Caricom not ready for free movement of skilled nationals

Caricom not ready for free movement of skilled nationals 
 
Monday October 06 2003
 
 
Barbados, (CMC) - Caribbean Community (Caricom) countries have not yet fully 
implemented all the necessary provisions that will allow for the free 
movement of skilled nationals in the region. 

The arrangement was scheduled to come into force on 1 Aug., to allow media 
workers, graduates, artistes, sports people and musicians to seek work in the 
region without a work permit. 

However, Head of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) Unit Desiree 
Field-Ridley, said on Friday that so far only 10 of the 14 participating 
states in the CSME have signed and ratified the agreement. 

She said Barbados will ratify the agreement when its parliament reopens while 
St. Kitts / Nevis has requested more time to change its laws related to the 
process. 

Haiti has also asked for deferral of all aspects except the free movement of 
goods for 18 months while the British overseas territory of Montserrat is 
awaiting an endorsement from the UK to be able to sign and ratify the treaty. 


Field-Ridley said that most countries had started the process for graduates 
but they had not moved to the second category of workers. 

However, she noted that a decision was taken in June at the Heads of 
Government meeting in Jamaica to have the process completed by August. 

"Its an old agreement. Some countries had started the process since 1998, so 
it is the completion of a process. It is not that everybody signed on to a 
process in August. It was called Community Skilled Nationals act and most 
people have it in their legislation," she said. 

Meanwhile, Field-Ridley said there have been no reports to the CSME Unit, 
neither is she aware of any problems being encountered by skilled nationals 
seeking to move around the region. 

In fact, she pointed out that the expected rush to "pack up and move," which 
some people were fearful of with the new arrangements, has not materialised. 

"I would say that I have had no reports of any problems for those five 
categories of workers since the arrangement was supposed to have been 
completed," Field-Ridley said. 
 

SOURCE: Antigua Sun