6.

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Facilitating the integration process

LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of this topic you will be able to:

• examine the role of
individual citizens, business organisations and government in the integration process.
Role of citizens Entrepreneurship An entrepreneur is a person who has an idea
for a new business venture or enterprise and who accepts responsibility for launching,
running and developing it. Entrepreneurs hope to provide an income for themselves and
also to build up their business to create employment opportunities for other people. Individuals
in the Caribbean who have the skills, attitudes and personality to become entrepreneurs need to
be encouraged to do so in order to stimulate local and regional economies.

Supporting regional producers All citizens of the region can contribute by choosing to
support local producers. For example, this would mean choosing to buy a commodity from a
local producer rather than from an overseas producer.

Showing solidarity and mutual support towards regional fellow citizens One aspect
of showing solidarity is through welcoming and accepting workers from other CARICOM
islands and treating them with dignity
and respect. Investing in local and regional businesses Businesses often rely on
other individuals or organisations for investment. This is an injection of capital that
allows a business to be established or for an existing business to expand or modernise.
To assist with integration and development of the region, those with money to invest are
encouraged to place this with local or regional businesses rather than in overseas companies. This
will help these businesses to grow and, therefore, to provide job opportunities and to
make a more significant contribution to the economy. Being informed Citizens have a
responsibility to be aware of the issues associated with integration in relation to
their country and in the region. An example of this awareness would be when citizens
understand the importance of buying products from local or regional suppliers.

Role of business organisations Improving competitiveness The degree of

competitiveness achieved by a business is usually considered in terms of its ability to
supply and sell goods and services within a given market. In order to be competitive, a
business must be able to match others in terms of price, quality and reliability. These aspects
will be related to efficiency, lowering production costs and maintaining high productivity
levels. Improving these aspects of business in the region will contribute to success when
competing in global markets.
To help the regional economy, it is important for consumers to support local businesses by buying local goods
whenever possible

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ACTIVITY
Increasing range and quality of goods and services Businesses have an
important part to play in creating a diversity of products and services that the
region can provide.
Providing opportunities for investment and employment The establishment,
expansion or modernisation of a business requires investment. Investors usually
hope to get a good return but this will be dependent on the success of the
business. A successful business will be generating income for employees and
investors and also for the government through taxation. Expanding businesses also
provide more employment opportunities.
1 Carry out a survey of
products available in your area that have been sourced
from overseas. 2 Decide which of these
products could be produced locally and make some suggestions for ways in which the
government might
encourage this to happen.
Successful multinational companies within the region A number of companies have
operations in different countries within the region in all sectors of the economy. For
example:
• TCL Group - cement, ready-mixed cement products, packaging
• Sandals - all-inclusive resorts and vacations
• Grace - food processing and financial services
• Sagicor - financial and investment services.
EXAM TIP

Role of government Enacting enabling legislation Enabling legislation is

legislation that gives another entity, which usually relies on the legislating body for
authority or legitimacy, the power to take certain actions. The legislation may also
indicate functions, roles and responsibilities of the entity. Enabling legislation
might also be used to give legislative functions and powers to a super national
body, for example the heads of government of CARICOM.
You should be prepared to explain the links between the actions that can be taken by
citizens, businesses and governments and how each would facilitate regional
integration.
Harmonising policies Harmonising policies within the region is to do with agreeing on
the rules and regulations that will apply to a particular area. The ultimate aim is to ensure that
each member of the region is treated in a similar way, is given no particular advantage
nor suffers any unique disadvantage. This seeks to improve efficiencies in the function
of government through reducing bureaucracy and duplication. It also seeks to stimulate
business and to promote economic growth through making trade more straightforward.

KEY POINTS
Honouring protocols Governments sign agreements and conventions which often
include protocols. For example, the Convention for the Protection and Development of
the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region contains a protocol regarding
Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW). The convention is about protecting,
managing and developing coastal and marine resources for the benefit of the region.
Individual governments are legally bound to follow the rules in the convention. Educating
citizens about the objectives and benefits of integration Citizens need to be
made aware of the issues regarding integration so that they will understand the role
they have and be able to take a full and active part in the process.
To help facilitate integration:
• individual citizens need to
start new businesses and support existing businesses by buying locally made
products
• businesses need to provide a diverse range of good-quality
goods and services
• governments need to
produce appropriate legislation.

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