Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley says her country has had a positive experience as one of the first four CARICOM member states to start full free movement last October. She revealed that Grenada has now officially said it wants to join, and Saint Lucia has also shown interest.

In an exclusive interview with St Lucia Times on the last day of the 51st Regular CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, Mottley said fewer than 1 000 people have used the arrangement so far, dispelling concerns that it would lead to a large influx of migrants.

She pointed out that most people who have moved under the arrangement have chosen Barbados, a trend she attributed to the country’s labour and skills shortages. The three other nations are Belize, Dominica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.