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Contact:
Rose Marie Harris
Thursday, June 22, 2006 - A case for the inclusion of artisans, nurses,
domestics and teachers to move freely as skilled nationals under the CARICOM
Single Market and Economy will be presented to Heads of Government of the
Caribbean Community when the 27th Regular Meeting of the Conference convenes in
St. Kitts and Nevis early next month.
In reporting on the progress made in the region since the establishment of the
CARICOM Single Market on January 1st, last year, CARICOM's Assistant Secretary
General for Regional Trade and Economic Integration, Mr. Irwin La Rocque said on
Tuesday June 20th that 3, 500 free movement certificates have already been
issued by Member states. These were some of the issues raised as the CARICOM
Secretariat engaged the regional media in a briefing, conducted via video
conferencing.
He noted that as part of the exercise to expand the categories of skilled
persons eligible for free movement under the Treaty, several member states have
conducted national research and will present their findings to the Conference
for consideration.
On the operation of the Caribbean Court of Justice and the Caribbean Regional
Organisation for Standards and Quality CROSQ as two critical pillars of the
CSME, Mr. La Rocque stressed the importance of CROSQ in ensuring that the
highest standards and quality are maintained. This is especially important in
the context of the goods and services produced intra-regionally as the region
seeks to become a competitive trading bloc in the global sphere.
CARICOM Secretary General Mr. Edwin Carrington expressed optimism that the
remaining member states will sign onto the Single Market by the 30th of June
deadline before the upcoming Meeting of the Conference.
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