The Caribbean Advisory Group: A Memoir

Abstract

In 1997 the newly elected New Labour Government in the UK decided to review British policy to the Caribbean. In the course of its review it proposed and established a Caribbean Advisory Group (CAG) made up of persons with experience and expertise in the Caribbean to help frame policy towards the region. This article sets out the work undertaken by the CAG from its inception in 1998 until to 2001. It is written by one of its members and sets out the issues that were considered and the recommendations that were made. It concludes with an assessment of the work of the CAG and how it operated within the context of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office where the CAG was regarded as a not entirely welcome innovation in policy.