ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) — Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit Monday announced that Dominica had entered into an agreement with the United States to facilitate third country refugees to be sent to Dominica to mitigate scenarios where the United States cannot return these individuals to their state of birth or origin.
“In our discussions with the State Department, there has been careful deliberation of the need to avoid receiving violent individuals or individuals who will compromise the security of Dominica. This has been acknowledged and well received by the State Department,” Skerrit told a news conference.
He said that given the importance of bilateral relationships between the United States and Dominica, he, as prime minister and head of government, “believe it is important to find key points of agreement and compromise between our countries.
“This engagement is based on our responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of our people, particularly their access to lawful travel, education, employment and family connections, while strengthening cooperation between our governments.
“I believe this will further deepen our longstanding relationship and signal clearly that Dominica remains a willing and reliable partner of the United States in the region,” Skerrit said.
Asked to disclose from which countries the migrants would be coming to Dominica, Skerrit said “there are details” which he cannot share with the country at this stage.
“But all of the questions you have asked have been considered as part of the discussions and part of the agreement, the MOU between Dominica and the United States,” Skerrit said, noting that Washington “has been very respectful and reasonable and understanding of our concerns.
“I think they have taken our concerns into very serious considerations and those concerns are being reflected in the final document agreed between ourselves. But as time goes by, we will know how we operate this agreement,” he added.
Meanwhile, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has rejected allegations by the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) that the country had entered into a secret agreement with the United States to accept large numbers of deportees.
“The UPP elements and propagandists have accused my government of signing a secret agreement, to accept over 100K, criminal deportees from the US. This is a dastardly political spin, mired in lies and disinformation, designed to score cheap political points.
“We agreed to accept, possibly up to ten, non-criminal refugees, who may have skills that are in short demand locally. This is a goodwill agreement in which we will maintain the full discretion, to accept or reject any recommended person.”
Browne said that the US has agreed to assist in providing biometric details and any information of criminal conduct.
He said the US government has invited over 100 countries to assist in reducing the burden on the US, by accepting some of their refugees and or deportees.
“We have agreed to participate, limiting our intake to a maximum of ten individuals with skills and no criminal record,” he said, noting that several countries, including CARICOM have signed off on the agreement.
“The UPP, as usual, always opportunistically seeking to promote lies and sensationalism to garner public support,” he added.
ah ha, violent will be written on their foreheads ,,,,,,, 🤔🤔
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is for real?.He needs to have his head examine ,deportees and refugees are America’s problem plus he wants Dominica to remain a willing and reliable partner of the United States in the region.If you have America for a friend you don’t need an enemy. You’ll be bringing (hell) on your doorstep. Do you really think you will be able to keep them all in Dominica and under control when they arrive?Think again.Uncle Sam cook his food then let him eat it.
Asylum seekers for visas. As a fellow CARICOM national (from Trinidad and Tobago) this seems like a raw deal on our end. I’d like to hear the views of fellow CARICOM nationals
That’s a dumb move by Dominica.
And because of the freemovent which exists between OECS nations,this decision taken unilaterally by the PMs of Dominica ,and Antigua will create a problem for other OECS countries, because once these unwanted US Refugees are given their Dominican,and Antiguan passports their are free to roam or travel and take up residence,work etc in any other OECS country. Which is why OECS should take the necessary precautions,and make amendments to their immigration laws or border control policies to mitigate the effects of this Refugee disaster that Dominica, and Antigua has bought upon us. I heard Guyana has now been approached by USA to take unwanted USA Refugees, well then Caricom of which Guyana is a member needs to tell Guyana that this can’t be done unless a vote is taken on it by Caricom.
@Percy Palmer, and this dumb move by a Dominica and Antigua will affect us all in the OECS. Remember we have free movement of people in the OECS, so with their Dominican, and Antiguan passports in hand ,these Refugees will be able to hop,skip,jump, and move and settle in any of the OECS territories. This is why the OECS needs to speak up and convene an emergency meeting on this. This should be an OECS collective decision,and not a Dominica,or Antigua decision. Even Barbados,and Belize should not stay silent as they recently entered into a free movement agreement with Dominica,and St Vincent.
Islands are rolling out a new deportee for revenue acceptance DRA program to compliment their CBI program.
Spineless decision by Dominica.