Reflecting on the recently concluded 30th Heads of Government Conference of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) which was held in Guyana, President Bharrat Jagdeo, during an interview with the National Communications Network (NCN) Monday, reiterated that all the leaders recognized that the free movement of Caribbean nationals within the Community is an essential element of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

The free movement of people became one of the hot topics of the Conference after Barbados, whose Prime Minister David Thompson holds responsibility for the CSME, implemented a tough immigration policy that affected nationals from several Caribbean countries, including Guyana and Jamaica.

The Head of State, in comments to the media after the pre-summit caucus at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) on July 1, had slammed the Barbadian Prime Minister’s rhetoric, noting that the distinction between being asked to leave and actual deportation is a charade.

Earlier this year, after several reports of the ill-treatment of Guyanese was filed by Guyana’s Honorary Consul in Barbados, the President condemned the poor treatment of Guyanese and other CARICOM nationals by the Barbados authority, calling it ‘despicable’, and urged all Heads of State of CARICOM to persuade the Barbados Government to change its immigration policy toward non-nationals.

The President stressed that Thompson, and all the other leaders, had recommitted to the free movement of people within CARICOM, although they recognised the difficulty which some Member States faced with fully implementing the free movement policy in the face of the global crisis.

To this end, the categories of skilled nationals entitled to free movement were extended to include household domestics, and the contingent rights of these workers were recognized.

This means that the spouses and children of skilled nationals are entitled to migrate with them, can work and attend school.

However, the Head of State stressed that this will not dissuade his Administration from defending Guyanese in any country that treats them in a disparaging manner. At the opening ceremony of the Conference, he had referred to such action as being repugnant.