(CARICOM Secretariat, Georgetown, Guyana) St. Kitts and Nevis today became the third Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member State to bring the CARICOM Passport into operation, making good on its promise to launch it before the end of the year.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Kitts and Nevis said it launched its CARICOM Passport today and Issuance of the document to citizens of that country will begin on 14 November.

On 7 January this year, Suriname was the first Member State to begin using the CARICOM Passport, followed by St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The CARICOM passport is a National passport which is being issued in accordance with an agreed format for intra-regional and extra-regional travel. On the cover, it bears the logo of CARICOM and the words "Caribbean Community," in addition to the Coat of Arms and the name of the issuing Member State.

The CARICOM passport also creates awareness that CARICOM Nationals are Nationals of the Community, as well as a specific country.

The expectation is that all Member States will introduce the CARICOM Passport when the stock of their old passports is depleted.

Heads of Government agreed to the issuance of a CARICOM passport by Member States as a defining symbol of regionalism. The introduction of the CARICOM passport is also part of the measures to promote hassle-free travel for CARICOM nationals, and a major thrust of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).

CONTACT: Calvin G. Brown
cbrown@caricom.org