GON-SALVO!

by TIM SLINGER

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves has lashed out at Barbados' new immigration policies regarding illegal Caribbean immigrants.

He said yesterday such policies could cause the collapse of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

Delivering a ministerial statement in St Vincent's House of Parliament, Gonsalves also charged that Vincentians were discriminated against by neighbouring territories and hinted that his country might also consider withdrawing from the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

When contacted for a comment last night soon after his arrival from Cuba where he was on a visit, Prime Minister David Thompson said: "It has never been and will not now be" his practice to shout across the Caribbean Sea as a means of speaking to or with fellow Caribbean leaders."

He said the matter might be better dealt with at a meeting of leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) next week to which he had been invited.

The Vincentian prime minister also named Guyana, Grenada, St Lucia and Jamaica as suffering the same discriminatory fate.

In a speech punctuated with much emotion, Gonsalves said every member state was not abiding by the letter and the spirit of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

"In one or two member countries, the immigration authorities are dismissive of their countries' treaty commitments.

"My office receives heart-rending stories of Vincentian nationals who have been subjected to unfair, unconscionable and discriminatory treatment by some immigration authorities within member states of CARICOM."

He singled out a particular case where a Vincentian woman married to a Barbadian was denied a student visa for her five-year-old niece who was attending school in Barbados and her 18-year-old niece who was writing exams last September.

He said both of them had to leave Barbados within a seven-day period on instructions of the Immigration Department.

He added that a letter outlining the circumstances had been sent to Thompson.

"It is sad to note that in the 21st Century, some responsible persons, including some political leaders, are stoking chauvinistic fires which are latent in our Caribbean societies.

"This has led here and there to an outpouring of a malignant xenophobia particularly against Guyanese, Jamaicans, Vincentians, St Lucians and Grenadians.

"This must be stopped, if not CARICOM would shortly be rent asunder," he stated.

In an apparent reference to Barbados, the Vincentian leader said it was historically tempting for him (Thompson) to bash immigrants at times of domestic economic difficulties.

"But to do so against one's CARICOM brothers and sisters is surely unacceptable . . . .

"My government is being patient with CARICOM and we will never lightly abandon the CSME. But the discriminatory antics against our nationals by some immigration authorities must stop," he said.

Gonsalves said his government had gone way beyond the treaty and had accomodated CARICOM nationals who were not yet entitled to the right of unemployment.

In response, Thompson said he "had not heard or seen the verbatim statement" of Gonsalves, but indicated he had been invited to attend the next meeting of OECS leaders in Tortola.

"I am sure there will be adequate opportunity for Prime Minister Gonsalves and myself to speak to matters of mutual interest and concern either at the bilateral or multilateral level," Thompson said.

Thompson recently announceda new policy which gives CARICOM illegal immigrants until December 1 to apply for immigrant status. Those who remain on the island illegally after the date will be deported, he said.