Romeo’s People’s Democratic Movement romps home in Montserrat elections

BRADES, Montserrat, Friday September 12, 2014, CMC – The People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) has won a convincing victory in the general elections held here on Thursday, according to the preliminary results released on Friday.

The party, headed by businessman Donaldson Romeo, trounced the incumbent Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP) of outgoing premier Reuben T Meade, winning seven of the nine seats in the Legislative Assembly.

Romeo, who polled 1,695 votes, thanked the electorate for the”clear and convincing” victory, saying he was confident the promises outlined in the party’s manifesto would be met.

“I believe that once Montserratians are united, on island, off island, there is nothing in that manifesto that we cannot do. I expect us to do even more,” he said, adding that he would continue to “put people first.

“It is just a matter of leading a team and encouraging our nation to be of that mentality and I don’t think that is going to be difficult because they (population) have already spoken and responded to the agenda.

“Once we put people first, once we agree on everything that is important to making Montserrat a prosperous and self sustaining nation it will happen,” he added.
Meade who polled 1,140, conceded defeat, extending congratulations to the PDM for a “very clear election victory.

”Both parties have worked hard. I would like to thank all the persons who supported both PDM and MCAP and also the independents. It was an interesting election campaign and clearly one team had to win and PDM won and again my heartiest congratulations to the entire team,” he said.

Among those suffering defeat were former government ministers Colin Riley and Charles Kirnon. They received 866 and 1,070 votes respectively.

Preliminary figures released by the Montserrat Election Commission show the PDM winning 50.1 per cent of the votes to MCAP’s 35.3 per cent.

Each voter on Montserrat can vote for all candidates on the ballot paper in the island’s single-constituency system. There were 3,866 registered voters with 2,750 exercising their mandate, a turnout of 71 per cent.

The Electoral Commission said 31 candidates contested the nine seats, including the newly formed three-candidate group called the Alliance of Independent Candidates (AIC) led by former chief minister Dr Lowell Lewis. The group received just 4.1 per cent of the votes cast.

The 10 other candidates ran as stand-alone independents and collectively garnered 10.4 per cent of the votes cast.

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Romeo’s People’s Democratic Movement romps home in Montserrat elections

The Movement hits Billboard

Entertainment

By Kevin Jackson Observer writerFriday, August 23, 2013

AMERICAN reggae band The Movement has debuted at number two on the Billboard Reggae Album Chart with Side by Side, their fourth album.The group’s previous album, One More Night, went to number one on that chart.Influenced by artistes such as Beres Hammond and Dennis Brown, The Movement formed in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2004, but are now based in Philadelphia.Their sound has been described as a fusion of rock, reggae, hip hop and folk.Since releasing its first album, On Your Feet in 2004, The Movement has toured the United States extensively, opening for Steel Pulse, Blues Traveler, Slightly Stoopid, The Wailers, and SOJA.American reggae acts like Matisyahu, Rebelution and SOJA have dominated the Billboard Reggae Album Chart over the last year.Rapper Snoop Lion’s Reincarnated is presently number one on the chart.

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The Movement hits Billboard

Jamaica doggedly pursues free movement of labour in Caricom

News

BY BALFORD HENRY Observer senior reporter henryb@jamaicaobserver.com Monday, July 08, 2013

DESPITE the reluctance of some Caribbean territories to do so, Jamaica continues to pursue the dream of freedom of movement among Caribbean Community (Caricom) states.Last week, Minister of Labour and Social Security Derrick Kellier tabled a Bill to amend the Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act, to broaden the categories of skilled nationals able to access jobs in regional countries.The Bill provides for the introduction of a single certificate system, and seeks to implement fees to provide financing for administrative services for the processing and issue of qualifying certificates, as well as increased penalties to deter non-compliance with the Act.The Bill’s “Memorandum of Objects and Reasons” explains that the Caricom Free Movement of Skilled Persons Act established the legislative framework for the phased implementation of Jamaica’s Treaty obligations under Articles 45 and 46 of the 2001 Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, the instrument that brought Caricom into being in 1973.The revised Treaty was itself implemented into domestic law by the Caribbean community Act, and Article 45 of the Revised Treaty commits member states to the goal of the free movement of nationals within the community. Article 46 obliges Jamaica and other member states to accord categories of community nationals the right to seek employment in their respective jurisdictions, and to establish appropriate legislative, administrative and procedural arrangements to facilitate movement of nationals into and within member state jurisdictions.The Free Movement of Skilled Persons arises from an agreed Caricom policy that was originally separate, but related to the original Protocol II of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. That policy is enacted in legislation in all the Community member states, providing for the free movement of certain categories of skilled labour on qualifying for the CARICOM Skills Qualification, or skills certificate that theoretically removes the need for work permits across the region.But critics have often claimed that the provision has been observed more in the breach in most territories, except Jamaica.Eight categories of Caricom nationals are now eligible for free movement throughout the region: university graduates, media workers, artistes, musicians, sportspersons, managers, technical and supervisory staff attached to a company, and self-employed persons/service providers. In addition, the spouses and immediate dependent family members of these nationals will also be exempt from work permit requirements.It was also agreed to allow, at a later stage, for free movement of tertiary-trained teachers and nurses; higglers, artisans, domestic workers and hospitality workers, pending the agreement of an appropriate certification.The skills certificates are obtained from the requisite ministry, once all the essential documents/qualifications (which vary with each category of skilled persons) are handed in with an application.

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Jamaica doggedly pursues free movement of labour in Caricom

CARICOM Free Movement Bill tabled

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A Bill to amend the Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act, to broaden the categories of skilled nationals able to access jobs in regional countries has been tabled in the House of Representatives, by Minister of Labour and Social Security, Derrick Kellier.

The Bill provides for the introduction of a single certificate system, and it also seeks to implement fees to provide financing for administrative services for the processing and issue of qualifying certificates as well as increase penalties to deter non-compliance with the Act.The Bill’s “Memorandum of Objects and Reasons” explains that the Caribbean Community (Free Movement of Skilled Persons) Act established the legislative framework for the phased implementation of Jamaica’s Treaty obligations under Articles 45 and 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, establishing the Caribbean Community, which was signed in the Bahamas on July 5, 2001.The revised Treaty was itself implemented into domestic law by the Caribbean Community Act, and Article 45 of the Revised Treaty commits member states to the goal of the free movement of nationals within the community.Articles 46 of the Revised Treaty obliges Jamaica and other member states to accord categories of community nationals the right to seek employment in their respective jurisdictions, and to establish appropriate legislative, administrative and procedural arrangements to facilitate movement of nationals into and within member state jurisdictions.The Free Movement of Skilled Persons arises from an agreed CARICOM policy that was originally separate but related to the original Protocol II of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.The agreed policy, called The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Free Movement of Persons Act, is now enacted legislation in all the CSME Member States. It provides for the free movement of certain categories of skilled labour. Under this legislation, persons within these categories can qualify for Skills Certificates (which allow for the free movement across the region).Eight categories of CARICOM nationals have been eligible for free movement throughout the CSME, without the need for work permits. They are: University Graduates, Media Workers, Artistes, Musicians, Sportspersons, Managers, Technical and Supervisory Staff attached to a company and Self-Employed Persons/Service Providers.In addition the spouses and immediate dependent family members of these nationals will also be exempt from work permit requirements. At the July 2006 CARICOM Summit, it was agreed to allow for free movement of two more categories of skilled persons; tertiary-trained Teachers and Nurses.It was also agreed that higglers, artisans, domestic workers and hospitality workers are to be added to the categories of labour allowed free movement at a later date, pending the agreement of an appropriate certification.– Balford HenryLike our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jamaicaobserverFollow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamaicaObserver

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CARICOM Free Movement Bill tabled