Eustace unhappy with PM’s handling of immigration issue

Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace is also concerned about the way Vincentians are treated when they are processed by immigration officials in some Caribbean territories.{{more}}

He however vehemently disagrees with the way Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves recently addressed the issue.

“I agree with that concern, but you don’t have to blast it across the waters,” declared Eustace as he responded to the ants nest that was raised by Gonsalves’ ministerial address in Parliament on Thursday, May 14th.

Eustace said that if a Prime Minister has such a concern, it should have been dealt with in a proper way.

Dr Gonsalves threatened to quit the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) over the discrimination he felt that Vincentians are undergoing at the hands of immigration officers.

“What kind of foolishness is that about withdrawing from the CSME,” Eustace responded when he spoke to SEARCHLIGHT earlier this week.

Eustace said that Gonsalves’ statement in parliament contained a lot of overkill and wasn’t good statesmanship.

Eustace said that the leaders of CARICOM have to continually work on the situation to get the free movement of CARICOM nationals working.

The 49th meeting of the OECS Heads of government is set for the British Virgin Islands from May 20th to 22nd, and the Barbadian Prime Minister David Thompson is expected to attend to address the immigration issue among others.

However, due to pressing work in relation to the ongoing constitutional reform process, Prime Minister Gonsalves will not attend. St. Vincent and the Grenadines will instead by represented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sir Louis Straker.(KJ)