Following the conclusion of the 53rd CARIFTA Games at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in Grenada from April 4–6, Opposition Member of Parliament Sherod Duncan of the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) has turned attention to the deeper historical and political significance of the regional event, linking its legacy to the integrationist vision of Guyana’s former Prime Minister Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham.
Guyana delivered a strong performance at the Games, finishing among the top five nations with four gold medals, one silver and one bronze, reinforcing its presence on the regional athletics stage.
In an op-ed reflecting on the Games, Duncan argued that Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA) represents more than athletic competition, pointing instead to its roots in Caribbean unity and post-colonial self-determination.
“As the 2026 CARIFTA Games conclude at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in Grenada, the moment invites reflection not only on athletic excellence but on the political vision that made such regional cohesion possible.”
Providing historical context, CARIFTA was established through the Dickenson Bay Agreement on December 15, 1965, by Guyana, Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda under the leadership of Burnham, Errol Barrow and Vere Bird. The initiative sought to remove trade barriers, stimulate economic growth, and foster regional integration among newly independent Caribbean states, while reducing reliance on former colonial powers and improving living standards. It also laid the foundation for the later creation of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in 1973.
Duncan underscored Guyana’s role in that foundational moment.
“The Games themselves are rooted in the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), established through the Dickenson Bay Agreement of December 15, 1965, which Guyana’s Prime Minister Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham signed alongside Errol Barrow of Barbados and Vere Bird of Antigua and Barbuda.”
He framed that decision as a turning point in regional history.
“That decision marked a deliberate shift away from colonial fragmentation toward purposeful Caribbean integration, grounded in the belief that small states could only secure their future through collective action.”
That philosophy, long associated with Burnham’s leadership, held that Caribbean nations—small and vulnerable on their own—could achieve greater economic resilience and political influence by acting together on the international stage, promoting shared interests and reducing dependence on external powers.
Duncan’s recall of Burnham’s role comes as a timely reminder in the current environment, where there appears to be a steady effort to diminish or erase his contributions to national, regional, and international development. His role in advancing Caribbean integration and shaping Guyana’s global posture remains a significant part of the historical record, regardless of contemporary political narratives. In revisiting that legacy, Duncan’s intervention reopens a broader conversation about how history is remembered—and who gets to define it.
According to Duncan, Burnham’s leadership extended beyond economic cooperation, shaping the broader architecture of Caribbean regionalism, including the eventual formation of CARICOM.
“Burnham emerged as a principal architect of this regional project, playing a defining role in the transition from CARIFTA to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).”
The opposition parliamentarian emphasised that Burnham’s vision incorporated cultural and social integration alongside political and economic collaboration, citing initiatives such as the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA), first held in 1972.
“His approach went beyond economic coordination, advancing a broader framework in which political sovereignty had to be reinforced by cultural and social integration.”
Within that context, Duncan argued that the CARIFTA Games themselves represent one of the most enduring expressions of regional unity.
“Within this framework, the CARIFTA Games stand as one of the most enduring expressions of Burnham’s integration philosophy, representing the social and cultural pillar of regionalism that complements economic and political arrangements.”
He noted that for more than five decades, the Games have contributed to athlete development, regional identity, and cross-border connections.
“For more than five decades, the Games have delivered measurable value by nurturing world-class athletes, strengthening people-to-people connections, and reinforcing a sense of Caribbean identity among successive generations.”
Duncan concluded by invoking one of Burnham’s well-known warnings on the importance of regional solidarity.
“Either we weld ourselves into a regional grouping serving primarily Caribbean needs… or we become the objects of neo-colonialist.”
He suggested that the continued success of the CARIFTA Games signals that the Caribbean has, at least in this sphere, chosen and sustained the path of unity.
The CARIFTA Games, widely regarded as the premier junior athletics competition in the Caribbean, continue to serve as both a sporting showcase and a symbol of the region’s enduring integration movement—an idea that Duncan argues remains as relevant today as it was at its founding.
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See the full op-ed below
As the 2026 CARIFTA Games conclude at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium in Grenada, the moment invites reflection not only on athletic excellence but on the political vision that made such regional cohesion possible. The Games themselves are rooted in the Caribbean Free Trade Association (CARIFTA), established through the Dickenson Bay Agreement of December 15, 1965, which Guyana’s Prime Minister Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham signed alongside Errol Barrow of Barbados and Vere Bird of Antigua and Barbuda. That decision marked a deliberate shift away from colonial fragmentation toward purposeful Caribbean integration, grounded in the belief that small states could only secure their future through collective action.
Burnham emerged as a principal architect of this regional project, playing a defining role in the transition from CARIFTA to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). His approach went beyond economic coordination, advancing a broader framework in which political sovereignty had to be reinforced by cultural and social integration. This thinking materialized in initiatives such as the first Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) in 1972, which sought to build a shared Caribbean identity alongside institutional cooperation. He consistently argued that Guyana’s natural endowments should serve not as isolated national assets but as part of a wider regional pool, reinforcing the principle that development gains must be distributed across Caribbean societies.
Within this framework, the CARIFTA Games stand as one of the most enduring expressions of Burnham’s integration philosophy, representing the social and cultural pillar of regionalism that complements economic and political arrangements. For more than five decades, the Games have delivered measurable value by nurturing world-class athletes, strengthening people-to-people connections, and reinforcing a sense of Caribbean identity among successive generations. Burnham’s warning remains instructive: “Either we weld ourselves into a regional grouping serving primarily Caribbean needs… or we become the objects of neo-colonialist.” The continued success of CARIFTA suggests that, at least in this domain, the Caribbean has chosen the path of unity, and sustained it.
Sherod Duncan, M.P
