BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) — Public health officials from the Caribbean Community (Caricom) are to meet with their counterparts from Canada as the region begins the process of reopening its borders to allow international travel back into the Caribbean, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley has said.

Mottley, the chairperson of the 15-member regional integration grouping, told the Canada Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) on Tuesday night that she had written to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau seeking Ottawa’s assistance in urging Canadians to visit the region in the post-COVID-19 pandemic.

“I have actually written your prime minister on behalf of the Caribbean Community…and as you know, most of our countries in the community are travel- and tourism-dependent, and what we have asked for is for discussions between our public health officials and your public health officials so that we can ensure that we satisfy them, the scientists, that we are taking as many precautions that we can take to ensure that for your citizens and for our citizens the levels of safety are appropriate,” Mottley said.

The regional countries are now at various stages of reopening their economies and borders and Mottley said that Barbados is still holding discussions among stakeholders on the issue.

Canada comes up against Norway and Ireland for the rotating seat and Mottley said, “ Barbados and Canada have had a long relationship.