GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Barbados and Guyana have reached an agreement that will allow their nationals who hold a valid national identification card to be able to travel between the two countries without the need for a passport.
President Irfaan Ali of Guyana and Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados.The initiative comes as the two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries prepare to celebrate their 60th anniversary of political independence from Britain. Guyana is celebrating its independence today while Barbados will do so on November 30.
In a statement, the two countries said that the landmark travel arrangment comes into effect from July1, this year and gives practical expression to their shared history, deep friendship, and enduring commitment to Caribbean integration.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley expressing satisfaction with the new initiative, said that it represents another significant step forward in regional cooperation, south-south collaboration, and people-centred governance.
“It demonstrates what can be achieved when Caribbean nations act with trust, ambition, and a shared commitment to improving the lives of our people. As our two nations mark 60 years of Independence, it is fitting that we take this step together. This is the kind of practical integration that Caribbean people can feel in their daily lives. It will truly make Caribbean integration a lived reality,” she added.
President Irfaan Ali said that the agreement is a powerful expression of the close and growing partnership between Guyana and Barbados.
“As Guyana and Barbados celebrate 60 years of Independence, this initiative symbolises not only the enduring friendship between our nations, but also our shared vision for a more connected, accessible, and united Caribbean community.
“I commend the exemplary work done by government officials from both Guyana and Barbados, together with our CARICOM partners, in making this historic arrangement possible. I look forward to seeing our governments continue to deepen an already strong and productive working relationship in ways that bring direct benefit to our people,” he added.
The statement said that the new arrangement represents an historic step in the relationship between the two CARICOM countries and reflects not only the confidence and trust that Barbados and Guyana continue to build together, but also a shared determination to make regional integration more meaningful, more practical, and more accessible to ordinary Caribbean citizens.
It said that this initiative affirms the true meaning of Independence in a modern and transformative era.
“It is not only about national identity, but also about the ability of Caribbean states to work together with confidence, imagination, and purpose. It guarantees the pursuit of a more connected and integrated region.
“The measure is expected to make travel easier and more affordable, while supporting deeper people to-people ties, stronger family connections, expanded tourism, greater cultural exchange, increased business travel, and new opportunities for trade and investment between Barbados and Guyana,” the statement said.
It noted that the arrangement was made possible through the passage of the necessary Orders by the Cabinets of both Barbados and Guyana, following extensive collaboration among officials from both governments, regional agencies including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), and other key stakeholders.
The two countries have also indicated that further details regarding implementation procedures, eligibility, and travel requirements will be shared with the public ahead of the official commencement date.
In October last year, Barbados entered into a historic, free movement agreement with Belize, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, allowing nationals of these four CARICOM countries to move, live, and work indefinitely across participating borders without visas or work permits.
That agreement is as a result of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services across the Caribbean Community.
