Haiti - FLASH : Barbados abolished VISAS for Haitians
The Administration of Mia Amor Mottley, the new Prime Minister of Barbados, leader of the Barbados Labor Party (BLP) in office since 25 May 2018, has abolished the visa requirement for Haitian citizens entering Barbados .
Interior Minister Edmund Hinkson, elected in 2013 and elected in the last elections, said he was shocked when he learned last Saturday that such a requirement existed, as Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). There was no logical reason to impose visa requirements on its citizens "That is clear law... that was absolutely incorrect. If Haiti is a member of CARICOM and the Treaty of Chaguaramas speaks to non-discrimination and equal treatment, how can you have put on visa requirements on Haitians ? Why do we do this to our own people ?"
Hinkson also revealed that his ministry was preparing a white paper on immigration to deepen the integration movement and relations with the rest of the region "We are going to look clearly at reforming the immigration legislation of Barbados as well as the policies of it. Clearly our Immigration Act is outdated," making reference to a section of the legislation which bars imbeciles and mentally and physically handicapped persons" from entering the country.
Recall that Mia Amor Mottley is the first woman to be elected Prime Minister in the history of Barbados and has won the election of 30 deputies out of 30 seats, another first in 52 years of independence from Barbados.
