What’s going on at the Labour Department?
And why has government decided to slow down the issuing of visas to nationals of the Dominican Republic and Haiti, is another question on the lips of just about everyone who has interest in that matter.
DNO has learnt that the Roosevelt Skerrit government has taken a decision some three Cabinet meetings ago to review the process of issuing visas to these nationals.
DNO has also learnt that the Minister of National Security must have the final say before visas are issued.
This is something that not been done in the past since approvals or disapprovals were primarily in the hands of the Labour Commissioner and Permanent Secretary.
However for reasons unexplained that process has changed.
DNO visited the Labour Department on Friday in search of answers and was greeted by a board which reads, “Government is reviewing the process of issuance of visas so it will take some time before approved visas are issued.”
That has not gone down well with visitors and Dominicans alike.
“It’s been over one month since I applied for a visa for two non nationals and up till now I haven’t heard a thing about it. Every time I step into that office, is a story after the next,” one man told DNO outside of that department Friday.
Another woman told DNO she needs to have the passports she submitted because the individuals that she are sponsoring has to travel in the next two weeks.
Dominica’s Labour Commissioner Mathew Leblanc is currently on vacation and when DNO sought comments from Acting Labour Commissioner, Lindel Williams, the response was “no comments”.
In fact he referred DNO to the Permanent Secretary, Nicholas Bruno, who could not be reached for comments on the matter
Most Haitians have suffered more than any of us could ever imagine and on top of everything, are treated like dirt throughout the world. I’d like to think that we would give them, at least, a fair chance at establishing a life here since they are willing to work and work hard.
My daughter went to the U S on a visitors visa and could not get a green card it took 17 years before she could have one ,but when Haitians have 2 years in DA they have my passport .this is not right here is toooo free
wow , Dominica is too free. You tell them.
Government of Dominica from now on be aware of who are given Dominican passports and visas. The smaller the country the better you are able to control this. The general norm is that non-nationals who are given D/can passports should reside in the country. Passports and visas should not be handed out with no expectations and long-term ones for the good of the country and nationals.
When governments allow non-nationals to enter and reside in their country, they should be able to contribute to the good of the country. If we do not contribute to the good of a country, we are useless to that country.
A country cannot progress with useless residents and those who do not contribute to its revenue. This does not solely pertain to financial contributions but to civic and societal overall contributions to also the safety of nationals.
There are too many people in the world, in the nation who contribute nothing, religious and otherwise to a country. They are like walking and talking zombies of the “Me” generation – give me. This is all they do and to expect with also no consideration and gratitude whatsoever.
As the saying, we are all in it. What affects a country affects all nationals who reside in that country. Consider that non-contributory residents are useless to also themselves. They expect the government to assist them while they did nothing in the past and do nothing in the present to help themselves and to enhance their life. In order to live a happy and peaceful life it is imperative that we contribute to the good of the country. When we help the country in whatever manner, we also assist nationals. An inner peace is felt when we contribute to the good of that country in any legal manner.
Those who reside in a country have an obligation also to that country. The obligations of nationals are to give to and enhance their country and not take away from it, more than their contributory share and make it poorer. Generally, it is not the government that makes the country poorer and keeps the country poor, it is those who contribute nothing to the country which makes it poorer and is a burden on the government and taxpayers.
True say.
No matter what our status, this is how we are able to and achieve happiness and inner peace, able to serve the Lord with all our hearts and souls and contribute to peace and harmony in the land and among nationals.
We should know what we sow we shall surely reap and what goes around comes around in time which will directly revert to those who contribute and others who do not do anything for the good of the country and the environment they reside in.
Therefore, when approving visas and passports, the government must ensure that specifically non-nationals not merely be given and accept them and never reside in the country. When they arrive, they must be informed that the expectation is that they will contribute to the overall benefit of the country.
A government has a right to instill this in them, to expect it and to remind them of it. Do not be wimps to those people, some of whom who could be aggressive and care not for the country, for nationals but solely for themselves, their personal benefit and progress.
As far as I am concerned, every non-national who do not contribute beneficially to the good of country, being a burden on the country should be deported back to their country. There are other countries and progressives ones that they could apply to for asylum. Let Dominica not be a scapegoat for them.
Take heed government, officials and other D/can authorities. No outside intervention of associations, corporations and non-profit organizations should be allowed to be in a position to dictate to governments. You are the government and you have a right to set your rules and regulations as other countries. God bless Dominica and nationals.
Isn’t Haiti part of caricom, so why are we issuing them visas? This is just discrimination. Where are all the People who were talking about caricom concerning some demon performer last week, here is a real issue for you.
Some of these people are very tricky and deceitful, if not all of them. In fact, the government should cease issuing visas to Haitians to bring their people to D/ca. Dominica does not owe them asylum and is not responsible for them.
Consider how many years ago the earthquake took place. There is no doubt with the amount of money raised in donations, Haiti is receiving financial assistance from the international community and is being built up.
Dominica is a small country. Other than its nationals, how many more people can it accommodate? Some D/cans are in need of jobs. As long as a certain percentage of D/cans are unemployed, there is no need for foreigners unless they plan to invest in D/ca and this is to open some type of legitimate business which will enhance the economy. Otherwise, no more visas for them except for those who plan to come on vacation, for a visit. They must be given a certain time and after it is up, they should return to their country.
I do think the PM should communicate with the Haitian government about this prior to issuing any more visas.
Generally, for obvious reasons, national security is responsible for issuing visas. The name is ample enough that this department should be the one responsible for approving and issuing visas. No exception also passports.
I agree, we have to make sure who we are bringing into our country…Haitians and Spanish, too many in DA…the Government has to put down their laws, what happen DA is a free Port????? these Spanish women are not doing nothing to better the economy of DA….We have to help OUR people now to get jobs..
It was time something was done. I find they were getting visas fast.
There was act passed in Parliament referring to human trafficking. So Government is cleaning up and putting in measures to safe guard Dominica.
They were using Dominica to get to other countries.
Let’s be real. The Haitians use Dominica as a stepping stone to the USVI, Guadeloupe, etc. Only now they want to clamp down on Haitians, after they use our passports, degrade us, mal palais Dominica and use Dominicans who were kind to them. There are many Dominicans out there in other countries but they did not use the people like the Haitians did to us.
outside Dominica when the country NIGERIA in mention the onside world associate that nation with fraudulent activity it is a sad state of affair……..Dominica is these days now becoming known to be in that category the Olympics activity has put us right up there as a country full of dishonest people
send them back in there country
Does that have anything to do with the recent human trafficking case?
The issuance of visas to foreigners in Dominica cannot and should not be compared to that of the US. The US has everybody from every corner of the globe trying to enter. They need to have a system to restrict the inflow. Dominica on the other hand is underpopulated but if they recognize some flaws in their system they definitely need to review it. Its better to be safe than to be sorry. We need to think of this in light of the various scandals we have had recently. No system is flawless.
Dominica is under populated. However, some of its nationals especially the younger ones are unemployed. If possible, jobs should be secured first for them. They should be first considered for employment of any sort that they are qualified to do and/or also trained for it.
When Haitians arrive in D/ca if they are unable to financial support themselves who will do so? It appears this may fall on the D/can government.
Times are hard all over. Governments as well feel the crunch. Unemployment has increased. Jobs are not easy to obtain even though they possess degrees. All countries as the progressive ones have cut down on issuing visas, namely immigration. These days, it is not as easy to obtain one including landed status.
The freebies are gone. Many have taken advantage of the generosity of those governments. Those who expect they will obtain a visa and or migrate to those countries and not be employed, living off the avails of the government and taxpayers money must be made aware of the new rules.
For further information, I read the Canadian government has revoked three dozen Canadian citizenships/passports. These were people who took advantage of the system. I read at one point the amount was approximately 1,800. More to be revoked no doubt.
Those who are landed immigrants and also “Canadian citizens”, the latter who were not Canadian-born, if they commit crimes and are imprisoned, based on the crimes, they will be deported and their citizenship revoked.
The D/can government must ensure that those who apply for visas for their family or friends, if granted, when they arrive they do not take advantage of its generosity. Learn from those countries and take care of your nationals.
if Dominica is underpopulated we must try and keep our own people her in the first place instead of them leaving for other countries.. But maybe some people can not make money from that like they can from Haitians and Santo Domingans?
it is time to end that money making scheme. haitians coming here and creating a business of brining in other haitians at some high cost as much as us3000 dollars per person. i say to stop issuing them visas we have enough for now. issue in d nex six month. PROTECT OUR CITIZENS FROM THIS CHAOS!
I recall the boat which transported some Haitians to D/ca and a woman was found dead on board. I suppose the cause of death was never determined. Was this not as a result of human trafficking?
The government must ensure that this will never recur. One of it is by not issuing visas and also conducting an investigation on those for whom visas were (are) requested.
Dominica cannot afford to have an influx (anymore) of foreigners and unemployed ones at that in D/ca.
Allu Dominican to love roro ….
You made me laugh. Is this all you have to contribute to this important issue?
ou to sort
SOCHI FEVER. WE, DOMINICANS, have to follow rules everywhere we go, but people from other Countries RULE OUR COUNTRY. WAY TO GO.
It is time for this to stop with no exception. If a small country as Dominica cannot afford to support its own and also obtain jobs for its nationals, it should not be issuing visas/ passports to those who are not nationals, especially those who have not proved to be worthy of them. I state this in all fairness with broad-mindedness and by no means a form of criticism.
Look now four people are behind me for their money. I applied for Dominica Visa/Passport for them “with a small profit” and I have already gotten 75% of the fee – boy i in big trouble; cause i already spend all the people money.
Oh I see so people can get visa for people for a small profit? next level, CORRUPTION! they will make you walk on your head.
You must be joking. Otherwise would you have the nerve to make such a statement on DNO? If this is true, you should be arrested and imprisoned for false representation.
Since when this is an issue to us? Except for those who smuggle Haitians and Spanish to the neiboring islands.
If they have a phone or cellular, immigration/ national security should tap them for such evidence.
well this is not simple when the european union want to stop them fellars that give labars cars to campagne and labar not doing nothng to stop it.
Papa god…am not in Dominica but if i was i would be wearing red ribbons to work every day..it was time for somebody to investigate what is going on in that department..its a money making machine right under the nose of those in authority..i know Lyndell would do a great job in exposing the goings-on there… people please do not give the deputy LC any pressure..he is just cleaning the department..bringing it back to be the department of integrity it is meant to be..well done mister DLC…enough will be exposed..GOD IS ANSWERING MY PRAYERS..
Do u have $250,000 4 da passport? No! Ok! No comments
Election comming so dont be surprised and their will be more to come.
CHANG IS A MUST NOT AN OPTION !
Kokomakak alone.
Please make the following correction, “… the individuals that she is sponsoring” not the individuals that she are sponsoring. (subject-verb Agreement) I know it was an error on your part.
I think the worst mistake this government can ever make or ever made was to invent this visa scheme. These people should be banned from entering any country. But once government realized that their own people were capitalizing on it…they continued. We need to restrict hating from coming to Dominica. And the prostitutes from Sanoto.
That’s actually not a legal prospective.
what lf the people in sxm or usa say the same? dominica people liveing in orthe people country to. looking for work just like them so u not makein no senec
its about time
Any country have a right to delay or refuse to give visas for different reasons. Why are all these Haitians and Dominican Republic coming to Dominica that is much smaller than the other countries in the Caribbean. Why don’t the flock to Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados. Too much stress on our tiny country. Put the brakes on the these people. They coming to Dominica too easy.
To give visas, make sure we check their background.
U see what the con artists from America did in the Olympics, and they had Dominica passport. Please Dominica Government get serious, the whole world knows what these crooks did. Not because you are poor or in need, you have to take everything that come to your soil or want to come to your soil.
It was high time that something like this is done. Mr. Matthew, your hard work in seeing this Visa fiasco come under due diligent has paid off.
In local terms, need I say more, finally something will be done.
We have staff working over 8 years and awaiting some a play for citizenship and some for permanent residents and up till now nothing happen even pay already 2 years ego!!
I do not understood why some come in and receive them?
Where is the low and what are the regulations?
Why it is not for everybody the same low?
Who can give me answers on this matter?
Was it not requested to be 3 years in Dominica?
Awaiting a true and fair replay.
Regards,
Marcella
Marcella, I know where you coming from. You must put a litle kado with your application next time or your file may go missing. You must grease the system, is so we have come under this Govt.
why make it difficault for our carribbean brotherd Dominicqn seek visa to go to other countries
That is the uwp mentality.
While the process may need to be reviewed, the economic fact is, Dominica with it’s minuscule population needs an increase in the number of people to help boost economic growth. Whle the increase may proportionately augment the need for social services the collection of taxes and increase in capital resources will help. This point may be oversimplified but the fact remains any government should strategize in harnessing this channel of increasing the country’s population.
Get real. Stop being an idiot. How many Haitians pay tax, Social Security or VAT. If you want to know the real story go to Roseau at a certain place where you can send money overseas. There is a special desk for Haitians to send money out. It is manned by a Haitian. They dont have to follow the line. They hold hugh stack of EC money in their hand and doing business of currency export in front of everybody. BRAZEN!!! What is the benefit to Dominica
In Canada nationals cannot send money out of the country and/or receive an exorbitant sum from overseas. I think the same applies in the USA. The banks will question it. First of all everyone is expected to have a bank account. Therefore, the bank has pertinent personal and confidential information about their customers.
For instance if someone’s income is a certain amount and they are sending much more money than their income, in time, they will be suspects that they may be conducting shady deals. They will be under investigation.
The government Law is, they must give an account of how they obtained the money and for what reason it is being sent out of the country. It could be money laundering.
If they are not paying tax, they should not be sending money overseas; likewise if they are unemployed and collecting money – social assistance from the government.
Every adult who resides in Dominica should submit an annual income tax return. Some of them are employed as growing vegetables and whatever else and they do not pay tax on this income. In addition, they may pretend to be poor and collecting money from the government. The government must do something about that.
You should squeal on them incognito. There should be such a Law in D/ca. If it is proven, they should be arrested and charged. Too many take advantage of the government system.
Go to western union and see how many Dominicans come to receive money from The US and all over the world. What is your point. Do you know how bad things are in Haiti? Do you expect them to abandon their loved ones at home?
Hatians do not have spending power and very poor skills. So seeking to increase the population that way will result in too much social pressure on an already over stretched socio economic environment. It is more advisable to put measures, programmes and strategies in place to encourage Dominicans overseas to return.
This is the last thing government of small countries should do, allow more people, non-nationals to migrate and they have no economical power and probably have no interest to work. They will be a burden on the system.
There are pros and cons of this. Most D/cans overseas will not return even though they would love to. Times are not as good as they were in bygone years but what they may have to put up with in D/ca they do not have to put up with it where they reside. This is why many do not return.
Some have returned and later left. It occurs in all the West Indian islands. They do see what should be changed including the attitude of some people. Since they are not able to control this or effect any change, if they return they may become frustrated and will not stay long.
In addition, crimes in D/ca have increased. Some who returned have had their homes broken into and their personal effects stolen.
Only those who are self-sufficient as retirees who will return but then how much do they contribute to the country’s economy.
If that is true why not bring people here with education, training an dmoney who can employ people and pay taxes instead of poor people from Haiti? We have enough poor people ourselves alreday and we don’t need more. That not making sense at all. Only if you want to exploit them.
Is it true that nationals of Haiti, Dominican Republic and China are being offered Dominican citizenship if they register to vote in some marginal constituencies like Roseau for the DLP?
get your facts right. That is just not true
LOL. Where allyou people getting your information from? It must be from the Gossip Channel.
Use your brains for once. That’s one of the most stupidest things i heard in my life and I have heard many.
So you already making excuse for why uwp going to lose?
for me and many more stop giving them visa
Hi! Easy to say, stop giving them visas but think about this, every Haitian coming to Dominica pays $ 400 U.S. at the Airport. Let us say 500 come in one week, this is already a good profit for the government, no Haitian benefits from it.
Have a good day and think before you talk.
pure madness they dont know what to do the traficing is now known so they trying to show some form of real
Really ????? what is the disagreement about ? Dominica have enough DARN Hatians…. Enough is enough….The medical system is breaking at it seams. I am NOT a fan of Tommy Lee who was denied entry into Dominica because of his Satanic beliefs and looks , but other OBEAH nationalities can come in freely and stay on island any length of time.. That in my mind is RIDICULOUS and DOUBLE STANDARD ! ! !
This country is very corrupt!
They trying to stop the the under table deals, the 300 US dollars that are paid to people in the labour division to guarantee a successful visa application.
you hit the nail right on target my friend… that department was up to a few months ago, the bedrock of the visa curuption
Why are these people questioning the government’s decision on issuing visa? It was time the government stop the rapid flow of these individuals. U give one visa, they bring down their whole family and pets. Thank you PM.
The answer is simple. Skerrit focusing on big money people who can line his pockets well in exchange for a Dominican passport and/or ambassadorship positions in lands unknown.
You know …. so he can expand on the children’s hospital in ….. Ooops where is the children’s hospital? Ohhhh maybe the Desilvetris meant Winston ward?
They know jolly well why. Too many people in high places are applying for visas fot foreign nationals and are getting rich in the process. Ask some…… Officers high up and even the present regime. We finibat in Da. It really aches to see where we have reached. Just because of greed!
Dominica needs to step up its responsibility when it comes to issuing passports. I think the couple embarrassment in the Sochi mess makes them think a bit harder. A green Card process takes five years. Then you have to be in America another four years to apply for citizenship. Even though you have a Green Card for ten years but you are out of the country for the four to five years required you still have to be documented for the years required to apply for that citizenship.
Dominica needs to follow the same rules what is good for the goose is good for the gander
Not only in Dominica, all over the Caribbean is like that. WE CANNOT GIVE EVERY ONE VISA, as soon as they get the visa they change, they think they are more Dominican that we Dominican. We need to look at those people closely. The Dominican Republic Govt. putting they Haitian out even if they were born in Santo, see how close they are to each other.IS THIM TO SEND THEM POEOPLE BACK WHERE THEY COME FROM. people of Dominica open you all eyes.
what lf the people in garda or sxm or antiga say the same to us
all u them Dominicans there I do not know what you all want. one time is too much Haitians and sato domigoes now you all will sing another song. what these people really contribute to the economy they work sent all there money back to their place and eat smoke herring and rice today and next day they eat the water of the smoke herring with white rice. they do spend their money here. or they use d/ca to get to other places.
This is their way of ensuring that only those Haitians and Santos who will vote DLP gets passports/Residency. Part of a DLP strategy to steal the next general elections. UWP Team Dominica listen and watch carefully
But wait!! Not the same allu that say allu doh want Hatians and Spanish?? Zor ni limiere eh! Zor say moun sa la!!
Dominicans overseas having soo much problem to get a visa from another country .You live in Antigua for years before you can get an Antiguan passport ,when Haitians come here in 2 years they have our passport like our passport do not have any value.
They needed to control that visa thing because captain down to cook was making a fortune on the poor hatians….I support the move. Soon government need to STOP issuing Visas
One bad decision after another. There is no way a government minister should be involved in issuance of visas. All that department need is someone who can control the issuance and the flow. But wait…I thought the man from Penville was doing a good job. People even hated him because he would reject many visas. Look now i hear he getting married and joining the priesthood or pastor-hood. Dummy-in-cans…Look a government wi boi
good job ehhh…fire bun dat…pastor-hood eh… god cus dat…wicked..in two years on a public officer salary d same penville man build a house an buy a brand new transport… amen for dat pastor
All these Haitians and Santos should be deported now!!!
I wonder what you would say if other countries would decide to deport all Dominicans from their country.SMH @ some comments that some people make
I am not going to get angry at you because you have a right to your opinion, but we Dominicans are just about the last people under the sun who should be talking about deporting people from our country.
If we are suggesting that we deport Haitians from Dominica, then the Antiguan’s should tomorrow deport the more than twenty five (25000) thousand Dominica’s which are piled up in Antigua, many of which does not have a job.
Montserrat, St. Kitts, Nevis, Angulla, and Tortolla, should do the same. Therefore, Perhaps I should call my sister in the morning, and tell her the Dominicans working in a business she is one of the major share holder of on a certain island, perhaps she should let the Dominicans who work there go, because we do not want the Haitians to earn a living in Dominica.
the United States, and Canada should deport all the illegal Dominicans in their country, back to Dominica, let’s who feels the pinch the hardest. Remember, we are the ones who went to Haiti and imported Haitians to work on the Banana plantations after the older people got tired, and the young refused to engage in such agricultural work.
I remember, until his death , Emil Joseph from Wesley would go to Haiti and recruit Haitians, bring them to Wesley and dispatch them all over Dominica, to be engage into agricultural work.
Believe it or not we are obligated to encourage people to come into our country and live permanently among us, for some reason or the other foreigners help to build countries, the United States, England, and Canada are excellent examples.
Some of us, if we had never left Dominica, we would have never made as much progress as we have made in other people country, if someone can an opportunity in our country to make a living by all means we should give these people opportunity to succeed. On the other hand when we have a government minister issuing visas, that is an indication the money collected is not all going into the government treasury, it is going into somebody’s personal pocket; and that is very, very, very bad!
This is the time Dominicans should be screaming corruption all over the country: For God sake, if the Dominica Immigration And Naturalization services are no longer capable of dealing with money and immigration matters, it is time to create an Immigration Department which will remain a branch of government to deal with immigration issues only, however, no government minister should have a rubber stamp issuing visas, the same as people have rubber stamp scouting the world selling citizenship, to all sorts of dirty crooks!
Dominica’s public affairs beat all else in irregularities!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
you can go back wesley too…Antigua cannot deport Dominicans…sot… we are OECS nationals…kooyon
You supporting Haitians boy when they have over 200 years of Independedce.Independence,Domincans should be going Haiti not Haitians coming here.
Very strange, I hearing Nicholas Bruno on leave too and Steve Hyacinth acting in that post. What is going on?
Dominica, is a very sick, and embarrassing country.
I thought in every country of the world, visas are issued by the immigration, and naturalization services. Even in a small place such as Antigua, they have created an immigration and naturalization service, no longer are immigration matters handled by the regular police.
What a backward place!
Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque
Welcome to the Republic of the Commonwealth of Dominica!
APPLAUSE! CHINA, HAITI, SANTO DOMINGO.
Well put, “the Republic of the Commonwealth of Dominica!”
i am am happy about this
Minister approving Visas? Only in Dominica.
There is more to this story than meets the eye. Some public officers will take jail when the truth comes out and i want to be the one to arrest them.
That government is incapable of even tying its shoe lace. A visa scheme you cannot handle? When UWP come into power we will show them how its done.
talk is cheap is dominica men will be Dominican men the problem is in dominica everybody want to have a say. People blaming Skerrit but all is to blame opposition and all . In the end it all comes down to we as a people and at the moments we cant agree with each other on squat.
that will not happen any time soon. KEEP DREAMING
I saw this coming…Not the way gov gave visas in December
OMG…Well just before the year ended visas were being issued like wild fire. Now they slow down the process? So elections coming government want to politicize the scheme? So only the political big wigs can benefit? Interesting…Very interesting. Im looking on
Alas papa GOD please help us in Dominica nou fini bat
Stop crying misery on yourself. You are in the US enjoy it. Dominica will be fine. You would not be singing that song if the US had sent you back. A lot of Dominicans in the US forming the fool yet some of you all Dominicans talking.
Must be a threat to public security?
They should’ve been given visa from the beginning most Caribbean countries have visa on them why not Dominica there are a set of them in possie doing all kind of devil magic it’s time Dominica do something about them