Labour Minister Dr Errol Cort has urged more Antiguans and Barbudans to apply for the Caricom Skilled Nationals Certificate, which will entitle them to work in other Caricom countries without a work permit.
The five categories eligible for certification under the Free Movement of Skilled Nationals Agreement are university graduates, media workers, sports persons, artistes and musicians.
Dr Cort spoke Friday morning, April15th, in the Senate, as he presented the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Code Amendment Act 2011, which will give legal effect to Caricom nationals gaining employment in Antigua without a work permit.
He described the certificate as a very valuable and important document, which could open many doors of opportunity for citizens of that country.
While expressing pleasure “that a number of our nationals have applied for and received the skills certificate,” the Leader of Government Business in the Senate clearly felt the avenue was still very under-utilised by locals.
He revealed that 47 such certificates were approved last year, of which 32 were for citizens of Antigua & Barbuda. Three were from Jamaica, one each from Dominica, Grenada, St Vincent and Trinidad. Seven were from Guyana and two were from St Lucia.
Dr Cort disclosed that most of the Antiguans applying for skilled national certificates (as well as those presenting them for approval from other territories) were university graduates, with only a very tiny percentage being media workers and sports persons.
Most of the skilled national entrants to Antigua are from Guyana, and their possession of the certificate entitles them to indefinite stay in Antigua & Barbuda. Dr Cort disclosed that, with the 31 approvals, 65 residencies had been granted as a result of spouses and dependencies relocating with the certificate holders. (Excerpt from Antigua Observer)
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