DOMINICA, GUYANA ALSO IN TALKS WITH US TO ACCEPT THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS

At least two other Caricom countries have confirmed they are in talks with the United States to accept a limited number of third-country nationals, including refugees.

The announcement by Dominica and Guyana come in the wake of Antigua and Barbuda’s announcement that it has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with Washington on this matter.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit has announced an agreement with the US to facilitate third-country refugees to be sent to Dominica to mitigate scenarios where the US cannot return them to their state of birth or origin.

Senior government officials in Guyana have also confirmed advanced discussions with the US government about an agreement that could see Guyana accepting third country deportees and refugees from the United States.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has outlined its non-binding agreement with the US to accept third-country nationals creates no legal obligation on Antigua and Barbuda; commits the government to no quotas or automatic acceptance of any persons; and may be terminated at any time, at Antigua and Barbuda’s sole discretion.

Both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have faced partial travel restrictions imposed by U.S. president Donald Trump.