PM wants full movement of CARICOM nationals

ROSEAU (CMC):

Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, says he does not support the criteria of a selected category of persons being afforded the opportunity to move and work freely within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), insisting that such a privilege should be given to every Caribbean national.

CARICOM leaders will open their three-day summit in Barbados from Wednesday, and Skerrit, speaking at a news conference here, said that the issue of free movement under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) will be an agenda item.

Under the CSME, which allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour, and services across the region, only university graduates, artists, musicians, media workers, sportspeople, nurses, teachers, artisans, holders of associate degrees, and domestic workers benefit from the provision.

“At this conference of heads we would be discussing many issues including the free movement. As you know I have been advancing the cause of the free movement of all people in the CARICOM.

“It should not be an elitist … it has to be about everybody. Integration has to be about everybody benefitting, participating in this project, and so we are stuck on the issue of Contingent Rights, whether people are entitled to education, and if so, to what extent.”

Skerrit said that the situation also extends to healthcare “and we are hoping we can make some progress in Barbados and get the full free movement.