Minister for National Security and Home Affairs, Rayburn Blackmoore, is not ruling out the repatriation of undocumented Haitian nationals in Dominica as a means of curbing the illegal departure by some of these immigrants from the country.
Many Haitians are said to be leaving the country illegally and just last week, Prime Minister Skerrit appealed to the Haitian community in Dominica to help the government eliminate that practice.
Calling on all Haitian nationals in Dominica to respect the laws of the country, Blackmore made it clear at a press conference earlier this week, that as the minister responsible for National Security and Home Affairs, he is “not going to stand nonsense!”
“And I am not ruling out having the police rounding up all undocumented Haitian nationals to have them returned to their country as soon as possible,” he warned.
“We see them as our brothers and sisters and we think it is a human thing to embrace our brothers and sisters who are seeking a better way of life,” the minister stated. “We have given a number of Haitian nationals citizenship, permanent residency as well as work permits so that they can live dignified lives in our country.”
However, he said that in the recent past, a number of Haitian nationals along with Dominican captains, have been arrested in some neighbouring islands illegally entering those countries by boat from Dominica.
“The government of Dominica has a fundamental duty to our national and regional safety and security,” Blackmore pointed out.
The minister is also sending a stern warning to the Dominicans who illegally transport departing Haitian nationals.
“To the Dominicans who aid and abet by illegally transporting the poor Haitian nationals, you are equally responsible culpable under the law and you should be ashamed of yourself,” he remarked. “You are not only risking the lives of the poor Haitian people who are seeking a better way of life, you are also compromising and risking the safety of the Dominican people and that is totally unacceptable.”.
Blackmore called on the police to use all necessary means and measures to apprehend all offenders and urged all the law-abiding Haitians residing in Dominica, to work with the police and his ministry to put an end to “this madness.”
Meanwhile, Police Chief, Daniel Carbon, is seeking the assistance of the Dominican public to stop this illegal practice.
“We have a lot of so-called fishermen [with] boats and engines, and so we have a lot of pirates in that regard. We need the intelligence in real-time,” he said.
Carbon appealed to people in the communities to “give us the intelligence when the boats are leaving, we have our own intelligence, but provide us with more intelligence because we are committed in fighting the cause.”
Just last week, a group of Haitian youths who call themselves Young Haitians Focus Group requested a discussion with Prime Minister Skerrit and offered to help him and his government to address the issue.
The ultimate goal of the majority of our Haitian brothers and sisters who emigrated to Dominica was to pursue a relatively better life than what was available in their native land. Once in Dominica, some Haitians decided to pursue migration to our French Department neighbors. This is not such a preposterous idea as one can understand an affinity based on a common mother tongue or language.
The government of Dominica which cannot be blamed for Haitians who desire to emigrate to the neighboring French territories, is absolutely responsible; however, for ensuring the documented Haitians do not slip out and stow away to Guadeloupe, Martinique or any other nation.
This problem has exposed an obvious flaw in Dominica’s approach to properly processing and documenting Haitian immigrants. It is not too late for the government to switch course and to start working on a more sensible and effective naturalization plan. Doing nothing is not an option as the situation will continue to…
The ultimate goal of the majority of our Haitian brothers and sisters who emigrated to Dominica was to pursue a relatively better life than what was available in their native land. Once in Dominica, some Haitians decided to pursue migration to our French Department neighbors. This is not such a preposterous idea as one can understand an affinity based on a common mother tongue or language.
The government of Dominica which cannot be blamed for Haitians who desire to emigrate to the neighboring French territories, is absolutely responsible; however, for ensuring the documented Haitians do not slip out and stow away to Guadeloupe, Martinique or any other nation.
This problem has exposed an obvious flaw in Dominica’s approach to properly processing and documenting Haitian immigrants. It is not too late for the government to switch course and to start working on a more sensible and effective naturalization plan. Doing nothing is not an option as the situation will continue to…
Who are you trying to kid blackmor? Tou are talking because your boss tell you to talk. You know, skerrit knows carbon knows and the coast guard knows exactly who does racketeering by sea in Dominica and you get your fair share of the bounty. That’s a Fact. All three of you are talking now because you want the french to think you are doing something but your talk is cheap. Drug running and trafficking will never stop in Dominica with you three puppets at the top.
The only reason you’re talking is because the authorities from other Islands are putting pressure on us when the Haitians and so called captains are being arrested. Where was your voice before that Mr Blackmore. Dominica is the only country that don’t follow up on Nationals entering the country and given time. De ja vou and a money making scheme with you involved and now you talking ….. You should resign as the Security minister.
SAK PASAY? Plus Noir aka Black More. Ou ka parlay sort. Nous vini Dominique pas que Papa Skerrit dit nous pour vin isi. Ou plus noire pasay nou Haitian. Nou aime PM
What’s up?Black more.You talking nonsense men. We come Dominica because Daddy Skerrit tell us to come. You more black than us Haitians. We love the Prime Minister
Well good luck Papa Doc made you see misère. Our double Doctor papa Doc-Doc Skerrit will double your suffering no matter how noir you are because he don’t care yon kaka.
…and you all voted for him as well!
“And I am not ruling out having the police rounding up all undocumented Haitian nationals to have them returned to their country as soon as possible,” he warned. So after they help you win election you want to kick dem out? It good for dem Haitians to sell you out.
fake news
you know the smugglers, go after them 
talk is cheap! what program is being put in place to prevent this or curtail it? for years this has been the approach of blackmoore to just talk tough while crime continue, you should try doing your work minister blackmoore!
If Haitians want to leave they can leave. What we should be worried about is the undocumented Haitians coming in.
Blackmoore is doing what he does best: tough talking- parlay, parlay, parlay–no action—
I like your yellow shirt Ray-Ray- that is all I got from your news conference.
Nobody is taking your serious Blackmoore as if you did not now.
You, Skerrit & Carbon — Go fly a kite.
Okay mister Chief of Police, Mr.Carbon… good job sir…
What about the All jazeera report on the PM and the ams’?
Can you seek some assistance from them too …….?
That’s a hoax and we all know that. More black you should be Investigated with the Haitian scheme and I am calling on those Haitians involved to report matters involving the security minister.
The French putting pressure on allu man?
Poor Haitians? What u think we richer dan dem man?
SMFH
I just had to read this article. Where were they all the time when Haitians were being drowned? Where were they when the boatmen were laughing and saying they didn’t know if Haitians used to eat stones, because as soon as they go down in the water, they sink and never come back up?
From my reading. I think that Dominica really want to work with Haitians as brothers and sisters. But from the eligal practice of the national it causes great disstress to our national security. Which must come to a stop. Haitians are making matters way worst for them. And risking there lives at sea. The Dominican boat captain that accommodate this practice should be harshly deal with.
It have been going on for so long and you’ll only talking now because countries are putting Dominica on black list. You’ll know very well of it going on
Boy shut up!!!! Your little boy….
Blackmore and his policemen knows exactly who doing this illegal business. Policemen and their relatives are involved therefore the police will do nothing about it. That’s just talk from blackmor because the french are putting pressure on him. I wouldnt be suprised if blackmore is part of it.. I have seen boats going and coming and police patrolling as security for them.
Are you kidding me? Is that what I am reading
?
Ebeh wozo bien chaud! Blackmore and Skerrit behaving like they don’t know is cabalists that are involved in the Haitian smuggling trade the entire north being used as their port of exit. These guys so hypocrite they lying with a straight face knowing full well that its they themselves benefiting from the said activity. I hope Whiteless deport the family of his Haitian stallion first.
You only saying that because the French turning back those Haitians to the place they come from illegally and that is Dominica and then you have to send them back to Haiti at our expense. Well, the French have very good radar now brother and you were warned about that. Why don’t you stop them getting into our country in the first place and make those who smuggle them by sea for dry cash, pay for their return to their own country. After all, these smugglers do not pay tax on their illegal earnings, I hear even ex police involved in organising that dreadful business.
Some of you all will understand the fustration of this government. I saw some comments directed to government which are rude and very ignorant to compare the good this government is doing to make the hatians lives better to their self justifications which are totally bais and empty.
Blackmore has the gall to tell us that in recent past Dominican boat captains and illegal Haitians have been arrested in some neighboring countries. Why didn’t he come out and say something about it publicly, expressing his frustration, long before DNO published the article on the subject matter. First, it was international criminals holding Dominican Diplomatic passports, now it’s Dominica fostering a climate of criminality for our neighbors. Oh, how low has the country sunk? The Prime Minister begs Haitians in Dominica to help stop this illegal activity then the police chief comes out talking tougher than the minister Blackmore. This is something they knew was going on before but didn’t do anything about it until now. We expect these guys to protect the sovereignty of Dominica from the first time it’s challenged, otherwise, it will make life difficult for all Dominicans in the future. Old folks say that fish rots from the head first.
Act. On 4 June 2009, Mr. Rambarran was found guilty of possessing, importing, and trafficking two types of controlled drugs: cocaine and cannabis. In violating sections 6 (possession), 3 (importation), and 18 (trafficking) of the above Act, Mr. Rambarran was sentenced to 30 years in prison. He filed an appeal against his conviction on 30 December 2009 but was only heard by the Court of Appeal of Barbados in March 2016. The Court of Appeal delivered its decision on 28 August 2019 and rejected Mr. Rambarran’s appeal. The Court, however, also ruled that Mr. Rambarran’s sentence was excessive. Only because of this? The dis honesty of these guys is mind boggling. These folks along with folks from DR have been using Dominica as a smuggling point over 20 years. Countless folks have died not one word. Carbon if you have intel act on it. What else you waiting for? The government knew but they were gaining revenue from the entry and now the other islands doing something blackmoore have tounge.
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Hon. Minister no need to come on the media and act innocent. It is time you all stop this practice of know who is doing what, when and where and the pretends that you are a not aware and want to impose the law. Yes impose the law, of course, but you will not because you are quite aware of those breaking he law. YOU ARE AWARE OF WHO
Messers Blackmore and Carbon, what is/was the purpose of the statements you enunciated? In other words, what did you hope to achieve with the press conference?
Last week, speaking on the issue, the honourable PM offered a bribe.
Now the minister for SECURITY threatens to have the police round up the undocumented and repatriate them asap. To a reasonable mind, this indicates that you KNOW where they are in Dominica.
Now the Chief cop appeals to the public to give what information it has.
Why all these mixed and confusing pronouncements??
Conclusion: you don’t know what you are doing, you shifting the responsibility or shopping for sympathy!! On the other hand, I have NEVER heard Mr. Carbon nor the officers under his command ask for the public to provide “more information” when they go after the Opposition and others critical to the government.
I was always concerned about the security of this island. You, by your utterances, have removed ALL DOUBT. It’s not a nice place to be…
Shut up Rayburn; you talking about warning people who leave Dominica illegally?
What the hell can you do to someone already left, or plan to leave?
Plan to leave is not a crime!
The reason you are pouting is because of the little two cents they pay in departure fees, you will not get, that’s what its all about!
You and Roosevelt do not care two hoots about the Haitians.
As I said in another submission, many of them entered Dominica illegally anyway; happy labor was because some voted labor illegally, not entitled to vote in the country.
Ever wonder why nobody want to remain in Dominica; strangers or native?
We see thousands of Haitians risks their life on inner-tubes and raggedy boats going to Florida to escape poverty and hunger; they came to Dominica with the hope that life would be better; only to discover their life is the same and worst than if they remained in Haiti.
Soon labor party and supporters alone will be in the country!
Totally in agreement with you. I thought carbon left the force already we? No one listens to this COP. The Haitians come in numbers with no Visa restrictions placed by the same National security minister. Not sure what was the press conference about. Smh
You and your leader are the biggest jokers in the history of politics in the region. Your leader least you forget said ” racketeering is taking place at the Labour Division a Ministry by the way you headed; plane loads of Haitians come in on a daily basis under your watch , although you all knew that Dominica’s economy and social system could not support the numbers, guess what you said and did absolutely nothing about it at the time. You and your lazy government got an opportunity to build a fully funded coast guard base in the North, you all turned it down, knowing full well that when built it would curtail the human trafficking. Your leader said on radio for the world to hear that if we should shut our official boarders for covid, people will leave and enter through the back door since it was part of the norm and part of our culture. So why come here to pretend that you so disappointed about anything, you guys have been facilitating this trade from day one.
This is typical of Skerrit and his Pitbulls. They use poor, vulnerable people as pawns in their illegal schemes, then discard them when the mission is accomplished.
This illicit activity has been happening for years without as much as a murmur from the relevant authorities. Now, elections are over, mission accomplished, and these loud, bogus threats are solely intended to mislead the public to assuage their disgust.
This maladministration is all froth and no mauby.
Blackmore only now….what has changed. Are we under intense pressure from France to prevent us from entering their borders in Martinique and Guadeloupe??
Hattians been leaving illegal for many years, drowning in our water and not at anytime during this GOVT reign we heard the police in DA captured or intercept a vessel moving Haitian illegally from our shores.
They only pick them up dead in our waters.
You all are extremely hypocritical and genocidal in nature.
Clean up your backyard first. I hear is party supporters that are transporting them.
Committed to fighting the cause my foot, the govt was not saying anything when the Haitians were arriving by the plane loads before elections i wonder why?
To vote for Labour.
Have anyone asked blackmore registered in Mahaut before the elections.
But i agree with the move by the Labour led Government because the French are in an advanced stage of re imposing French Visa restrictions on Dominicans travelling to Guadeloupe, Marie Galante, Les Saintes, French Saint Martin, St Baths, and Martinique among other French departments
The Labour government always knew that there was illegal human trafficking going on and cast a blind eye but ow the French in particular are looking to crack down on Dominica, the Labour government looking to bark
Does the Labour government know that almost 40,000 Haitians have travelled to Dominica since the year 2000 and 20 years later there is little records of the number officially returning to Haiti or departing for another country? Ask any Government minister and they won’t have an answer. I don’t think Central Statistics Office or the Tourism Office – DDA will have an answer
All the best to…