In 1990, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) articulated a position on the development of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in the region.

The need for the coordination and rationalization of TVET and the move to establish a Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) including proposals for the free movement of CERTIFIED skilled labour; prompted the National Training Agencies (NTAs)  and TVET apex bodies in the region to exploit the benefits of joint and concerted efforts.  The Caribbean Association of National Training Authorities (CANTA) was therefore established with responsibility for the coordination of TVET in CARICOM states. 

CANTA was endorsed as the implementation arm of the CARICOM Regional Coordinating Mechanism for Technical Vocational Education and Training (RCMTVET) at the Ninth Meeting of the Council for Human and Social Development (COHSOD) in October 2003, and was launched in November 2003 in Jamaica.   It is the platform from which positions on TVET can be clearly articulated and promoted in the region.

CANTA is accountable to COHSOD through RCMTVET.

 The Goals & Objectives of CANTA are to:

a)      promote the development  of a competitive regional workforce and

b)      facilitate the free movement of certified skilled labour within the CSME through the following objectives:

1. promote the uniformed provision of standards driven competency based training, assessment and certification within the Caribbean Community;
2. promote the principles and practice of quality assurance towards continuous improvement of TVET;
3. Establish a regional certification scheme for the award of the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) within the context of the Regional Qualification Framework;
4. Promote career guidance throughout the CSME;
5. Support and contribute to the establishment and maintenance of a regional labour market intelligence system;
6. Promote lifelong learning and improve the image and status of TVET in the region;
7. Establish relationships  with other similar bodies so as to promote and facilitate international benchmarking, collaboration and mutual recognition of technical and vocational qualifications;
8. Promote and support the development of national training authorities and  TVET apex bodies to acquire full membership status through capacity building and resource sharing activities;
9. Maintain strong advocacy for workforce development, employment and mobility;
10. Develop a sustainable operational model to ensure the continuous viability of CANTA
11. Support and promote the CARICOM Regional TVET Strategy for Workforce Development and Economic Competitiveness.