How Can It Help Barbados If Its Interests And Prosperity Are DEGRADED To Benefit Other CARICOM Countries?

Submitted by Yardbroom

I am not against CARICOM if it is possible to achieve its main purpose which I understand to be: …”promote economic integration and cooperation among its members, to ensure that the benefits of integration are equitably shared, and to promote foreign policy”… I find it difficult to accept that with regard to illegal immigration, any benefits of integration are equitably shared.  There are no benefits in this area – certainly not for Barbados – but the burden is being shouldered by little Barbados, and for its efforts to cope with a difficult situation it is being vilified by a cohort, some not Barbadian but who reside in Barbados.

Many of personal choice have made Barbados their home, now they seek to criticise all things Barbadian…we are indeed a tolerant people.  I sometimes wonder if they hate the fact that they have had – regardless of the circumstances – to come to this little rock to reside in peace and relative tranquility, surely that is not the fault of Barbadians.

A vibrant few who earn a living by the pen and other media forms; buoyed up by kindred academics seem reluctant to proffer any advice to Prime Minister Barat Jagdeo of Guyana despite being natives of that country.  They are always “mute” in their diligent examination of Guyanese politics, but wax loquacious on Barbados talk programmes and the pen is always at hand to criticise our Government.

On occasions when a Guyanese academic leaves that pack and gives a detailed analysis of the problems which beset Guyana, they are ridiculed and treated in a perfunctory manner, with a sideswipe at the merits of their scholarship…sad that a shining star in a dark firmament can be so clouded from vision by “mist”.

CARICOM is often compared to the EU ( European Union ) and the question asked here is why are they moving forward apace and we cannot do likewise.  Let us take a look at the movement of people in the respective entities, for it is there any comparison breaks down.

Is it a question of comparing oranges with pears?  In the EU…”the “traditional” right to free movement means that no special formalities are required in order to enter any EU member state other than to hold a valid travel document.  This fundamental right extends to members of an EU citizens family irrespective of their nationality, however they might still be subject to a visa requirement”.

Imagine that situation being enshrined in Barbados Law and think of the Guyanese situation, they – Guyanese – would all be legal and so would all the families they cared to bring to Barbados…contemplate that for awhile.

Compare the EU free movement of citizens with the free movement of citizens ,Treaty of Chaguaramas below:

” Since the start of CSM, eight categories of CARICOM nationals have been eligible for free movement throughout the CSME without the need for work permits.  They are University Graduates, Media Workers, Artistes, Musicians, Sportspersons, Managers, Technical and Supervisory Staff attached to a company and self-employed persons/service Providers.  In addition the spouses and immediate dependent family members of those nationals will also be exempt from work permit requirements.  At the July 2006 CARICOM summit, it was agreed that artisans, domestic workers and hospitality workers are to be added to the categories of labour allowed free movement at a later date, pending the agreement of an appropriate certification.”

The Legal requirements in the EU and CARICOM are quite different and for good reason…some would say and he on high should be praised.  The much lauded EU also has its problems: “Turkey has applied to be a EU member since April 1987 negotiations were started in 2005 and the process is likely to take a decade to complete”.

“One of the opponents of Turkey’s membership is France which is fearful of the prospect of another wave of Muslim immigrants, especially given the poor integration of its Muslim minority.” Wikipedia

In any union of countries there are advantages and disadvantages, but the hope is on balance you are better off in the Union than as a separate entity.  Those who give the EU as an example and think there is never any self interest there, should think of France’s opposition to Turkey’s proposed membership of the EU because of Turkey’s Muslim component.

Little Barbados is now caught up in this illegal immigration debate in CARICOM and regardless of if we are willing to accept reality or not, Guyana’s problems are endemic, and unfortunately long term, because of the nature of its politics.  Guyanese politics have to change or else it – Guyana – will be an albatross on the whole entity of CARICOM, as its citizens fan out across the Caribbean in greater numbers.  There must be a legal framework for control and proper management, to suppose it can go on indefinitely unchecked…is madness and defies logic.

I contend that it would not help Barbados if its interests and prosperity are “degraded” to benefit other CARICOM countries.

Most Barbadians have nothing against Guyanese – it is illegal immigrants we are speaking of – neither are we “xenophobic” it is simply the tranquility, social cohesiveness and our way of life, with all its faults, we wish to preserve.

It is best that we are called “xenophobic” today than that future generations of Barbadians would say…how could they have been so foolish.