"Pharaohs, Let My People Go" by Fabian Stennett — urging CARICOM leaders to embrace full freedom of movement across the region, modeled after Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, and Belize.
Pharaohs, Let My People Go
By Fabian Stennett
In the ancient story of liberation, Moses stood before the mighty Pharaoh and cried out, “Let my people go.” It was not merely a call for physical release from bondage, but a demand for dignity, justice, and the sacred right to move freely — to journey to a land of promise, of opportunity, of freedom.
Today, I echo that same cry to the modern-day Pharaohs — not kings of Egypt, but leaders across our Caribbean region who still hesitate to fully open their borders to their fellow CARICOM citizens.
Let our people go.
Let the mason in Guyana build in Grenada.
Let the nurse in Saint Lucia heal in Antigua.
Let the teacher in Jamaica inspire students in Saint Kitts.
Let the dreamers, the doers, and the determined move freely across this sea of islands we all call home.
The Caribbean Dream Is Regional
We have talked, drafted agreements, and made declarations for decades. Yet in 2025, the basic right to freely move, live, and work across CARICOM remains an unrealized dream for too many. While some nations stand as bright lights of progress — Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, and Belize — too many others remain locked in hesitation, nationalism, and bureaucracy.
Those four countries have opened their arms. They have shown what regional unity looks like in practice, not just on paper. They have chosen cooperation over control, integration over isolation.
To the rest: What are we waiting for?
Not Just Skilled Elites — All Our People
The Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME) has focused heavily on "skilled labour." But let us be honest — the region does not only run on degrees and CVQs. It thrives on the backs of fishermen, hospitality workers, market vendors, caregivers, and creatives whose skills may not always come with certificates but are no less vital.
Our ancestors did not need paperwork to cross the sea — only courage. Why should their descendants be bound by red tape?
Freedom of Movement Is Not a Threat — It's a Promise
Some leaders fear that opening borders will flood their countries with workers, strain services, or disrupt stability. But history has proven otherwise. The free movement of people is not a threat — it is a promise:
- A promise of regional economic growth
- A promise of cultural exchange and solidarity
- A promise of shared responsibility in times of need and in seasons of opportunity
If we trust each other with defense, trade, disaster response, and diplomacy, surely we can trust each other with our people.
A New Kind of Leadership
To the leaders dragging their feet, I say this respectfully: Do not be Pharaohs. Be Moses.
Lead your people out of fear and into freedom.
Break the chains of colonial thinking that still divide us by imaginary lines.
Let your legacy be one of integration, not isolation.
Let your borders reflect the truth: We are one Caribbean nation, separated only by water, united by purpose.
Conclusion: The Time Is Now
Barbados, SVG, Dominica, and Belize have shown the way. The blueprint is written. The people are ready.
It is now up to you — the remaining CARICOM leaders — to step forward boldly and complete the circle of freedom of movement across the Caribbean.
Let my people go.
Let them move.
Let them work.
Let them live.
Not as strangers in a foreign land, but as brothers and sisters in a shared Caribbean home.
Fabian Stennett
Regionalist | Advocate for Integration | Voice of the People
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