CGID denounces Dominica’s visa requirement for Haitians

Tuesday, August 23, 2005

NEW YORK, USA: The New York based Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) has criticized the imposition of a visa requirement and a US$400 security bond on Haitians traveling to the Commonwealth of Dominica as “an act of discrimination against the Haitian people and a flagrant violation of Articles 7, 45 and 46 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguramas.

These are issues which must be brought before the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ). It is foreseeable that CGID will play a role in such litigation,” so said the Institute’s President Rickford Burke. 
 

The Treaty of Chaguramas, which established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), was revised by Caricom Heads in 1989 in Grand Anse, Grenada, to establish the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME). The CSME, which transforms Caricom territories into one economic unit, takes effect on January 1, 2006.

The Institute said Dominica is a signatory to, and has ratified, the Treaty. However as of August 10, 2005, the government of Dominica did not deposit the instrument of ratification with the CARICOM Secretariat ! nor enact the Treaty into domestic law. 

In July 2005, Dominica’s Prime Minister, Mr. Roosevelt Skerrit, announced that the steady influx of Haitians has come to a point where it is a serious national security concern, and that the new restrictions would reduce the large number of visitors from Haiti.

Mr. Skerrit said his administration adopted this bold step after carefully considering the plight of Haitians. His government has ordered Dominica’s Immigration department to repatriate Haitians who arrive without the necessary requirements to enter Dominica. Ironically, Prime Minister Skerrit has responsibility for overseeing free movement of people and other related matters in Caricom.

The CGID head said he understood Dominica’s dilemma of confronting illegal immigration and the attendant national security risks this phenomena poses. He however stressed that “adopting a protectionist and restrictive posture at a juncture when Caricom has charted a course of regional economic unification and liberalization, free trade, free movement and political harmonization, is a retrograde and myopic step.” 

Burke said “the Institute has fully assessed the position of the Dominican government as adumbrated by Prime Minister Skerrit. It is an act of protectionism that creates insurmountable barriers to hassle free travel, and inhibits the free movement of skilled professionals including; university graduates, media workers, artists, sportspersons etc., as enumerated in Article 46 of the Treaty. It is a first step in insulating the Dominican economy and employment sector from competition by CARICOM nationals. 

He said “the imposition of these measures not only violates extant Caricom law, but also contemplates thrusting Dominica towards gaining an unfair advantage in the highly anticipated globalized Caricom economy. It is unfortunate that the government which is in contravention of these provisions of the Treaty is headed by the Prime Minister who has responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the said “free movement” proviso of the Treaty.” 

“The community is faced with a number of illiberal decisions by member states which suggest that their commitment to complete Caribbean integration is languid. It is becoming increasingly obvious that as the integration process intensifies and the ramifications become real, these countries demonstrate ambivalent political will. The result is attenuation in their allegiance to Caricom that is manifested in the implementation of protectionist and hostile policies. These policies are driven by narrow, nationalistic interests of the nation state. St. Kitts and Nevis’ restrictive work perm! it rule, Barbados’ hostile immigration policies toward Guyanese and Dominica’s discriminatory immigration policy toward Haitians all embody an extrication from the integration process,” Burke contended.

“If Caricom leaders are serious about the CSME and regional integration, they must enact domestic policies that are more altruistic and in conformity with Caricom law. If some member states continue along the path of protectionism and insularity, they will create a milieu in which the CSME will become moribund,” he observed. 

The CGID President said he admires the thirty-three year old Prime Minister as “a young visionary with a bright future” and added “we have been observing Prime Minister Skerrit. Already he is impacting Caribbean affairs and is poised to play a significant role, not only in the development of Dominica but of the Caribbean region as a whole.”

The CGID head said “the institute supports Caricom’s position on Haiti in principle. Haiti is besieged by political instability, economic stagnation and social decay. Slamming the door shut with self-righteous indignation in the face of these challenges is not the answer. It is against the spirit of Caribbean Unity.” Burke portended that the imposition of a visa and security bond might force the unintended consequence of increased illegal immigration.

He said “Dominica must put this matter before Caricom Heads and prod them to develop a more comprehensive policy on Haiti and to adopt a modus operandi on illegal immigration. Caricom must also work with the International Community to revitalize the Haitian economy, ameliorate Haiti’s social services and guide the Republic back to the path of democracy.” 

The Institute’s President said that "the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), which has original and absolute jurisdiction on matters relating to the interpretation and implementation of the Treaty, will play a significant role in the emergence and functional operation of the geopolitical alliance and economic unit contemplated by the CSME. I would not be surprised if one of the first issues to confront the CCJ, is whether the right of “freedom of movement” and the “right of employment” accorded under of Articles 45 and 46 of the Treaty is absolute and enforceable. The court might also be forced to setout uniform entry requirements for Caricom nationals entering Caricom territories,” the CGID President concluded. 

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