A letter to the Hon Chet Greene. Non-nationals should be welcomed but Antiguans should not be treated as second class.

Dear Mr. Greene

I certainly share and endorse your sentiments, that the Caribbean region needs to collaborate and speak with one voice and also trade with each other, more now, than ever.

I will also agree that it is extremely important for us, here in Antigua and Barbuda to embrace our Caribbean brothers & sisters and similarily, the region embrace us.

Not only will the embracement make the region more self reliant and progressive but it will also make us, as a united economic block, more competitive and definitely a force to reckon with among our international counterparts on the global market. It is for one such reason that Caricom should never be overlooked.

Be that as it is, in this twin island state of 268, our citizens should not feel maligned neither be treated as second class citizens, in our own country. Charity always begins at home.

Many of these non-nationals come here on a mission. Their hearts, passion and love tends to be back at their home from wherever they come from. Therefore, the average foreign person do not come here to be that good Samaritan of primarily considering to develop our country.

Instead, it is my view that they are here to raid the country of what they can legally get. It is the laws that really forces them to contribute to the development of the state. They are only here because the economic grass is much greener to graze on, rather than being back home where they will prefer to be.

As a result, they make here as gateway to the bigger cities or as a safe haven to reside and in the mean time send monies back to their homeland to support their families and invest in properties etc. Of course, if I was in their shoe, I would do the same. However, while it is important to welcome them here, it is equally important that our locals should not be pushed aside to allow such to happen.

Presently, the country has high percentage of young graduants who are unemployed. On the flip side, many of our establishments have a high employment rate of non-nationals. Again, it is my view that the hospital seems to be one such place. Our schools & govt establishments are another.

I think a policy needs to be put in place to protect our citizens. Locals should be given first preference to enjoy the green pastures here.  The non-nationals on the otherhand, should be contracted for a year or two, and then recontracted if the vacant position was advertised and not being filled by any local.

Antigua should primarily be for Antiguans. Remember charity always begins at home!

Alex

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