The pact, modeled on the EU system, follows decades of debate within the Caribbean Community (Caricom). It expands upon existing migration rights under the Caricom Single Market and Economy, which were previously limited to specific categories such as skilled workers and business owners. Barbados’s ambassador to Caricom, David Comissiong, called it a “breakthrough” and expressed hope more Caricom states would eventually join. Similar fears arose before a comparable deal among the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, though migration flows there proved manageable. Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has warned of her country’s ageing population, underscoring the urgency of retaining skilled workers.