Roseau, Dominica (TDN) National Security and Immigration Minister Rayburn Blackmoore has announced that effective January 2015 his government has halted the issuing of visas to Haitian nationals.
Describing the move as ‘a stay’ and not a complete ban, Blackmore told DBS radio on Monday that there were several challenges within the immigration system, which needed to be addressed.
The minister hinted that the move was in response to concerns, expressed locally, over human trafficking although he indicated that Dominica does not have such a problem.
“I think there is need for education on that topic and Dominica doesn’t have an issue of human trafficking,” he said, noting that “human trafficking entails the trafficking of persons for slave labour or sexual exploitation etc.”
The Haitian migration into Dominica started in earnest in early 2000 with the country being used as a transshipment point for those wishing to migrate to in particular Martinique, Guadeloupe and St Maarten. In 2004 it was estimated that over 15 000 Haitians passed through Dominica.
That slowed significantly after several high profile incidents where the French, Antiguan and St. Maarten authorities intercepted several hundred Haitians who were attempting to enter their countries illegally from Dominica.
In July 2005 prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced the imposition of visa restrictions on visitors from Haiti and the Dominican Republic seeking to enter Dominica.
To date, well over 6 000 Haitians have received visas with the majority settling in Dominica.
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