Thread: Barbados faces illegal immigration from Guyana

**
**Last updated:*Sunday, August 17, 2008, 9:23*PM EST**
**
*****
Caricom enterprise in danger
ANALYSISRICKY SINGH
Sunday, July 20, 2008


Passions are running high in Barbados on an issue of fundamental importance to the Caribbean Community's future - intra-regional freedom of movement of Caricom nationals. It is also the subject of concern in some other Caricom states, including Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica.


The respite that Caricom nationals experienced during Cricket World Cup 2007 in so-called "hassle-free" intra-regional travel was commendable. But in real terms, the arrangement had a not insignificant component of what's desirable for "cooperation" by our extra-regional partners - superpower USA, for example.


RICKY SINGH


In relation, that is, to "security" priorities which do not really address specific problems being faced by those in whose name the Caricom enterprise functions - the multi-ethnic, multicultural peoples of our 15-member regional integration movement, the mass of whom continues to be at the bottom of the social scale of preference, irrespective of ethnicity, nationality or religious perspective.


Within recent months there has been a virtual explosion of bitterness among Barbadians over what they perceive as an unrestricted flow of nationals from other countries, particularly Guyanese, whose presence, legal or otherwise, negatively impact on the country's demographic structure and threatens to drain their health and education benefits.


Outlandish claims are not supported by official data but feeds raw emotionalism while the new six-month-old Democratic Labour Party administration in Bridgetown is working, it said, on a new policy designed to "manage migration" consistent with the country's delivery capacity to ensure non-discriminatory social benefits and other privileges to non-citizens.


The promised "White Paper", or some such official document, is obviously something to look forward to and not just by Barbadians.


It is expected to have a ripple effect across the Community since other governments will also be within their rights to formulate a similar 'managed migration' policy and enact supporting legislation.


What such a development may ultimately mean for the successful launching of the CSME enterprise in 2015 or whenever, will be the big question that, ultimately, a lot of governments, if not ALL, of them will have to face from the people in whose name they speak, eloquently at times, about "making Caricom work for the people".


Which "people"? The favoured few qualified enough to strengthen state bureaucracies, or maximise gains of corporate interests or; the broad mass of so-called "ordinary" ones, who are often the victims of rudeness and even outright hostility from immigration officers at ports of entry, who are either ill-informed about the meaning of "functional cooperation" within Caricom or lacking what it takes to be civil to visitors.


My information is that in a few Caricom states distaste for non-nationals of the region extend to being "on the alert for the accent" of community citizens the ill-informed and socially/politically prejudiced view as "foreigners".


Of course, these ultranationalists have no such problem with non-Caricom nationals of Caucasian origin, either the jobs they succeed in securing, the cultural/political influence they exert, or else.


This is by no means a suggestion to object to non-Caricom nationals coming to our region to live and work among us. It will be outright foolish to do so. After all, the billions of dollars that keep pouring in to Caricom jurisdictions, in the form of remittances, originate in the countries from whence came the non-national Caucasians.


They are most certainly entitled to the rights we expect in their countries of birth while they dwell in our respective homelands. Pity is that we are so contemptuous and fearful of fellow Caricom nationals, often without a legitimate cause.
Such is the burden we bear 46 years after political independence came to our region, first in Jamaica and less than a month later in Trinidad and Tobago.


Today, for all the "talk" about deepening regional integration, and making Caricom "work for the people", freedom of movement of the people remains a very low priority for the region's political directorate who often speak with forked-tongues about the objectives of the CSNME.


We do not have standardised travel documents to facilitate intra-regional movements for pleasure or business. Only Dominica and Guyana have implemented the unanimous decision of a year ago to give legal basis for automatic stay of six months to Caricom nationals on arrival, once no security problem is involved.


The Jamaican government of Prime Minister Bruce Golding has commendably already committed itself to both implementing the six-month stay as well as introducing the Caricom version of a passport by the end of this year. In contrast, Barbados, whose government had lead responsibility for CSME-readiness, appears to be no such mood for either issue at this time.


Nor is there any uniformity in the implementation of the Caricom skilled certificate to those categories of nationals eligible to live and work in any member state of the Community. Barbados is planning a special stakeholder's consultation for later this year to determine the current status of arrangements for the proposed single economy.


Questions are already being asked, and by those firmly committed to the ideals of Caricom, whether we really need such a consultation to do what's self-evident to move the process forward for the promised seamless regional economy? Perhaps we do. But should this also be linked to free movement of even skilled Caricom nationals and the push for a policy of "managed" or regulated migration? If so, the CSME in 2015 seems destined to be a deferred dream.


Truth is that some of those who delight in hammering away at perceived "harmful effects" of the emerging CSME, a project which a few governments of the Eastern Caribbean seem inclined to frustrate from being a reality in 2015, appear not be acquainted with the provisions of the revised Caricom treaty on free movement of Community nationals and the rights and treatment to which they are entitled in every jurisdiction that subscribe to this treaty.


It is to be hoped that the overflow of emotionalism in a few Caricom states that betrays an alarming portion of xenophobia - a sin quickly denied, does not become a hurdle to further derail the single economy project beyond 2015 and for which clear implementation guidelines need to be offered on a systematic basis. In short, stop the politics of buck-passing.

Caricom enterprise in danger - JAMAICAOBSERVER.COM
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/columns/ ... ANGER_.asp *

===========================


NATION NEWS

Realities and not xenophobia
Published on: 8/15/08.


Please permit me space to respond to Ricky Singh's columns of June 27, A 'Reckless' Migration Policy Here, and July 18's The Free Movement Of Politicking, both in the WEEKEND NATION.


For the last decade, I have been a keen observer and reader of political events in Barbados and the region. And for an equal time I have also observed that Ricky Singh, a citizen of Guyana by birth, offers his opinions and solutions on every socio-political topic under the sun that affects Caribbean people. I have also noticed his views are tailored to influence the policy decisions of the Government of Barbados, irrespective of the administration in government, whether Barbados Labour Party or Democratic Labour Party.


However, I am puzzled as to why he has never written on:


(a) How Guyana can use its many natural resources to the benefit of its citizens and if possible the rest of the region, thereby removing the daily social and economic miseries of its peoples;

(b) Revolutionising the political ideologies of the ruling party and the opposition party to lift the country out of the doldrums. It is said that current government is partial toward the Indians and if the opposition were to be elected tomorrow, it would be lenient toward the Negro population.


Mr Singh, I am therefore puzzled when you cannot address the ills that have plagued your country of birth but display all intent of influencing how Barbados is governed.


You seek to make mockery of the Thompson Administration which has somewhat decided it will implement a policy of "managed migration" to that of uncontrolled migration.


In the last edition of the newspaper referred to, you accused Barbadians of being "emotional and xenophobic". Don't you realise that mass migration to a small country like Barbados involves indepth issues that cannot be measured by your pen.


Barbados is only 166 square miles compared to Guyana which is 880 000. Guyana has natural resources of land, diamonds, gold and timber and is an exporter of rice and sugar. Barbados has no natural resources.


Mr Singh, considering this potential economic advantage, you can surely agree it would be more practical to get the economy of that nation up and running than to burden a small nation. The benefits which will accrue would be immeasurable . . . .


Mr Singh, it seems you have not come to the realisation that the CARICOM Single Market and Economy also leads to the "brain drain" of the lesser developed countries.


This column was originally submitted as a letter to the edit

The Nation Newspaper | Realities and not xenophobia
http://www.nationnews.com/editorial/298633635594393.php

Richard do you have a source link for this article?

Is this a news article?

CORRUPT leaders are a MAJOR CAUSE of the problems facing Guyana and other Third-World nations that compels people to go ELSEWHERE, legally or illegally!

Good point, joazinha. Corruption is not only a problem in Caricom countries, but I have a feeling this country is more than afflicted with this disease.