Prime Minister Philip J Pierre has released a statement reacting to news that Saint Lucia is being considered, along with over 40 other countries, for visa restrictions by the United States.
Pierre posted to Facebook saying, “The Government of Saint Lucia is confirming that it has received no formal communication from the United States of America [USA] on media reports by the New York Times and others alleging that Saint Lucia is included in a draft list of visa restrictions recommendations.
The Government of Saint Lucia and the Saint Lucian Embassy in Washington DC are actively seeking clarification on this matter. Media reports have proposed that Saint Lucia is to be placed in a “yellow” category of countries which would have “60 days to address concerns”.
The USA is a friend of Saint Lucia and remains a key partner in Saint Lucia’s development. We look forward to an even stronger relationship between our two countries.
The Government of Saint Lucia will provide updates on any official communications related to this matter.”
According to the New York Times story ‘Draft List for New Travel Ban Proposes Trump Target 43 Countries’, “The proposal also includes a draft “yellow” list of 22 countries that would be given 60 days to clear up perceived deficiencies, with the threat of being moved onto one of the other lists if they did not comply.
Such issues could include failing to share with the United States information about incoming travelers, purportedly inadequate security practices for issuing passports, or the selling of citizenship to people from banned countries, which could serve as a loophole around the restrictions.
That list, the officials said, included Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Dominica, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, São Tomé and Príncipe, Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.”
The other two lists, according to the Times, are red – where all travel is banned, and orange, where visas are sharply restricted.
Earlier today, the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), released a statement blaming the Pierre administration for the alleged circumstances.
“The Government of Saint Lucia’s reckless mismanagement of the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) has now placed the entire nation in jeopardy. Reports indicate that the United States is considering imposing travel restrictions on Saint Lucians due to concerns about the integrity of the program. This is not just an administrative failure, it is a national crisis that threatens our people’s ability to travel, do business, and maintain our country’s global reputation.”
The statement continued, “The possibility of travel restrictions from the US, a key partner and ally would be devastating. It would impact Saint Lucians who depend on visa-free access for business, healthcare, education, family visits and tourism-related opportunities. It would hurt our economy by diminishing investor confidence, further weakening an already struggling economy. And most importantly, it would be an embarrassment for an island that has always prided itself on its strong international standing.
The government must be held accountable for this gross negligence. They must immediately address the glaring weaknesses in the program and take decisive action to restore Saint Lucia’s credibility on the global stage. The people of Saint Lucia deserve a government that prioritizes their interests, not one that recklessly endangers their freedom and economic future.”
