CARICOM plans to remove six-month stay limit by March 31st

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Antigua and Barbuda did not give its consent to the full free movement of all CARICOM nationals, as is being contemplated by other Member States of CARICOM

Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley, has announced that nationals from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) will have the ability to travel throughout the region by the end of March.
During the closing news conference of the four-day CARICOM summit in Georgetown, Guyana, Mottley stated that leaders had made the decision on Wednesday that they were on track.

In July 2023, a meeting was convened in Trinidad and Tobago where regional leaders gathered for the 45th Conference of the Heads of Government. During this conference, a deadline was established to conclude the process of enabling the free movement of CARICOM nationals.

PM Mottley noted that leaders will meet again on March 15th, before then, the remaining policy issues are expected to be settled.

“There was just two policy issues referred to heads for us to settle and they will meet on the seventh of March, the legal affairs committee will sign off on the draft [on the] eighth of March; and the heads of government will meet on the 15th of March with the hope that we can sign off in time for the deadline given in Trinidad of the 31st of March for the free movement of people,” PM Mottley said.

CARICOM nationals have the privilege to freely travel within participating nations for engaging in lucrative commercial endeavours under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which is governed by the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

Currently, nationals enjoy the freedom to relocate within the region for a period of six months without any interrogation.
Prime Minister Mottley elaborated on the objective of leaders to facilitate the unrestricted movement of nationals throughout the region, surpassing the current six-month restriction.

“People have the right to move now for six months without questions. What we are talking about now is removing that six-month constraint.”

The current leaders are actively working on ensuring the ‘minimum rights’ for CARICOM nationals, she said.
“Those are being resolved and settled now,” she said.

Beyond the facilitation of people’s mobility, regional leaders are also dedicating efforts to tackle the issue of company formation within the region.
At present, when a CARICOM national intends to establish a company in another member state upon relocation, they are obligated to make a payment.

This PM Mottely noted is a ‘burden’ in a single market and a single economy.
“We agreed that we would work to get the mutual recognition of companies across the community settled and we are working towards trying to have that done by our meeting in July in Grenada.”

“To allow people the right to move and then tell them that they have to pay separate sums to form [a] company—the same company, doing the same business, in each and every one of the countries going in is a burden too heavy for you to carry in a single market and a single economy,” she stressed.

In order to achieve this goal, a digital platform will be created to facilitate communication among member states.
“When you go to register in one country you can immediately see what is available in terms of conflict or capacity to register.”
During the inaugural ceremony of the CARICOM summit, President Ali emphasised the leaders’ strong commitment to prioritising the implementation of the CSME, while also highlighting the significance of frank discussions aimed at bolstering the organisation.

 

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18 COMMENTS

  1. If this actually happens, then it is welcome news!

    For those of us who have family links in the Caribbean; and those in business watching very closely at what’s happening economically in Antigua – and the region as well.

    Marking my diary right now for 31st of March 2024

    HIP HIP ..

    • @Brixtonian…

      A…the movement(s) will be One Way 🔜for several Nations, thus creating stresses on the public services from schools to healthcare to law enforcement to housing.

      B…specifically, law enforcement in Nations like Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA, where on Antigua, law enforcement is basically equipped with systems(resources to personnel to equipments) from the last Century trying to fight crimes in this century. Lest just say, using transportation, as an example; a Donkey + Donkey_Box versus A BMW Truck to get from Freetown to Point.
      The law enforcement systems are in need of serious upgrades to compile, share and distribute data across borders/jurisdictions without the hassle of going before the Courts for simple things as fingerprints to arrest/police records.

      C…the regulations which governs businesses have to be brought under the same umbrella(s). Yes, each jurisdiction/State/Nation can stipulate what can happen locally, but regional bodies must be in place to deal with everything from corporate taxes to personal taxes to investments.

      While, the [FREE] Movement of People may look good on paper, as it always have, since, the inception of CARICOM some FIFTY(50) years ago, the Region do not have the means to handle such [FREE] unrestricted movement of people at this time.

      One simple question, with all the love which you may have for Haitians, Jamaicans, Guyanese, Grenadians, Dominicans would you want to see and additional Fifty(50) of People from these CARICOM Nations descend on Barbuda or Antigua by the end of 2024 and never leave again?

      Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
      De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard

      Vere C. Edwards

      • @Brixtonian…I meant an additional FIFTY(50) THOUSAND PEOPLE, being added to Antigua within a year and don’t want to leave

        Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood

      • In order to achieve this goal, a digital platform will be created to facilitate communication among member states.
        “When you go to register in one country you can immediately see what is available in terms of conflict or capacity to register.”

        It’s a system for business to be on a leveled playing field n able to brach out….you can’t think that with that amount of moment that antigua n Barbuda will have the most burden 😑 n its still going to be on a digital platform where every country can share information about their civilians wanting to move n for what reasons

    • Surpassing the six month restriction can be a real benefit to those entrepreneurial Antiguans, the small businesses that may want to expand without the reams of paperwork, much less restrictions and bureaucratic interference.

      I’m surprised you cannot envisage these amazing perquisites @ Zackie 🤨

      • @Brix. I prefer to be realistic and not harp on possibilities. The truth is: no one wants Antiguans; not even Antigua. Look at UWI,bwe are spending so much money for it’s upkeep and do you know that most of the jobs gone to non Antiguans? Of course there are a number of reasons for this: bad mindedness, cliquism etc but what I am saying is a fact and no one seems to care. Bottom line, we don’t love each other so Antiguans will always be the ones to get the rough end of the stick.

    • Once upon a time there were benefits to keeping the border more closed between the islands. These days there are some advantages to us to have them more open. Antigua has little water or agriculture, and lands and housing options are quickly becoming out of reach for the average worker’s salary because of high-priced tourism being the main industry. Opportunities and funding for local businesses seem to be reserved for only some people. The caustic political climate inhibits social progress. Good ideas are viewed as attacks that need to be squashed. So, some people can thrive here – tourism workers and politically connected individuals – but many others cannot. With more open borders, Antiguans can move to other islands to start or expand businesses or take up jobs in other areas apart from tourism. And persons from other islands who wish to work in that sector, also rich expats can opt to continue to relocate here as well. Hopefully, citizens of the different islands will be welcoming to newbies and not discriminate against them. If not, then the islands should just revert to closed borders.

    • They already are in Antigua @ Pink Panther, they already are; just ask Police Commissioner Attlee Rodney …

  2. Really, I can’t ever recall entering Barbados, Antigua and Trinidiad without being asked many questions before being allowed entry and that is when it was constrained to the six months. Sometimes proof of return in form of a ticket was asked for, even as an intransit pax. Now they are claiming that unrestricted access will be given to Caricom Narionals without question. 🙄 I think this change in policy is somewhat unrealistic and even impractical.

  3. Soon the Ministry of Education will be inundated with scores of children from mainly Jamaica and Guyana who will try to get into our secondary schools.

    How many Antiguans will try to enter Jamaica and Guyana when the changes come into effect? And let’s be real people – do you think any Antiguan who tries to enter Jamaica and Guyana to stay for longer than six months will be welcomed by those countries?

    Caricom and Antigua are gone to the dogs.

  4. Our leader’s of today. As made the greatest intervention for the 20th century.i dont need england /america .i got the caribbean state .well done leader’s of today

  5. Please remember that trinidad is the crime capital of the Caribbean…if you go there you probably won’t be returning to Antigua in one piece

  6. My only hope is the Immigration Officers at the Airport. Stop giving me hassles when I come into Antigua.Stop asking me questions like.Where am I staying and for how long.Last year,I had to tell the Immigration Officer to check my Passport.See my place of birth,Antigua and Barbuda.I am a damn National returning to my Home, no hassle me.

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