[1] Migration in the Caribbean: Current Trends, Opportunities and Challenges Working Papers on Migration
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Working Papers on Migration WORKING PAPER - I Migration In The Caribbean: Current Trends, Opportunities And Challenges [1] Working Papers on Migration Working Papers on Migration WORKING PAPER - I WORKING PAPER - I Table of Contents A. List of acronyms 6 B. PresentationB. 7 1. Introduction 11 1.1 Executive Summary 11 1.2 A general outlook of migration in the Caribbean 15 1.3 Outline of the report 17 1.4 Theoretical perspectives on migration 18 Data1.5 24 1.6 Regional socio-economic context 25 2. Migratory flows and trends in the Caribbean 33 2.1 The demographics of migration 33 2.2 Caribbean migration to North America and Europe 37 Migration to North America 37 IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits Migration to Europe 38 migrants and society. 2.3 Intraregional migration 40 2.4 North-South migration 41 As an intergovernmental organization, IOM acts with its partners in the internatio- 2.5 South-South extra-regional migration 43 nal community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; ad- vance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic develo- 2.6 Irregular migration 44 pment through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of 3. Migration and Development in the Caribbean – migrants. Challenges and Opportunities 49 3.1 Human rights violations 49 Publisher: International Organization for Migration – Regional Office for Central America, North America and the Caribbean 3.2 Brain drain and replacement 51 Edificio Sabana Business Center, Piso 7. Boulevard Ernesto Rohrmoser, 3.3 Natural environment and migration 53 San José, Costa Rica. 3.4 Remittance flows and diaspora organisations 55 Tel:(506) 2212-5300 Remittances 55 Fax: (506) 2222-0590 E-mail: [email protected] Diaspora organisations 57 Internet: www.rosanjose.iom.int © 2017 International Organization for Migration (IOM) ISBN Pending All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mecha- nical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher or of the authors. [2] Migration in the Caribbean: current trends, opportunities and challenges Migration In The Caribbean: Current Trends, Opportunities And Challenges [3] Working Papers on Migration WORKING PAPER - I 4. Institutional and legal context 59 4.1. Interstate organisations 59 4.2 International conventions 60 4.3 National policies and legislations 61 Equality and freedom from discrimination 66 Citizenship 66 Residency 67 Entry requirements and deportation 67 Irregular status and deportation 67 Recruitment of labour 68 permitsWork 68 Legislation on human trafficking 68 Legislation on refugees Legislationon 70 Return migrant benefits 71 Other policies Other 71 5. Country Overviews 73 5.1 Antigua and Barbuda 73 5.2 Bahamas 5.2 75 5.3 Belize 5.3 76 5.4 Cuba 5.4 80 5.5 Dominican Republic 81 WORKING PAPER 1 5.6 Guyana 5.6 85 5.7 Haiti 5.7 87¶ 5.8 Jamaica 5.8 89 Migration In The Caribbean: 5.9 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 92 Current Trends, Opportunities And Challenges 5.10 Suriname 5.10 94 Antigua and Barbuda 5.11 Trinidad and Tobago 97 Bahamas Belize Cuba 6. Conclusions6. 101 Dominican Republic 6.1 Discussion 6.1 101 Guyana 6.2 Policy recommendations 102 Haiti 6.3 Suggestions for further research 104 Jamaica Literature107 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 112Internet Suriname Trinidad and Tobago Annex113 [4] Migration in the Caribbean: current trends, opportunities and challenges Working Papers on Migration Working Papers on Migration WORKING PAPER - I WORKING PAPER - I List of acronyms Presentation This working paper provides an overview of the migration situation in the Caribbean. The document shows migration related facts, highlights migration trends, and discusses CARICOM Caribbean Community current and future challenges for migration governance in the region. CSME Caribbean Single Market and Economy The countries included in this study are all major countries of origin, transit and desti- ECLAC/CEPAL Economic Commission of Latin America and the Caribbean nation of important migration flows. FDI Foreign Direct Investment GDP Gross Domestic Product Due to its enormous geographic and demographic diversity, the Caribbean is a chal- HDI Human Development Index lenging region to study when focusing on migration. The region is comprised of states IDP Internally Displaced Person with fewer than 100,000 inhabitants, countries of over 10 million, small and large islands, ILO International Labour Organisation and inland territories, and countries that range from low income to very high income. Language, ethnic composition, and political systems vary, but, despite this diversity, the IOM/OIM International Organisation for Migration region is connected through a common history that was shaped by the very process of OAS Organisation of American States migration itself: an interconnectedness that is sustained and reinforced by a modern ODA Official Development Aid transnational culture, which is facilitated by modern communications and transport OECD Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development technology as well as regional integration initiatives. OECS Organisation of East Caribbean States UNDP United Nations Development Programme The Caribbean is both a region of origin, transit, and destination of extra-regional and UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees intraregional migration flows, and experiences considerable return migration. Further- UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime more, as it is situated between North and South America, the Caribbean serves as a transit point for irregular migrants from South America and elsewhere trying to reach the United States which consistently attracts large numbers of Caribbean migrants – both regular and irregular – from most of its different islands and territories. In short, migration in the re- gion is anything but linear, rather characterised by complex, reciprocal flows. The findings of this research have shown some of the main current and future migration governance challenges in the Caribbean. Some of the most important are: The integration of deported and returned migrants. Return – voluntary and forced – of Caribbean migrants to the region is signalled as a growing trend (Thomas-Hope, 2005). The United States, Caribbean countries and others, deport convicted criminal irregular migrants, and others in irregular status, back to their country of origin. These returnees often find themselves with no social network in the country they left years prior, increasing the risk of repetition of criminal be- haviour. It is necessary to develop social programs aimed at integrating returned migrants and preventing future irregular emigration of those who have been re- turned. [6] Migration in the Caribbean: current trends, opportunities and challenges Migration In The Caribbean: Current Trends, Opportunities And Challenges [7] Working Papers on Migration Working Papers on Migration WORKING PAPER - I WORKING PAPER - I Countering/coping the loss of human capital. Some developed countries have The human rights situation of irregular migrants, and especially trafficking liberalized their policies for the admission of skilled professionals with tertiary ed- victims. The public perception of irregular migrants is often negative, while they ucation, such as nurses. The demand is largely met by professionals from develop- are entitled to fundamental human rights, regardless of their migratory status. ing countries. In the Caribbean, at least Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Toba- Often irregular migrants are perceived by employers and hosting communities as go are negatively affected by the emigration of nurses, and Haiti by skilled persons with inferior rights and frequently suffer abuses and violations to their emigration in general. It is important for these countries to analyse the impacts of actual rights. A rights based policy approach to irregular migration is recom- the so-called “brain drain”, weighing if they are balanced by remittances or immi- mended. Highly recommended is the ratification of international instruments such gration of replacement professionals, and to analyse what policies can be devel- as the Convention on the Rights of all Migrant Workers and Members of their Fam- oped to address the negative effects of this loss of human capital. ilies, which has not been ratified by a majority of Caribbean countries1, and the adaptation and implementation of anti-trafficking legislation. Specifically, the -hu Capturing the benefits of migration and encouraging return migration. Much man rights situation of Haitian migrants in many of the countries of destination is can be gained by engaging the diaspora community, for example by offering in- one of the main challenges and concerns in the Caribbean. centives for the investment of remittances in social projects or by offering incen- tives for migrants and their descendants to return to the home country after, cap- IOM believes that it is crucial to address all these challenges, in order to achieve IOM’s turing social remittances. vision for a world in which migration is well-governed. Well-governed migration is also vital to ensure a safe, orderly and regular migration. Good migration governance Environmentally induced migration. Several Caribbean islands are especially should be, hence, a high priority for all Caribbean countries. IOM remains ready to sup- vulnerable