Five Colombians accommodated in Roseau return home

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says the five Colombians received in Dominica under its third-country national arrangement with the United States have all returned to Colombia.

Skerrit made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, saying Dominica had concluded all arrangements with the United States concerning third-country nationals.

He said the United States initially submitted a list of people for Dominica to consider, but the government did not accept those names.

A second list was later provided with additional information, from which Dominica selected five people, all of them Colombians.

“They came into Dominica, and they’ve all left and returned to Colombia,” Skerrit said.

He said the five were accommodated at a hotel, provided with meals and taken care of while they were in Dominica.

They were also able to shop and access services, including barbering services, he said.

Skerrit said the government offered the five the option of returning to their home country after they arrived, and all indicated that they were willing to return to Colombia.

“It was very fast,” Skerrit said.

He said there are currently no third-country nationals in Dominica.

The prime minister said the government has engaged the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to manage the arrangement on its behalf.

He said the United States provided funds to assist with the care of the individuals while they were in Dominica.

Skerrit said Dominica had initially sought additional information about people on the first list, but the United States was unable to provide it at the time.

He said the second list contained the information Dominica required and that none of the five people selected had criminal records.

Under the agreement, Dominica has agreed to accept between five and seven third-country nationals every quarter, Skerrit said.

He said any future request from the United States would be examined based on the agreement and the conditions under which individuals would be accepted.
(CMC)