Conclusion
Never easy
Given the experience and frustrations over the years, many in the Caribbean are surprised that Caricom was able to see 43 years and seemed poised to, and capable of, reaching its golden jubilee in seven years. The path was never easy and Caricom can point to numerous achievements, including in the area of functional cooperation for which it deserves kudos. It has added new members and has increased its cooperation with others since its establishment. Progress is evident in the area of education and disaster preparedness. The region appears to respond to every institutional crisis that has fixed it over its chequered life with the establishment of one form of committee or another.
Despite the progress, doubts linger about the ability of the integration movement to sustain itself into the distant future. The concern arises from what appears to be the failure of the movement to create and solidify the foundation for its long-term independent survival. The essential concern is about the difficulty that the region is experiencing in developing and expanding its production, finance and knowledge structures after nearly 50 years of trying. These are the three areas in which progress is needed