Georgetown : In recognition of the benefits derived from the Single Domestic Space (SDS) during the International Cricket Conference Cricket World Cup in 2007, Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Ministers of Transport are recommending its reintroduction.
The Ministers made the recommendation at their just-concluded one-day Special Meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) on Transportation held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Wednesday. Recommendations from the meeting will be presented to Heads of Government at their upcoming 34th Regular Meeting to be held in Trinidad and Tobago from 4-6 July at which Transportation will receive special attention.
The Ministers lamented that CARICOM nationals encountered unnecessary problems as they travelled across the Region and this was not only limited to scant regard paid to the CARICOM Passport which entitles holders to an automatic six-month stay in Member States. The Meeting recognized that there were challenges with respect to frequent security checks and co-operation between the regional airlines, among other things, which negatively affected the travelling public and had repercussions for business and tourism as well. The Ministers also agreed that much work had to be done to improve customer service among Border Control officers in the Region.
The Meeting agreed that the Conference of Heads of Government should be asked to revisit its decision to discontinue the inexpensive arm band system which facilitated hassle free regional travel during the World Cup, The success of that 2007 initiative was alluded to during the discussion, in particular its popularity with the citizens of the Community. A Single Domestic Space (SDS) involving ten CARICOM Member States was established for Cricket World Cup 2007. Among the features of the SDS were, freedom of movement for all domestic travellers and a Special Visa stamped at the first port of entry for travellers from outside the Region to allow hassle free movement among the participating SDS states. Measures to support the initiative included an Advanced Passenger Information System (APIS).
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