Caribbean nationals now have greater access to employment in Trinidad and Tobago, following amendments to the country’s Immigration (Caribbean Community Skilled Nationals) Act 2022.

Dr Amery Browne, minister of foreign and CARICOM affairs, announced the amendments on Wednesday (March 8) in what he believes is an opportunity to strengthen the regional integration process.

Browne said these amendments “signal Trinidad and Tobago’s ongoing commitment to the deepening and strengthening of the regional integration process, and brings Trinidad and Tobago into compliance with decisions of the Conference of Heads of Government regarding the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas and the Free Movement Regime”.

He noted this move will increase employment opportunities for Caribbean nationals while expanding the opportunities for skilled and unskilled labour in the Caribbean.

The recent amendments facilitate an additional seven categories, on top of the previous five that were allowed free movement. These included university graduates, artistes, musicians, media workers and athletes.

The additional seven categories include non-graduate nurses, non-graduate teachers, artisans with a Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) or equivalent, agricultural workers, individuals with associate degrees, domestic workers with a CVQ or equivalent and security guards.