Independence fundamentally transformed CARICOM members from neglected colonial outposts into self-governing nations possessing distinct global voices. Sovereignty empowered these developing states to shed colonial rule, exercise diplomatic autonomy, and drive regional integration. Yet, this hard-won self-rule has simultaneously exposed the Caribbean to deep structural vulnerabilities and the unforgiving realities of global trade, proving that independence came with severe economic trade-offs. Political self-determination granted member states the freedom to forge independent...