Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines will allow nationals to move freely across their borders starting October 1, marking a major step toward regional integration, though St Lucian Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has criticised the process as frustratingly slow.
The announcement came from Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness, the new CARICOM Chairman, at the close of the 49th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Montego Bay. The move advances the long-delayed CARICOM Free Movement Agreement, a cornerstone of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), which aims to enable seamless movement for skilled workers and other eligible groups without work permits.
Holness acknowledged the sluggish progress: “On the CARICOM Single Market and Economy, we agreed that the pace and scope of implementation was just too slow, and we agreed that we will do everything in our power to speed up implementation.”
He confirmed the four nations’ commitment to full free movement under the Protocol on Enhanced Cooperation, while Jamaica works to resolve domestic hurdles.
The initiative was initially slated for June 1, 2025, after a February 2025 agreement by 15 member states. However, Pierre, who has long voiced concerns over regional insularity, has argued that political will lags behind public demand.
“So it’s going to be the people who have to place the demand on politicians,” Pierre said last week. “The people are the ones who must say that this must stop.”
He traced the reluctance back to the collapse of the West Indies Federation, quoting Trinidad and Tobago’s late Prime Minister Eric Williams’ statement, “1 from 10 leaves 0”, following the withdrawal of Jamaica from the federation.
“So yes, it has been a long, long process,” Pierre added. “I think the young people are the ones who will drive this, but the process has been slow and frustrating sometimes.”
Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has been a vocal advocate. At February’s summit, she stressed that ageing populations demand accelerated action: “It is necessary to speed up freedom of movement rather than continue with a gradual approach.”
The 2025 agreement also guaranteed migrants access to primary and secondary education and healthcare.
