Free Movement Legislation gets full nod of approval
ON MONDAY, September 28, 2025, Members of Parliament gave full support to two pieces of legislation having to do with the free movement of people among four Caribbean Community (CARICOM) States, of which St Vincent and the Grenadines is one.
The Bills, presented by Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, came ahead of the October 1, 2025 initiative that allows the free movement of nationals between St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), Barbados, the Commonwealth of Dominica, and Belize. Nationals of these countries now have the right to enter, leave, and re-enter, move freely, reside, work and remain indefinitely in the mentioned countries without the need for a work or residency permit.
The Bills laid in Parliament and debated are, the Immigration Restriction (Amendment) Act, 2025, (updates provisions to support the free movement of people within the region); and the Protocol on Contingent Rights to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas- Establishing the Caribbean Community including the Caricom Single Market and Economy Bill, 2025 (gives legal effect to the CARICOM agreement granting contingent rights to nationals, their spouses, and dependents exercising free movement under the CSME or CARICOM Single Market and Economy).
Prime Minister Gonsalves said that now, when nationals move within these countries, their families are not disadvantaged, as spouses and children now have access to education and healthcare in host countries on a non-discriminatory basis, among other rights.
He said that free movement must be accompanied by contingent rights otherwise, people would be hamstrung. The Prime Minister also noted that if a person can move for work but their spouse or children cannot access education or healthcare, the right is hollow.
Click here to subscribe to read the full article in the E-paper!
Comments
