NATION NEWS
Immigration, labour issues still in focus
Published on: 10/22/07.

LAST WEEK the Guyana-Barbados Joint Commission On Economic, Technical and Cultural Co-operation held a meeting in Georgetown, at which a number of key decisions were taken. These decisions were quite comprehensive and involved plans for the two countries to develop sector specific arrangements in key areas such as agriculture, tourism, culture, education, immigration, security, trade and investment.

Inevitably, many Barbadians will be watching what "specific arrangements" will surface in the area of immigration. This is a topic that is attracting interest throughout the CARICOM region.

Jamaica is moving to track down undocumented foreign workers, who have been given ten days to regularise their status. In giving a reason for this, Jamaica's Labour Minister Pernell Charles said the ministry had no data on the whereabouts of an estimated 25 000 people who had been given work permits up to 2002.

Matters pertaining to immigration, and the related issue of workers from one CARICOM country taking up jobs in another, are still not settled.

Antigua only last week took steps to implement the free movement of university graduates, media workers, sports persons, artistes, and musicians from other CARICOM countries.

Whatever might be the hopes to eventually have "free movement of labour" in CARICOM countries, most countries for now are prepared to keep an eye on the exact number and whereabouts of those coming from the other territories.

Jamaica is even suggesting that where regional workers are allowed to work there, it might be so only with the understanding that Jamaicans will be trained to eventually take up the said jobs.

In Barbados, while there is no free-for-all entry for CARICOM neighbours except as tourists, we might find that as other CARICOM countries play hard ball in immigration and labour matters, we could be disadvantaged through a more liberal approach.

As matters now stand it is usually when a number of citizens from other CARICOM countries appear in our courts that it becomes known that they were "overstaying their welcome". Once these "overstayers" keep within the law, seldom are they rounded up and sent out of the island.

At the same time while the leaders of the CARICOM countries meet and make decisions about immigration and labour matters, the citizens of their countries will not hesitate to let it be known if they feel any decisions made place them at a disadvantage in their own country. And this does not apply only to matters linked to immigration, labour and work.

For example, in Barbados land pressure for housing and agriculture has evoked concern among citizens as to what the future holds for them in their country. Telling them about land in other CARICOM countries is not yet for the majority an embraceable solution or option.