JAMAICAN parliamentarians may welcome the sitting of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) in Kingston, but there is still concern among some about the treatment of Jamaicans travelling across the Caribbean Community (Caricom) region.

The issue came up at last week’s meeting of the Public Administration and Appropriations Committee (PAAC), which discussed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade’s (MFAFT) handling of Caricom Single Market Economy (CSME) travel issues affecting Jamaicans.

“How I see it, is that the CSME is not really working for the benefit of many Jamaicans, and it can’t be just a one sided affair,” Government MP Mikael Phillips commented.

Phillips noted that even in December there had been reports of Jamaicans being turned back at the ports of entry of the other islands, and wanted to know whether there has been any improvement in the situation since.

He learnt that since the Shanique Myrie incident in 2011, which included a cavity search, there have been two more cases of Jamaicans being denied entry — one on December 20, 2012 and the other on January 14, 2013.

“It seems like we are the only ones who are really facilitating everybody else,” Phillips reacted.

Permanent Secretary Paul Robotham explained, however, that there were two separate issues involved: Jamaicans who travel to other Caricom countries for leisure; and others who qualify under the CSME free movement provision, which covers university graduates, media persons, artists, musicians, and sports persons.

The permanent secretary said that the leisure travellers should be able to land for a maximum six months, without discrimination, and there is also suppose to be a dedicated immigration line at regional airports to accommodate them.

“Those things have been implemented largely across the region,” Robotham said.

However, he pointed out that there have been 20 complaints of denial of entry emanating from Jamaicans within this group since 2006, including Myrie’s.

“Each of them we take seriously, and each of them we try to address through diplomatic channels, dealing with the country concerned,” he said.

Robotham also pointed out that even though there is a regime, countries still reserved the right to control their borders.

“But what they are not allowed is arbitrary discrimination. So, where somebody is not let in, we have the right to require the country to advise us on what was the reason. That’s what we do in relation to every case that is brought to our attention,” he said.

The permanent secretary said that the 20 cases of denied entry must be seen in the context of Caribbean Airlines flying from Jamaica to the eastern Caribbean daily, moving “tens of thousands of Jamaicans” without a problem.

“But, when something happens, it is very high profiled: It’s in the newspapers and it is blared across everywhere,” he added.

Phillips insisted on an explanation of how beneficial the CSME provisions have been for skilled Jamaicans. Robotham said his ministry had no evidence of any rejection rate.

Opposition MP Mike Henry asked what about persons without job offers who wanted to travel to the other islands in search of work.

“It’s not possible to just pick up yourself and go to another country. It’s a regulated free movement. There has to be some control,” Robotham said.

“How would you respond to the perception, if not the belief, that many Jamaicans think that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is a little bit passive in advocating on behalf of the rights of individual Jamaicans when they travel beyond the shores of Jamaica?” Government member Raymond Pryce asked.

“We don’t share that view. We don’t think that it is accurate. We stand up vigorously for Jamaicans overseas. Our consular representatives are robust and strong and we have successfully advanced Jamaica’s interest at the consular level,” Robotham insisted.

CAPTION:

PHILLIPS… the CSME is not really working for the benefit of many Jamaicans

A Caricom passport.