INTRA-REGIONAL travel is expected to become easier in a few months when the first phase of the Caribbean Travel Pass (CARIPASS) becomes operational.

The travel card, which was approved by the 29th Caricom Conference of Heads of Government in July 2008, is a voluntary regime which will allow eligible Caricom nationals and legal residents to clear Immigration using designated electronic gates in Immigration halls.

Executive Director of the Caricom Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), Lynne Ann Williams, said equipment already was in some participating member states and the system would "go live" in July, after participating countries would have put legislation in place to recognise the pass as a legitimate travel document.

The agreement to bring CARIPASS into being was made at the just-concluded Inter-sessional Meeting of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (Caricom) in Dominica.

Host Prime Minister and Caricom Chairman Roosevelt Skerrit said the development is a "major step towards hassle-free travel".

Williams said that the treaty to establish the CARIPASS became effective following the signature of six member states at the meeting.