The Right of Free Movement within Caricom: A Step towards Caribbean ‘Citizenship’? Lessons from the European Union

Abstract:

Freedom of movement has generally been regarded as one of the defining characteristics of a common market, of which the European Union is probably the best known example; expanding from a right of free movement for workers into a right of European ‘citizenship’.

By contrast, the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) originally made no provision for freedom of movement for its nationals and has only latterly introduced a limited right to free movement.

It would be wrong, however, to infer that the right of free movement within CARICOM will evolve into a right of Caribbean ‘citizenship’ for two interconnected reasons. The first derives from the absence of any desire on the part of the Heads of Government of CARICOM to use freedom of movement as a stepping-stone towards a political union. The second is linked to the institutional and legal infrastructure underpinning CARICOM, which makes it difficult for a right of Caribbean citizenship to evolve without the support of the Heads of Government.