Caribbean Community, CARICOM, Caribbean Community Secretariat Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat The Community has the following objectives: (a) improved standards of living and work; (b) full employment of labour and other factors of production; (c) accelerated, co-ordinated and sustained economic development and convergence; (d) expansion of trade and economic relations with third States; (e) enhanced levels of international competitiveness; (f) organisation for increased production and productivity; (g) the achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States and entities of any description; (h) enhanced co-ordination of Member States' foreign and [foreign] economic policies; and (i) enhanced functional co-operation, including - (i) more efficient operation of common services and activities for the benefit of its peoples; (ii) accelerated promotion of greater understanding among its peoples and the advancement of their social, cultural and technological development; (iii) intensified activities in areas such as health, education, transportation, telecommunications.