Gov’t Must Stand Firm on Free Movement for Artistes

Minister of State for Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, is urging Government to stand firm on the issue of free movement within CARICOM for all professionals, including dancers, singers and artists.

"We must stand against the arbitrary banning of our entertainers from performing on shows in some of these countries,” Mr. Crawford said on July 17, in his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Crawford stated that over the years, treaties have been enforced almost solely for tangible goods, while adding that “we police the blocking of patties, beer and other manufactured items while seemingly ignoring the enforcement of these treaties for services."

"I encourage the continued efforts for our tangible goods, but remind this honourable house that Jamaica is a net exporter of services and, therefore, increased effort must be placed on the protection of the service sectors," he stated.

He also argued that one of the few ways Jamaica will benefit, even from the Economic Partnership Agreement, is through services in general and entertainment in particular.

By Latonya Linton, JIS Reporter