News

CARICOM to Suspend Consideration of Dominican Republic’s Bid For Membership

By: Caribbean Journal Staff - November 26, 2013

Above: Trinidad Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Using its strongest language to date, the Caribbean Community issued a stern statement Tuesday condemning the recent Constitutional Court decision in the Dominican Republic that could strip hundreds of thousands of Dominicans of Haitian descent of their nationality.

Following a special session in Port of Spain of the CARICOM Heads of Government chaired by Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the regional body issued a statement officially condemning the ruling and calling it “abhorrent and discriminatory.”

Most crucially, the regional body said it would “suspend consideration” of the Dominican Republic’s request for full membership in CARICOM.

While neighbouring Haiti is a full member state of CARICOM, the Dominican Republic is only an observer, although several countries, including Trinidad, have called for the country to become a full member state, as recently as this summer.

CARICOM said that it “cannot allow its relationship with the Dominican Republic to continue as normal.”

“Furthermore, the Community will review its relationship with the Dominican Republic in other fora, including that of CARIFORUM, CELAC and the OAS.”

“It cannot be business as usual,” CARICOM said.

“It is especially repugnant that the ruling ignores the 2005 judgment made by the Inter-American Court on Human Rights that the Dominican Republic adapt its immigration laws and practices in accordance with the provisions of the American Convention on Human Rights,” CARICOM said. “The ruling also violates the Dominican Republic’s international human rights obligations.”

CARICOM said the ruling had created an environment where, “with the abrogation of rights that flow from citizenship, arbitrariness can flourish, as illustrated by recent media reports of the forced deportation to Haiti of persons claiming to be Dominican with no linguistic or familial ties to that country.”

“The Community also calls on regional and hemispheric countries and organisations to lend their voice to urge the Dominican Republic to right this terrible wrong, it said.

CARICOM called on the government to take the necessary steps to “redress the grave humanitarian situation created by the ruling.”

The regional body also praised Venezuela for its role in working to resolve the problem; the country recently hosted bilateral talks between Haiti and the Dominican Republic on the issue.

“CARICOM is prepared to engage the Dominican Republic but the government of the Dominican Republic must show good faith by immediate credible steps as part of an overall plan to resolve the nationality and attendant issues in the shortest possible time,” it said.

Popular Posts riviera maya resort closing

Hyatt Is Closing This Riviera Maya Resort, With Plans for a Rebranding

Hyatt is closing one of its top luxury resorts in the Mexican Caribbean in a few months, with plans for a rebranding, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The Andaz Mayakoba Resort Riviera Maya, one of a trio of properties in the […]


Frontier Airlines Is Adding Another New Nonstop Flight to the Dominican Republic’s Most Popular Destination: Punta Cana

punta cana golf dominican republic

The beaches, the all-inclusives, the nightclubs, the beach bars. Punta Cana is the spot when it comes to Dominican Republic travel, and now it’s getting another nonstop route from one of the fastest-growing airlines in the Caribbean.  Low-cost carrier Frontier […]


Travelers Keep Flocking to This Caribbean Island Famous for Beaches, Diving and a Colorful, Historic Capital 

curacao all-inclusive vacation

The colorful streets of Willemstad. The pristine, uncrowded beaches on the west coast. The party scene at Mambo. The floating bridge. Those Dutch Treat fries. The blissfully refreshing batidos. The unique, authentic hotels, from luxury resorts to dive spots.  Curacao […]


Related Posts the villa has a pool

How to Save on This St Thomas Villa With Views of the Island’s Most Famous Beach

It’s one of the best beaches, well, in the world; Magens Bay, that famous crescent of sugar-white sand in the heart of St Thomas.  But what if that was the view from your villa?  That’s what you get at the […]


This Turks and Caicos Resort Has Its Own Floating Bar on a Deserted Island 

ambergris cay

It’s a pilgrimage just about every guest at the Ambergris Cay resort makes at least once on their stay. You take a short ride on an ultra-luxe powerboat to a floating bar set off the coast of the nearby deserted […]


Bermuda’s New Airline Is Adding Three More Nonstop Routes 

bermuda st regis on the beach

Upstart carrier BermudAir is adding three new nonstop flights to the island of Bermuda, Caribbean Journal has learned.  The boutique carrier is set to launch new flights to Bermuda out of Richmond, Virginia, Providence and Montreal.  All three flights will […]