Despite a generally positive outlook by the CARICOM, disconcerting stumbling blocks keep popping up in the path of the CMSE integration movement.
One of these surfaced in Grenada a few weeks ago when immigration officials gave Jamaican journalist Tanesha Thomas 24 hours to leave the country, sparking widespread uproar. Under the guidelines of the CSME, media professional should be able to move around and work freely in member states. However, there was a curious mix-up about the amount of time in Grenada Thomas was granted. The time of departure stamped in her passport as August 2, 2008, but the immigration office claimed it was an error on their part,it was meant to be February 8th, 2008.
They went to say that, Thomas did not enter Grenada with a CSME skills certificate that would have defined her eligibility to stay. This is not always the case, last year Antigua and Barbuda brusquely deported two accomplished CARICOM journalists, Lennox Linton and Vernon Khelawan of Trinidad and Tobago although both had CSME skills certificates.
Issues like these raise serious questions about the extent of the commitment of several member states to the CSME integration movement. All member stats have done the politically correct thing by endorsing the CSME, but actual implementation requires much than mere lip service to the idea.
Too many of the regional governments have dragged their feet on putting certain CSME requirements in place, is it because of their socio-political implications? Prime Minister Skerrit has long been CARICOM’s point man on the free movement of skills. Maybe it’s time he rally his colleagues to redouble their efforts to overcome this and other stumbling blocks if there is to be meaningful integration of the region anytime soon.
By the way things are going with whole CSME Free movement, do you believe there will be any meaningful integration of the region soon? Share your opinion in the comments.
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