Summit to focus on several regional challenges

IN his address to CARICOM leaders during the opening of the 37th regular summit on Monday, Secretary General Irwin LaRocque made it clear that the free movement of citizens throughout the region must be addressed.

 

Admitting that several issues have cropped up over the years, he insisted that immigration officers must be trained to abide by the rules of free movement.

 

“To help with remedying some of the problems, we must increase the training and sensitisation of our immigration officials for them to act more closely in line with the policies agreed to by their governments,” he said.

 

The high level conference, which is being held in Guyana, is expected to address the various challenges facing the region, including the recent British exit from the European Union and its impact on the region.

 

While several countries have adopted a ‘wait and see’ approach, economists are insisting that there will be immediate consequences, due to the United Kingdom being the main tourism source market for many islands, including Barbados.

 

Another threat that is expected to capture the attention of regional leaders is that posed by international banks limiting or terminating their relationships with regional financial institutions.

 

The Caribbean Development Bank quoted a World Bank survey released in November indicating that about 75 per cent of international banks have experienced a reduction in correspondent banking services, with the Caribbean being the worst affected.

 

During the talks, regional security is also on the table to be discussed, such as the current situation of Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic and the Guyana-Venezuela and Belize-Guatemala territorial disputes, as well as the common market of the community; the strengthening of CARICOM-Cuba relations; binding projects on energy, technological development and promotion of candidates for important international positions, and other co-operation agreements. (JMB)