CARICOM working towards free movement of nationals by March 2024

St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) remains committed to the integration process and it is anticipated that the region will be ready for the free movement of all CARICOM nationals by March 31, 2024.

On Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Keisal Peters spoke about the work being done to take full advantage of the integration process through initiatives like the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

She was speaking at the National Insurance Services (NIS) conference room during the inaugural St Vincent Grammar School’s (SVGS) Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) Secondary Schools Youth Summit.

Keisal Peters

Pointing to the importance of constructs like the CSME, Peters told the gathering of students and others that no country can stand on its own, so organizations like the CSME and CARICOM are important.

“Over the years, progress has been made in the integration movement called CARICOM. It has had an impact on all aspects of our lives through the work of the various institutions, organs and councils of the community, and the community stands on four pillars and each of these pillars is important and [they] form the foundation of the community,” Peters commented.

She noted that “pillar one” is economic integration and this includes free movement of skilled workers and goods as well as the Common External Tariff.

“…And the CARICOM region remains the main export market for our producers,” Peters noted, while adding that “pillar two” is human and social development and this can be seen in the establishment of institutions like the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC).

“…So as some of you will sit at some point your CSEC examinations, you are not only competing against students from St Vincent and the Grenadines, but with students across the CARICOM region.

“The University of the West Indies is another institution and this institution has served the region well and ensures that we integrate and there are common standards in the education system, so qualifications you gain from CXC or UWI are equivalent in all CARICOM countries and these qualifications are also recognized internationally,” Peters told the gathering.

“…It is said that no man is an island, but you should also know that no country can stand alone. As a community we can join our voices to address various foreign policy issues at the multilateral and international level such as climate change, sustainable development…recently the CARICOM / Canada relations and CARICOM / USA relations just to name a few and globally, a lot has been happening and you have to stay in tune because CARICOM has made several statements within the last few months addressing several international incidents, and it is important that although we are living here and we are somewhat isolated from some of the incidents happening, we have to be aware of what is happening and how it eventually impacts us so it is very important that you keep abreast of what is happening internationally,” Peters said of “pillar three”.

The foreign affairs minister said that “pillar four” is security, and the security of the region is of paramount importance and substantial resources continue to be deployed to ensure that the region is safe.

“The Regional Security System, better known as the RSS, was established to promote cooperation among the member states in the prevention and interdiction of traffic in illegal narcotic drugs in national emergencies.

“The introduction of a CARICOM passport is also part of our security mechanism and this helps to ensure that all CARICOM citizens have a common identify and can be easily recognized and facilitated whenever they move across the region,” Peters said.

She however noted that today, as we focus more closely on economic integration, the central pillar of the community, the CSME, is intended to provide the framework for greater opportunities for employment, investment production, trade in competitive products of better quality and prices, improved services provided by enterprises and individuals and greater opportunities for travel of Caribbean nationals.

“The CSME has impacted Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in many ways,” Peters commented while adding that there is a push towards free movement by March 2024 as the benefits of CARICOM can be best achieved if we are able to reach the goal of free movements of all CARICOM nationals.

Peters also used her time at the podium to thank the SVGS for organizing the youth summit as students learned about how the CSME can impact their lives.