DESPITE the missed March 31 target for the introduction of full free movement of Caribbean Community (Caricom) nationals, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Senator Kamina Johnson Smith says the matter remains high on the agenda of the regional bloc.

“I had signalled that it had always been Jamaica’s assessment that there was a significant amount of technical work that would have to be done in order to achieve this goal. So while I reaffirm Jamaica’s commitment to the principle of full free movement — we have always said this is the best way for all Caricom nationals to experience and believe in the region — the fact is there is still a lot of work to do, and that has been recognised,” Johnson Smith told a post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday.

She pointed out that Jamaica is a part of the intergovernmental task force working through matters related to the free movement push including, “The definitions of health care at the emergency level and at the primary level, which means different things in different countries and has implications for not only capacity but for cost, so countries small and large are looking at the implications and how there can be some basic standards.

“Similarly, for education, we have been working with [Ministry of] Education on this as well because access to primary and secondary would be a part of what is considered, and of course, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and Ministry of Finance we engage with very closely because, of course, there would be the right to work.”

Johnson Smith underscored that there will be a transitional period but “work does continue towards the next full regular meeting of Heads [of government], which will be in Grenada in July of this year, where we will undoubtedly have a significant update if we don’t have one before then”.

At the 45th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community in Trinidad last July, the leaders agreed to work towards the free movement of all Caricom nationals within the community by March 31, 2024.

The leaders acknowledged then that there are certain basic guarantees that should be afforded to all Caricom nationals exercising their right to freely move and remain indefinitely in another member state of the community.

They also agreed that any appropriate amendments to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas to provide for the attendant rights of Caricom nationals exercising their right to free movement within the community and accommodate the concerns of all member states would be completed in the intervening period.

At a media briefing, chair of the conference, prime minister of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit noted that there were some legal issues that had to be examined.

“And we have given the legal people some months to examine those legal issues and to ensure that they could come to us by the 30th of March [2024] to take a definitive position on this. We understand that there are some challenges for some, but we are committed to this,” said Skerrit.

“We believe that this is a fundamental part of the integration architecture, and at 50 [50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Chaguaramas in 1973 which established Caricom], we could not leave Trinidad and Tobago and not speak about the core of the regional integration movement, that is, people’s ability to move freely within the Caribbean Community.

“I think we would have served and we have served the community well at this meeting by arriving at that decision, and we hope to see that it is implemented by the 30th of March 2024,” added Skeritt as he argued that the decision for free movement of people in the region was the “decision of the conference”.

Since then, the Government of The Bahamas has underscored its position that it will not be part of the free movement of people.

It noted that The Bahamas is not a part of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) and, therefore, the free movement of people does not apply to the country.

Antigua and Barbuda has also indicated that it will not be participating in the full free movement of all Caricom nationals any time soon.

The Antiguan Government has indicated that it is concerned that if it were to allow the unrestricted flow of Caricom nationals into the country it would imperil social services and other aspects of life in the country.

According to Antigua, the country has a record of welcoming Caricom nationals; however, it cannot take the additional step for now.

At present, some skilled workers are free to live and work in any Caricom country. These include university graduates, artistes, musicians, media workers, and sports personnel, non-graduate teachers, nurses, artisans, and people with associate degrees.

People having any of these qualifications may apply for a certificate of recognition of Caricom Skills Qualification. Holders of Skilled National Certificates are exempted from work permit requirements.