{"id":341402,"date":"2025-05-08T15:50:52","date_gmt":"2025-05-08T19:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/?p=341402"},"modified":"2025-05-08T16:23:34","modified_gmt":"2025-05-08T20:23:34","slug":"extremely-positive-pm-remarks-on-rubio-talks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominicanewsonline.com\/news\/homepage\/homepage-carousel\/extremely-positive-pm-remarks-on-rubio-talks\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Extremely positive’: PM remarks on Rubio talks (with audio)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photo: OPM Dominica<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Prime Minister Hon. Roosevelt Skerrit described his recent engagement with United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio as \u201cextremely positive\u201d and \u201cconstructive.\u201d<\/p>\n

As previously reported by DNO, on Tuesday, May 6, in Washington D.C., the Prime Minister took part in a high-level meeting alongside other leaders from the OECS and the Bahamas, where they held discussions with the senior U.S. diplomat. The Office of the Prime Minister stated in a press release that the primary focus was on reaffirming their shared commitment to jointly tackling security issues within the Caribbean region.<\/p>\n

\u201cSecurity was high on the agenda,\u201d Prime Minister Skerrit remarked. \u201cThere is a commitment on the part of the United States government to help us and to work with us on the issue of security.\u201d<\/p>\n

The talks also addressed matters related to illegal migration.\u00a0 According to the release, the Prime Minister emphasized that Dominica\u2019s migration policies are aligned with those of the United States but called for increased facilitation of legal migration pathways.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not at variance with the United States in respect to their immigration policies,\u201d said Prime Minister Skerrit. \u201cBut we also urged the Secretary of State, and of course, by extension, the U.S. government to ensure that they continue to facilitate legal migration by the provision of visas to students, to visitors, the various work programmes. And of course, we believe that this will continue. We did not leave the meeting with the view that this will not continue.\u201d<\/p>\n

The OECS leaders also reaffirmed their ongoing support for the Cuban medical brigades, which have played a critical role in providing healthcare services across the Caribbean, stated the report.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe explained to him how this is operating within our countries. And I believe he understands that. So I do not see any threat to the Cuban medical programme, which we all have within our countries,\u201d Prime Minister Skerrit explained.<\/p>\n

Addressing concerns raised by the U.S. regarding Caribbean countries\u2019 ties with China, Skerrit defended Dominica\u2019s long-standing relationship with Beijing.<\/p>\n

\u201cChina has been\u2026 and continues to be a major ally in our economic and social development. We have always maintained our relationship with China in a very transparent way. What China is doing for Dominica is open for everybody to see, whether it\u2019s the construction of schools or the hospital or the roads or support to farmers and small businesses or housing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChina will continue to be a very strong and steadfast friend of Dominica. I don\u2019t think our relationship with any country should be based on any other country\u2019s relationship with that country,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Although not on the official agenda, the OPM shared that the leaders of the OECS also discussed the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) programme. Skerrit stated that the participating leaders assured Mr. Rubio that their CBI schemes would remain transparent, secure, and in line with international standards.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was a very, very constructive engagement. I think we should expect greater collaboration between the United States and the Caribbean, listening to the Secretary of State and his approach to things,\u201d Prime Minister Skerrit concluded.<\/p>\n

The PM relayed that during the discussions, Secretary Rubio also announced U.S. support for Caribbean nations in enhancing early warning systems and disaster response capabilities ahead of the hurricane season.<\/p>\n

Listen to Prime Minister Skerrit’s full updates:<\/p>\n