Barbados offers amnesty for illegal CARICOM residents

Barbados announced on Tuesday that it is allowing a six-month amnesty for nationals of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries who have been living in Barbados illegally.

Prime Minister David ThompsonDavid Thompson made the announcement in Parliament, reiterating his government's commitment to the regional integration process. He said a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Immigration established to develop a new and comprehensive Immigration policy for Barbados made the recommendation for the amnesty.

“With effect from 1st June 2009, all undocumented CARICOM nationals who entered Barbados prior to the 31st December, 2005 and remained undocumented for a period of eight years or more, are required to come forward and have their status regularised,” he said.

However Thompson appeared to be ambiguous when he acknowledged that “current levels are unacceptably high, increasingly difficult to control and pose potentially negative socio-economic challenges for the country".

He added, “While it cannot be denied that some of these persons have made and continue to make a contribution to the development of Barbados…the problem of illegal immigration can no longer be ignored,” Thompson said.

Anyone who wishes to take advantage of the government's offer must submit an application to the Immigration Department before December 1, 2009 and satisfy a number of requirements.

Apart from satisfying the residence requirement applicants must provide proof that they are currently employed and must show evidence of their employment status. Thompson said each person must pass a security background check.

The prime minister, who is the minister responsible for immigration, also noted that each person would be screened individually. "Applicants with three or more dependents will not automatically qualify for status...each case will be considered on its individual merit”, he said.

Thompson warned that anyone who is in Barbados illegally and has not taken advantage of the amnesty offer would be removed.