Government has reinstated the process of issuing visas to Haitian nationals visiting Dominica, Minister of Justice, Immigration and National Security, Rayburn Blackmoore has announced.
However, there will be certain rules and regulations in place.
No more than 25 visas will be issued per month, only one application per applicant, a reduction in processing time and a reduction in the unscrupulous use of the program are among some of the new regulations, he said in a statement on Tuesday.
Approximately one year ago government placed a stay on the issuing of visas to Haitians in order to deal with issues within the system that needed to be addressed.
In August 2015, Blackmoore said a new system was being formulated.
On Tuesday, he said the stay was put in place to strengthen the system of issuing visas.
“This decision to put a stay on the issuance of visas to Haitian nationals had to be taken in order to strengthen this state instrument; consequently, a new structure has been put in place within the administrative section in the ministry for processing all visas..,” he said. “I want to implicate that a quota system will also be initiated per month, that is to say not more than 25 visas per month, except in exceptional cases.”
Among the exceptional cases are for students accepted at Ross University and members of the clergy.
Meantime he outlined application process and measures for the issuance of visas to Haitian national under government’s new system.
This new arrangement will provide for:
1. Reduce processing time
2. A more just application for review process
3. A reduction in the unscrupulous use of this programme
4. The restoration of key policy values of justice and good governance.
Blackmoore pointed out that Haitians interested in visa applications can find forms at the government website: www.dominica.gov.dm.
He mentioned further that one application will be accepted per applicant, however, there are some exceptions.
The exceptions are:
1. A family class
2. A team or club with proper sponsors
3. Justices of the peace can only swear to six applications per month
4. Formal proof that the host or sponsor has funds
5. If no invitation proof of funds to sustain yourself must be provided
6. Sponsors must complete a separate form indicating among other things the name of the applicant and this form must not be sent in by the applicant.
7. Applicants must post completed applications with all the requirements
8. No walk-in application will be allowed except in special cases
Blackmoore said everything will be done to ensure that there is transparency and there is, “no abuse to this very important state instrument.”
A lot of these comments favoring the issuing of these passports are written by the Haitians themselves. Think they stupid?????
Why must the poor Haitians be the ones to suffer for the corruption which took place in our Government system? The PM said there will be no investigations which is a fundamental flaw in the legal system. Who gave him the authority to determine whether there will be or not be any investigation into alleged Criminal activity in Dominica. The champion of the world just received his Phd (DR) for caring so much about the poor and downtrodden; do what is right for once Sir; when your people offend the law have then investigated and prosecuted.
Dominica is on the black market. Going once, going twice, soon Dominica will be gone.
Has the Racketeering offences investigated? If yes, what is the status of that investigation? what did the police find out?
If no investigation was conducted into such a serious criminal , illegal act, such as Racketeering, what was the reason? Why no one has been charged, brought before the courts for committing such illegal acts with our visas?
Has the racketeering with our visas to Haitians stopped? When? So with no investigations, racketeering goes on still? So the problem of racketeering has been solved? Nobody has been brought to justice?Business continues as usual? What a country under weird governance.
Give our Haitian brothers as many visa as needed. After all Dominicans can be found all over the world. With ours Jaitians brother tomatoes are always in season.
Really support this move. What needs to be looked into is registration of haitians into social security without work permits. Nowhere else in the world is this done but Dominica. Imagine that.Why labour give them work permitor why some passports stamp not authorized for employment, Those who know explain to me.
Are you a Haitian?
We all must eat and drink and live a descent life…we as Dominicans we are all over the world,we are happy to be welcomed …we should never be harsh about other immigrantes who would like to come to Dominic,as long as they respect the law,, if the gov’t is charging Haitians to enter Dominica this will also help the country. Haitians are not lazy people but the population must keep an eye on them because when ever you give an inch to a Haitian they will try the best to take a mile and still fight you for it although you are in your country.. They do the same to each other as Haitians because I have witnessed fights among them in Guadeloupe on the side walks that they sell on in the middle of the town…nonetheless Haitians are not coming to Dominica to stay because there is very little for us now ..They all have an eye looking forward to head to a more developed country..
How come citizens of Dominica don’t need visa to go to Haiti and can stay there for three months? So we not equal within that Caricom organization then?
Are you a Haitian?
Ugh…more of these people?! Take care they don’t dry off the country of resources like their ancestors did theirs.
Sorry! Said so much, meant so little in the eye of the beholder. Grow up!
Sell them Blackmoore,soon the people of Dominica will be sold also,sad situation in this country.
But MA and Papa, why did you all give birth to me in such a disgraced country? I know we already had that conversation and you told me you never thought DA would have such an evil government. But ma, you know things are getting worse by the minute? You know how it hurts to land in any caribbean island and hand my DA passport to immigration, most times with people around? Ma, it’s a government that told us we have no law or constitution, and Vaca bonds can do and are doing whatever they want. Ma, imagine they stewing little girls that just start to see period, and they have the guts to find a legal way to justify their actions. MA what else will they not get away with nou
Seriously???? you’re a wicked person. America which is the most evil country on earth doing all that and still you want the green card and the blue book.
hmmmmm seriously blackmore i dont know when these guys in Government will start using thier brain not their a**. 25 visitors per month wooooowww so only US $10, 000 all you need per moth as a matter of fact its a crime to be taking US$400 from them people and again they still have to pay for extension stay or to apply for work permit if they find a job . so if all you need more money to come to the country bring more visitors wherever they may from but bear in mind the racketing business will still going on Blackmore just pretending to be a good minister ah dont try that i know you long time ok . so you wanna kill someone else business to bring yours saying that you want thing to be done in transparency . dont worry your package soon to come just like those who resigned and those waiting to tender their resignation .
you dont get the picture, its about making personal money
Many came in legal, but leave illegally. If you come legal, why not leave legal? The vast majority use here as a transit point.
Be it known that Haitians are not coming to Dominica to seek employment or to live but rather use it as a transit to pass back door to go to America . The government know that but they are too busy fighting each other for power, money and pleasures
Don’t worry trump say he sending them back, that’s why Dominicans probably vex
do you live in Dominica?
Haitians staying put
De country nice boy!!
What total rubish!!! How can you put a quota on visitors be it Hatians or any other people. Are we saying that only 25 Hatians can visit Dominica a month………I can only say .. Haiti I am sorry…
What government; ? Does Dominica even have a government? I would swear is a club we have running the country. It’s so depressing withe these guys that have no respect for law or anything good. What a shame
Somebody getting broks
!!!!!
Haiti is a full member of Caricom although their citizens are not issued with the Caricom passport. It begs the question what Caricom membership really means when all its member states deny access to citizens from Haiti without a visa whereas Israel, of all countries gives them access without such an obstacle for a stay of three months.
By the way, what happened to mrs. Lazare, ……… She has not been seen in that post for a while now.
Good move!!..you see to move a country forward we need strengthened institutions, eliminate subjectivity as much as possible and that will minimize corruption.
Now where are the results of the Investigation?
While I’m in support of this visa restrictions, I think that it’s a tad too late. Most of the Haitian assailants have already used Dominica as their transit center and have moved on to greener pastures, bigger and better things. Dominica was like a bitch to these guys where she got used then got dumped when no longer needed. At the same time I have to say that Dominica bound to stay empty just now because of that Adolf Hitler mentality that our supreme leader, the great physician, Dr. Roosevelt Indian Buddha Skeritt has where he thinks that only he and flock of goats in cabinet should eat a daily bread leaving the rest of us to flea from the island just like the Haitians fled from their country. So basically no one’s coming in while the rest of us are leaving in droves. Not cool!!!
“Dominica was like a bitch to these guys where she got used then got dumped when no longer needed.”
Come on Floridian diaspora, is the US serving the same purpose to you? Migration is a fundamental as the right to freedom of expression and movement.
why do you guys compare everything to the usa… such idiots
That visa thing brought in thousands to the Dominica treasury because the Haitians had to pay all kinds of fees and when they got into DA they also paid at the airport. It should have never stopped. Since it was stopped agriculture went down. Money at treasury got low. These Haitians are very ambitious because when Dominicans do not want to do some of the jobs available the Haitians would gladly take on those jobs. The Haitians will work in rain and sun for you. Forget about who was being paid for assisting a Haitian because you cannot prevent a Haitian from giving a top to someone for assisting them with employment or hosting them at their home while on vacation or employed. Let the program roll on and approve at least 100 visas a month What 25 that. After all lets allow free movement. Anyways some of those Haitians have bad hands and you clamp down on them if caught Let those poor people survive. Haitians when allu come into our country behave allu damn selves.
Really!!!!!