By Admin,Caricom Heads

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As of Thursday, September 18, 2025, Preparations for the full implementation of free movement were on the agenda at a regional meeting on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Representatives from Dominica, Barbados, Belize, St. Vincent and the Grenadines convened to discuss the arrangement, which is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

CARICOM shared in a release that the meeting aimed to coordinate efforts, share updates, and finalize steps towards enabling their nationals to move seamlessly across borders.

The four nations have agreed to grant their citizens the right to enter, exit, and re-enter each other’s territories without restrictions, as well as to move freely, reside, work, and stay indefinitely in the participating Member State without the requirement of work or residency permits. This development aligns with a decision made by CARICOM Heads of Government in July 2025.

Reports are that discussions during the session primarily centered on the administrative frameworks necessary to facilitate free movement under the enhanced cooperation initiative, as well as strategies for public sensitization. It was confirmed that many of the required systems are nearly ready for deployment by the October start date.

Emphasis was placed on public education efforts to ensure citizens are aware of their rights, including access to emergency and primary healthcare services, as well as primary and secondary education, within the host countries.

This initiative on free movement is part of the broader Enhanced Cooperation Chapter of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. According to the treaty, the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government has the authority to permit groups of at least three member states to pursue deeper integration among themselves when it is determined that achieving certain objectives within the entire community would not be feasible within a reasonable timeframe.

CARICOM also explained in the release that the expanded free movement rights are an extension of the provisions under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). It added that these rights are available to all CARICOM nationals from the four participating countries, marking a significant step forward in regional integration efforts, as noted in the CARICOM release.

“The other Member States participating in the CSME will continue to operate free movement under the existing Regimes (Skills, Services, Business Establishment and general facilitation of travel),” concluded the release.