That was the word from Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerritt yesterday, the first day of sessions at the 28th CARICOM Heads of Government Conference, being held at Hilton Barbados.

"We have certain niche markets, and since we largely promote eco-tourism, like many smaller countries in the region, and unless the CARICOM is prepared to include those countries with which we have special economic arrangements, Dominica will not support the continued visa programme," Skerritt told the DAILY NATION yesterday.

"There are some countries with which we have very good relationships, from an economic and tourism standpoint, so they must be included," the prime minister said.

"I really question the workings of the single space sometimes, because even as a national myself, I found it more difficult to travel around before the Cricket World Cup than any time before."

He said the visa machinery definitely needed some fine-tuning.

"But we will have to take our own national interests first and foremost into consideration," he concluded.

"I think it could be a very good thing in the long run, because to the traveller it would make things simpler, but countries must not do it to a point where they include countries on the list with which they have special relationships, to the disadvantage of others." (BA)

barryalleyne@nationnews.com