UDP Raises Alarm Over CSME Deal and Job Market Impact, Minister Clarifies

One of several issues of national concern that the UDP’s Parliamentary Caucus brought up yesterday afternoon had to do with the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).  As we reported, Prime Minister John Briceno signed onto an agreement in Jamaica last week that would see Belize implementing the regional integration movement on October 1.  It is a major agreement as it could see a massive migration in and out of Belize.  For the UDP, the first issue they had was the fact that the government is yet to make an official announcement on the agreement that was signed.  The second and perhaps the most concerning factor of the CSME, is what it could mean for Belize’s workforce, and employment opportunities.  Senator Faber highlighted these possibilities by pointing out the education level found in those from the other Caribbean countries when compared to our local standards. This morning, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Francis Fonseca, responded to the UDP concerns signaling that the opposition is misinformed.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Yeah unfortunately one thing consistent about UDP is that they’re always on the wrong side of history especially when….”

Reporter: But you’re implementing their SOE.

Francis Fonseca, Minister of Foreign Affairs: “Audrey please let me answer the question of the reporter. So yeah I mean that is absolutely misguided, misinformed. What Belize has done along with Barbados, St. Vincent and Dominica is enter into a transition period so over a three year period starting October of this year Belize will begin the process of implementing the laws and regulations which govern free movement. This is something that both governments, both PUP and UDP governments have over the years advanced and promoted and advocated for. This was approved, our accession to this free movement was approved by Cabinet several years ago. So we’re following up on that. There’s no… and I mean it’s based and I want to make this very clear. First of all it’s limited to those four countries because it’s based on reciprocity and it has to do with skilled labour, it has to do with skilled labour and the free movement of people. We already have a regime in place called the CSME where people can apply for CSME skilled certificates so there’s already a structure and regime in place. So that’s all we’re doing, we’re advancing this and we are a proud member of CARICOM. We are proud members of CARICOM. Our brothers and sisters in CARICOM deserve the opportunity as do Belizeans to travel to these different countries, these countries that have started out and follow in terms of the internal domestic laws of those countries you have an opportunity to work in those countries and live in those countries. There’s nothing wrong with that. I remember more than twenty plus years ago, twenty five years ago people when we introduced the skilled professionals in terms of lawyers, allowing lawyers to come to Belize people were “oh Belize will get overrun with Caribbean lawyers and so” that has not happened, 25 years. On average we have around two hundred people who come to Belize from the Caribbean, on average every year applying for skilled certificates and so who want to work on a temporary basis and that thing so there’s nothing to be afraid of, Belize should be proud of our commitment to CARICOM and so it’s a very very good initiative for Belize and as I said it will be implemented over a transition period of three years.”

Belize first signed on to the CSME in 2001, but the actual implementation has seen multiple delays.  CSME is an integrated development strategy envisioned by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to create a single enlarged economic space. Key aspects of the CSME include the free movement of goods through the removal of trade barriers; it also means that certain categories of CARICOM nationals could seek employment in any participating member state without the need for a work permit. It also allows CARICOM nationals to establish and operate businesses in any CSME member state under the same terms and conditions as local companies.