The Caribbean Community is moving ahead with the training of immigration officers in member states in order to ensure the smooth functioning of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
During the 37th Conference of the Heads of Government of CARICOM hosted in Guyana earlier in July, several countries expressed concerns with the effectiveness of the CSME, after which the undertaking of a free movement mechanism and a multimedia campaign was promised to educate Caribbean nationals on the workings of the movement.
Workshops have been held previously in Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago CARICOM said.
Approximately fifty immigration officers will begin training today in Saint Lucia on issues related to the CSME as part of a series of training workshops facilitated by the CARICOM Secretariat which seek to ensure immigration officers are equipped to carry out their duties regarding the free movement of persons. CARICOM said the two-day activity is being executed with the assistance of the 10th European Development Fund (EDF) CSME and Economic Integration Programme (EIP).
The training is intended to provide a clear understanding of the principles of Free Movement and highlight the impact that immigration officers have as frontline officials. Resource persons from the CARICOM Secretariat will be conducting the sessions which will also give participants the opportunity to share their own experiences.
The training series is ongoing with other sessions planned for the other Member States in the coming months.
