Belize has joined three other Caribbean nations in committing to implement full free movement of people under the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) by 1 October 2025.
The announcement was made at the close of the CARICOM Heads of Government meeting held this week in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
CARICOM Chairman Andrew Holness confirmed the development, stating, “We are now moving from applying administratively the protocol on enhanced cooperation, which all member states have signed with now four countries: Barbados, Belize, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica, reiterating their willingness to implement full free movement under the protocol on October 1, 2025.”
While the free movement of people is a founding principle of the CSME, implementation across the region has been slow. This latest agreement marks a renewed step forward for regional integration.