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The Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) has been organised to provide a continued economic linkage between the English-speaking countries of the Caribbean following the dissolution of the West Indies Federation which lasted from January 3, 1958 to May 31, 1962.^[1]

The Caribbean Free Trade Association was created to try to boost relations between the various Caribbean islands. One of the reasons of the formation of the CARIFTA was to increase the quota and variety of goods able to be sold. The association started an international youth athletics event for junior athletes from the member states called the CARIFTA Games.

In 1973 CARIFTA became superseded by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). With the signing of the original Treaty of Chaguaramas, it was outlined that CARIFTA officially would ceased to exist on 1 May 1974.

Membership

In 1965, on December 15, the CARIFTA was founded by 4 countries:

•  Antigua and Barbuda
•  Barbados
•  Guyana
•  Trinidad and Tobago

The following countries joined the agreement:

•  Dominica (1968)
•  Grenada (1968)
•  Jamaica (1968)
•  Montserrat (1968)
•  Saint Kitts and Nevis (1968)
•  Saint Lucia (1968)
•  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1968)
•  Belize (1971)

References

• Dunker, Jörg (2002). Regionale Integration im System des liberalisierten Welthandels. EG und NAFTA im Vergleich. Frankfurt/Main: Peter Lang. ISBN 3-631-37941-2. P. 57.
• Caricom Community Secretariat

See also

• CARIFTA Games
• CARIFTA Swimming Championships