It is likely to take a year or more before Guyana signs CARICOM’s Protocol on Contingent Rights because of amendments to legislation that may be required to allow for the provisions of the protocol, Minister of Foreign Affairs Carl Greenidge says.
The protocol is in keeping with the objective of CARICOM’s Single Market and Economy and deals with the rights of persons, their spouses and dependents moving to other countries within CARICOM, under the free movement of skills regime.
The contingent rights speak to, among other things, the right of principal beneficiaries, their spouses and dependents to transfer capital into and from a host country; the right of non-discriminatory access to lands and other property; the right of the spouse and dependents to leave and re-enter the host country; the right of the spouse to work in the host country without a work permit and the right of dependents to access primary education.
When asked, Greenidge, at a press conference held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Takuba Lodge, last week said that Government did not anticipate a problem with signing the protocol. The Protocol on Contingent Rights was adopted and opened for signature at the 39th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM held in Jamaica in July. Seven countries signed the document but Guyana was not among them. The countries were Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname.
Previously, Greenidge had said, “We didn’t anticipate a problem with signing that agreement but we hadn’t finished our own internal deliberations. Those internal deliberations are finished and as soon as the amendments to legislation that may be necessary, as soon as that is done, we will sign it.” He did not say what the internal deliberations were.
Last week, he said the Attorney General’s Chambers had to look at the amendments. Asked what the amendments were, he responded, “No. I can’t. I can’t tell you that off-hand. I can’t remember what they are.”
Nevertheless, he said, “These are things we can administratively accommodate, but strictly according to the law, the amendments will have to be made. I have not received a comprehensive list of those changes. The matter is with the Attorney General’s Chambers.”
He added, “I don’t think there is anything to worry about, in the sense that it is likely to take a year because they can do what needs to be done, without passing the legislation. Not that you are breaking the law, but there are administrative devices that may allow it to be done temporarily.”
