The Opposition isn’t staying quiet about a major regional move. They’re raising concerns over the free movement agreement that Prime Minister John Briceño signed with several CARICOM nations last week in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Now, the PM says it’s just a three-year trial, and that it’s meant to help fill labor shortages here in Belize. But Lead Opposition Senator Patrick Faber isn’t convinced. He’s calling the deal ‘sinister’ and says while the Opposition supports regional integration in principle, free movement needs to be weighed carefully, especially when it comes to job opportunities for Belizeans.
Patrick Faber, Lead Opposition Senator
“It means that CARICOM nationals who qualify as skilled workers, artisans as professionals or entrepreneurs will be able to enter Belize without visa and work permit. Artisans with CVQs. It is actually what ITVET should be churning out when they train a carpenter, a welder or train a carpenter or a mechanic. But our ITVETs have not worked the way they are suppose to work, so that put us at a disadvantage. But the ITVETs in the Caribbean are working. The have well qualified welders, well qualified electricians, they have well qualified carpenters and plumbers and they are now able to hop on a boat, plane, train, without a visa, work permit to get the jobs that Belizeans are struggling to get, or if they get, they don’t have the wherewithal or proper skills, because we have failed to produce quality skilled labors in this country. It will also include media workers. All the media people need to be on notice. Those that don’t have qualification in the media realm, they will hire those people. Nurses will be able to come and fill those gaps, teachers and other professionals. We have agreed to put all of that into effect by October first 20205. Let me repeat, we are a hundred percent for regional integration.”
