ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) — The Chief Immigration Officer for Antigua, Annette Mark, is calling for the implementation of a standardised Caribbean Community (CARICOM) skills certificate so as to better enhance the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of skills, people, labour and services across the 15-member grouping.

Mark told the Antigua Observer that the new security devise should have special security features.

Her statement follows the arrest earlier this week of a Jamaican who presented authorities here with a fake certificate given to Caribbean nationals by their respective countries to ensure free movement under the CSME. The Jamaican, who has since been jailed, claimed to be a security expert.

“We expect to see more of this happening, because we have been warned that there are a number of people throughout the region operating with fake skills certificates,” she told the newspaper, adding that while this has been the first case here, she is also aware of several others across the region.

“I would love to see some sort of security feature, maybe even a card given to people who are skilled, because that is the only way we can guarantee it. When you look at the skills certificate throughout the region, they are all different and it really is just a document that can be easily replicated; there are no security features,” said Mark.

She said the issue has been discussed here, but her recommendation has to be made when CARICOM immigration heads meet.

Mark said that in the absence of a standard, secure card, the countries have to continue to carry out their own checks and balances.

“In Antigua, the checks and balances are still there and anybody who comes with a skills certificate should [have it] verified by the free movement desk. At the airport now, we have to be more vigilant when someone who came to be a skilled person, especially certain categories of persons,” she said.