Dear Editor,
There is much talk about Caribbean integration and even more talk about illegal immigrants of Caribbean origin in Caribbean countries. Guyanese, for example, would all be familiar with the concerns expressed by Barbados, Antigua, and Trindad and Tobago about illegal Guyanese immigrants.
However, there is very little attention or information on the numbers of legal work permits granted in Caribbean territories. Today, July 4, the Trinidad Newspapers disclosed that in 2007-2008, a total number of 12, 212 work permits were granted to foreigners of non-Caribbean origin; of these 2, 827 were granted to Chinese nationals. The newspapers did not disclose how many work permits were granted to people of Caribbean origin or how these numbers compared with the numbers of applications for work permits received from Caribbean and non-Caribbean nationals.
It would be very helpful for Caribbean people to assess the merits of the Caribbean integration talk and the debates among our elected leaders about migration, if the numbers of work permit applications, classes of permits, and permits granted to Caribbean and non-Caribbean nationals were disclosed for each territory. I would like to think that the Caricom Secretariat has this information on hand to publish immediately. If not, I hope that the media both nationally and regionally see an important role for themselves in bringing this information to the public.
Yours faithfully,
Simone Mangal
The statistics are lopsided because immigration seems to be towards the more economically and socially upscale countries than towards those that are struggling, like Guyana and Haiti; the two poorest nations in this part of the hemisphere.
From the European perspective, Simone I can confirm that workers within the Euro-zone area are free to come and go within partner countries as they wish. They can take up employment in any Euro-zone country without seeking special permits.
As this system works for Europe (I agree there is some friction sometimes), then it does seem logical that Caricom should try and emulate this integrating and working system.
Keeping the work controls you suggest would add more layers of bureaucracy and still generally fail to stop determined illegal workers whilst rolling back some of the inherrant benefits of Caricom.
ONE CAN NEVER STOP PEOPLE EMIGRATING FOR MONETARY REASONS
but let all Guyanese be pleased that GUYANESE DO NOT GENERALLY NOWADAYS EMIGRATE IN FEAR OF THEIR LIVES.
There is certain to come a time when Guyanese will even stop emigrating for monetary reasons and let us hope this will happen soon.
I left Guyana in fear of my life in 1969 and I am thinking of returning; so positive change IS possible.
Good for you Satish. Funerals of course are cheaper in Guyana.
Satish I left Guyana for the same reason but unlike you I will remain abroad for the same reason. Whether you agree or not Guyana is now a failed state.
I am fortunate enough, Evan NOT to have money problems so cheaper funerals is not on my radar however as you bring the subject up, I still come out better because whilst you are freezing under six foot of frozen Cananda, my ashes will be floating around El Dorado!
There is still time to change your mind…
Guyana is more safe compare to some island like TT and Jamaica, lots of neighborhood in the USA, England and Canada is a no go, one of my brother lost his life to robbery in the Bronx, I was robbed lots of time in NY causing me to move, people who are saying that Guyanese are migrating because of crime and that Guyana is a failed state are the ones who are not comfortable with the govt and wants to see it removed
Mr. Satish ! I gather you were not in fear of your life in England, where the records show that there was a backlash against Asian immigrants on your little island. You are aware that such activities did spread to North America in the 1980’s. But I suspect you were more comfortable in the tube . Watch the gap !
hahahaha! Brillant! Well said Evan Thomas, a great response to ostriches like Satish.
Immigration of Caribbean nationals within the Caricom shoudn’t be an issue, because most immigration results in greater capacity of the receiving Caribbean country. Take the case of Suriname. We have been allowing many Guyanese nationals for many years now. In the beginning especially in the Bouterse (dictatorship) period, there were some Surinamers who were worried, but nowadays we can only cheer the presence of Guyanese nationals here. They have decent positions in construction, fishery and many other sectors and have a big part in the growth of this nation. People shouldn’t only speak about migrants from Guyana. In Suriname we have massive inflow of Chinese and Brazilians. Many people from French Guiana come here in the week-end and crowd our city. At the moment we don’t mind because there is plenty for everyone to go around.
So never mind Barbados or T&T, welcome to Suriname!
This is a very humanistic comment from you, Steven. And thank you for that.
Surinam has had its dark days as you mentioned however I know your welcome to Suriname invitation is sincere.
My son was fortunate enough to visit your country about eight weeks ago and he has remarked about the warmth and friendliness of the Surinamese.
Furthermore, the photos he has sent back here to the UK shows your country to be VERY FAR ADVANCED of Guyana.
You are obviously making progress and CONGRATULATION TO YOU FOR THAT!
In a bungling and inept part of the world,it is easy to say,they themselves do not even know.
It is easy for persons to judge certain situations and cry foul but until you walk in another person shoes you will never know how he fells. First of all Guyana is a big country bigger than the size of England however it only has a population of about 800,000. It has a vast amount of natural resources: diamonds, timber, gold, etc. Yet persons feel its right that persons from these huge countries like Guyana and Jamaica should be allowed to flood our tiny little islands which compared to Guyana and Jamaica seem like tiny dots. I hail from Antigua, an island of ONLY 108 square miles and with no natural resources unless you count the sun, sea and sand. And yet persons are coming here from these larger, natural resourced rich countries to burden down our society. I am a young person and I heard about the attempts of the West Indian Federation and how the bigger islands felt that we in the smaller islands were going to flood there countries and suck them of there resources but that never happened instead the larger countries began to flood the smaller ones since we enjoy a much higher standard of living than they do, surprisingly. Now the effect of this influx is being felt throughout the OECS. We have seen a drastic increase in crimes from murder to rape, there is also a burden being felt on our health care system and our educational system. Yes I agree that persons should be allowed to move freely but not at the detriment of the host country because at the end of the day as far as I am concerned if our countries fall into the same dire conditions as Guyana and Jamaica those immigrants can always go back home but where will we go certainly not to theirs. Suriname can take in all the persons from Guyana as far as I am concerned and still have plenty room left over but we can’t. So when talking about migration please take the size of the countries involved in mind as well as the ability of the countries to accommodate them (immigrants).