1. The Saint Lucia Coalition of Services Supports Regional Efforts on Mutual Recognition
of Architects under the CARIFORUM EU Economic Partnership Agreement
From 17-21 October 2011, the CARIFORUM delegation comprising members of the Caribbean
Architects Mutual Recognition Committee (CAMRAC) representatives of the CARICOM Office
of Trade Negotiations (the OTN) and the Saint Lucia Coalition of Services Industries undertook
its exploratory mission on a mutual recognition agreement on architects between CARIFORUM
and the European Union from 17 – 21 October 2011. Article 85 of the CARIFORUM EU
Economic Partnership Agreement (the EPA) encourages the relevant architectural
associations from both groupings (this would be ACE for the EU and CAMRAC representing
CARIFORUM) to jointly develop and provide a recommendation on mutual recognition to the
CARIFORUM-EC Trade and Development Committee no more than three (3) years after the
signing of the EPA.
According to Ms. Dinah Hippolyte, Trade Advocacy and Communication consultant with the
SLCSI, the purpose of the mission was to conduct an exchange of information on the
regulatory regimes for practicing architecture in the CARIFORUM and EU states; and discuss

2. possibilities for co operation on negotiating an MRA on between the two parties. During the
mission, the delegation visited the Royal Architects of British Architects (RIBA) and
Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA) in London. In Belgium, the delegation held
meetings with the ed This was followed by meetings with the Order of Architects in Brussels
(Ordre des Architectes – Conseil National, Orde van Architecten - Nationale Raad) and the
Agency for Territorial Development in Brussels. The mission concluded in Paris where the
CARIFORUM delegation held clsoed sessions with the, International Union of Architectcs
(UIA), the Architects Council of Europe and National Council of the Order of Architects of
France (Conseil National de l’Ordre des Architectes).
The meeting with RIBA and CAA emphasized the need for the accreditation of schools of
architecture in the CARIFORUM region. Further, as a large number of CARIFORUM students
also attend schools of architecture in various parts of the world, it was recognized that a
systematic method for recognizing qualifications obtained by these CARIFORUM students
was also of paramount importance. The CAA extended an offer to support the region in this
process, having accredited schools of architecture in several countries including the UK,
Australia, South Africa, Australia and Hong Kong. Opportunities for co operation assistance
were highlighted under the Memorandum of Understanding signed between CARIFORUM
and ACE.
Notwithstanding these fruitful discussions, the signal given by the Architects Council for
Europe which represents the architects regulatory boards across the EU was that its members
considered negotiations with Canada for an MRA in Architecture as its top priority. According
to Ms. Dinah Hippolyte, this shift in focus away from CARIFORUM may be attributed to the
ongoing negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada. The general
impression during the mission was that forward movement on an MRA with ACE would only be
achieved through the persistent efforts of CARIFORUM architects.

3. A recurring theme was the need for CARIFORUM to accelerate its efforts in developing its own
intra regional MRA. This will require work between the Caribbean School of Architecture and
educational authorities in the Dominican Republic on the subject of equivalence as well as
developing either a methodology for equivalence or a list of schools to be reputed as
equivalent to promote the intra CARIFORUM MRA.
It was also agreed that at the country level, coalitions of services should work in tangent with
their institute of architects in promoting the development of strong national regulatory
frameworks including viable registration boards as this is a crucial factor for ensuring the
participation of local architects in overseas trade and building their competitiveness in the local
market. As a follow up to the mission, a plan of action has been developed with the Saint
Lucia Coalition of Services providing administrative support to CAMRAC in order to move the
process for negotiations on the MRA forward.
For further Information please contact:
Ms. Dinah Hippolyte