The government of Jamaica hosted a Caricom meeting on Haiti. Haiti is a member of the 15-member Caribbean Community known as Caricom. The Dominican Republic has a free trade treaty with Caricom countries, but is not a member after years back member countries did not accept the Dominican Republic to be part.
The Caribbean Community called the meeting to focus on stabilizing Haiti’s security and addressing the urgent humanitarian needs.
Before the 11 March 2024 meeting, the Jamaican government issued a statement making it clear Jamaica will not be taking in Haitian refugees. Deputy Minister for National Security Horace Chang has argued: “We cannot afford a flood of refugees.”
For decades, the Dominican Republic has received a flood of undocumented migrants from Haiti as these seek the livelihood they cannot find in their country. The Dominican Republic and Haiti share a 391 km border. CNN reports that the entry of Haitians to the Dominican Republic has increased given the worsening of the situation in Haiti. International press usually reports on deportations from the Dominican Republic, not on the consistent flow of immigrants entering through the 391 km border.
Attending the Jamaica-Haiti summit were the Secretary of State of the United States Antony Blinken and the Foreign Relations Minister of Mexico Alicia Barcena who traveled to Kingston for the Monday, 11 March 2024 meeting.
Caricom countries are signatories of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas that establishes that Caricom member states are part of the regional single market and are entitled to move freely.
The treaty says nationals of the Caricom Single Market and Economy (CSME) are to travel freely between states for business, cultural and tourism purposes.
Nevertheless, most Caricom nations require Haitians to have visas to enter despite Haiti is also a signatory to the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas.
When establishing the visa requirement, Caricom nations have argued Haitians are being trafficked and use Caricom nations as a gateway to get into other countries.
Haitian activists dispute the discrimination against Haitians by the Caricom countries, arguing that the Caricom treaty’s article 45 states that “member states commit themselves to the goal of free movement of their nationals within the Community.”
Read more in Spanish:
CNN
Reuters
Jamaica Information Service
US Secretary of State
Voice of America
Demerara Waves
Diario Libre
Noticias SIN
Noticias SIN
12 March 2024