The migration issue became particularly heated ahead of the annual summit

Critics feared that angry disputes over immigration and trade had threatened the very existence of the grouping.

But leaders emerged from their just-concluded summit, proclaiming that their talks had been a success.

Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Patrick Manning praised the "maturity" of his colleagues in finding solutions to problems.

He told reporters: "That is what an integration movement is all about. As difficulties arise, and they always will, we try to avoid these difficulties spilling over into conflict.

"In a mature way we sit down and address the problems and arrive at conclusions that will redound to the benefit of the integration movement."

Migration

The immigration issue - especially the alleged mistreatment of illegal Guyanese migrants in Barbados - became heated with tit-for-tat allegations coming from Bridgetown and Georgetown.

Guyana's President Bharrat Jagdeo said the leaders planned to put together a protocol to ensure that the treatment of Caricom migrants met obligations under regional and international treaties.

	The job of Guyana's leader will be to sustain any gains made

He said they would organise workshops for immigration officers who bear the blunt of complaints of alleged migrant abuses.

"We know that in every single Caribbean country, some more than others, that migrants are taken up and treated in a manner that is not humane," St Vincent's Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves said.

In an effort to show they are serious about extending freedom of movement of labour, Caricom leaders also agreed to add qualified household domestic workers to the roster of categories of workers benefiting from the provision.

To qualify, domestics must who have obtained a Caribbean vocational qualification or equivalent.

Exemptions

The new measure takes effect from 1 January 2010.

However, Antigua and Barbuda, which was also the target of free movement campaigners, has been given a five-year exemption from this addition.

As to trade, the leaders said they had settled a spat between Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago over Jamaican patties.

They agreed that there was an urgent need to establish an effective regional regime to monitor and safeguard hygiene standards of Caricom-made products.

They have asked ministers to advise on arrangements for the establishment of an agricultural health and food safety agency as a longer-term solution.

The economic crisis was also an important subject at the summit, as middle-income countries complain about what they have openly said is unfair treatment from the developed world.

The heads of government decided to take direct charge of the effort to source international finance to help nations through the crisis.

The panel will be headed by Mr Jagdeo, the new Caricom chairman.

His job over the next six months will be to sustain whatever gains the leaders believe were made in Georgetown.