DOMINICA | UK's Decision to Impose Visa Regime on Dominica is Unfortunate says Skerrit

ROSEAU, Dominica, July 20, 2023 - Dominica’s prime minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the decision of the United Kingdom (UK) government to impose, with immediate effect, a visa regime on Dominica and several other countries is “unfortunate.”

“We appreciate that at this time the imposition of visa requirements will create an inconvenience for many of our citizens who visit the UK for vacation, to visit family and who transit the UK frequently. 

This, however, does not prevent Dominicans from travelling to or through the United Kingdom. Dominicans are still welcome in the United Kingdom,” Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit said in a radio and television broadcast on Thursday.

London said the decision to impose the visa requirements on Dominica, Honduras, Namiba, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu” has been taken solely for migration and border security reasons and is not a sign of poor relations with these countries.

“Any decision to change a visa regime is not taken lightly and we keep our border and immigration system under regular review to ensure it continues to work in the UK national interest.”

Prime Minister Skerrit expressed confidence that Dominica will not suffer permanent harm due to a visa restriction on holders of passports from the island by the United Kingdom due to its Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI). 

“The decision by the British government is unfortunate and it hurts,” he said. “But it shall not be a permanent harm.” He said Dominica takes the matter seriously and “will increase our efforts in showcasing our robust due diligence and risk mitigation efforts on all fronts.”

Skerrit stated that Dominica has the most proactive and robust due diligence processes which vet anyone who wants to attain a Dominican passport. “This vetting process is multi-layered and handled by top-rated due diligence agencies based in the UK and the USA,” he said.

“Dominica has taken the lead in this region in seeking regional coordination on the various CBI programs and in discussing ways to safeguard all of these programs. 

Our nation implemented six CBI principles proposed by the US, including implementation of mandatory interviews for applicants 16 years and older for the CBI program.”

Following the British government’s announcement, Skerrit said Dominica will continue to strengthen its due diligence processes. “We will continue to evolve our due diligence processes, as we are already doing, to ensure that they do not only meet international standards but alleviate any security concerns,” he said.

He stated that Dominica now has ” fresh impetus to go back and re-look where it can do even better in terms of its CBI program in order to give its international partners confidence in its security measures, which according to him, is “already the most robust in the world.”

“As a matter of fact, we shall engage the services of a European-based entity who shall come in and do a comprehensive review of our entire program and so advise us of any additional changes which we ought to make,” the prime minister said.

“We will continue to engage the United Kingdom on the matter as we will do with other nations, like those of the European Union and the United States of America.”

Skerrit acknowledged the visa imposition will be an inconvenience for many Dominican travelers who visit the UK for vacation or to visit family or in transit but said it does not prevent them from entering the European country.

“To reiterate their desire not to impede the efforts of Dominican residents at home to enter or transit the UK, the British government has instituted a program where it will accept applications online and set up an office on demand in Dominica to allow applicants to submit their biometrics and finalize their applications. 

Dominicans who do not reside in Dominica can also request entry visas at UK consular offices nearest to them.”

Despite the British Government’s decision however, Skerrit said Dominica will continue investments that have direct link to the island’s CBI program.

“At home, we shall continue to invest in people, whether it is through housing, bolstering the health sector or expanding more educational opportunities, the extension of the Douglas Charles Airport, while we usher in the construction of our new international airport,” he remarked.

“These investments have a direct link to our CBI program. Our development agenda is a Dominica agenda and in the pursuit of an even more caring society, I will continue to place our people first as we continue towards realizing a truly dynamic Dominica.”

“Dominica is resilient, Dominica is a fighter. And as a nation and as a government, we shall do what we must, to protect and promote the interest of our resident and diasporic communities.”

On Wednesday, the British Home Office announced that it was imposing a visa regime on Dominicans due to concerns over the island’s (and another country, Vanuata) Citizenship by Investment Program (CBI).

“Careful consideration of Dominica’s and Vanuatu’s operation of a citizenship by investment scheme has shown clear and evident abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK,” said Home Secretary, Suella Braverman in a statement to the British parliament.