President Bharrat Jagdeo has said the free movement of people is a key element of a single economy of the region, and he believes that those who are eligible to travel should be allowed to do so freely.
Speaking at a press conference at the Rose Hall Beach Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica, he said, “I don’t think we could move to a single economy without dealing with this issue. We have seen major improvements in the last several months.” While he does not subscribe to Caribbean nationals travelling to other countries and breaking laws, President Jagdeo condemns what he described as, “inhumane, discriminatory treatment meted out by “tin Gods” at some airports”, referring to immigration officials at some ports of entry who act in authoritative ways toward citizens of other CARICOM sister-states.
The Guyanese Head of State, who was in Jamaica attending the 31st meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, said there are cases where even wealthy people and university students visiting for vacation have been subjected to such misfortune entering some countries.
He said this is evidence that a sustained harassment campaign cannot be just about persons with questionable intent being denied entry. President Jagdeo believes this continues because port authorities feel somehow assured that there will be political coverage if such incidents continue.
He assured that immigration officials in Guyana will never engage in such practices.
“I will never allow them to do that. In fact we (the heads) spoke about allowing the Haitian businessmen to enter Caribbean countries freely, and I said from next week Monday I will initiate it. I will leave this meeting and get home and get it done and my immigration officials will respect that,” the President posited.
He said Guyana has already implemented the six-month rule where any CARICOM national entering Guyana is automatically stamped in for six months.
President Jagdeo said many immigrants enter countries to work and help to develop those states, earn and return home. He reminded that Guyana supports the Regional Travel Card System, CARIPASS.
He said he hopes that it will solve the issue of Caribbean citizens being made to check with and interviewed by immigration officials at regional ports of entry.
Quizzed on the implementation of legislation that mirrors the Sunset Legislation used during Cricket World Cup (CWC), the President said it was introduced mainly for people travelling to the Caribbean from extra-regional countries.