BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - REGIONAL Leaders are looking at steps to alleviate bottlenecks related to the integration and free movement of CARICOM citizens.
According to Prime Minister of Dominica and Chairman of CARICOM, Roosevelt Skerritt, leaders have to find ways of addressing the challenges faced by those citizens who are looking to take advantage of the free movement that they have approved.
Addressing reporters at the recently-concluded 37th Regional Heads of Government Conference in Georgetown, Guyana, Roosevelt pointed out that even though a large number of persons are travelling within the region without hindrance, there are still those who are being denied entry at various ports.
This comes on the heels of an ongoing dispute between Jamaica and their counterparts in Trinidad and Tobago.
Earlier this year, several Jamaicans were denied entry into the twin-island Republic and that caused a backlash for the Trinidadians and several of their products were pulled from the shelves of supermarkets in Kingston.
Skerritt told the press conference that denial of entry is a matter that regional leaders believe needs to be addressed urgently, because they are aware of the negative image the region is faced with when those instances occur.
“We have guidance from the Caribbean Court of Justice as well as decisions that this conference has taken. We have mandated the CARICOM Secretariat to bring together the Chief Immigration Officers, CARICOM Ambassadors and other relevant officials to fashion a solution to the issue,” Skerritt said.
He noted that Regional Heads believe that the free movement of people is an integral part of the Single Market.
