Mr. Leo Preville, Director of the CARICOM Single Market at the CARICOM Secretariat, emphasized that the development of skills over the long term is essential for the effective implementation of the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). According to a press release from the organization, Mr. Preville made these remarks during a planning meeting held in anticipation of the final segment of the CARICOM Skilled Workers Programme (SWP), set to commence this week in Belize.
He stated, “Sustained implementation of the CSME will depend on the availability of senior technical officers, equipped not only with the requisite knowledge of the CSME, but also an understanding of the nuanced differences in processes in Member States and the development of networks among colleagues to support the integration process.”
From March 31 to April 4, 2025, CARICOM border control officers from Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago are scheduled to participate in a one-week attachment in Belize. There are two additional segments planned for the Border Control Officers Attachment Programme. From April 7 to 11, 2025, Guyana will host participants from Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Following this, Dominica delegates, along with participants from Belize, Haiti, and Jamaica will have the opportunity to visit another CARICOM Member State.
This initiative aims to provide these officers with the opportunity to learn best practices related to the administration of the CSME regimes and to develop practical skills that will assist their Member States in implementing the CSME and the decisions of the Organs and Bodies of the Caribbean Community. This attachment represents the final phase of the CARICOM Skilled Workers Programme.
The SWP is designed to cultivate advocates for CARICOM integration by providing participants with valuable exposure. It is funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) through the Strengthening Framework for CARICOM Integration and Cooperation Process (SFCICP), which supports three border control officers from each CARICOM Member State participating in the CSME.
During their time in Belize, the CARICOM border control officers will gain insight into operations at land borders, air, and seaports. This includes observing procedures such as passport control, customs inspection, and agricultural checks, as well as exploring the collaboration among various agencies such as the Border Management Authority, Customs and Excise, Immigration, and the Belize Agricultural Health Authority. Additionally, they will monitor cargo inspection, passenger processing, technology usage, and risk management strategies.
