Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
Fritz Pinnock (left) of Lannaman and Morris talks to James Moss-Solomon, newly-elected president of the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC) before the start of the "Talking Caribbean" town hall meeting held at the Department of Management Studies, University of the West Indies, Mona on Thursday. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor
CARIBBEAN ENTREPRENEURS have not yet started to take advantage of business opportunities in Jamaica under the emergent CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), despite provisions under a Jamaican legislation.
The Foreign Nationals and Citizens Employment Act of 2004 provides for high income earners and entrepreneurs to set up businesses in the island without the usual work permit,Veronica Robinson, director of Work Permits in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security
disclosed on Thursday.
She was a panellist in a discusion hosted by Caribbean Internet Broadcasting Network's Jamaica Information Service's 'Caribbean Talk' at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. The programme focused on the free movement of goods and people as the CSME takes effect.
The CSME, in its first phase, is the creation of a single economic space market which allows the free movement of the factors of production across most of the countries in the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
But the ministry of labour official reported on Thursday that the flood of people that was expected to come on stream with the effect of the legislation on January 1 this year has not yet materialised.
SIMILAR LEGISLATION
A similar legislation also took effect in Trinidad and Barbados. Both countries, along with Jamaica initiated the CSME arrangement at the start of the year, with other CARICOM territories to come on stream by the end of this year.
Ms. Robinson said free movement of labour is not expected to take full effect in Jamaica till
the Caribbean Community, Establishment of Services Act of 2005 is put in effect.
Most CARICOM countries, excepting Montserrat and St. Kitts, have not made provisions to
establish new legislation to facilitate free movement of labour, Ms. Robinson disclosed, but noted that there were administrative provisions in these countries to allow free movement when the CSME comes on stream.
But while a rush of entrepreneurs from the region into Jamaica may not be taking place university graduates are among a special category of people who are provided for under the Caribbean Community Free Movement of Skilled Persons Act of 1997. Other people provided for under the Act are media professionals, artistes and sports professionals.
