On Monday, January 12, it was reported that Jamaica had issued its first CARICOM passport, in line with an agreement among the 15 nations of the Caribbean Community to adopt a common passport as a part of the initiative to implement a single market and economy for the region. The new passport, according to Carib World News, was issued first to the country’s Prime Minister, Bruce Golding.
Now Belize is the last remaining country to implement the CARICOM passport. Immigration Director Gareth Murillo told Amandala today that Belize is due to begin issuing the passports next month, February.
When we asked what the specific features of the new passport will be, Murillo said that he would save those details for the official launch, but, he added, the design would include updated security features. The passport would also contain over 40 pages, much more than the existing version, which the department is trying to deplete before starting to issue the CARICOM version.
The Belize Coat of Arms appears below the CARICOM logo and the words “Caribbean Community.”
CARICOM views the standardized passport as a symbol of regionalism, and a part of measures to promote hassle-free travel for CARICOM nationals.