The Dominican authorities says it has not obtained any official communication from the USA concerning experiences that the Trump administration is contemplating a travel ban affecting 36 international locations, together with Dominica and three different Caribbean nations.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit addressed the problem on Monday, urging residents to stay calm however to not abuse their U.S. visa privileges.
“Although we’ve not obtained any official communication on this matter, we’ve been proactive in partaking the US at completely different ranges to determine the information and the actions that are obligatory,” Skerrit stated. “I guarantee the folks of Dominica that we take the matter severely, and the federal government is addressing this by applicable diplomatic channels.”
Skerrit emphasised that Dominicans with legitimate U.S. visas can nonetheless journey for enterprise, research, or trip. Nevertheless, he warned in opposition to unlawful stays.
“When you journey to the USA they usually offer you six months, don’t let six months and a day take you in the USA. You may depart earlier than the six months is over, however don’t overstay in your go to,” the Prime Minister stated.
He confirmed that U.S. authorities have knowledgeable Dominica that people staying within the U.S. illegally ought to come ahead to immigration officers, who would organize repatriation, together with masking journey bills.
The problem arose after The Washington Submit reported that Dominica, together with Antigua and Barbuda, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Lucia, was named in a leaked State Division memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The memo allegedly calls for brand spanking new safety benchmarks and offers the listed international locations 60 days to submit motion plans, with an preliminary deadline set for Wednesday morning.
At a latest media briefing, U.S. State Division spokesperson Tammy Bruce stated she couldn’t present full particulars however reiterated that the U.S. is dedicated to defending its residents by strict visa insurance policies.
“As specified by President Trump’s Government Order 14161, ‘Defending the USA from International Terrorists and Different Nationwide Safety and Public Security Threats,’ the visa adjudication course of has acquired to make sure that US-bound international travellers don’t pose a menace to the nationwide safety and public security of the USA,” Bruce stated.
The memo reportedly expresses concern over Caribbean citizenship by funding (CBI) programmes, notably the sale of citizenship with out residency necessities. The 4 named international locations have beforehand defended these programmes as legit financial improvement instruments with robust due diligence safeguards.
Prime Minister Skerrit maintained that Dominica stays dedicated to its worldwide partnerships and to addressing any considerations raised.
“We’re ready to deal with the considerations raised by our worldwide companions by applicable diplomatic and cooperative means,” he stated. “We stay assured in our establishments, within the power of our worldwide relations and in our collective means to resolve any points which will come up.”
Skerrit assured the general public that the federal government could be “clear” in sharing updates.
“We shall be clear with you, open with you on this matter; no matter data we’ve, we are going to share it with you, and no matter actions we’re taking, we can even share it with you,” he stated. “There is no such thing as a have to be anxious…and that’s why we’re partaking the USA.”