标签： Dominica

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has issued a compelling call to action for Dominican citizens, urging them to strategically position themselves to harness the economic potential generated by the nation’s new international airport. During an official site inspection at the Wesley airport construction location last week, Skerrit emphasized that while the government’s responsibility lies in infrastructure development, the onus now shifts to the populace to leverage emerging opportunities.

The Prime Minister revealed significant international interest in Dominican real estate, disclosing that foreign investors have attempted to purchase substantial land parcels—including one offer exceeding 100 acres—prompting government intervention to protect national assets. “We’ve had to hold it back because there are some lands I believe should stay with the people of Dominica,” Skerrit stated, highlighting the need for domestic economic empowerment.

Skerrit proposed concrete collaborative approaches for local entrepreneurship, suggesting citizens form consortiums or companies to develop hospitality infrastructure including Airbnb facilities, guest houses, and accommodation services targeting airport staff, airline employees, and transit visitors. The Prime Minister articulated a comprehensive vision of nationwide economic integration, explaining how the airport will stimulate growth across all geographic regions and economic sectors—from fisheries in Scottshead to tourism in the valley, agricultural exports from Marigot farmers, and artisanal crafts from the Kalinago Territory.

Currently employing over 100 Dominican workers during its development phase, the international airport project represents a transformative economic catalyst designed to generate multidimensional benefits across the entire island nation, connecting local producers and service providers with global markets and opportunities.

The Government of Saint Lucia has formally endorsed a strategic migration cooperation framework with the United States through a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre confirmed the Cabinet-approved agreement during his New Year’s address, presenting the arrangement as a procedural foundation for future dialogue rather than an immediate action plan.

The agreement establishes structured channels for discussing potential collaboration involving third-country nationals presently in the United States. Prime Minister Pierre explicitly clarified that the MOU creates no binding obligations for either nation and triggers no immediate transfer protocols. Official presentation slides accompanying his address reinforced that the framework does not alter existing U.S. visa policies for Saint Lucian citizens seeking American travel.

This development positions Saint Lucia as the latest Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member to formalize migration cooperation talks with Washington. The move follows similar non-binding agreements reached by Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and St. Kitts and Nevis in recent months, signaling a regional pattern of engagement with U.S. migration authorities.

Notably, despite four OECS nations signing similar agreements, only Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda have faced recent U.S. visa restrictions. A December proclamation by President Donald Trump cited national security concerns related to citizenship-by-investment programs in these nations, imposing limitations on immigrant and certain nonimmigrant visas. Saint Lucia and St. Kitts and Nevis remain unaffected by these specific measures.

Prime Minister Pierre contextualized the agreement within Saint Lucia’s broader foreign policy commitment to maintaining the Caribbean as a ‘zone of peace,’ emphasizing diplomatic dialogue and respect for international law through CARICOM membership. No implementation timeline has been established, and U.S. officials have yet to issue public commentary regarding the arrangement.

In a landmark address at the Certification Ceremony for the Strengthening Public Expenditure Management (SPEM) Project, CARICOM Secretary-General Dr. Carla Barnett celebrated the pioneering cohort of Belizean public officials who completed the groundbreaking fiscal training initiative. The ceremony marked a significant milestone in collaborative governance, bringing together the Government of Belize, the University of Belize, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in a tripartite commitment to fiscal excellence.

Dr. Barnett emphasized that robust public financial management constitutes the bedrock of sustainable development for small developing states like Belize, which face disproportionate vulnerabilities to global economic volatility and climate-induced disruptions. She articulated that every dollar of public expenditure carries profound implications for national development outcomes, directly influencing critical sectors including healthcare, education infrastructure, and community resilience building.

The Secretary-General positioned Belize’s fiscal advancement within broader regional and international contexts, noting that the country’s participation in the CARICOM Single Market and Economy necessitates sophisticated financial management capabilities. She underscored that transparent fiscal systems enable more effective regional trade engagement, cross-border collaboration, and foreign investment attraction.

Beyond technical proficiency, Dr. Barnett highlighted the program’s alignment with global development frameworks, particularly the United Nations Financing for Development agenda emphasizing domestic resource mobilization. She framed fiscal discipline as a strategic imperative for reducing external dependency and building self-reliant economies capable of withstanding external shocks.

Addressing the graduates directly, Barnett charged them with transforming their acquired expertise into tangible improvements in public service delivery and fiscal accountability. She characterized their certification not merely as personal achievement but as a critical contribution to strengthening public trust in governance institutions through demonstrable development outcomes.

The SPEM Project represents a continuous commitment to institutional capacity building, incorporating digital financial systems, advanced data analytics, and modern auditing techniques while maintaining core principles of accountability and inclusive governance.

The Commonwealth of Dominica confronts an unprecedented national emergency as it grapples with severe diplomatic repercussions from the United States. For the first time in history, Dominican citizens face stringent U.S. visa restrictions, mandatory visa bonds, and mounting pressure to accept third-country deportees merely to restore basic travel privileges. These developments signal a critical erosion of the nation’s international standing and credibility.

This crisis stems directly from the controversial management of Dominica’s Citizenship by Investment Programme (CBI), which critics allege was transformed into a ‘passport mill’ operation. Under this scheme, national sovereignty was effectively commodified, with citizenship traded for immediate financial gain without adequate consideration of long-term consequences. While benefiting a select few, this approach has now jeopardized the travel freedom and global reputation of all Dominican citizens.

The Electoral Reform Coalition (ERC) has announced a major public forum to address this escalating situation. Scheduled for January 13, 2026, at the DPSU Conference Room, the gathering will feature united opposition leadership, immigration experts including attorney Tamika Jude, and influential voices from the global Dominican diaspora. The forum aims to comprehensively examine how irresponsible passport sales damaged international relations, analyze the tangible threats posed by current visa restrictions, and formulate concrete strategies for national recovery.

This initiative represents a rare moment of political unity, transcending partisan interests to address fundamental questions of national survival and dignity. The collective response underscores a determined effort to reclaim control of Dominica’s future and restore the integrity of its national identity on the world stage.