Belizeans Set to Live and Work Freely in Four CARICOM States

Barbados, Belize, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are set to implement full free movement among themselves from 1 October 2025.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) explained in a statement on Monday, “By implementing the full free movement regime, these four countries have agreed to grant their nationals the right to enter, leave and re-enter, move freely, reside, work and remain indefinitely in the receiving Member State, without the need for a work or residency permit.”

CARICOM added that nationals will also be able to “access emergency and primary health care, and public primary and secondary education, within the means of the receiving Member State.”

This decision was established at the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of CARICOM Heads of Government. CARICOM added that the arrangement falls under the Enhanced Cooperation Chapter of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.

The Chapter allows groups of at least three Member States to advance integration among themselves if the objectives cannot be attained by the Community as a whole. The arrangement expands what is offered under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

In July of this year, Belize’s Prime Minister John Briceño said, “If you were to talk to the private sector, they will tell you we need more people; we need more workers, desperately, not only at the lower level but also in middle management and upper management, so we are hoping that by doing that, instead of bringing people from England or anywhere in the world, our CARICOM brothers and sisters can come to Belize to help in the development of this country.”

Meanwhile, not everyone’s on board with Belize’s bold move. Lead Opposition Senator Patrick Faber expressed concerns about job competition and migration control. He said in July 2025, “Dah weh the people deh wah live, because we done nuh have enough housing here… The government can’t take care of the existing citizenry of this country, and now they will bring people for us to take care of them.”