C.S.M.E. Unit on working visit to Belize
Belizeans travelling to most Caribbean countries in search of employment will no longer need a work permit. At least that’s the way it’s supposed to be when all the nations in CARICOM adjust their national laws allowing for the implementation of arrangements under the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy. Since Monday, a team of officials from the C.S.M.E. unit of the CARICOM Secretariat has been meeting with public and private sector representatives, students of the University of Belize, trade unions, and the opposition to explain the impact of the various arrangements and to clarify grey areas. Single Market and Economy specialist, Steven MacAndrew, says so far most of the countries in the region are in the advanced stages of implementation.
Steven MacAndrew, Specialist, C.S.M.E Unit
“The status of the free movement of skills across the region is that is in place in all member states except St. Kitts and Nevis, Haiti, the Bahamas, and Montserrat. Haiti is currently not part of all the C.S.M.E arrangements. The Bahamas is not a part of the C.S.M.E arrangement at all, and Montserrat needs entrustment from the United Kingdom in order to implement the free movement. St. Kitts and Nevis is trying to put the administrative arrangements and the amendment to include artists, musicians, sports persons, and media workers in place by the end of December.”
Patrick Jones
“As far as Belize is concerned, are we up to scratch with the implementation of this agreement?”
Steven MacAndrew
“Belize has enacted legislation to allow for the movement of graduates, artists, musicians, media workers, and sports persons. So that has been in place, I think since 1999. What Belize needs to do is put in place the necessary administrative arrangements to allow persons to obtain for example the certificate of recognition of CARICOM skills qualifications. In short, the skills certificate which will enable Belizeans to move to another member state and when they present that certificate at point of entry they will be granted a definite stay of six months during which period the skills certificates, qualifications will be verified by the receiving country.”
MacAndrew says that similarly when other CARICOM nationals want to come work in Belize, the process will be repeated in reverse. The team has one final meeting scheduled for Thursday with Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade, Eamon Courtenay, before departing the country. Other members of the CARICOM delegation include Head of the C.S.M.E Unit, Desiree Field Ridley; Communications Officer, Salas Hamilton; Leela Narinasingh, who specializes in private sector facilitation; and Director of the Legislative Drafting Facility, Duke Pollard.
