The signs identifying the immigration lines at the V. C. Bird International Airport have been changed. This change took place on Wednesday 23rd June and forms part of Antigua and Barbuda's obligations under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas for the full implementation of the CARICOM Single Market & Economy (CSME).

The sign which previously was labeled 'Antigua & Barbuda Nationals' now reads 'Nationals/ CARICOM Nationals'. There are therefore now three lines designated for CARICOM Nationals, including Antiguans and Barbudans and five other lines designated for Non-CARICOM Nationals or Visitors. Antigua and Barbuda was the last outstanding Member State to implement this obligation.

These common lines for citizens, residents and CARICOM Nationals facilitate intra-regional travel. Therefore an Antiguan and Barbudan citizen traveling to any of the other thirteen (13) CARICOM Countries will be facilitated in the same immigration lines as the Nationals of that country. This ensures that that there is travel free of harassment or the imposition of impediments.

Previously, in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as all other CARICOM Countries, there was at least one line reserved for the Nationals of that country, as a way of facilitating speedy movement through immigration points. However, the whole thrust of the CSME is to see the individual Member States as One Community, which therefore means that any special treatments afforded to Nationals should now be extended to include all Community Nationals.

Antiguans and Barbudans need not feel disenfranchised within their own country or as a second-class citizen because we now have to stand in line with our CARICOM brothers and sisters. Instead we should be proud to know that we are first-class CARICOM citizens - being able to receive the same treatment in any CARICOM country as if we were at home. This ability to enter, leave and re-enter any CARICOM Member State of our choice is an essential factor in forging a closer union among the people of the Community.

With the implementation of the CSME these are the type of gradual changes that Nationals of Antigua and Barbuda will experience when the discriminatory restrictions to the movement of Community Nationals are removed, as spelled out under Chapter three of the Revised Treaty. The move towards a deeper integration, breaths a certain level of uncertainty as to its workings, which of course is a natural reaction to change. As we become more aware of our immediate environment and the external forces which are propelling us to deepen and widen the integration process within the Region, our fears should be allayed if not removed all together. Understanding the process which we are a part of will allow us to accept these changes as they come.

It is this change of thinking that is required for the integration process to work. No one can take away our 'nationality'. We will always be Antiguans and Barbudans. However, the integration process of the CSME now affords us to extend our borders and to share a Caribbean identity based on our common values and history that is built upon the unique cultures of each Member State.

"Stronger together in building our Caribbean Civilization"

Submitted by
Antigua and Barbuda CSME Unit
Ministry of Finance & the Economy
Industry & Commerce Division
csmeunit@antigua.gov.ag