With effect from July 1, 2026, citizens from Guyana and Barbados will be able to travel between the two countries using only their Digital Identification (ID) cards, President Irfaan Ali and Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley formally announced on Tuesday.

The intention is to enhance the ease of travel between the two sister CARICOM states.

At a joint press conference, Ali and Mottley announced that the two countries have successfully implemented the use of Digital ID Cards for regional travel between the two countries.

President Ali said at present, the airlines operating out of the two countries are putting the requisite systems in place to facilitate the use of the e-ID cards. 

According to the President, the initiative augurs well not only for Guyana and Barbados, but regional integration.

“This initiative represents a major step forward in regional digital integration, border modernization, and the advancement of CARICOM cooperation,” the Guyanese Head of State said.

Noting that there are tremendous benefits from the use of digital ID cards, President Ali urged citizens from both countries to sign up for the Digital ID card.

He said the bilateral agreement between Guyana and Barbados also reflects the broader CARICOM objectives to facilitate free movement of people and modernize regional systems through digital innovation.

“It is expected to streamline border processing, reduce travel friction and enhance convenience for citizens travelling for business, tourism, education, and family connections. The digital ID card of Guyana is administered through the Office of the Prime Minister, enabling Guyanese citizens to travel and conduct local and regional transactions, and access government’s services more efficiently through a secure and modern digital identification system,” the President said.

Prime Minister Mottley said the initiative is intended to benefit each and every citizen.

“Even if a person does not have a passport but has a digital ID card, they can travel to the two countries,” the Barbadian Prime Minister explained.

Prime Minister Mottley said the initiative provides the perfect opportunity for ordinary citizens to enjoy easier travel without needing a passport only their Digital ID card. She said the initiative reignites the spirit of cooperation.

This, she said, is only just the beginning.

According to the Barbadian Prime Minister, Guyana and Barbados are advancing discussions on the development of a Trident Arrow Investment Fund.

“An investment fund that we want to be able to create that would be opened to ordinary Bajans and ordinary Guyanese to invest in critical infrastructure, and long-term, medium to long term investment projects whether in the utility sector, whether in the area of technology, whether in the area of agro-processing, because we believe this is the only way that we can one, allow our citizens, certainly in Barbados’ case, to be able to earn a return that is greater than what the banks are paying at 0.1% in savings, and in an inflationary environment effectively pauperize your citizens, and two, to be able to ensure that in addition to that, our citizens become owners in the land  of their birth rather than tenants for the period of their lifetime,” Prime Minister Mottley said.

Prime Minister Mottley assured that the fund would not be a political fund, but one for all the people, adding that it would be properly managed, and governed by laws and regulations.

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