economic and political union by 2011 and 2013 respectively given the priority it deserves.

The major problems facing the OECS is one of small size and limited resource bases.

In addition, global warming and related environmental challenges including the susceptibility to natural disasters, all contribute to their vulnerability. Having oil rich T&T on board could help in a number of important ways, particularly vis a vis the resource limitations of these countries.

Trinidad is, after all, intricately linked culturally and otherwise to Grenada and St Vincent and the Grenadines . As an economic and political partner, T&T could play a leading role in enhancing the human capital of the region through improved education and training.

Caricom countries are currently faced with a decision to sign an EPA with the European Union. The EPA is bilateral not regional and a most comprehensive trade agreement that calls for these countries to open up the service sector.

Canada has also signaled its willingness to further extend market access to the region.

Whether these agreements are bilateral or multilateral, there is no doubt that both Europe and Canada would prefer a more unified regime. The capacity to look at quality standards, for example, only exists at the regional level.

Michael Hart—well known free trade theorists, former member of the Canada US free trade team and a former professor of mine—uses the example of a bicycle wheel to argue the advantage for those who join regional trading blocs early. He describes how the bicycle wheel is attached to the frame of a bicycle by the “hub” from which the “spokes” are attached The hub is likened to the first members of the group. They set the rules that support the wheel. The spokes are those who join later and have of necessity to accept the rules that have already been agreed upon. We should certainly seek to be part of the “hub.” There is no doubt that over time others will seek to join this regional grouping.

The region’s potential lies in:

a) promoting regional tourism;

b) effective management of the region’s greatest resource, human resources, in order to achieve higher levels of achievement and competitiveness;

c) need for a strategy which links tourism with the agricultural sector. This can be achieved by diversifying agriculture by rationalisation of the region’s industries, with greater emphasis on the growing of fruits and vegetables for home consumption and export;

d) efforts to develop the tourist sector should focus on regional culture and attitudes;

e) need to identify, specific niches in areas such as the service sector.

Data processing has been noted as a possible advantage because of the use of English language in the area but this argument has already been undermined due to the lack of emphasis placed on speaking English correctly and the advantage being gained by countries such as India and other low wage areas in the same field.

Ideological similarity within the English speaking region is one advantage of the current timing of this regional integration initiative. This was not the case in the early 80s when Jamaica and Grenada were ideologically influenced by Cuba .

Over the past 20 years, the leaders of this region have done little beyond talk about integration. It is no wonder, therefore, that many believe this latest effort will not bear fruit. The test will be to see concrete sustained action to move this current initiative forward. This will require a concerted effort to provide public information on the benefits and challenges of economic and political unity to all the people of the region.

Caricom leaders will need to show their commitment beyond talk by implementing the many decisions they have signed onto.

In conclusion, I believe we should grasp this opportunity to deepen economic and political union in the region.

In this regard we need to move quickly to identify our comparative advantage, develop new niches and aggressively market what we have to offer, remembering that in any trade agreement the one that benefits most is the one with the strongest economy.