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