Francis Etienne, Antigua and Barbuda’s newly appointed French Ambassador says Guadeloupe and Martinique are having serious issues with the migrant smuggling from Dominica; particularly among the Haitian community.
Hundreds of Haitian nationals have been detained in Guadeloupe over the past several years without proper documentation.
These nationals say their last destination was Dominica and they were smuggled into the French neighboring country by boat.
Etienne met with Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit to discuss this and other border issues last week Tuesday. He said the issue of security and immigration were also deliberated upon with Skerrit.
“Haiti is a big issue. We are concerned about it and we need to have serious measures in place to find a solution to the situation. If you are an investor, we welcome your tourism…but if you betray us then no way…” he said
Etienne said there are between 200,000 and 400,000 illegal immigrants in France alone.
“I was in charge of immigration in France for three years and I know these stories quite well. Controlling the visas and returning illegal immigrants is a challenge. Up to 29,000 illegal immigrants land in France every year” he stated.
Etienne said the French territories need collaboration with Dominica and other countries to protect the Caribbean borders.
Let my people go… Haitians are people too and the Caribbean must do more to demand that the USA and France return the billions stolen from Haiti.
But no they won’t most Caribbean leaders and their spouses have US Green Cards or Citizenship, so they will continue to stereotype the Haitian people because they’re black.
The real Jews will only taste liberty at the end of time.
Give Billions back to Haiti will not help the poor. You should know who would have access to that money. Haiti is broken and corrupt like Dominica.
American and the rest of Europe are responsible for the plight which Haitians face today. The Eiffel tower was financed by taking money from the Haitian people, money which could have gone to build a more prosperous country, giving them a good standard of living. The US has invaded Haiti many times and has cleaned out the Treasury of millions of dollars. Remember Bill Clinton sent troops to kidnap Jean Bertrand Arestid, the sitting President of Haiti and took him out of his country on a plane, because he was bringing up the legitimate issue of reparations for Haiti.
France needs to plough back millions into Haiti instead of complaining of people it impoverished escaping from poverty and misery.
Dominica has to do more to not mess up the good relations we enjoy with our neighbors. Skerritt saying that we’ve always gone through the backdoor is not the best solution to the serious issue at hand.
“Haiti is a big issue. We are concerned about it and we need to have serious measures in place to find a solution to the situation. If you are an investor, we welcome your tourism…but if you betray us then no way…” he said.
So who wrote the senseless piece? I’m laughing
“We need to have [serious] measures in place.” After 20+ years no measures in place? And then, “if you betray us then no way.” What does that mean? Is that how a “head of state communicates on national media? Now, take a look at Gas-Stove Brown with dark sunglasses in a room sitting like a cowboy. But it’s the Lampshade that tells us all about the crookedness of these people. You see the lamp shade? Okay.
Isn’t life funny, The first liberated black nation in the Caribbean, Forced to pay the debt of their liberty (HUMAN STOCK). 140 million paid to FRANCE HERSELF to recognize Haitian sovereignty and self determination. Today Francis Etienne takes issue with the influx of Haitian nationals to the very same French territories that have been enriched by the exploitation of their homeland. Our leaders contort themselves to resemble a straight spine when it comes to speaking on all Cuban issues Reparations etc etc, But conveniently ignore present day atrocities right next door in Haiti. While I appreciate all the concerns of the French and other regional security institutions, their concerns diminish beneath the overwhelming stench of their hypocrisy.
Please do not blame the Haitians. Critical to the understanding of our country’s migrant policy (or lack thereof) are past statements made by the leadership and some in high offices. For example, one statement described back door immigration and emigration as part of our “culture.” For another, during the last two election cycles travelling back door into and out of Dominica was encouraged on the political platform to wit: take a boat, take a pwi pwi, front door or back door, inside or outside, but come in to vote. Was anyone ever cited by immigration officials for “promoting” that part of our “cultural identity?”
Does this mean that we should take advantage of the Haitians bro. First by charging them hard cash for coming into Dominica, promising them they get a refund when they leave legally, knowing full well they use Dominica only as a stop, and then taking their cash again for smuggling them into mostly Guadeloupe. That trade is only one step down from selling slaves bro. It is a business, human trafficking bro.that’s all it is. If you want to have high morals, we should do more to improve the situation in Haiti itself, after all they are members of Caricom too, are they not.
Dominica has become the outcast/pariah of the OECS. It is now official that because of lax national security, Dominica is used as the trans-shipment headquarters for migrant smuggling.
Any thing bad Gaston does Roosevelt can do worse. St. Kitts & Nevis is stuck with African migrants brought to the Caribbean by Gaston. He has stubbornly refused to take them back. Now, St. Kitts & Nevis government is saddled with the cost of housing these people. The French Caribbean territories are similarly been wounded by Haitian migrants from Dominica. It’s as though each of the two is trying to outdo one another with stupidity.
Leadership matters. Leadership is not position, leadership is action. The actions of these two buffoons are to the detriment of the citizens.
“It is now official that because of lax national security, Dominica is used as the trans-shipment headquarters for migrant smuggling”… I beg to differ!
This is a well planned/ coordinated effort allegedly being run mafia style by cabalists of the current regime. It has nothing to do with lax national security. If you don’t believe me ask any recently retired coast guard officer and you may just cringe in disgust. Just imagine we are still awaiting the coast guard base paid for by the USA to help combat this very issue. Dca is really a WHOLE PLANET.
Haiti is France’s problem. Stop blaming Caribbean countries. Martinique and Guadeloupe should have an open door policy for all Hatians.
It’s our culture