Montserrat to allow free movement of professionals from Barbados and OECS
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| Published on Thursday, May 24, 2007 |
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BRADES, Montserrat: The government of Montserrat has agreed to allow the free movement of skilled nationals of Barbados and member states of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to the island.
The decision also allows nationals of OECS member countries and Barbados to be exempted from work permit requirements on Montserrat.
The Chief Minister Dr Lowell Lewis explained that the new arrangement will only be extended to university graduates, media workers, sports persons, musicians, artists, managers, supervisors and other service providers as well as non-graduate teachers from Barbados and the OECS.
Lewis says the free movement of such skilled professionals and their exemption from work permit requirements on Montserrat will only take place on the basis of the principle of reciprocity as well as on the authority of the Montserrat Immigration Act.
The decision by the government of Montserrat comes after the intervention in January 2007 by the Prime Minister of Barbados to facilitate a Montserrat national who had found it challenging to undertake a professional internship in Bridgetown because she did not posses the appropriate skills certificate or work permit.
Such an intervention by the Prime Minister of Barbados allowed the Montserrat national to successfully complete her internship at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital under the Revised Treaty of Free Movement Regime and also prompted Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur to request that the Montserrat extend similar courtesies to the citizens of Barbados on the basis of the principle of reciprocity.
The free movement of skilled professionals from across Caricom member states and the removal of work permit requirements by Caricom Governments form part of the goals of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME).
The government of Montserrat is in the final stages of negotiations with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for the signing of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramus, which established the Caribbean Single Market.
Lewis has indicated that the British government appears willing to support Montserrat’s continued relationship with Caricom.
The Chief Minister says the decision to allow the free movement of skilled professionals from Barbados and OECS member states is significant.
“Montserrat shares a similar history, lifestyle and cultural heritage with Barbados, the OECS and indeed the wider CARICOM Community. Its people study, live and work in the various jurisdictions and family ties spread across the length and breadth of these islands. There is value in the free movement of CARICOM nationals and this will enable Montserratians to work in any Member State, unimpeded, as well as it will enhance the opportunity for population growth, one of the key objectives of the Sustainable Development Plan”. | | | | Reads : 352 | | | |
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