Govt dismisses calls for Jamaica’s withdrawal from CARICOM

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Thursday, August 01, 2013 | 10:23 AM

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – The Jamaican government reiterated its commitment to the regional integration movement, CARICOM and dismissed calls for the island to quit the 15-member grouping.Foreign Affairs Minister, AJ Nicholson in a statement in the Upper House on Wednesday addressed comments from Opposition leader Andrew Holness and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) legislator Dr Christopher Tufton that the country could benefit from a “temporary pull out of CARICOM”.While Nicholson acknowledged that Jamaica may not be benefiting from CARICOM in the way it should, he said a withdrawal would affect benefits under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, services and labour across the community.“In the context of a withdrawal from the CSME Jamaica would in effect be preventing its nationals and companies from utilizing the provisions under the CSME for free movement of skilled persons, capital, services and right of establishment.“This would mean that those Jamaican nationals who have successfully moved to other CARICOM countries under the skills regime, would be required to amend their status in those countries,” he said. Nicholson said a split from CARICOM would also affect several regional organisations, including the University of the West Indies (UWI), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Caribbean Financial Cooperation.He argued that Jamaica has gained a high standing in CARICOM and this would be jeopardised with a temporary withdrawal.

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Govt dismisses calls for Jamaica’s withdrawal from CARICOM