CARICOM Nationals in Barbados Seek Accreditation for Qualifications from BAC Sees Surge, BAC Executive Director Discloses

There has been a significant surge in Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nationals seeking accreditation for their qualifications from the Barbados Accreditation Council (BAC), Executive Director Lisa Gale has disclosed.

So far this year, the BAC has processed approximately 226 applications for the recognition of skilled nationals, a figure that is on track to surpass last year’s total.

Reflecting on the numbers, Gale told Barbados TODAY: “For 2023, there were over 500 applications, but all of them were not successful. We issued 496 of those skilled national [certificates].”

“Before the end of the first quarter of this financial year, we are on stream to reach some 400 applications, which means that we are going to surpass the 500 mark, which would have almost been made in 2023.” Applications were made by holders of graduate and associate degrees, domestic workers, artisans and teachers, Gale said.

Over the 20 years since the council was established, the types of qualifications being sought have evolved. Initially dominated by graduate qualifications, the trend has shifted towards artisans and household domestics.

“When we started in the early stage everybody was applying for the skilled national certificate in the graduate category,” the BAC chief said. “We then moved to the artists, where we had a lot of hairdressers, barbers and persons in the beauty industry. Now we are moving to the household domestics.”

Gale attributed the move to recent policy changes, particularly in the household domestic category which now requires only employers’ reference letters.

She also revealed that the majority of the candidates in the household domestic category are Jamaicans, indicating a growing influx from neighbouring countries.

“I’ve also seen one Dominican applicant and one or two Guyanese in that category,” Gale said. “We have a number of Trinidadians applying under the graduate category who have also surpassed the [locals] so we no longer have Barbadians holding any of the top of anything in the applications right now.”

It is believed that the influx of CARICOM nationals utilising the services of the BAC stems from the streamlining of the accreditation process which allows for shorter wait times and less red tape.

“It is understood that in Barbados, our timeline is much shorter than in the other CARICOM countries,” said Gale. “We no longer have the long wait. We don’t need a police certificate of character anymore, and the process is very smooth.

“After your qualification has been reviewed and verified, we approve it internally, then it goes out to our chairman for signature, and it’s then sealed by the board secretary, and voila, you have your full national certificate.” (SM)