Barbados is working towards the development of a National Migration Policy as countries within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) work towards the full freedom of movement by April 2024.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs and Information, Yvette Goddard, disclosed that those discussions were continuing at the technical level, through an intergovernmental task force.
Ms. Goddard made these remarks during the first Barbados Migration Governance Indicators Inception and Data workshop, which was convened with stakeholders and officials from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) at the Radisson Aquatica Resort, recently.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, she said the workshop would provide a comprehensive picture of Barbados’ current responses to migration-related matters and the gaps that exist.
The Permanent Secretary said factors such as climate change and natural disasters drove migration, and these were of great concern to Barbados as they could lead to an increase in irregular migration.
“Other challenges may arise from natural disasters, trafficking of persons, smuggling of migrants, and transnational organised crime. It is important that a collaborative approach be taken to effectively manage migration,” Ms. Goddard stated.
She told participants that the information they provided in the questionnaire would therefore play a central role in the project.
The Permanent Secretary further outlined that border management and related issues, such as health, were also critical when examining the implications of migration. “In this respect, research and data management are vital elements to inform policy formulation and decision-making,” she said.
Ms. Goddard also pointed out that Barbados has an ageing population, and migration was one way of addressing labour force issues.
“There are many reasons for Barbados to be laser focused on this issue of migration. We are aware that globalisation has resulted in a more interconnected world, and it impacts the economic, social, and cultural aspects of any country,” she said.
Meanwhile, IOM’s Regional Coordination Officer for the Caribbean and Chief of Mission for Barbados, Patrice Quesada, encouraged participants to seek to understand the migration policy that was being suggested for Barbados and own the space.
He noted that Migration Governance Indicators were implemented in many countries across the Caribbean, and efforts were under way to do so in Barbados and the Bahamas.
Mr. Quesada also pointed out that issues related to natural disasters and climate change fuelled migration and stressed that there was a need to look at how migration can support the health and education sectors.
The Migration Governance Indicators assesses good practices and gaps which would help to further strengthen policy development. It comprises 99 indicators covering six dimensions of good migration governance.
A number of government ministries and departments participated in the workshop, including the Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Third Sector; the Immigration Department; the Department of Emergency Management; and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Barbados was admitted to the IOM as its 175th member on November 30, 2022, and later signed an agreement on August 25, 2023, to establish the IOM Office for the Caribbean and the IOM Mission in Barbados.