Dominica: Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit has spoken on the widely regarded topic of regional travel during the 48th meeting of the CARICOM Heads of State. The meeting, which was hosted from February 19 to February 21 became a platform for varied discussions and implementations.
During the meeting, PM Skerrit reflected on the importance of improving regional travel, connectivity and more. For this development, all the nations have for work on increasing their partners in airlift sectors.
The Prime Minister suggested that the nations can make regional air travel more affordable by rethinking the airport taxes that individual nations charge. Another recommendation made by PM Skerrit was the development of a regional ferry network between the island-nations of the Caribbean.
The Prime Minister said that government support and intervention is crucial for the success of the initiative as there are many important destinations that ferries can service. However, Skerrit believes that the private businesses can not survive in the absence of government subsidies.
The officials have shared that it is important for the government to support endeavours in regional travel. He took the opportunity to highlight the island of Nevis, sister to St Kitts in the federation of St Kitts and Nevis.
He highlighted that in the absence of a regional carrier like LIAT, or government support, it is difficult to get to the isle of Nevis. With this development, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of government intervention in regional travel.
Another topic that the Prime Minister spoke passionately for, during the CARICOM Heads of the State Meeting, was CARICOM Free Movement. The Prime Minster, prior to the meeting had pledged to discuss this issue during his appearance in Barbados for the 48th CARICOM Heads of the State Meeting.
The Prime Minister handles the responsibility for labour (Including intra-Community movement of skills) in the CARICOM Quasi-Cabinet. He highlighted that he is not in support of the idea of a selected category of people getting the opportunity to move and work freely within CARICOM and said every Caribbean national should have the opportunity.