ST. LUCIA: House of Assembly passes law to join Caribbean single market
Feb. 9, 2006, 1:13PM
By The Associated Press
© 2006 The Associated Press
CASTRIES, St. Lucia (AP) _ St. Lucia's House of Assembly has unanimously approved a bill that paves the way for the island to join the Caribbean Single Market Economy.
The bill has to be passed by the country's Senate and governor general, which was considered a formality. St. Lucia will join the Caribbean Community's single market in June, said Prime Minister Kenneth Anthony.
St. Lucia would have been ready to participate in the single market in January _ when the first six countries joined _ but had decided to "share solidarity" by waiting for the other East Caribbean states, Anthony said on Feb. 8.
All but two of the Caribbean Community's 15 members were to join the single market, which was designed to allow goods, services and skilled workers to move more easily throughout the region.
Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad launched the single market in January. The Bahamas has decided to stay out of it due to fears the free movement of professionals would over run its work force, while Haiti has been suspended from the community because of political instability.
Leaders from St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, Antigua and Dominica have said they will join the single market between March and June.
Feb. 9, 2006, 1:13PM
By The Associated Press
© 2006 The Associated Press
CASTRIES, St. Lucia (AP) _ St. Lucia's House of Assembly has unanimously approved a bill that paves the way for the island to join the Caribbean Single Market Economy.
The bill has to be passed by the country's Senate and governor general, which was considered a formality. St. Lucia will join the Caribbean Community's single market in June, said Prime Minister Kenneth Anthony.
St. Lucia would have been ready to participate in the single market in January _ when the first six countries joined _ but had decided to "share solidarity" by waiting for the other East Caribbean states, Anthony said on Feb. 8.
All but two of the Caribbean Community's 15 members were to join the single market, which was designed to allow goods, services and skilled workers to move more easily throughout the region.
Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad launched the single market in January. The Bahamas has decided to stay out of it due to fears the free movement of professionals would over run its work force, while Haiti has been suspended from the community because of political instability.
Leaders from St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent, Antigua and Dominica have said they will join the single market between March and June.
