Barbados and Guyana are moving to deepen regional integration beyond easier travel, with Prime Minister Mia Mottley and Guyanese President Dr Irfaan Ali announcing plans for a new joint investment initiative that could allow citizens of both countries to invest directly in major infrastructure and development projects.

The proposed “Trident Arrow Investment Fund” was announced during a press conference in Guyana on Tuesday, just one day after both countries formally unveiled a new arrangement allowing citizens to travel between Barbados and Guyana using only national identification cards instead of passports.

According to reports from Guyanese media outlet News Room Guyana, Mottley became the first Barbadian to travel to Guyana using a digital ID card under the new system, which is expected to be fully rolled out from July 1 to allow airlines and other stakeholders time to adjust.