The  CARlCOM Review  Commission   was  appointed    by  the  Prime   Minister,  the  Most Honourable    Andrew   Holness,   O.N., in  july  2016  to  review   jamaica’s    relations   with CARlCOM and within  CARIFORUM.

In  his  letter   of  appointment,     the   Prime   Minister   cited   “the   need   for  an  in-depth examination    of those  aspects   of our  regional   relationships    within   CARlCOM that  are not fully meeting  their  intended   objectives”   and stressed   the  importance   of “exploring opportunities    for forging  strategic   partnerships    with  other  CARIFORUM states in the northern   Caribbean   so as to buttress   the  government’s    measures   to achieve  economic growth”.

Terms  of Reference

1.    Evaluate   the   effects   that   jamaica’s    participation     in  CARICOM has   had   on  its economic   growth   and  development    with  particular    reference   to  trade   in  goods and services,  investment,   international    competitiveness    and employment;
2.    Analyze  CARICOM’s performance    against   the  goals  and  objectives   enunciated    in the    Revised    Treaty    of   Chaguaramas     and    to    identify    the    causes    of   the shortcomings;
3.    Review  the  CARlCOM arrangement     in light  of the  wider   Caribbean,   inclusive   of the  Dominican  Republic  and  Cuba, as well as other  Caribbean  territories;
4.    Assess  the  value  of jamaica’s   membership    in CARlCOM on its influence  in critical international    fora and with  third  state  trade  and development    partners;
5.    Assess   the   benefits    from   the   coordination     of  foreign   policy   positions    within CARICOM;
6.    Assess   the   benefits    that   jamaica   has   derived   through    functional    cooperation within  CARICOMinstitutions   and its framework;
7.    Consider  the  question   ofthe  enlargement    of the membership    of CARICOM;
8.    Assess   whether    the   CARICOM dispute    settlement     provisions    provide   realistic options  for settlement   of disputes   for jamaica.

The  issue  of jamaica’s   relationship    with  the  Caribbean   Court  of justice   beyond   its original  jurisdiction    to which  jamaica   has  already   acceded   was  specifically   excluded from   our   mandate    in  light   of  the   government’s     intention    for  that   matter    to  be determined    by way of a referendum