July 9, 2024
The truth is, Caribbean countries with a sense of ownership of their country, don’t want or need any mass migration of workers from anywhere- Caribbean nations or otherwise.
We don’t want the Haitians, Indians, Chinese or any other large group of workers looking for work. So, how can CARICOM try to present a workable plan on immigration when most Caribbean countries are not interested in it? Seems as if they would be wasting their time.
So, waste their time they will. The Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda have already been emphatically clear that they have not agreed to even negotiate a migration policy for the region, despite what Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has said on behalf of the region.
Of course the stance by countries like The Bahamas and Antigua is selfish, at best. It too can come across xenophobic too. But, it is their country and they have a right to determine who they let in and under what circumstance.
So, what will the migration working group actually do to present a framework to the respective heads of government this coming February? I say it will probably be another paper that will sit on a shelf collecting dust- at the very best of it.