Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

CARICOM Secretary General hails establishment of single domestic space

Friday, February 2, 2007

by: Gordon French
Caribbean Net News Guyana Correspondent
Email: gordon@caribbeannetnews.com

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr Edwin Carrington has praised the implementation of the single domestic space for Cricket World Cup (CWC), as an historic occasion in the push for regional integration.

Carrington stated that the freedom of movement fulfils the sprit of one of the basic objectives of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

He said that the Caribbean is the smallest region ever to host an event the magnitude of CWC and similarly, it is the first time that nine sovereign states will be involved as the location of a global sporting event.

“The planning of Cricket World Cup 2007 has, however, strengthened the Region’s unity. The challenge of our geography has led us to creatively work together towards achieving uniformity and common internationally accepted standards across each of the nine host venue states,” Carrington stated.

The CARICOM Secretary General noted that the establishment of a CARICOM Intelligence Sharing Network and a Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre, to be jointly manned by CARICOM Member States, friendly third parties and Interpol will further enhance comprehensive security arrangements.

“The Heads of Government of CARICOM are confident that while the new visa regime may create a bit of inconvenience for some, it will be a security benefit for all. Furthermore it will strengthen the integration process,” Carrington said. He added that the steps taken over the last 30 years have led the region to this point.

“May this be the dawn of a new era in the evolution of the Caribbean Community, a true co-mingling of Caribbean peoples,” Carrington said.

The domestic space came into effect on February 1 and was created to meet the challenges of CWC, which the Caribbean will host from March 4 to April 28. The space will cease to exist on May 15.

Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago inked agreements last December to establish the single space.

Nationals from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Ireland, Italy, South Africa, Spain, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States, and all CARICOM Nationals, except Haiti, will be allowed to access the space freely.

However, other nationals will require a Caribbean Community Special Visa before being allowed entry.

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