Saint Lucia will begin receiving the first group of transferees under a bilateral third-country nationals arrangement with the United States this week, Minister for External Affairs Alva Baptiste has announced Monday.
Speaking on the matter, Baptiste said six people, five men and one woman, will be permitted entry under the program, which allows for up to 10 persons each quarter over the next two years. “The United States remains a strong and valued partner to Saint Lucia,” Baptiste said. “Our relationship is built on cooperation and a shared commitment to addressing regional and international challenges responsibly.”
Baptiste said the program was developed following discussions with the U.S. government on how Saint Lucia could assist in implementing the third-country nationals initiative.
He sought to reassure the public that the individuals involved are not criminals, describing their cases as administrative in nature. “These individuals are not criminals. Their circumstances are administrative. They were unable to establish normalcy in their immigration status in the United States and would therefore be identified for removal,” he said.
According to the minister, Saint Lucia is working closely with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to provide two options for the transferees; voluntary repatriation to their countries of origin, or, for those who choose to remain, assistance with integration into Saint Lucian society in accordance with local laws.
He emphasized that the government’s participation in the agreement reflects Saint Lucia’s values. “Our agreement to this program reflects the values we proudly uphold as a nation, compassion, human dignity and respect for fundamental rights, as enshrined in the UN Charter. It is who we are as Saint Lucians,” he said.
Asked how the transferees would be handled upon arrival, the minister stated, “We cannot treat them as if they are prisoners…We are going to receive them and treat them with respect, the same respect that we expect people from other countries to treat our people when our people go to them.”
He added that Saint Lucians live in many countries around the world and should be accorded dignity abroad, just as the island expects to extend dignity to others.
According to hin, discussions with the U.S. began last year and involved careful consideration of Saint Lucia’s capacity. However, there was a long gestation period on what Saint Lucia can do and can afford.
“In the spirit of partnership, we finally came to an agreement as to what the government, in the soundness of judgment, believes that it can manage.” The minister said the arrangement would be reviewed over time. “It’s going to be a learning curve. At the end of that period, if it lasts that long, we would be in a better position to assess how the program is going, and of course, to subject it to new levels of critical examination.”
Baptiste clarified that the limit of 10 persons per quarter refers to the total number of individuals, including any accompanying family members
