Barbados PM to hold press conference
CARICOM Heads of Government are expected to arrive in Georgetown today ahead of the official opening of the 30th regular meeting, to caucus on agenda matters.
Tomorrow’s official opening ceremony is slated for the National Cultural Centre and will be broadcast live on state-owned National Communications Network (NCN) and across the region via the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).
Government co-ordinators Kwame McKoy and Michael Gordon yesterday could not confirm whether all the Heads will be here by today nor were they able to confirm whether the caucus at which Heads decide on priority issues obligates them to be present.
However in light of the ongoing debate on the Barbadian immigration policy, the issue is bound to be discussed in the context of regional integration.
Meanwhile Barbadian PM David Thompson is expected to meet with the media for a special press conference today at which he intends to clarify any misconceptions about his government’s policy and field questions from the media.
At the weekend Thompson blasted reports on the issue saying he is bewildered and disgusted at the reckless and grossly unfair generalizations and slurs levelled against his island’s public officers on the issue of unchecked migration. He had said too that he felt there was need for public education on the issue.
Following reports of allegations of ill treatment being meted out to undocumented Guyanese in Barbados, President Bharrat Jagdeo had promised to bring the issue to the attention of his counterpart.
Jagdeo had met with the media and delivered this promise days before the 20th Inter-sessional Meeting of Heads which was held in Belize City, Belize.
On his return Jagdeo told reporters that he had raised the concerns with Thompson. His concerns surrounded reports that the homes of Guyanese were being raided and Guyanese were being taken off buses and deported.
“He said he didn’t know of any such case and that this was not the intention of his government and that he is willing to meet with the honorary consul to discuss and investigate any such case,” Jagdeo quoted Thompson as saying. He also noted that Thompson insisted that he was only dealing with the undocumented.
However Thompson has since acknowledged the early morning raids but said only four Guyanese have been deported. Local immigration figures have contrasted sharply with his declaration.
Jagdeo has since argued for decent treatment for Guyanese, undocumented or not.
Meanwhile, the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on external trade is also to meet today ahead of the Summit. A statement from CARICOM last evening said that among the matters to be addressed is the incorporation of the Regional Negotiating Machinery (CRNM) into the CARICOM Secretariat as a specialised department. The absorption of the CRNM into the Secretariat was endorsed at the 20th Intersessional Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government, Belize, 12-13 March 2009 and came after the controversy over the way negotiations with the European Commission were conducted for the Economic Partnership Agreement.
The Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on External Negotiations will also assess preparations for the commencement of the CARICOM-Canada Negotiations for a Trade and Development Agreement.
The implementation of Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM)-European Community (EC) Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) signed in October 2008 is also to come up.
The statement said that in February 2009 the CARICOM Secretariat had established a Unit to coordinate the implementation of the Agreement, in keeping with a mandate by the Heads of Government. The provisional application of the EPA became effective on December 29, 2008.
At the 29th Meeting of Heads which was held in Antigua and Barbuda last year, Secretary-General Dr. Edwin Carrington had said that both the external and internal challenges facing the Community were difficult “but times like these call for depth of vision and resolute commitment to the integration process.”
The communiqué coming out of that meeting also said that Heads agreed that there should be a review of the implementation of the free movement of skilled Community nationals with a view to determining its reaffirmation or modification.
According to that document too, the 2008 meeting saw CARICOM Heads reiterating that the right to a six-month stay in Member States participating in the Single Market should not be limited to holders of CARICOM passports, but should also apply to CARICOM citizens of Member States that have not yet issued CARICOM passports. Heads of Government also welcomed Jamaica’s introduction of the six-month stay.
In March this year at the Inter-sessional meeting in Belize, Heads also reiterated their commitment to the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) and its implementation and effective functioning, paying particular attention to free movement of persons, accreditation and standardisation mechanisms.
They also emphasised that the CSME was a critical platform for meeting the challenges resulting from the current global financial and economic crisis and for CARICOM’s successful insertion into the world economy.
The meeting concludes on Sunday and aside from a welcome reception to be hosted by President Jagdeo at Princess Buddy’s International Hotel, Heads are also slated for a visit to Baganara Island Resort in the Essequibo River.
OK so lets see what thompson has to say now. 4 or 35 or just maybe an apology
Perhaps if some of us would listen to BBC instead of relying in the myopic views of Stabroek News , we would learn from BBC news world news today(1/7/09) the difference between that 4 and 35. The Brit Government is singing the same tune as PM Thompson.
OK. I have not said anything for a few days, because I wanted my wonderful Prime Minister, David Thompson, to have his say. He had his say today, and I am pleased. In the meantime, I think everyone should chill for a while. I found a wonderful video on YouTube that I think is appropriate for this time. Some of you may have already seen it. Those of you who haven’t should go to YouTube and key in “Guyana in Pictures.” The video is by guyanarains and is dated May 8, 2008. Guyanese and Bajans will take away different thoughts and feelings from the video. Listen carefully to the words of the song.
guyana does not need this needless so call ???????
time to turn to the mainland of south-america
Freespeech , Forbes Burnham once said that Guyana has a South American destiny . The truth is that Guyana is part of South America , geographically , but culturally , Guyanese and Caribbean people are one . We go back as far as 1947 in Jamaica when the Caribbean Leaders got together to form the Federation of the West Indies . The West Indies cricket team and the Caribbean Court of Justice , where Barbados and Guyana are the only two countries have the CCJ as their final court of appeal .
I hope that at the end of the meeting , Heads-of-government will allow common sense to prevail .
Perfect. CARICOM has failed us all.
CARICOM started to fall apart after the deaths of Burnham, Barrow, Manley and Eric Williams.
Time to forget about those little island countries who bestrides the world like Colossus and treat Guyanese as mere underlings. They feel we are backward, naive natives of South America.
Our future as a country on mainland South America lies not in CARICOM. Those little islands will all disappear one after the other in this era of global warming and rising sea levels. Guyana will remain.
Forget this nonsense about one people with one history. Barbados has taken the lead. So, let’s tell them to take a hike- a permanent hike.The Bajans have forgotten the days when Guyana used to feed them. The tides of history is again turning and the Bajans will again look to us for plantains and cassava. We shall kick them then as they are doing to our citizens now.
We need a government with vision, focus and the will to move our dear land forward.
Forward ever, backward never.
Time to look south, Dear Guyana !!!! That’s where your destiny lies.
Mohamed and company, Guyana has been heading “south” a long time. Instead of continuing this descent, maybe we should try some common sense as Wiggins suggests.
Wiggins you are full of it. Yes, I mean it.Baloney. Culturally you allege ‘We’ are one in the Caribbean?How is that possible?What balderdash. Who decides this? You. On what basis? If so how do you qualify? We are supposed to be a union, and do not even have a common currency, or freedom to travel and work without hindrance in CARICOM.Get real.Let me correct you by saying that ‘We’ are one and as secure and as long lasting as the defunct West Indian Federation.That lasted one year.
What’s the importance of caricom, and the region can’t get along with each other.
I would describe the Guyana/ CARICOM relationship as one where one partner (CARICOM) does not want the other(Guyana) but one (Guyana)continues to foist itself on the other (CARICOM).In such a relationship,abuse, exploitation and being taken for granted occurs and that what’s exactly happening.Guyana should get out of CARICOM
I could recall when the proposal to have CARICOM headquartered in Guyana was made; it was vehemetly opposed by the other leaders of CARICOM. It took the influence of Dr.Eric Williams to get the others leaders to agree to have CARICOM HQ in Georgetown with the caveat that no Guyanese could ever be CARICOM Secretary General.
After the Grenada invasion Edward CIAga(Seaga), Tom Adams and Eugenia Charles among others called for the creation of a new regional grouping or CARICOM II as it was proposed to be, that would exclude Guyana.The only thing that prevented them from expelling Guyana was the fact that the decision to do so had to be unanimous i.e Guyana has to vote to expel itself from CARICOM.
These are just two examples that show that we are not wanted in CARICOM and we should be looking towards the continent we are on.
Party time again….let’s rock.Caricom is useless.
ontariogirl
Why Guyana is hosting leaders of the caibbean countries who do like their citizens?Guyanese are hard working people and other nations along with their leaders are playing politics on them.
The money being spent on this conference should be spent on Guyanese. Use it to improve the infrastructure in the squatting areas or build a few houses for those who can’t afford it because after hosting this talk shop we will be left empty handed.
Well the Human Rights Group has a chance to organise a protest march in solidarity of the Guyanese who are deported or are facing deportation from barbad-os and trini-bad.
I hope this meeting can iron out issues that are hitting the integration process hard and the cuss out between caricom countries. If not the money spent for this forum should be given to me and my fren dem to go drink some banks.
NS,
Forget banks…live dangerously…drink POLAR BEER.
SWAT
I aint foreign minded, if it aint a Caricom product I aint drinking it. I jus dun eatin bora with chicken and rice, with some lime swank as chaser. 100% GY lunch. Some a allyuh gonna envy me. LOL
ah,Guyana is only wasting time with Caricom.There is much to gain if we can have stronger ties with our South American neighbours.
We already have strong ties with our South American neighbours by bieng the launching pad of their illegal drugs.
Notwithstanding, NAVYSEAL’s excellent suggestion about the banks; this has been a quite even-handed report by SN.
Yes, there is a disagreement with Barbados at the moment; however, one does not insult someone when they come to visit ones house. Guyana should indeed welcome her Caricom friends and try and build bridges. There are many seemingly mundane matters to be discussed however if those matters are tackled effectively then essential incremental progress is possible.
At the end of a successful Caricom meeting on Sunday, perhaps the Caricom Heads of Government might even qualify for a free banks… compliments of NAVYSEAL.
Satish, you making more sense than many of the people being paid by the Guyanese taxpayers. Ever consider going home?
Barbados is no friend of Guyana. Bajans have been mistreating Guyanese for as long as I can remember.
guyana should really forget those little rocks in the sea and join the bigger world
Not with the current administration in power.
Those little rocks on close inspection turn out to be precious gems for many of your people.We are anchored to the bigger world of your country by a chain of one-way remittances which support many a family back in your mighty world.Please do not kick away the little stepping stones in the Caribbean sea.
The time is right for the “Pressie”,to grant amnesty to illegals,from Brazil,Venezuela,Suriname,Trinidad,Barbados,Jamaica,and other Caricom Countries.And for good measure,U.S.A.,U.K.and Canada.Remember,”we are the world”.Happy CARICOM meeting.”All awee ah one family”.Peace and love.
BUSH T
If Jagdeo can only start protecting his country and citizens, it would be so good. TO start the process he needs to kill partisan politics, create jobs for his people, AMMEND THE CONSTITUTION – THE MAJOR ONE HERE, deport them drug boys allow DEA to set up office in Georgetown, etc. Things will be better.