HAITI REFUGEE CRISIS FEATURES IN UK OT MINISTER’S CARIBBEAN TRIP

The situation in Haiti was a main issue in talks between the British government’s Minister for the Overseas Territories and the Caribbean, Uma Kumaran, and governments of the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) and the Dominican Republic(DR).

On her first official overseas trip since taking up the role in July, Min. Kumaran first visited the TCI, a UK Overseas Territory, where she discussed security, border control and other issues. She then headed to the Dominican Republic where those concerns were also on the agenda. Both the TCI and the DR have large communities of displaced Haitian migrants.

According to an official statement, the discussions in the Dominican Republic focused on economic growth, regional security, clean energy and stability in Haiti.

“Economic growth, clean energy and regional security were the focus of Minister Uma Kumaran’s visit to the Dominican Republic…The Minister arrived in the Dominican Republic from the Turks and Caicos Islands. There, she met local leaders and discussed regional security, migration and climate resilience. Discussions also covered the impact of instability in Haiti on Caribbean nations and UK Overseas Territories.”

According to the statement, the visit strengthens the UK’s partnership with the Dominican Republic with discussions covering shared priorities including infrastructure, investment, climate resilience, women and girls, and stability in Haiti.

That country has been rocked by gang and political violence, with elections planned for last month now rescheduled to December. If the poll goes ahead, it will be Haiti’s first general election in 10 years. Its last president, Jovenel Moise, was assassinated in 2021, after delaying a vote.

WORSENING REFUGEE CRISIS

The worsening situation has resulted in another wave of refugees fleeing the country, with many turning up in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which already has a large Haitian migrant community.

Already this year, over 1,300 Haitian migrants have arrived in the TCI by boat on the journey of around 100 miles. In the past week alone, TCI maritime border patrol intercepted a small boat with 93 Haitian migrants on board.

Further compounding the Haitian migrant crisis is the recent US Trump administration’s policy to withdraw Temporary Protected Status(TPS) for Haitian refugees, with many now being forcibly returned to the country.

On the visit to the Dominican Republic, the UK OTs and Caribbean Minister, Uma Kumaran, was also due to meet representatives from the United Nations, security partners and regional organisations. “Discussions will focus on security and stability in Haiti, where gang violence continues to drive humanitarian needs and migration pressures across the region, including in UK Overseas Territories. The UK is working with partners to address these challenges. This includes support for human rights in Haiti, efforts to tackle organised crime and trafficking, and international initiatives to help create the conditions for long-term stability and credible elections.”

The UK recently announced £5.6 million (US$7.5 million) over 2 years to support human rights compliance by the Gang Suppression Force. The programme will be delivered through the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

Minister Uma Kumaran said: “The UK and the Dominican Republic are close partners, working together to support stability in Haiti, strengthen regional security, and unlock opportunities for growth and investment.”