Freedom of movement for CARICOM nationals to begin June 1

Prime Minister of Barbados and chairman of CARICOM, Mia Amor Mottley, has announced that the regional body is on the brink of finalizing arrangements that will enable the freedom of movement for CARICOM nationals starting June 1.

This major development was one of the key outcomes of the 48th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, which concluded on Friday at the Wyndham Grand Barbados Sam Lord’s Castle Resort.

Speaking at the closing press conference, attended both in person and online, Mottley emphasized that regional leaders had agreed on a mechanism to allow smaller groups of CARICOM member states to implement policies independently, rather than requiring full consensus.

“If that protocol for enhanced cooperation is completely ratified by the end of March, it opens the way for a number of countries to… the possibility of freedom of movement for CARICOM nationals from June 1, with the according rights of primary and secondary education, emergency health care, and access also to primary health care,” Mottley explained.

She noted that this move is critical for the region, which—except for Haiti—faces a declining and aging population. She urged CARICOM to move beyond the slow, gradual approach to integration and allow willing nations to take the lead in making freedom of movement a reality in 2025.