Against a backdrop of mounting diplomatic tensions over visa rules and controversial citizenship schemes, the Prime Minister of Dominica, Roosevelt Skerrit, has revealed plans to name a dedicated special envoy to streamline the island nation’s diplomatic interactions with the United Kingdom and the European Union.
This diplomatic push comes in direct response to two major recent developments that have put Dominica’s cross-border travel privileges at risk. First, the United Kingdom unilaterally introduced new visa requirements for Dominican citizens, prompting ongoing negotiations between the two governments to reverse the policy and restore visa-free access. Second, the European Union has raised formal security and due diligence red flags over Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme, which allows foreign investors to gain citizenship in exchange for significant economic investment. Alongside four other Caribbean nations, Dominica has been given a deadline of June 1, 2028, to shut down the CBI initiative, or face potential revocation of its visa-free travel status across the entire Schengen Area.
According to Skerrit, the newly appointed envoy will take full ownership of leading and coordinating Dominica’s diplomatic advocacy with both British and EU institutional officials. In remarks confirming the plan, the Prime Minister noted that constructive discussions with the UK government are still ongoing, and the formal announcement of the envoy’s appointment is expected to come in the next few weeks. Skerrit has not yet released any details about the candidate being considered for this key diplomatic posting, as negotiations and internal preparations remain ongoing.
For Dominica, retaining visa-free access to both the UK and Schengen Area is a critical national priority, supporting the island’s tourism sector, cross-border business activity, and mobility for its citizens. The CBI programme has also been a major source of foreign revenue for the small Caribbean economy, making the EU’s demand an economically sensitive issue for the government. The special envoy’s role will be to balance addressing European security concerns while protecting the nation’s core economic and travel interests through targeted diplomatic negotiation.