The Caribbean Community (CARICOM or CC) is an intergovernmental organization that is a political and economic union of 15 member states (14 nation-states and one dependency) and five associated members throughout the Americas, The Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean. It has the primary objective to promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and coordinate foreign policy. The organization was established in 1973, by its four founding members signing the Treaty of Chaguaramas. Its primary activities involve:
- Coordinating economic policies and development planning.
- Devising and instituting special projects for the less-developed countries within its jurisdiction.
- Operating as a regional single market for many of its members (Caricom Single Market).
- Handling regional trade disputes.
CARICOM consists of 20 countries, of which 15 are actual Member States (Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Jamaica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago) and five associated states (Eel, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands).