The survey was commissioned by SICA, the secretariat of the Central American Integration System. The firm CID-GALLUP interviewed 2,500 respondents in six Central American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Improved health and education, better quality of life and securing democratic freedoms were the main potential benefits perceived from regional integration.

The survey results also show that for Central Americans, regional integration means things that will make a difference to their daily living: free movement of people and goods across national borders.

The story is much the same in CARICOM. One recalls that when the West Indian Commission "went to the people" ten years ago, in country after country they were told that hassle-free travel would be the greatest single achievement making Caribbean integration a reality to ordinary people.

Intermarriage is another positive factor in regional integration at the popular level. Some 54 percent of the respondents knew of marriages involving people from different countries in the region. Central Americans are beginning to think of themselves as belonging to one family.

And, like people in other parts of the region, they perceive a large gap between the promise of integration and the reality. Overall, only 17 percent felt that regional integration is actually growing and 58 percent believed it could be speeded up (see Chart 2 below).

The impatience is encouraging. It suggests that people may be moving beyond the narrow nationalisms of the past and demanding greater regional unity in the face of the challenges of globalisation.

Benefits of Central American Integration
2,500 respondents in 6 Central American countries
"How much do we (Guatemalans, Costa Ricans, etc.) benefit from Central American integration?"

Central American Integration Trends
"Based on your knowledge, do you believe that there's growing/increasing integration among our countries? In times of global crisis, as we are experiencing now, do you believe that Central American countries should accelerate their unification or integration?

Professor Norman Girvan is Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States. The views expressed are not necessarily the official views of the ACS. Feedback can be sent to mail@acs-aec.org.

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October 21, 2002