The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was  established  in 1973 on three  main pillars: economic integration; functional cooperation and foreign policy coordination. A fourth pillar, “security”, was added in 2005 in response to the growing threat to citizen security and other regional assets and institutions. These pillars form the base of a number of diverse activities including:

• Free movement of goods and services by removing  trade barriers and promoting reliable and sustainable energy;
• Providing universal primary education and standardized certificate assessments;
• Preventing and controlling non- communicable diseases;
• Increasing access to HIV and AIDS treatment; promoting environmental health,  food and nutrition, health systems strengthening, early childhood development, child rights and protection, life skills-based health, family-life education;
• Preventing youth on youth violence;
• Promoting and defending the interest of CARICOM. See Achievements and milestones Link).

The above, among others, are captured in a range of services or regional goods such as: regional policy development and management; community governance; project/programme planning and management; research and technical advice public education and information; advocacy; coordination and harmonization; resource mobilization and capacity development.
Given the changing environment, CARICOM, now in its fifth decade, has refocused its approach to improving the standard of life for its peoples and has developed a strategic plan,  underpinned by a resiliency model, to guide the Community’s work over the following five years, 2015-2019.