Guyana and other Caricom nations have registered their concern about the varying of requirements by Barbados in the issuance of the Caricom skills certificates.
Prior to the implementation of the Caribbean Single Market in January 2006, Caricom member states had decided upon criteria and also the category of persons who would be eligible to apply for the document which would allow its holder to live and work in participating member states without a work permit.
However many applicants have complained of facing extra scrutiny from the Bajan authorities who implement additional measures before they are issued the certificate.
Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Rudy Insanally at a press briefing yesterday said the matter was raised by Guyana at a recent Caricom meeting and this prompted support from other member states.
In his opening statement on the issue, Insanally did not reveal the name of the country where many Caricom nationals, including Guyanese, were being delayed as a result of the extra scrutiny but did so following questioning from reporters.
He said however that Barbados had since sought some time to regularize the situation.
He said the Bajan authorities conduct a double-check of the certificates issued in other member states and this has resulted in many delays and hardships for some of the applicants.
“This is not only a Guyana concern… There were principles agreed and we have to act according to the principles,” the minister asserted.
Non-access to Trinidad
Meanwhile on the issue of many Guyanese being turned back from Trinidad recently, Insanally said he was aware of the fact that many nationals were being turned back on flights on a daily basis.
He said Guyana has already made its position clear to Caricom that it wanted to see the number of persons and on what basis they were refused entry into sister states.
He said it was only fair that countries justify why they refuse access to individuals.
“It cannot be an arbitrary rejection, it also has to be recorded and explained,” the minister insisted. He said too that the Caricom Secretariat has a responsibility to keep records and “Guyana would like to see the numbers and on what basis they were sent back.”
Insanally told reporters that if persons were not properly returned then Guyana would have to protest in order to get assurances from heads.
According to Insanally member states would usually have to provide the secretariat with the number of persons from sister states that were forced to return home and this information would then be disseminated.
Questioned as to whether he has ever met with his Barbadian counterpart to discuss the issue of the hundreds of Guyanese who have been refused entry there, Insanally said he raised the issue but there were no formal engagements with the newly-appointed minister.
“But should there be any more difficulties we may want to consider this,” he said.
Even though a skills certificate is given to those who fit the criteria under the categories of skilled nationals, in respective member states, persons who seek employment in other member states are still made to apply and wait for that state’s certificate before they could legally be employed.
