Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) on Monday (July 3) called on regional leaders to take a unified approach to tackle some of the common issues such as barriers to free movement, non-tariff barriers to trade and intra-regional travel.

In his remarks at the opening ceremony of the 45th Heads of Government conference held in Trinidad and Tobago, Skerrit said that there is a great need to remove the hassle from intra-regional.

“My distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, it is time to make intra-regional travel a joy rather than a hassle. Sixteen years ago, we showed considerable commitment and political will to allow our people to move freely through 10 Member States. It worked then; it can work now,” he said.

“On the eve of the 50th anniversary of this CAIRCOM Community, I pose a question to all of us, one, that I am sure is on the minds of all citizens of this region: What is really preventing us from reviving the Single Domestic Space that once allowed our citizens to traverse freely across our Region? We have already tried and tested the Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS), which allows Immigration and Security personnel in each of our countries, full access to the details of every passenger boarding an aircraft or ferry. The APIS system also makes a nonsense of the continued use of ED forms,” he added.

The Chairman said that the Implementation Agency for Crime and Security System (IMPACS) and the Regional Security System, (RSS) are well-equipped to complement the working of the APIS.

Free movement

Skerrit noted that a similar approach is needed towards the expansion of the categories for the free movement of skilled Caribbean nationals to help boost the economy.

“The reality is that in any free trade arrangement within an integration movement, there will be those who benefit more than others. We recognise this in our Revised Treaty. It is therefore incumbent upon us all, to strive to increase the ability of the less endowed to participate more fully in the trading arrangements,” he said.

As such, he called for greater use of the Treaty of Chagaramus and equitable arrangements to create equal access to free movement for skilled workers within the region.

Regional travel

Skerrit also called for CARICOM’s Heads of Government to pursue creative and affordable partnerships to tackle the challenges facing regional travel.

The movement of people and goods are the backbone of a successful integration arrangement. We have done all the studies, and the statistics point us to the favourable outcome of an effective transportation system. I accept that this is a challenge that requires investments which may not see an immediate return. It requires confidence, that the provision of such a service will boost commercial opportunities and encourage more intra-regional travel.

Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of Dominica

He further said that the objective to reduce the region’s food import bill to 25 per cent by 2025 depends on intra-regional travel.

Haiti crisis

Skerrit said that the initial outreach to tackle the ongoing gang violence in Haiti has been met with favourable reactions but there must be continued dialogue and collaboration to quell gang violence in Haiti.

“We have committed as a Community to supporting the Haitian people; to broker a Haitian-led solution, to the instability that they now face. It is a crisis that requires our continued support and the support of the wider international community,” he said.