Gopee-Scoon: Professionals can work in UK for 6 months under treaty

VARIOUS professionals and performers will be allowed to work in the UK for up to six months under a new treaty drafted between Cariforum (Caricom and Dominican Republic) and the United Kingdom, Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon told the House of Representatives on Friday.

She said 29 sectors of professional were covered, as she piloted a bill to give effect to the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Cariforum States (the Caribbean Community and the Dominican Republic) and the UK.

"These sectors cover professionals such as: accountants, tax advisers and bookkeepers, architects, engineers and urban planners, doctors, dentists and veterinarians, midwives and nurses, physiotherapists and paramedical personnel, computer technicians, researchers, chefs, tourist guide services, fashion models, translation and interpretation services and advertising personnel."

Trinidad and Tobago nationals who are contractual service suppliers, who wish to supply their services to the UK temporarily (not exceeding six months), can do so once a contract has been secured with a UK firm, she said.

"Independent professionals or self-employed persons who fall into the following categories can also move to the UK temporarily to provide their services: accountants, tax advisers and bookkeepers, architects, engineers and urban planners, computer technicians, market researchers, management consultants."

The EPA treaty allows duty-free exports of goods and services between Cariforum and the UK. Cariforum-UK relations were previously included in a 2010 EPA between Cariforum and the European Union (EU) – which still covers most European countries – but since the UK's 2016 "Brexit" vote to leave the EU a new treaty was needed between Cariforum and the UK.

Gopee-Scoon said the new treaty was basically a replication of the old, with no new advantages to anyone.

She said the EPA also supports development of the region's cultural sector so as to foster greater social cohesion, vibrant communities, youth engagement, job creation and development of a national and regional identity and create opportunities for collaboration with the UK.

"This also ties in with this Government’s diversification agenda through the development of the creative sector.

"In our original negotiation with the EU, there were several sensitive sectors which were protected, for example: frozen animal meats, fish fillets, shrimp, lobster, milk and creams, butter, cheese, honey, cabbage, lettuce, peas, cassava, potatoes, grapefruit, watermelon, papaya and rice.

"I assure you that under the Cariforum-UK EPA, these sectors remain protected."

Gopee-Scoon said TT's National Trade Policy 2019-2023 saw the UK market as having untapped export potential for TT, giving figures showing a recent rise in TT exports to the UK.

She said in 2019 the UK was TT’s fifth highest export market within the EU, with an exported value of TT$602 million, while in 2020 the UK was TT’s third highest export market in the EU countries, with an exported value of TT$691.3 million.

"The passing of this bill will ensure that the preferences afforded to our existing and future exporters will be maintained."