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Sunday, January 27, 2013
Former prime minister of Jamaica PJ Patterson has lamented the fact that Jamaicans and other Caribbean Community (Caricom) nationals were still experiencing difficulties travelling through the 15-member grouping, despite efforts to ease restrictions on travel.
Addressing the Rotary Club of Georgetown World Understanding Month dinner in Guyana, Patterson questioned how foreigners, who on entering the region for 2007 Cricket World Cup, were able to move around with "absolute freedom" while Caricom nationals though armed with their Caricom passports had to establish their identity at each port of entry.
He called on Caricom leaders to decide on their priorities as well as set a specific timetable in order to accelerate regional growth and development.
In his address, Patterson also hinted at the need to re-examine the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that governs the 15-member grouping.
The former Jamaica prime minister said despite various problems, Caricom had achieved some notable successes, including dismantling trade barriers and establishing a single market.
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