Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has said his government has not decided how many third-country refugees deported from the United States of America (USA) will be relocated to Dominica, citing various factors that may shape the process.
He made the statement during an interview with journalists on Thursday night.
This decision to accept third-country refugees followed the December 16, 2025, proclamation introducing partial visa restrictions on Dominica.
“We have not decided how many people we are going to be taking. And as a matter of fact, we may never end up having anybody to come,” he said. This is a contingency plan that the United States has asked [its] friends to assist.”
Skerrit continued, “It’s an issue the United States has asked friends to assist it with. Because they have an immigration challenge, and they asked friends whether they were prepared to assist us in addressing this issue.”
He added, “We consider ourselves to be a friend to the united States [and] we believe that we are in a position, as small as we are, to assist the United States in addressing an issue it determines to be a national priority for it, but there is no details to say we will take 10 or we will take 25, or we will take 100 or we will take 5. We may never get to that point. Because they have not said to us, we have 5 names for you…”
He said once his government receives that information, it will be shared with the public.
Reiterating that the U.S. arrangement is on a contingency basis, Skerrit explained, “So, if they are unable to address their issue in the manner in which and the time frame, they would like to address it, then they can say to Dominica, can you take five people? These are the five people. They give you the background of these people, their criminal history, their medical history.”
Furthermore, he explained that based on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries, Dominica is in a position to say to the United States, “No we don’t want those people.”
“It’s not a situation where they are going to force people on us,” he explained. “They are going to indicate to us who the people are, give us all the information about the people, and then we make our own assessment on the potential security impact, if at all, on our country, and if we believe it is going to be a security impact, we will say no.”
put them morne daniel
As a newcomer to this topic, I find it fascinating how Dominica navigates the complex rhythm of international diplomacy while prioritizing national security.
Undecisiveness will lead to problems. if its already a done deal to put them in viex case/ Penville just tell Trump how much you can take..
Individually, the Caribbean countries are so weak. Together we are much stronger and have much more influence. Each Caribbean country KS just a tiny speck on the map. As one region, we have more c!out on this mundane sphere.
Why each of these governments want to bargain with a super power individually is beyond comprehension. When an ant tries to negotiate with an elephant there is no mutuality. The much more powerful inevitably gets its way.
The illustrious PM will happily give room and board and financial assistance to hundreds of the deportees at his palace on Morn Bruce. Dominicans will not have to support them.
I personally don’t think that we de people who vote and pay taxes will ever know the ultimate truth surrounding the issue. De government tone is clear that it is more willing to negotiate with Trump than with opposition parties here. None of the issues are brought to parliament where more heads can be involved on a representative basis for us as citizens. This is just a government head to head negotiations and decision. As voters and citizens none of our opinion count. There’s a natural reason and we have a civic duty to ask questions but Skerrit modus operadi does not involve the people.
Therefore individuals will form their own opinion regardless of backlash and thumbs down.
if Skerrit only talk with cabinet, which I think he didn’t, otherwise the representative owe a civic duty to inform de people who actually put them in office.
this thing stinks just like de unilateral position that Trump takes.
Skerrit only telling us what he wants us to hear for a vote.
Skerrit is like a person guilty of some serious offenses and knows he deserves the worst punishment but is prepared to to eat poopoo for his punishment. Unfortunately is his people that’s punished for his corruption
What convoluted nonsense this incoherent dunce mouths. Let’s be honest here. What ever the United States demand of these sprats they have no choice other than to obey.
This long-winded, protracted, meandering, rambling statement by this gasbag amounts to nothingness. Talking long and saying nothing.
I have lived in the U A for over fifty years and people have been reported ever since all back to the country they came from.Quite a few to my village two of them for murder after being released so my qestien is why not send them back home if America do not want them ? Why to a third country ? Dominica has unemployment every one except the politicians are hoping to leave
The issue is, mr PM. Are we in a position as a small island state with limited financial resources, even to sustain ourselves, be agreeing with a rich and powerful country like the US, to take deportees that they don’t want because they want to create a white ethno state? If it is to enable Dominican citizens to get visas to travel to the US, then it makes no sense because we would be enabling our bright young skilful , educated citizens to migrate to the US and replacing them with substandard citizens from other countries who are likely to drain our limited resources. I’m sure the US will pick and choose the ones they think will contribute to their economy and ship the undesirables to any other country that will take them off their hands. I have no qualms about receiving our own citizens not desired by the US. But agreeing to receive third country deportees would not be in our own best interest. Say no to Tyrant Trump.
Man some of you write the dumbest things on here. How are they going to create a “white ethnostate” with a population of less than 60% white? What are they going to deport the blacks and asians?
All the U.S. is doing is controlling immigration and security threats, in the same way we did back in the day with the influx of hatian migrants during the human trafficking crisis.
As to whether we should agree to this – well for all the people who want so badly to go to the U.S. this is the price we have to pay. I would say tell the U.S. to go pound sand we don’t need your visa. But unfortunately a lot of you LOVE going to the U.S. despite the fact that you cry about them all the time so if the prime minister had gone that route there would be people crying about that too
why would you pickup the usa crap let them send them to there original country what is in it for you he will not change any restrictions he put on da he is just a bully pm stand up to trump
Chichi, you make no sense. You claimed you have been negotiating with the American on a frequent basis yet the acceptable amount has not been determined? Man you so full of sheeeeet that only a “Jaah-Khasse” will believe your BS. How can you negotiate without a proposed acceptable number? You got to be kidding me.! To quote Lennox Linton; ” Everything is done ykie-vie by this cabal”. Man you tired lie to the people. Time to go and while at it take Commissioner M-Lissa and her snipers with you!
You love to quote Linton. Do you have a few quotes of him speaking on the Aljazera report that dayclarwayed him? Match his words with the facts, and then come back here to speak to us about who lie and who doh lie.
So what are your comments on de issue itself.
what are we going to do to protect our nation?
de issue is not about Linton
Oh, it was not I who invoked the “Linton” folly, eno.
I appreciate the questions; very valid ones for all Dominicans. I support the decision to collaborate with the US. It appears to me that the government is on the right track in first seeking to ensure that those whom we receive are neither a burden nor a threat to us.