THE Barbadian immigration issue is becoming a major concern not only for the Guyanese society but the wider Caribbean Community.

The recent policy taken by Barbados’s Prime Minister David Thompson reflects a total lack of commitment to CARICOM and what it stands for.

It is understandable that a government may be concerned about illegal immigrants living and working in its country but the harsh measures taken by Barbados especially against the Guyanese population in that country are totally unacceptable.

The decision is tantamount to a climax resulting from a storm that was brewing all along, beginning with Guyanese being detained, interrogated and even sent back to Guyana upon arrival in Barbados.

What has happened to neighbourly relations among CARICOM countries? Are we to assume that all of President Bharrat Jagdeo’s contributions to CARICOM have been made in vain?

All the contributions such as the Jagdeo Initiative on Agriculture have been designed in such a way to benefit the entire Caribbean region. That’s what I call genuine commitment to Caribbean integration!

It would serve Barbados well if their Prime Minister would take a page out of President Jagdeo’s book about Caribbean unity.

The treatment meted out to Guyanese by the Barbadian government is utterly ridiculous and displays a total lack of appreciation for President Jagdeo’s contribution to the region! What happen to exploring diplomatic options before resorting to such an alternative?

It is no wonder that the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) cannot be activated until now. With leaders like the Hon. David Thompson the horizon for the CSME seems very bleak.

President Jagdeo seems to be one of the very few leaders who support the existence of CARICOM, while the others show little or no commitment to Caribbean integration.

I am sure if the architects of CARICOM were alive today they would have been grieved by the total disregard by some leaders for all the efforts they made to unite the Caribbean community.
L. DANIELS