(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Commonwealth of Dominica on Wednesday, 14 December became the fourth Member State of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to launch its CARICOM passport. The official travel document, which bears the CARICOM logo and the words Caribbean Community on the cover, also carries the Coat of Arms and name of the issuing Member State.

CARICOM Heads of Government agreed to the issuance of a CARICOM Passport by Member States as a defining symbol of regionalism. The passport creates awareness that CARICOM nationals are nationals of the Community as well as a specific country.

In January of this year, Suriname became the first Member State to issue its CARICOM passport, followed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Last October, St Kitts and Nevis became the third Member State to issue its CARICOM Passport.

It is anticipated that the remaining CARICOM countries will come on board next year, having depleted their existing stock of national passports.