Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC)

The Order of the Caribbean Community is an award given to “Caribbean nationals whose legacy in the economic, political, social and cultural metamorphoses of Caribbean society is phenomenal”

The award was initiated at the Eighth (8th) Conference of Heads of State and Governments of CARICOM in 1987 and began bestowal in 1992.

Decisions as to award are taken by the Advisory Committee for the Order of the Caribbean Community

The Insignia of the O.C.C. set in gold and the Ribbon of the Order are presented to those honoured.

Privileges and entitlements

There are some privileges and entitlements invested upon the recipients. Some of these are as follows:

The award confers the styling The Honourable upon the recipient and Post-nominals O.C.C.

Members of the Order are accorded the privilege of free movement among Member States of the Community and are issued with a travel document which is assigned similar status to a diplomatic passport.

The right to reside in and be gainfully employed in any Member State, as well as the right to acquire and dispose of property, as would citizens of Member States, are entitlements granted to Members of the Order.

By webmaster, 14 June, 1992

Sir Shridath Ramphal

Sir Shridath Ramphal, a national of Guyana, and an international figure of repute received the honour of membership of the Order of the Caribbean Community in the first conferment of 1992.

A recipient of numerous awards and honours from several countries, international bodies and academic institutions, including Knighthood from Her Majesty the Queen of England, he has served with distinction the people of his nation, the Region and the wider international community in a multiplicity of roles.

By webmaster, 14 June, 1992

Dr. William Gilbert Demas

The late Dr. William Gilbert Demas, son of Trinidad and Tobago, and former Secretary-General of CARICOM, was among those honoured in the first conferment of the OCC at the 13th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in 1992.

Dr. Demas’ career spawned tenures as Secretary-General of CARICOM and President of the Caribbean Development Bank, Chancellor of the University of Guyana and Chairman of the CARICOM Inter-Governmental Ministerial Conference reviewing the function and structure of the University of the West Indies.

By webmaster, 14 June, 1990

Dame Ruth Nita Barrow

In any consideration of exceptional women of the Caribbean, the name Dame Nita Barrow, second recipient of the CARICOM Triennial Award, assumes much significance. A distinguished and highly celebrated Caribbean citizen, the late Dame Ruth Nita Barrow gave extraordinary service to Barbados, her country of birth, and the region as a whole and is revered as one of the outstanding regional leaders of all time.

By webmaster, 14 June, 1979

Sir Arthur Lewis

Sir W. Arthur Lewis, won a Nobel Prize in 1979 for pioneer­ing research on economic development in emerging countries.  A professor emeritus of political economy at Princeton, he died in his sleep at his home in Barbados. He published a book, “The Theory of Economic Growth,” in 1954 that is regarded as the seminal study in the field.

Order of the Caribbean Community (OCC)