CARICOM Summit starts today
Published:Friday | July 3, 2009 | 8:52 AM
Regional leaders get down to business in Guyana this morning following last night’s opening ceremony for the 30th meeting of the CARICOM Heads of Government.
Several issues, which have been brewing in the region, like immigration policies are expected to be discussed at the meeting.
This issue has caused contention among some CARICOM leaders after Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda announced that they were reviewing the immigration guidelines for CARICOM nationals.
Bharratt Jadgeo, the Prime Minister of Guyana, Bruce Golding of Jamaica and Dr Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent and the Grenadines have taken issue with the policy.
They are insisting that it might affect CARICOM’s agreement to allow the free movement of people in the region.
The proposed union between Trinidad and Tobago and some member-nations of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States is also expected to be discussed at the summit.
In the meantime,former St Lucian Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony says CARICOM leaders must work on improving the image of the bloc.
He says CARICOM is in need of realignment in light of the mounting contentions among member countries.