The last few weeks have been particularly rich for migration dialogues in the Caribbean. Moving between global, regional and national spaces, I’m encouraged by how they point in the same direction: migration is now firmly recognized as a development issue as the region is getting ready to move from commitment to action.

At the International Migration Review Forum (IMRF), held at the UN General Assembly in New York from May 5–8, the strong presence of Caribbean delegations was noticeable, with 10 countries attending, including Ministerial representation from Barbados and Belize. This result is also thanks to the leadership of the CARICOM Secretariat in motivating member states’ engagement in the IMRF.

We believe this reflects a growing regional consensus that well-managed migration matters. Through their statements at the IMRF, we can now see how Caribbean states want to shape the agenda on migration, reminding us that while migration realities are national, many solutions are regional and global.