10 December, 2004 - Published 21:06 GMT

Jamaica initiates free movement

Jamaica has taken an important step to opening up its market to workers and companies from other Caribbean countries as it prepares to introduce the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) in 2005.

On Tuesday, the Jamaica parliament passed four bills to facilitate the implementation of the CSME, despite objection from opposition leader Edward Seaga, who said that the CSME was another attempt at a West Indies Federation.

Jamaica, along with Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados will be the first countries to embark on the single market.

Peter Phillips, Jamaica’s national security minister told BBC Caribbean Radio the passage of the bills was a significant step.

"It will provide for vital establishment for enterprises and provide for the free movement of skilled workers," he said. "It will facilitate the free movement of capital and the coordination of economic policy - all the elements necessary for the architecture of the Caricom Single Market and Economy."

Under the CSME, Caricom nationals who are university graduates, media workers, sports people, musicians, artists, managers, supervisors will be allowed to work and live with their families in Caricom without the need for work permits.

"I don't think it applies to all categories of the populations at this point but eventually we expect that it will get to that point, that is the logic of a single market and economy ultimately it will lead to that point but I think we have to bite off just what we can chew at each time," Mr Phillips said.

Regional integration

The national security minister said he believes the free movement of Caricom nationals will strengthen the Caricom integration movement.

"I think it represents a significant step forward. It will provide very significant benefits over time for the Caribbean people for the quality of life they are able to experience, for the strength of our economies and I think it will strengthen further the movement for Caribbean integration.

"We need to bear in mind that Caricom is one of the most long lasting integration movements and most accomplished of integration movements, certainly in the developing world."

There has been concern that while some of the larger economies like Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago will be able to absorb large numbers of Caricom nationals, the nations with smaller economies might not be able to deal with an influx of people.

But while Mr Phillips understands these concerns, he also believes there are instances where such movement will strengthen smaller economies.

"In some smaller territories they are experiencing labour shortages in many critical respects and they are recognising that access to skills from elsewhere can strengthen their economies," he said.

"I think the psychological barriers are breaking down, and people are realising there is virtue in combining our strengths and our capacities."

When the CSME comes on stream Caricom non-nationals will also have the right to have equal access to lands, buildings and other property in the Caricom country in which they are residing.