BVI: Immigration and the impact on Caribbean unity

Here's a thought-provoking piece out of the BVI.

In the judgement of CARICOM General Secretary Edwin Carrington issues of regional unity are at stake. The whole concept of freedom of movement without visas between member countries is being threatened. Basically small countries are afraid of being overwhelmed by immigrants from the larger CARICOM member countries.
     
     Anguilla has recently moved to impose visa requirements for Jamaica and Guyana. Concern is rising in Antigua as a recent survey found that 35% of the population were non-Antiguan.
     
     Even in the Bahamas which is on the verge of CARICOM membership, this is an anticipated problem. Boatloads of Haitian refugees have been ending up in Bahamas and sometimes Jamaica. They have been sent back to Haiti as fast as they arrived. Now that Haiti is a full fledged member of CARICOM, there is concern that they might be entitled to stay as there are no visa requirements for CARICOM members. When we consider that Haiti has a population of 8.5 million, more than all the rest of CARICOM countries put together (7.5 million) and 4 times the next most populous country, Jamaica. It also has the poorest population by far. Massive influx of Haitian refugees could happen without visa restrictions which would easily plunge both destination countries into economic chaos. They do not have the resources and facilities to accommodate such an influx. Mr. Carrington seems intent on convincing these countries of the need to continue this visa-free movement between members. Hot Calaloo disagrees. The merit of visa-free travel between member states is not that big a factor in the unity of CARICOM. On the other hand if nationals start to feel that immigrants are threatening their jobs in large numbers, it will easily escalate into ill will and worse, which will be a real threat to CARICOM unity. Until each country has the resources to handle that type of unrestricted immigration, I think they should continue visa requirements.

I can't help thinking of the problems the U.S. are having with illegal immigration and wishing that the debate could be presented as frankly as it is here without cries of racism being heard. Race is the most significant difference between the U.S. and Caricom countries on this matter. However, that is an inter-race, as opposed to intra-race difference, as it is with Antigua. Yet, nobody is going to accuse Anguilla and Antigua of racism for not wanting to be over-run by foreigners.

The open secret of the Caribbean is that nobody wants the Haitians. Trinidad doesn't, Jamaica doesn't, Barbados doesn't. Who does? In the eyes of the English-speaking Caribbean, the Haitians are distrusted because they are regarded as not Christian since vodoun is their state religion. That, apart from the negative public perception of Haiti, makes other islanders regard Haitians as backward and primitive. Confirming this view is that Haitians are seen as mostly poor and ill-educated people who will require social services that many of these countries cannot afford to provide. Nobody considers that the Haitians, once they have settled in, are extremely hard-working and productive people whose efforts can enhance the economy of their host country. Ask the U.S.

Free travel within Caricom countries? Not if you might want to come and stay.