The persistent setbacks in Caribbean integration and a growing immigration debate dominated the opening of the heads of government conference here yesterday as leaders grappled with the pressing issues threatening a unified CARICOM.
Finding common ground on everything from the free movement of CARICOM nationals to a consolidated agenda on climate change was the recurring theme, but the region is still clearly focused on its sustainability in a challenging economic climate.
President Bharrat Jagdeo speaking yesterday.
But as expected it was the issue of movement in the region that emerged as the prickly topic and the one that is likely to be heavily discussed when the talks officially open here today.
The question of whether CARICOM is united or fractious was exhibited subtly as leaders taking the podium at the National Cultural Centre (NCC) last evening offered opening remarks.
Guyana’s President and new CARICOM Chairman, Bharrat Jagdeo led the discussion on where the region is going in terms of consolidating the integration process, but it was his definitive statements on the issue of migrants that set the tone for the evening.
Jagdeo, firm and riding on the supportive sentiments of a home crowd, declared last evening that while countries have a sovereign right to determine their own immigration policies the maltreatment of CARICOM citizens is repugnant to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas as well as to basic human decency. This, he said, must be roundly deplored. It was a direct reference to the new Barbadian immigration policy which has seen illegal CARICOM nationals being rounded up in the wee hours and either deported or removed from the island.
Jagdeo restated his position on the issue saying that if nationals are treated in such a manner by their own people then the region cannot expect a third country to receive its citizens in any better way. He said too that the region’s work will remain incomplete until the day a child born anywhere in the Caribbean can wake up to a Caribbean minus boundaries and nationalities.
“We as leaders can set the example for such a glorious day”, Jagdeo said and he made the point that the average Caribbean traveller will assess the integration movement based on the ease with which he/she can travel from one member state to another within the single space.
“…if he sees himself as encountering more hurdles in traversing this space than the visitor from overseas his faith in integration is shaken, sometime permanently… the average Caribbean manufacturing company will form their conclusion on regional integration by the ease with which their product can enter the market of another state”, the President stated.
As he spoke in the presence of Barbadian Prime Minister David Thompson, Jagdeo not only had the full support of a crowded NCC, but St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Ralph Gonsalves endorsed his comments on immigration by vigorously applauding the points as he raised them. Vincentians have also been the subject of the new Barbados immigration policy.
The Guyanese Head of State was also firm on another point. He said that there is no alternative to the integration process regardless of how it might be viewed today and urged regional leaders to continue the journey in building a single community.
Further, he spoke of the limited ability of the region to influence global power structures and relations saying that its progress will continued to be stymied until a multilateral system is in place that allows greater participation in the decision making process.
Earlier in the day, Jagdeo had told reporters at the Guyana International Conference Centre at Liliendaal that no country has the right to treat Guyanese in a disparaging manner.
He was speaking at the end of a caucus of the few Caricom Heads who were already present for the 30th Regular Meeting of Heads of Government. Referring to the contentious immigration policy which Barbados has recently implemented, Jagdeo said he recognised the concerns and that every country had a sovereign right to deal with its immigration policy. “The excesses that sometimes we observe concern us greatly,” he said.
Barbados Prime Minister Thompson at a press conference on Wednesday in Georgetown said his country remained fully committed to regional integration. Thompson also said he was confident that the authorities handling the implementation of the policy were affording all undocumented persons their full rights. He said his government did not condone the abuse of power or inappropriate behaviour on the part of its public officials. Asked about reports of ill-treatment meted out to Guyanese by such officials, Thompson said evidence of such action would be needed before any investigations could be carried out.
Indicating that he did not wish to respond to any assertions Thompson made at his press conference since he had not yet studied them, Jagdeo said too that he did not want to pre-empt bilateral talks which the two are to still have on the issue.
However, Jagdeo restated his desire to see Guyanese treated with dignity, adding that to do otherwise was to set back the integration movement.
“If we can treat people who come to our region sometimes with a little backpack, slippers and short pants better than we treat people who live in this region and share the region and are making a contribution to the country they are going to, it undermines the integration process,” he insisted.
Jagdeo agreed that he had a responsibility to create an environment for Guyanese to remain at home and be comfortable here. But he told reporters that migration was a fact of life and people would leave one country for greater economic opportunities they think they could find in another. He noted that there was a time when Barbadians came to Guyana and found a welcoming environment.
According to him, Guyana had a difficult time for 30 years, with no democracy and “Caricom didn’t do much about it.”
Jagdeo also told reporters that when his friend and former colleague, former Barbadian prime minister Owen Arthur came to Guyana in 2007, he acknowledged that Guyana used to be the “Singapore of the Caribbean”.
“We had a bad patch; a rundown economy, huge debt and lots of our people migrated. Until now we are still reeling. We can’t generate high-paid jobs to keep all our people, but that doesn’t mean that any country has the right to treat our people in a disparaging fashion,” Jagdeo insisted.
He said he was sure that Barbadians migrated too, adding that this was the reality.
“We have a very large Brazilian community here too and Brazil has one of the largest economies. Migration is a fact of life,” Jagdeo reiterated. But he stressed that this did not give anyone the right to wake people up and ship them off to the airport without any process.
He said this is what government had learnt but could not investigate. “We can’t do that… How can we investigate in Barbados? Barbados seems not to know… Even the figures are wrong.
Rhetoric
Meanwhile, Jagdeo dismissed claims that Guyana’s figure of deportees from Barbados since the announcement of the migration policy was incorrect. “We have a number of the persons who came back, deported,” he said. “This is what was given by our immigration. When I looked at what Thompson said it’s a totally different number… Someone has to be lying.”
The persons who have been sent home by the Barbadian authorities have had to retrieve their passports from Police Headquarters Eve Leary, since their passports are handed to immigration here upon their arrival.
About the line being drawn between those who are deported and those who were asked to leave, resulting in the smaller Barbadian deportee figure, Jagdeo said there was much rhetoric being applied.
He argued that if persons had an option to leave or stay, they had a choice. However, once they are being asked to leave and had no option, they are being deported.
“If you don’t have an option and the immigration authorities say leave now. You are being deported. Whether they will treat it as that you can return later in their books that’s a different matter… But you are being deported at that time. You don’t have a choice,” Jagdeo reiterated.
Among the recommendations proposed by Prime Minister Thompson at his press briefing, was for a high commission to be set up in Barbados to cater for the needs of the Guyanese population there. Jagdeo said this was something that would have to be examined as it was a sovereign matter.
Jagdeo said the whole issue of Guyanese and the treatment they receive on Bajan soil goes back into history. “I have never [wanted] to demonise anyone in Barbados but in spite of the assurances I have received at the highest political level from time to time, the situation on the ground differs substantially,” the President said.
He recounted a personal experience he had as Minister of Finance, saying he was treated in a stereotypical fashion during a visit to Barbados when he served as a director on the board of the Caribbean Development Bank. He said he skipped the line for diplomats on entry in Barbados and the questions posed to him by immigration authorities there were all irrelevant until they realised that he was a minister of the Government of Guyana.
Jagdeo said while he has been assured that the mandate for this kind of treatment did come from the political directorate, “somewhere this exists and the political authorities must deal with this.”
Meanwhile the call for Guyanese who encountered difficult treatment from Barbadian officials is reaping some response, Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues –Birkett said.
She told reporters yesterday that the consular office in Barbados and her ministry had interviewed quite a few persons.
Watershed
Antigua’s Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer preceded Jagdeo in the discussion on immigration last evening and his focus was on how the once liberal policy on the island has impacted on the socio-economic infrastructure.
Spencer observed that the region is meeting at watershed moment in history where the challenges of the current global crisis has placed the Caribbean at the “crossroads of survive or perish”.
His statements on regional immigration effectively noted that Antigua could not sustain a liberal policy amidst the growing threats posed by cross border criminal activity and the challenges of the global financial crisis. According to him, continuing such an arrangement is counter-productive to his government’s policy of providing the greatest good for its citizens.
“While Antigua and Barbuda will continue to welcome our brothers and sisters to our shores, our current immigration practices must be re-evaluated. A closer examination is warranted in respect of the capacity of the socio-economic institutions and infrastructure to adequately manage the continued inflow of persons desirous of taking up residency …” Spencer stated.
He disclosed that the Ministry of National Security and Labour on the island convened an open consultation on the issue on Wednesday to “a packed auditorium” to receive input from stakeholders while outlining the facts as they relate to work permits and the immigration policy in general. This, he said, is the beginning of a conversation which will eventually lead to a re-designing of “our immigration policies, procedures, facilitative processes and an amendment of the relevant legislation”.
Spencer said further that the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) had given an undertaking two years ago at the conference of regional heads to execute a study to assess the socio-economic impact of the free movement of individuals in Antigua and Barbuda. He added that regrettably, the study is yet to be undertaken.
Over the next two days Caribbean leaders will discuss a plethora of issues facing the region including the decline in regional capital and the region’s space within a global setting. Agriculture and climate change is also expected to feature prominently.
Leaders are expected to plug Caribbean cooperation and to define where the region goes from here in terms of its commitment to the Single Market and Economy.
Prime Minister Spencer sought to clear the air on his country joining the Venezuelan-inspired Bolivarian Alternative to the Americas (ALBA) saying that the move has no implications with respect to it commitment to CARICOM.
“I wish to categorically state that Antigua and Barbuda’s accession to ALBA does not in any way signal a wavering of our commitments at the level of CARICOM or the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States”, Spencer said. (Additional reporting by Heppilena Ferguson)
President Bharrat Jagdeo (left) conferring the Order of the Caribbean Community on former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson. (Jules Gibson photo)
well done Mr. Jagdeo, seems that you got mature, bold enough to to say as it is. thank you for standing up for guyanese. i lives in st lucia whivh is not so trobling like barbado. koodoos to you Mr. President.
Jagdeo is presumptious and elusive. Why doesn’t he address the issue head on? The buck should stop on his, not Thompson’s desk. What is the use that Guyana has all this bounty, which is true, and he has to make a case for Guyanese to the leader of a land with far less promise to which Guyanese are fleeing his failed presidency.
He is cloaking his incompetence as Guyana’s president under the guise of regionalism. What a shameful act! As if Thompson wouldn’t know!
However, having said that, like in Les Misérables, Thompson will go down in Caribbean history as the Caribbean’s verion of Javert, Guyanese in Barbados, his Jean Valjean and king Jagdeo will be remembered as the smoke and mirror man: The disappearing security of Guyanese, the disappearing dream for Guyana, the disappearing Marriot hotel, and now the USD1Billion annually Carbin Credit scam. When that billion dollars disappear…
Step right up! Bharat Jagdeo’s next act, with but one wave if his hands…Guyanese in Guyana will totally disappear, and then, they will majically reappear in lands far away…not Jagdeo’s but Thompson’s responsibility and then Jagdeo will scream at Thompson: Don’t you dare send them back!
Now who is wrong and who is right? Anyone cares to guess?
Yesterday was another sad day for Guyanese. They have nothing to be proud of. Why am I not surprise at Jagdeo’s behaviour. The only people to suffer are the poor. Jagdeo term finishes in 2011 and he will get millions of dollars a month in salary and benefits and continue to drive by the growing poor and powerless. He does not care about the people yet the people continue to let him abuse them. Guyanese is time you stand up for your rights.
Barbados is the third most developed country in the Americas after Canada and the USA. This is so because bajan governments and people work hard and make it possible. Jagdeo and his people sitting on their laurels, doing nothing, cussing out countries, mis-using state funds, practicing corruption and racism everywhere and on top of that want Barbados to provide for illegalls. Get outta here! Barbados must not. They must deport all the illegalls and let them go back to Guyana and develop the country. Keep the racism in Guyana and out of Barbados. Thompson said “not in my country!” That’s a leader- a man who will refuse to use one race to trample on another or deny another. Small island but big thinkers.
Fix the problems in Guyana. Abusing Thompson means nothing if Jagdeo doesn’t have the economic, social and political will power to do for Guyana what Thompson is doing for Barbados. Oh island in the sun, stay strong and focus and do not succumb to Jagdeo and Stabroek bullyism and allegations of racism to make you keep the illegals. Let them go back to Guyana and join the papers and Jagdeo in continuning the under-development of Guyana. Leave Barbados out of your mess.
Amazing!!! The ’smallest’ countries in the Caribbean must provide jobs for the LARGEST country in the Caribbean. Something ain’t right here. But little Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua must ensure that 10% of Guyana’s Nationals have jobs. That is NOT for our Governments to do. That is for the people and Government of Guyana to do.
We do not mind employing non-nationals but if it means that many Barbadians will be un-employed, NOT a chance. When our people have no jobs or our economy turns for the worst they can’t run to Guyana.
Finally we will have and will apply an immigration policy. It is alright to talk about CSME it is ok when each Country will utilise its resources for the benfit of its citizens. But you just cannot maximise your resources and then send your citizens like waves hit on a beach to come to Barbados and other small Caribbean territories and “wax out ours”.
NOT A CHANCE DEM DAYS DONE!
If we need extra labour we will call you. We do not have a problem with a fella taking a chance, but when you are caught don’t complain..Just look for the plane back home..plain and simple.
In the spirit of the Freedom of Information Act which Jagdeo has stood as a roadblock to, I do reveal that I am a Guyanese, proud of my country and proud of the nation to which I do belong but sorely disappointed at all the leaders we have had so far–and I do understand where you Bajans are coming from…
…and in so doing I invite Barbadians, (my great-great-grand mother was a Bajan) to the warmth of the Guyanese embrace.
Love my people, please! If the tables were ever turned, as they were before, we would welcome and love you as our own.
We, unfortunately, and sometimes to our own detriment, have a memory that would overcome those of a dog, snake and a whale combined with RAM’s left over.
All ironies, juxtapositions and puns intended!
Im not the bigest fan of President Bharrat Jagde, but Im impressed that he got to the fore front in this issue with the deportation process and treatment of Guyana’s citizens. This is not the first time he has made his voice heard on this issue. He also condem the denial of entry of Guyanese Citizens to caribbean Islands. I would jus love to see unity of these caribbean territories dealing with immigration aslong as the law of the land is respected and uphold…
Guyana also need to do more, muuh more to create a better life for its citizens and avoide other caribbean Islands to house the ambitious Guyanese.
TIME FOR GUYANA TO FORGET THE CARICOM AND FORGE CLOSER RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR SOUTH AMERICAN NEIGHBORS.
I second that…… but lets forge relationships with Brazil, Chile and argentina not the other dictators…..That would only encourage jagdeo to embrace cuba and the communists even more.
yeah leh dem dash we out dem kuntry instead.
Caricom is like a duck with no wings all our leaders do is Quack Quack Quack every time they meet,meeting over every man fly to his destination the files are locked away until next meeting to Quack again.
GUYANA DOES NOT NEED “CARICOM” we have unlimited land which can sustain us .
WE HAVE TO TURN TO OUR SOUTHERN NEIGHBORS, the opportunity is endless .
Freespeech, if guyana does not need caricom why jagdeo insulting caricom to welcome guyanese. you see barbados or any other country begging jagdeo to take their nationals. stop joining jadgeo and the rest in the bad man talk when you know guyana ent have squat to even stand on her own. we poor and talking fluff. get real.
Is Jagdeo ready to receive 50,000 Caricom nationals from St. Vincent, Grenada, Belize, St.Lucia and St. Kitts? The majority of these people would most likely be of African descent and change the voting demographics. I am certain he would see it the way Jagan saw it when he refused to join the W.I. Federation.
Mr Jagdeoo, learn from this situation, and be stricter on the Brasilians who come to Guyana (generally undocumented). They are not in anyway helping to build our country or economy,nor are they brining any special skills. They are mostly there to “grab what they can get” by dredging for gold and diamonds, and then smuggling it across the border.
yo ! walker de brit ,,, where in kitty r u from ?????????
an wah yuh name ! which school yuh bin tuh ,, ???????????????
President Jagdeo is bent on impressing the Guyanese people on this issue pertaining to illegal immigrants in Barbados , especially , the indo-guyanese , the major cnstituents of the PPP . President Jagdeo has failed as a political leader and is now focusing on this issue to to hide his ineptness and that of his government . Guyanese are treated badly in Guyana , they are robbed , murdered , discriminated against because of race , many women are murdered because of domestic violence , guyanese drugs lords are being arrested , charge , tried and imprisoned for trafficking illegal drugs in other countries . Miners are robbed and sometimes murdered in Guyana – recently , a man walk up to Maria Van Beek and shot her in her chest , while she was sitting in her car . We have 6 Guyanese drug traffickers waiting to be sentenced here in Barbados , the drugs were imported from Guyana in a container with lumber . A guyanese murdered his wife here in Barbados and is now serving time in prison . Another guyanese has been charge for the murder of a 16 year old girl and arson . Guyanese have been held in Barbados with fake passports and fake work permits . Guyanese are killing each other in Barbados and a guyanese woman has been charged for murdering her bajan boyfriend in Guyana , she is now awaiting trial . President Jagdeo has failed the people of Guyana and that is why they are fleeing their homeland . If it was true that bajans were ill-treating guyanese in Barbados , why are they running and hiding from he police and immigration officers , rather than to return to Guyana ?? The vast majority of illegal drugs entering Barbados comes from , St.Vincent , Guyana and Jamaica – and it begs the question , what is Jagdeo and Gonsalves doing about the export of illegal drugs to Barbados . foreign exchange earned by Barbados is being sent to Guyana and St.Vincent by legal and illegal methods but this is one of the ways they get foreign exchange . Gonsalves and Jagdeo will NEVER be political leaders of Barbados and we are very happy with Prime Minister David Thompson and his administration . We are aware of the relationship they had with Owen Arthur and that he is they preferred choice for PM of Barbados but they do not have a vote here .They desire to have Owen Arthur as Prime Minister of Barbados is liken to a fleeting illusion , to be pursued but never attained . President Jagdeo , please ask you people to return to Guyana and help you develop the country and you will not have to complain and make false statements about Guyanese being ill-treated in other countries . The immigrantion policy of Barbados is the business of the government of this country and NOT the government of Guyana .
Wiggins,that is the elephant in the room that Jagdeo evading with his circus act yesterday.Before he can scream about the treatment of Guyanese abroad,he must first address core issues that cause them to flee his benevolent rule.
Again, the narrative must center around the fact that today Guyanese cannot attain their human dignity at home, and are therefore fleeing to every and shores so as to secure that dignity.
The President of Guyana has not said anything different from what many of the Guyanese expatriot bloggers on this site have been mouthing over the past weeks.
Way to go Wiggins. I wondered whom Jagdeo was trying to impress. Certainly not the Barbadians. A man is king in his own castle, so Jagdeo can spew his vermin all he wants, the Barbadians will have the last strike. Watch what will be coming from the island.
Watch your words, Mr. Wiggins and all the other bloggers who pointing fingers at the wrong people.
First of all, you aren’t Guyanese and you aren’t residing in Guyana, so you don’t “see the realities” in Guyana. It’s unfortunate that sections of the media are unjustly criticizing the government, and that is exactly what you are peddling right now. I am neither affiliated to, nor support, the PPP Government, and I deal with things objectively, honestly and fairly.
Like I said in another blog, the issues in Guyana shouldn’t give anyone licence to treat Guyanese with cruelty. So, please use these issues to cover up the subject of discussion “BAJANS BEATING GUYANESE”.
Many of the issues happening in Guyana are the brainchild of those who want to make the country ungovernable, those who practice “ slow fire, more fire”, who are directly or indirectly involved. So, you don’t have a clue as to what you talking about.
You provide the evidence, the facts and figures to prove that the Government failed and then we will discuss a little more. Time wouldn’t permit me to talk about symptoms; I have only time to talk about the true root causes and solutions.
Remember, when we point a finger at someone, 3 of our fingers pointing right back at us.
Social Scientist ! As if you are residing in Guyana. It never fails to amaze me, how individuals such as you can shout about the perceived abuses of the Barbadian Gov’t, while you turn a blind eye to the everpresent atrocities of the brutal dictatorship in Guyana. Enough ! Tell me Scientist, what is the cruel treatment that is being inflicted upon the Guyanese in Barbados. And , further, stop this nonsense about certain citizens want to make the ‘country ungovernable’ . It is lame. I bet you would not be shouting from a distance if a certain group of Guyanese were not affected. I peep you.
President Jagdeo have to “STOP” talking and start providing
for the Guyanese people. Prime Minister David Thompson is
right, he’s within the law, if you overstay your time in any country in the world including Guyana you become an illegal immigrant, if the Guyana want to keep the many illegals
from Brazil that is up to Government.
Social Scientist you talking a load of crap. When will you people hold the president responsible for the decline in Guyana- 100 years from now. See why this country can’t progress. Thanks to scientists of your calibre.
You want blame the PNC when the PPP in power of 17 years. I am no PNC fan but lets be reasonable man. You can’t blame the PNC for the corruption, Roger Khan and all them crimes and drugs we reading about. You know the culprit but your loyalty have you so blind you refusing to see the truth
Barbadian bloggers, most of you are dodging the real issue, and 3 fingers point right back at you.
Talking about Guyanese fleeing: Haven’t Bajans and other Caribbean nationals been doing that too?
Mr. Bharrat Jagdeo has done outstanding, and he is being recognised beyond the Caribbean Sea.
Which one of you can stand up to him in a live debate? Reply with yes to this, and I will coordinate the occasion on live TV.
If the PPP government were a dictorship, sections of the media wouldn’t have had the opportunity to disseminate misinformation, which you are now feeding on.
Why don’t you take some time and read the reports of independent international institutions, for instance the IMF and World Bank?
So, I’m still waiting for the facts and figures from Wiggins and the others, to prove that the PPP Government failing. I’m also waiting for them to confess that Bajans maltreated Guyanese. So far, none of you bloggers has had the moral integrity to acknowledge that this has happened, and your very words have spoken of the calibre of people you are.
So, I’m still waiting for the facts and figures from Wiggins and the others, to prove that the PPP Government failing. Do that and I will join you in spreading your views. I promise you.
President Jagdeo,
You got this David Thompson in your territory now. Take him on a tour of the market places and show him Guyana’s bounty.
Take him to some of the diversified agricultural projects; green houses and fish farms. Take him to Eccles and Ruimveldt industrial parks on his short stay and let him realize that Guyana is not as hand to mouth as he and his people envision. Take him to the Parika and Sophia pack houses.
Finally, let him know that Guyanese make choices and his country and his previous administration accepted Guyanese with open hearts and hands to perform work at low and demeaning wages/standards. THEY created the problem. Why are they blaming you and and your Government?
Mr. President, think about it. We are near the end or a the end of CARICOM. Barbados and Trinidad suck up all the honey. There is no more in the pot.
How about taking PM Thompson on tour to Buxton, No.1
and No.2 canel for him to see how people are living in povity/suffering, maybe he may relize why Guyanese are going to his country in droves in search of bread for themselves and family my friend Mr Sase Loakanauth ?.
hahahahhahahaa Guyana’s bounty? hahahhahahahahahahaaha ahahahahahhahahahhaha
hahahhhahaha heheheheh hahahhahaha
ha
Also take him and show him buxton and agricola… hahahhahahahaaha
Give him a tour of freedumb house.
Pouderoyen Man,
I think he should take PM Thompson to Canal #1 and let him view the village from the Conservancy Dam to Bagotsville. I am sure he will see a mixture of success and failure. Then take him to a few backyards so that he can get an idea of what contributes to the success and failure. I know quite a few people from Good Hope, Soesdyke, Endeavour, and Noitgedacht in Canal #1 who are doing quite well and visit the US and Canada every year. The only people in Canal #1 who live in poverty are the lazy bums who do not want to work for a living and live off the sweat of others.
BS,
Looks like you have located the Sase that you were searching for. In your delusional state of mind, you thought I was Sase. I think you lost it. This blogging thing has driven you to the brink. Take a vacation back to the Bronx for some RFC. Hehehehehe. I think the salt is raising your blood pressure. Remember, too much sodium is not good for you. Hehehehe Hahaha.
By the way, I heard that Biswattie Ramsawak is really Khemraj RamJhaatan. What’s the scoop?
TAKE HIM TO PRADO VILLE TOO
Three cheers to PM Baldwin Spencer of Antigua for standing up for his people, like PM Thompson of Barbados, and acknowledging that to continue Antigua’s liberal immigration policy would be “counter-productive to his government’s policy of providing the greatest good for its citizens.” He and PM Thompson seem committed to providing environments in their countries that are conducive to keeping their people home. President Jagdeo, on the other hand, used his opportunity to speak to talk about giving his people opportunities to migrate. I think Caricom citizens should decide by referendum if they want free movement of people in their countries. I don’t think you could fill a mini bus in most Caricom countries with people who want free movement of foreigners in their country. Free movement of people in Caricom countries is something that dead leaders and current failing leaders and their suffering people want. Like PM Thompson said a couple of days ago, free movement of people at this time will have the effect of everyone moving to one side of a boat and capsizing it. Everyone should know what that means.
Don’t try to compare Antigua and Barbados. The Immigration department of Antigua is not kicking down anyone’s door early in the morning and stopping public transportation looking specifically for Guyanese. Apply your laws but show dignity to our people.
You can enforce all your laws but do it in a humane way. Now my two questions:
How many non-Caricom nationals have been subjected to the fascist tactics of early morning raids?
How many non-Caricom nationals have been subjected to removal from buses and the streets of Barbados?
I look forward to an answer.
Bajegal , from a CMC newscast I heard a few nights ago, Mr Spencer has the backing of no less a person than his Opposition Leader Lester Bird.Certainly a big feather in his cap.
Borapork ! I suspect most of non-Caricom nationals are from developed, industralized countries. They are not a drain on the society. Explain the humane way of dealing with the illegals. Oh ! They will come and present themselves to the authorities. You know, I wish Pakistan or Iraq or Rwanda should dump tens of thousands of their citizens in Guyana. How about Zimbabwe ? It would be interesting to hear your comments then. You probably will have to dig quite a number of pit latrines in you very big country. Ha!
Borapork , ask all your questions to Jagdeo because Bajegal and I are Bajans to the bone and what ever answer you get from Bajans you are going to say that we are lying .
Bajegirl , high fives , my sister – Prime Minister David Thompson is making us proud to be Bajans . The Minister of Foreign Affairs , Senator Maxine McClean , will be on “The peoples’ business” at cbc on Sunday , July 5 , 2009 , at 7:30pm . The addy is :thepeoplesbusiness@cbc.bb I am sure that she will be addressing the issue of Managed Migration in Barbados .