Dear Editor,
Here we go again. The Treaty of Chaguaramas was not drafted by the untutored and the unlettered, but by the brightest and the best of the region's bureaucrats, intellectuals and politicians. The nuances of the law governing trade and travel, among other issues, was never intended as bedtime reading material for a mass audience. It was meant to apply to a wide range of individuals, from experienced, well-travelled business types to the informal commercial sales ladies of Coronation Market.
Why then would our movers and shakers characterise what the treaty affords as "free movement" when, apart from a few categories of individuals and holders of skills certificates, all it really affords is extended visiting hours of up to six months? This is neither "free" nor "movement".
Therein, once again, lies the genesis of our problem: the failure of those to whom leadership is entrusted to communicate effectively and accurately in simple language with the led. But with one notable and welcome exception, we are world champions at talking, talking, talking.
Errol W A Townshend
Scarborough, Ontario
Canada
ewat@rogers.com
Free movement or just visiting hours?
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Here we go again. The Treaty of Chaguaramas was not drafted by the untutored and the unlettered, but by the brightest and the best of the region's bureaucrats, intellectuals and politicians. The nuances of the law governing trade and travel, among other issues, was never intended as bedtime reading material for a mass audience. It was meant to apply to a wide range of individuals, from experienced, well-travelled business types to the informal commercial sales ladies of Coronation Market.
Why then would our movers and shakers characterise what the treaty affords as "free movement" when, apart from a few categories of individuals and holders of skills certificates, all it really affords is extended visiting hours of up to six months? This is neither "free" nor "movement".
Therein, once again, lies the genesis of our problem: the failure of those to whom leadership is entrusted to communicate effectively and accurately in simple language with the led. But with one notable and welcome exception, we are world champions at talking, talking, talking.
Errol W A Townshend
Scarborough, Ontario
Canada
ewat@rogers.com
Free movement or just visiting hours?
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