Narace: CSME no PNM political tool

This was the position taken by Ambassador Jerry Narace yesterday during a news conference in Queen’s Park West, Port-of-Spain, to announce implementation of the CSM (first phase of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy — CSME) in six Caricom nations.

At a December 31, 2005, news conference at Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday’s Port-of-Spain office, UNC deputy political leader Wade Mark claimed that the PNM would use the CSM as a cover to import large numbers of persons from other Caricom nations in order to win the next general elections in TT.

However Narace countered, "They (UNC) knew all the provisions of the treaty. This treaty was signed (in 2001) by a UNC administration. It was ratified by a PNM administration," Narace declared. He said the good thing about this is that the entire population "through their representatives (PNM and UNC) would have said this (CSME) is what we want and we (PNM) ratified it." The Ambassador said only certain categories of persons were allowed free movement within the region under the terms of the CSM and, "we have very stringent criteria to follow." University graduates, artistes, musicians, media workers, sports persons, self-employed persons and managers, technical and supervisory staff attached to Caricom companies fall within those categories.

Narace said Dominican PM Roosevelt Skerritt is chairing a committee to expand the categories of persons to be allowed free movement in the region under the CSM, and a report will be submitted to Caricom leaders soon for a decision to be taken. He disclosed that artisans and hospitality workers are among the categories of worker being considered. He said Caricom leaders did not want the CSME to appear "elitist" in any way.

TT, Barbados, Jamaica, Suriname, Belize and Guyana implemented the CSM from January 1, while another six Caricom nations are expected to be CSM-ready by the end of the first quarter of 2006.