BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 8th 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - Leader of the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Lindsay Grant has issued an appeal to the government to immediately implement systems that would seek to properly manage migration.
Grant this call while speaking to Sun St. Kitts, noting that a properly executed balanced system is critically important as St. Kitts and Nevis attempts to cope with the global economic challenges that are currently affecting the nation.
He pointed out that growth within the Caribbean economies is such that they could sustain free movement of persons. This, he noted, is important in order to ensure that the Federation moves toward a formal system of managed migration.
As such, the PAM Leader suggested a number of new initiatives, which he said if properly implemented would certainly bring numerous benefits while boosting productivity. One of the many initiatives discussed was the establishment of guest worker programmes which is currently being used in Canada and the United States.
Grant disclosed that it is his party’s firm belief that unrestricted movement of persons would make it difficult for small developing states such as the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis to properly and effectively remain in control of their own economies and social services, thus being able to create an appreciated result for all involved.
The PAM Political Leader pointed out that clear, unrestricted freedom of movement of labour was not in place in the Caribbean Community and, therefore, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis should act more responsibly in ensuring that proper system is implemented.
"I call on the Honourable Prime Minister to immediately look at the bigger picture. It is evident that the mass migration of poorer people in search of better conditions is a major worldwide problem. We, therefore, in St. Kitts and Nevis have to ask some serious questions. For example, is it not in the best interest of the more developed countries of our rapidly globalizing world that there be more equitable development across the globe?" Grant queried.
Grant suggested that there were some prerequisites for this inevitable outcome, and one of these was the establishment of the infrastructure to facilitate the free movement of people, goods and services throughout the region.
He however stressed that free movement would only be tolerated when it was closely related to prosperity. He issued a challenge to those persons who had grown impatient and "who wished to setback the unrelenting movement towards this goal, to get off the fence and do something to aid economic enfranchisement of our people".
He also demanded that Prime Minister Douglas respond immediately and appropriately to the many criticisms and accusations that are currently levelled against them by members of the public.
