MOST PERSONS that are aware of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), know that it is the latest attempt to create freer movement of goods, services and capital. Less well-known is the attempt to create freer movement of people.
Jamaicans seem to dominate the workforce in the Cayman Islands and they also comprise a significant number of the teaching staff in Bermuda, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Musicians have long travelled around each country, whether it's our reggae and dancehall artistes to other islands, or soca and calypso artistes from Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago to Jamaica especially at Jamaica Carnival time.
OVERSEAS FOOTBALLERS
Footballers like Modeste (a Grenadian) came here to play for National Premier League champions Portmore United, as was done before by 'Trinis' Latapy, Lewis and Fashanau, with Harbour View and Portmore. Jamaican footballers have also gone to Trinidadian clubs W. Connection and Joe Public.
It is, therefore, pleasing to note that the West Indies Cricket Board is going further ahead and speeding up such labour integration in the upcoming regional cricket season.
On the other hand, the recent refusal of entry of Guyanese adults and children by Barbadian customs officials, plus the ejection of supposed prostitutes from various Caribbean countries brings up the issue of how receptive is the regional labour market to other Caribbean nationals.
As far back as the West Indies Federation (1957) there was no free movement of labour allowed, because of major fears by Trinidad and Tobago that many persons in other countries would be attracted to its economy. The current CSME labour provisions have only slightly lifted this barrier, with the elimination of work permit requirements for the arts, music and sports, with St. Kitts and Nevis and Suriname being exempt at this time. To travel however, each person must prove that they belong in one of these categories and then obtain a certificate of recognition in order to obtain a Skilled Nationals Certificate.
PRESSURE FOR THE 'BRIGHTEST'
With unemployment being a problem in most countries, there is not likely to be widespread movement of labour across countries. What will have to happen, however, is the continuing development of the labour market, where the skilled or talented can move easily across countries, while governments try to keep a tight watch on the unskilled and criminal travellers they will also attract.
With global shortages of key labour in the more developed countries of the world, the Caribbean is likely to come under even more pressure to lose its "brightest and best" to states outside the region. We, therefore, need to have a more proactive policy to attract Caribbean workers to each country. Businesses can increase their efficiency by finding better staff with regional labour access, and minimise the 'brain drain' out of the region. We would eventually like to see a common CSME passport to facilitate more regional travel, although this will be enhanced if there were more Caribbean transport links. Regional labour information sites also need to be set up throughout most CSME countries.
There will likely arise xenophobic cries of foreigners taking away most of the local jobs, especially if economic growth remains slow or low in most countries, but the gains of CSME labour integration will benefit us all in the long run.
