The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is marking the first anniversary of its enhanced free movement arrangement, with more than 900 nationals benefiting from the initiative during its first year of implementation.
The arrangement involving Barbados, Belize, Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines took effect on October 1, 2025. Nationals of the participating countries can enter and remain indefinitely in the other participating states, work without a work permit and access specified services in accordance with national arrangements.
CARICOM said implementation reports from the four participating Member States confirm that the regime is operational and facilitating increased mobility, employment and access to specified services.
Barbados processed 918 applications between October 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026, with implementation generally proceeding smoothly through inter-agency coordination and public-information activities.
Belize granted free movement status to 146 beneficiaries, nine of whom subsequently registered with the Social Security Board.
Dominica processed five applications, while Saint Vincent and the Grenadines facilitated seven applications.
CARICOM said the reported total of 939 persons processed includes some nationals who were already residing in the participating Member States before October 1, 2025.
The regional body said all four participating Member States have introduced or advanced legislative, administrative and institutional measures to facilitate entry, residence, employment and access to specified contingent rights.
While the first year has demonstrated progress, implementation reports identified areas requiring further attention, particularly registration, data collection and management, monitoring and reporting, public awareness and stakeholder sensitisation.
Ambassador Wayne McCook, Assistant Secretary-General, CARICOM Single Market and Trade at the CARICOM Secretariat, said the experience of the four participating countries provides important lessons for other Member States preparing to join the arrangement.
“The experience of these four participating Member States demonstrates that Free Movement works. Their progress, lessons and emerging best practices provide a roadmap for other Member States who are preparing to join Free Movement allowed by CARICOM Heads of Government under Enhanced Cooperation,” said McCook.
He underscored CARICOM’s commitment to ensuring that the regime remains accessible, predictable and responsive to the needs of Community nationals as implementation enters its second year.
The enhanced free movement arrangement forms part of CARICOM’s broader efforts to deepen regional integration by reducing barriers to movement and employment among participating Member States.
The first anniversary marks another step toward the Community’s goal of creating greater opportunities for CARICOM nationals to live, work and access services across participating Member States.
Source: Village Voice News
