This week, Caribbean Community (Caricom) governments attempted to push back against the Trump administration’s travel restriction plans for various nations, saying that no regional member state poses a threat to the U.S., all are compliant with international laws, and they are at a loss to determine why they even made the list.
Reports from Washington indicated that a list of 43 countries around the globe have made the travel restriction list, which is divided into separate tiers with countries like Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, and others being put on the “red” list, meaning their nationals will be totally banned from entering the US.
In the second or “orange” category, Caricom trade bloc member state Haiti made the cut, alongside Sierra Leone, South Sudan, and Russia, among others. Pleading complete ignorance and bewilderment about why St. Lucia, Dominica, St. Kitts, and Antigua were included in the “yellow” category, most leaders say they are either awaiting formal notification before reacting or have signaled disagreement with the White House plan altogether.
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“I can’t tell the United States what to do, but any reasonable person would recognize that Antigua and Barbuda is not a threat to the U.S. and we have been very cooperative. We will not promote acrimony with the U.S., but we will stand on principle to defend our sovereignty and our people,” said Prime Minister Gaston Browne during a weekend radio program. “Our interests are mutual. We recognize the importance of a prosperous United States, and we want to have a good relationship.”
Meanwhile, leaders of the Eastern Caribbean nations on the list say they are awaiting formal notification before reacting.
“The government of St. Lucia and the embassy in Washington are actively seeking clarification on this matter. The USA is a friend of St. Lucia and remains a key partner in St. Lucia’s development. We look forward to an even stronger relationship between our two countries,” said Prime Minister Phillip Pierre.
In nearby Dominica, long-serving Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit noted that “Dominica values its longstanding and cordial relationship with the United States and is committed to strengthening this partnership. The government of Dominica will remain actively engaged in this matter and provide more information as it becomes available.” h
Nations like St. Lucia and Dominica appeared to have made the list amid concerns in the U.S. and the western world about their highly lucrative citizenship by investment programs through which wealthy foreigners can buy a national passport or local citizenship by investing sums from $100,000 to $300,000. In some jurisdictions, investors and applicants are also required to invest in local real estate and other developmental ventures.
Those on the yellow list have 60 days to satisfy American officials that their background and diligence checks of applicants, but Antigua’s PM Browne says nothing is wrong with the island’s program as far as diligence matters are concerned.
He made it clear that “[w]e were especially careful to emphasize that our government maintains a sanctions policy fully aligned with that of the U.S. Treasury in all financial matters. Antigua and Barbuda do not accept applications from any country currently on a U.S.-banned list, and our citizenship by investment program (CIP) follows rigorous vetting procedures — all applications are rigorously vetted by recognized international agencies, including Interpol, to ensure that no applicants with a criminal background or current charges — including terrorism — are considered.”
Regional leaders have asked for a meeting with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, or any high-level official to discuss a range of policy matters that could affect the region, including U.S. disagreements with the presence of Cuban medical workers and other professionals in the Caribbean. Last week, foreign ministers met with U.S. Special Envoy for Latin America Mauricio Claver-Carone, but they say they prefer a face to face with Trump or Rubio to clarify several misconceptions because, for example, the Cuban medical program provides a medical lifeline to many Caricom member nations.
