Photos and interviews by Shabna Ullah
This week on What the People Say we asked persons, ‘What does Caricom mean to you?’ Here are their responses:
Melinda Hughes, teacher
`Caricom is actually to bring people together to share common interests and for me personal freedom because we are able to move from one member state to another freely. On the other hand, ever since the formation of Caricom the objectives that were set were not fully achieved, especially when it comes to free trade and free movement.
As such the full meaning of Caricom has not been realized. As a citizen I am looking forward for the day when we would be able to move from one state to another hassle free.’
Rajendra Tribawan, draughtsman
`I know that the Caricom was established to bring the people together and to formulate laws and rules to protect the people. Guyanese are actually forced to take a livelihood in other countries to maintain their families because of limited job creation here. I feel that Caricom should set some laws in order to allow persons from other member states to work in their countries as long as they satisfy the conditions. Guyanese are being hassled, not only in the Caribbean but all over in the world today; for what reason? We are hardworking people but I agree that we have to abide by the laws. I feel that if Guyanese live more than five years in a member country they should have status because they would have contributed to that country.’
Blanche Mc Pherson, headmistress
`Caricom is all about integrating people in the countries through different activities such as sports and culture. It also includes free
movement but that has not been happening because of the ill-treatment of some citizens when they go to some Caricom countries. It is good that Guyana is a member but we are not having free trade as expected.
The plans are there but they are not being executed.’
Maxey Bissoon, shop-keeper
`Caricom allows us to enter other member countries freely and I agree that if persons want to stay and work they should get their documents in order. I know that Guyanese are being harassed in Barbados. The fact that they are having a difficult time renewing their work permits means that they were not wanted there and they should get out. They should have packed up and left there ever since.
What is it that Barbados has that the other countries don’t have?
People are looking for development that is why they have to leave Guyana. If Barbados don’t want anything to do with Guyana then they should remove the Guyana consulate from their country and let them come out of here and keep to themselves. I am a Guyanese too and I do not like the way our people are being harassed.’
Nandra Phagoo, businessman/president of West Berbice Chamber of Commerce
`I feel that Caricom should bring the people together and not discriminate against Guyanese when we go to other countries. We are a hospitable people and our country is the best in the Caricom with a lovely waterfall and lots of resources. However because of the economic strain and lack of jobs Guyanese have to go to other countries to look for work. It is also important for them to get their documents and work permits in order.’
Carl Blair, electrician
`Normally when Guyanese travel to certain Caricom countries and the authorities learn they are from Guyana there is always discrimination but that should not be. In fact it defeats the whole purpose of what Caricom is all about. We should be looking out for each other and have more unity and co-operation. It is good when we leave here and go to other member countries and get jobs easily. But then Guyanese always end up being hassled as
though we are so bad.’
Lakeram Sukdeo, remigrant
`Caricom is very important in a sense that we would be able to secure markets for beef, rice and other products in other member states. With preferred markets our produce are supposed to be safe. However Jamaica has stopped buying our rice so it seems as though the Caricom initiative is not working. They are buying from a country out of Caricom because it is cheaper. Likewise we produce chicken here but yet chicken is being imported from New York. I do not think that should be happening because we have cheap prices for chicken now.
Caricom citizens are also able to move freely from one country to the next especially to see cricket matches. However the only problem is the way Guyanese are being treated in Barbados. I think it is good if they can keep the Caricom countries together but right now there is a lot of bickering because of the Barbados issue.’
Fazeela Bacchus, seamstress
`My husband is a cash crop farmer and he markets his produce locally.
I can tell you that many farmers would prefer to export their produce but they are not getting to do so even though there was supposed to be free trade with Caricom. At the political level they say one thing but on the bottom-line when farmers try to get things done it is sheer obstacle. Anybody can dump any produce in Guyana and we have to accept it as though we are second class. During the last flood tomatoes, sweet-pepper and watermelon came from Brazil and I understand that no tests were carried out here on the items. But when Guyanese export to other countries they have to do a set of tests and then they block the produce from entering the country. A lot of exporters, especially for vegetable crops lose market because of that. Government was supposed to do the tests here to give the farmers clearance.
Another option for the farmers is to process their produce and have proper labelling in order to have a better chance to market regionally and even internationally.’
Rabindranauth Saywack
`To me Caricom is just a fantasy because there is just talk and nothing else. Just a few countries like Trinidad and Barbados and to a lesser extent Jamaica enjoy the benefits of Caricom. First off they have the Caricom Single Market and Economy but they treat Caricom nationals as second class citizens.
Then they are supposed to buy products from Caricom countries but instead they import extra regional products, for instance the Guyana rice and the Jamaican market. Some countries want to invest in sister Caricom states but they do not want reciprocal investments. Then they have issues with Caricom nationals entering their countries and are giving them a hard time but people from out of Caricom are welcome – that is basically Trinidad and Barbados. So Caricom means nothing; to me it is just a sham and unless they change their attitude Caricom is going to disintegrate.
What Guyana should do is to invent a Barbados bench at the airport and treat them likewise. When the Bajans come to Guyana we welcome them with open arms but when we passing through Barbados they look to throw us out. They have no respect for Guyanese.’
Dharmendranauth Ramnauth, Livestock officer
`As Caricom countries we need a more cohesive approach in solving our problems, for instance, immigration issues and the common single market. We also need a national Caribbean currency. We already have the Caricom passport as well as the Caribbean Court of Justice. But other countries need to sign on to it and support it. We are one and we should operate under one umbrella body so we can enjoy the preferential market as we have for sugar. Then we would be able to market our products better. Had there been cohesiveness there would have been hassle free movements of Caribbean nationals.’
