# Dickenson Bay Agreement (1965)

URL: https://allhistories.com/antigua-and-barbuda/timeline/1965-dickenson-bay-agreement
Location: Dickenson Bay, Antigua
Themes: main-event

After the collapse of the West Indies Federation, Caribbean leaders looked for economic rather than political forms of union. Errol Barrow of Barbados and Forbes Burnham of British Guiana, both about to lead their countries to independence, proposed a free trade area that would reduce tariffs and encourage trade among the English-speaking territories. Meeting with Vere Bird at Dickenson Bay on Antigua's north-west coast, Barrow and Burnham signed the initial agreement establishing the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) on 15 December 1965. The three-territory agreement was planned to take effect in 1967 but was delayed while other territories were brought in. A revised agreement came into force on 1 May 1968, with Antigua, Barbados, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago as the first participants, and the other Commonwealth Caribbean territories joined soon afterwards. The Dickenson Bay Agreement is regarded as the starting point of modern Caribbean economic integration. CARIFTA evolved into the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973, and Antigua's role as host of the founding meeting is a point of national pride. At this point in the timeline (15 December 1965), the Queen of the United Kingdom was Elizabeth II (6 February 1952 – 8 September 2022); the Administrator of Antigua was David Rose (1964 – 1966). Government: the Chief Minister of Antigua was Vere Cornwall Bird (1 January 1960 – 27 February 1967).

## Why it matters
The agreement signed in Antigua launched the process of Caribbean economic integration that led to CARICOM.

Ruler at the Time: [Elizabeth II](https://allhistories.com/antigua-and-barbuda/rulers/elizabeth-ii)

Administrator of Antigua: David Rose
Chief Minister of Antigua: Vere Cornwall Bird (Antigua Labour Party (ALP))

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Caribbean Free Trade Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caribbean_Free_Trade_Association)
- [CARICOM](https://caricom.org/)
- [Encyclopaedia Britannica — Caribbean Free Trade Association](https://www.britannica.com/search?query=Caribbean+Free+Trade+Association)
- [Wikipedia — Labour And The Road To Self-Rule (period overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigua_Trades_and_Labour_Union)