Community (CARICOM) Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, on Friday, 24 July welcomed the Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Ms. Amy Pope, for a courtesy meeting on cooperation on regional migration between CARICOM and the IOM.
The discussions included ongoing collaboration on the draft CARICOM Migration Governance Framework (CMGF), as well as issues related to the movement of persons within the Caribbean.
Perspectives were shared on the historical nature of migration in the Region and on labour movement under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The meeting also noted that ageing populations and outward migration continue to contribute to labour force gaps across the Community.
The IOM indicated its continued commitment to working with CARICOM, including through its network of partners, to support regional priorities on migration.
Dr Barnett was accompanied by Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, Ms. Alison Drayton; Assistant Secretary-General, Foreign and Community Relations, Ms. Elizabeth Solomon; Chef de Cabinet, Office of the Secretary-General, Ambassador Janice Miller.
Ms. Pope was accompanied by the Regional Director, IOM, Mr. Diego Beltrand; Chief of Mission, IOM, Caribbean, Mr. Patrice Quesada, and Mr. Gary Karr of the Department of Media and Communications, IOM.