ST GEORGE’S, Grenada (CMC) -Immigration ministers from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have reaffirmed their support for the full implementation of the free movement of persons regime with the desire to support the accelerated implementation of the OECS Policy on Rights Contingent on the Right to Freedom of Movement.

The policy provides citizens with the right to indefinite stay, work and access social and economic services without discrimination in all participating member states of the OECS.

The OECS groups the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat and Anguilla.

According to a statement issued following the third Council of Ministers of Immigration meeting here, the ministers also endorsed measures to enhance the capacity building of border security personnel and OECS member states response to the impact of environmental disasters on the movement of persons.

They also reaffirmed the desire to support the implementation of the OECS Ministerial Declaration which called for strategic responses to addressing environmental disasters. ​

In addition, the ministers reaffirmed the desire to urgently implement the Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty and Model Bill to strengthen the ability of law enforcement and border officials to return persons evading judicial actions.

“Alongside this measure, Ministers also agreed to support the enactment of the AP (Advance Passenger Information) and PNR (Passenger Name Record) legislation to empower border officials to receive timely and accurate data on passengers within the Caricom and OECS regions,” the statement said.

The API and PNR are passenger data used by airlines and governments to manage and identify travelers.

The statement said that the ministers discussed a “plethora of issues relevant to the free movement of persons within the OECS” including the requirements for full implementation of the OECS Contingent Rights Policy through the enactment of the draft Model Bill.

“The Model Bill is critical for putting into practice the Policy on Contingent Rights across OECS member states to ensure that citizens of any OECS Protocol Member State can enjoy the same rights and opportunities in any other Protocol Member State.”

The statement said the legislation addresses gaps in current policy arrangements by ensuring that citizens who exercise their freedom of movement rights are granted equal access to essential services and benefits without discrimination based on nationality.

“Citizens of OECS Protocol Member States and their spouses and dependents are entitled to equal access to rights and freedoms including employment, education, healthcare, social support and protection when they move between Protocol Member States to reside and work.”

The statement said that the endorsement of this Model Bill by the immigration ministers “is a key step forward toward the final approval by the OECS Authority and enactment in the Protocol Member States”

The meeting also endorsed an advocacy plan toward public advocacy as a measure to enhance public knowledge on contingent rights and the free movement of persons regime within the OECS. ​

The meeting received presentations from the Trinidad-based Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (Caricom IMPACS) regarding the implementation of the Caricom Arrest Warrant Treaty and the API and the PNR.

The statement said that the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) also provided an update on the UN Security Trust Fund Joint Programme and the Labour Migration Policy within the OECS region.

An update on the Cartagena plus 40 process was also provided by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), it added noting that Montserrat has now taken over the chairmanship of the OECS Council of Ministers for Immigration.