Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Immigration Officers will participate in a Train the Trainer Session on 11-12 February at the CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana. This activity is the second phase of a project aimed at training Immigration Officers on issues pertaining to the free movement of persons, a critical component of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.
The first phase of this project saw the production of an Immigration Officer Training Resource Book on the free movement of persons and a Trainers Manual. These publications were developed by C-TRADECOM Consultants in close collaboration with the CSME Unit and officials of Member States. The Immigration Officer Training Resource Book will be used in pilot test by Immigration Officers on 9-10 February, at the same venue.
The Immigration Officers Training project was developed in response to the mandate by CARICOM Heads of Government for the training of relevant officials to increase awareness of CSME arrangements and of the ever-changing regional environment.
Recognising that the free movement of persons is a critical element of the CSME, with profound impact on trade in services; investment and competitiveness; the CSME Unit focussed its first training effort on Immigration Officers. Free movement of graduates, artistes, musicians, media workers and sports persons became effective on 1 August 2003 in most participating CSME Member States.
These States are also in the process of removing the first set of restrictions on the right of establishment; the provision of services; and the movement of capital. The full implementation of both the free movement of skills and the removal of restrictions are expected to boost intra-regional trade in services, especially since various Member States have identified services as a critical sector for their future economic and social development.
The CSME Unit and C-TRADECOM expect that the trainers would have conducted their first training sessions in each Member State by the time the Conference of Heads of Government meet for its 15th Inter-Sessional Meeting in Antigua and Barbuda on 25-26 March 2004.
The project is the first of a number of projects, which the Barbados-based CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) Unit and other departments of the CARICOM Secretariat in Guyana are implementing in close cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its Barbados-based Caribbean Trade and Competitiveness Development Program (C-TRADECOM).
The Session begins with a brief Opening Ceremony at which Remarks will be given by Assistant Secretary-General, Regional Trade and Economic Integration, Mr. Byron Blake and a representative of C-TRADECOM.
