The possible benefits and challenges of intra-regional and international migration were discussed between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The discussion took place today, during a courtesy call with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kerrie Symmonds, and IOM’s Regional Director for Central and North America and the Caribbean (UN Migration), Michele Klein-Solomon; following the signing of a Cooperation Agreement to establish an IOM Country Office for the Caribbean, in Barbados.
Minister Symmonds expressed thanks to the IOM and other international institutions for the support being provided to assist CARICOM in elaborating a regional migration policy and regulations to limit and safeguard against irregular movements that place lives and livelihoods at risk.
“We have benefited tremendously from solid engagement with you, even before this process (Cooperation Agreement) has come to fruition with regard to the membership, and through engagements in training and cooperation, and again I think that that is very useful and I want to thank you,” Minister Symmonds said.
The Foreign Affairs Minister stressed that planned migration policies and strategies are necessary if the Caribbean is to benefit from migration, and education is key to helping the public understand the benefits.
IOM’s Director Klein-Solomon agreed with Minister Symmonds and noted that a holistic approach must be taken in addressing the challenges and benefits of migration.
“We’re going to be looking at the actual root causes in their countries of origin and looking at creating safe and dignified livelihood possibilities to live, but these are long-term solutions that are not going to happen overnight,” she explained.
Other topics discussed by the two officials were: enhanced support through technical assistance and funding; the migration situation by Venezuelan and Haitian residents; migration push factors; developing programmes with the use of remittances from the diasporic community; Barbados’ ageing population and declining birth rates; and the movement of skilled people across CARICOM.
Also present at the courtesy call were: Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Joyanne Skinner; Senior Foreign Service Officer, Tyrone Brathwaite; Foreign Service Officers II, LaToya Archer and Davion Sealy; Chief of Protocol (ag), Resa Layne; Food and Agriculture Organization Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, Dr. Renata Clarke; IOM’s Deputy Coordinator for the Caribbean, and Head of Office Guyana, Eraina Yaw; and UN RCO Senior Development Strategic Planner, Kenroy Roach. Barbados was admitted to the International Organization for Migration as its 175th member on November 30, 2022.