Antigua & Barbuda Calls For Retention Of Work Permits After CSME

by Amanda Banks, Tax-News.com, London

08 July 2005

Antiguan Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has presented his government's case to the Heads of CARICOM for the retention of work permits for non-nationals after the implementation of the CSME in December 2005.

Antigua and Barbuda was granted derogation by the Heads in July of 2002 from the requirement to fully implement the free movement of skills regime, and it was allowed to continue to control the numbers of CARICOM nationals through work permit requirements.

However, sections of the CARICOM Secretariat have stated that the derogation which allows Antigua and Barbuda to issue work permits will expire in December of 2005 at the beginning of the full implementation of the CSME.

Prime Minister Spencer said that such action would defeat the very purpose for which it was originally granted keeping in mind that Antigua and Barbuda has already integrated the labour market of the region with 34% of the country's work force comprising CARICOM nationals.

"It must be underscored that this derogation will not be used to wantonly deny entry of CARICOM nationals," PM Spencer pointed out.

According to Spencer, due to the economic situation being experienced by the country, Antigua and Barbuda must reserve the right, on a temporary basis, to control the entry of some categories of persons.

He therefore proposed that the derogation be reviewed by a technical team after the CSME has been in full implementation for three years. This review he said should include an analysis of the labour market in Antigua and Barbuda.

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