To mark the historic occasion, CARICOM Secretary General His Excellency Edwin Carrington has issued the following statement:

My friends of the Caribbean Community,

Today is an historic day for us as we inaugurate the CARICOM Single Domestic Space (SDS).

With effect from today, 1st February, 2007 and until May 15th, 10 countries will constitute this Single Domestic Space.

They are the nine host venue countries of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 - Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago - together with Dominica, which though not a host venue, has opted to participate.

The ICC Cricket World Cup will run from March 4 to April 28 2007.

After the International Olympics and World Cup Football, it is the third largest sporting event in the world. Over this period, sixteen (16) participating countries will compete in a total of fifty-one (51) matches, watched by an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion television viewers. Tens of thousands of visitors are expected in the Region for the tournament. Of course, this period also coincides with the peak of our tourist season and against the background of numerous cultural and sporting events such as carnivals, music festivals and Sailing Week, all of which would normally attract an influx of international visitors.

I need not remind you that the Caribbean is the smallest region ever to host an event of this magnitude. Equally, it is the first time that nine sovereign states will be involved as the location of a global sporting event. This is further complicated by the fact that the matches will take place simultaneously across our countries which, of course, are all separated by water. Under normal circumstances this would mean the movement of thousands of persons through small, independent states with security checks and full passport inspections at each of the ten ports of entry.

No other host of this tournament has ever faced this challenge.

The planning for Cricket World Cup 2007 has, however, in its own way strengthened the Region’s unity. The challenge of our geography, that is a collection of generally small individual nation states, has led us to creatively work together towards achieving uniformity and common, internationally acceptable standards across each of the nine Host Venue States.

Indeed, the Single Domestic Space is a unique response to this set of unprecedented challenges. Therefore, as of this morning, ALL DOMESTIC TRAVELLERS should be accorded complete freedom of movement within the Single Domestic Space.

Such travellers, whatever their nationality, will NOT normally have to present their passports NOR have them stamped at ports of entry of the other countries within the Single Domestic Space. Persons are, however, still advised to travel with their passport in the event that it is needed for identification purposes.

Incidentally, this freedom of movement also fulfils the spirit of one of the basic objectives of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy as set out in Article 45 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas which states: “Member States commit themselves to the goal of free movement of their nationals within the Community.”

Travellers arriving FROM OUTSIDE of the Single Domestic Space, whatever their nationality, will have their passports stamped at the first port of entry into the Domestic Space. If not a national of an exempt country, they must also have the CARICOM Special Visa or other required documents such as the Special Entry Permit. Thereafter movement within the Single Domestic Space would be as for domestic travellers.

This ease of travel is also facilitated by the introduction of an Advanced Passenger Information System that will pre-screen all passengers arriving by air or by sea. It must be pointed out that this freedom and ease of travel will NOT be extended to anyone who has been the subject of a deportation order or who was requested to leave one of the participating Member States within the last five years or who has otherwise been categorized as a threat to the security of an individual State.

The Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community have agreed on the CARICOM Special Visa as a key component of the security of the Single Domestic Space. Apart from the security vetting it permits, it will allow visitors to use ONE visa and ONE application fee for entry into any or all of the 10 countries of the Single Domestic Space. Information on the arrangements for this VISA and the details of the VISA Issuing sites which have been established within the Region and around the world to facilitate those wishing to visit our shores, is readily available at www.caricomvisa.com .

The establishment of a CARICOM Intelligence Sharing Network and a Regional Intelligence Fusion Centre, to be jointly manned by CARICOM Member States, friendly third states and INTERPOL will further enhance the comprehensive security arrangements which the Community has sought to put in place to maintain a safe and secure environment for our citizens and our visitors.

We in this Region must spare no effort in seeking to ensure such an environment and to maintain the reputation of the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace.

The existence of the Single Domestic Space has already resulted in the strengthening of regional security and cooperation in intelligence-sharing, disaster preparedness, communications, health and tourism. The Secretary General of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation has indicated publicly that there are distinct advantages to be gained from the development of the resulting hassle-free, multi-destination travel among the countries of the Region.

The Heads of Government of CARICOM are confident that while the new Visa regime may create a bit of inconvenience for some, it will be a security benefit for all. Furthermore it will strengthen the integration effort.

This unparalleled level of cooperation will serve the Community in good stead as it moves generally to strengthen the ties that bind Caribbean people and more particularly, towards the complete establishment of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy.

The many steps taken over the last 30 years have led us to this point, where we can allow Caribbean people to do that which they have continually asked for – the right of ordinary citizens to move between our countries as we do our business and live our lives with an ease that reflects our common history, our common interests and our common future.

Let us, therefore, embrace this initiative over the next three months as we all welcome the world to our Caribbean shores.

May this be the dawn of a new era in the evolution of the Caribbean Community, a true co-mingling of Caribbean peoples.

I thank you.