THE National Assembly yesterday passed the Caribbean Community (Free Entry of Skilled Nationals) (Amendment) Bill, paving the way for the expansion of categories of persons eligible to travel to Caribbean countries to work. The Bill, when made an Act, will amend the substantive law passed in 1996. The new categories include university graduates, major workers, musicians, artistes, sports persons, teachers, registered nurses, persons holding associate degrees, artisans possessing a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ), or an approved national vocational qualification, and domestics who have acquired a CVQ, or any qualification certified by the Secretary General of the CARICOM.
Speaking in support of the passage of the legislation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett said that hassle-free travel is fundamental for greater integration among people of the region.
She said it was understandable if people judge the success of the region’s integration movement by the way nationals of some territories are treated in some countries in the region. She acknowledged that free movement in CARICOM is not absolute, noting that if persons do not qualify under the approved categories, then they must seek a work permit.
But she said that despite the numerous complaints, there has been progress in the integration movement, noting that Guyana has done its part. The minister pointed out that in the latest assessment of where the region was headed in terms of its integration, Guyana ranked well. She said, however, that Guyana is seeking to comply with the recommendations of that assessment as to where the country was lacking in the integration process.
Pointing out some of the progress Guyana has made, she said that in Guyana there is no hindrance to the movement of capital by investors from another country in the region, adding that CARICOM nationals are free to establish business in Guyana.
The minister said that with the exception of artisans and domestics, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs processes the movement of other categories of skills. She said that between the years 1997 and 2011, the ministry has processed and issued 3,301 skills certificates.
Member of the PNCR Clarissa Riehl told the National Assembly that the efforts that Guyana has made at integration show that the country is indeed playing its part in working towards the ideals of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
But she said that the flow of skills is outward in Guyana’s case, asking the question how many immigrants come here looking for work. Riehl said that a paucity of jobs and high crime may be factors responsible for the slow flow of traffic towards Guyana.
Riehl said that Guyana must strengthen its dollar and lower its cost of living in order to encourage the numbers of skilled persons travelling here. She said also that CARICOM and the CSME must get their act together.
She said that the Caribbean Court of Justice, one of the institutions of the integration process, is fast becoming a “white elephant”, as Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica still hold on to the Privy Council as their final arbiter. She said, “True integration continues to elude us.”
Defending the integration movement, Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir said that there needs to be a long-term view taken of the integration process. He said that historically, there has been movement of people among regional states, long predating any integration agreement.