ROSEAU, Dominica – The Dominica government says it will appoint a task force to look into problems associated with the issuance of work permit to Haitian nationals as Roseau again voiced concerned about Haitians leaving here illegally for the United States.
Haitians in Dominica (Photo courtesy Sun newspaper)Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told a news conference that unit should be established later this week.
He said that the Haitians had started receiving work permits and resident status soon after he became prime minister in 2004 because “of the recognition of history and my own understanding of the contribution of the Haitian people” to ending slavery.
“We wanted to ensure that we embrace them as brothers and sisters, not only in words but in deeds and that’s what we have done.
“But we have a challenge not with them coming in, but them leaving and leaving illegally. Everytime a boat is intercepted whether it is in St. Kitts, St. Marten or St. Thomas or the French territories it places a diplomatic strain on Dominica.
“As a matter of fact, a few years ago, we almost lost our visa free access into Guadeloupe and Martinique because of that situation and I had to go to Paris and to Guadeloupe to speak with the French government to dissuade them from taking that action”.
Skerrit told reporters that he is thankful to the French authorities for not imposing the visa restrictions on Dominicans, adding “what we see happening sometimes, is that the Haitian nationals “because even if they have work permits, even if they have residency status or citizenship, when they go, especially to the French territories, they destroy their documents.
“So if you land in Martinique or Guadeloupe which are part of the European Union and part of the French republic and you make a request for asylum, the French authorities are obligated to give you consideration.
“So that’s the issue we have. Today he is in Dominica, tomorrow morning he has left Dominica and there are many of them who have been here for a long time, they are doing well, they respect the laws…
“Notwithstanding the fact that their work permit has not been processed, the police are not there searching for Haitians to send them out and the police are not going to construction sites and farms to take them out. That will not happen,”
Skerrit said a more “robust and transparent” system will be put in place to facilitate the approvals of the work permits.
“I will put in a task force to review the applications that are outstanding and to quickly address the issue of work permits, not only for the Haitians but for citizens from the Dominican Republic who are here as well.
“We are not opposed to granting them the work permit, but it mist be done orderly and with the proper documentation and that we do not place the people of Dominica at a risk or disadvantage when it comes to our engagement with other countries,” Skerrit said, adding “ we will not be deporting the Haitians.
He said that the task force should be in place by Monday next week.
