Dominica Foreign Minister calls UK visa decision a 'major blow'
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vince Henderson has said the loss of visa free access to the United Kingdom for Dominican passport holders is a “major blow”.
Dominica lost visa free access to the UK on July 19 due to concerns about abuses of its controversial Citizenship by Investment (CBI) program and the risk it poses to national security.
Despite admitting that losing the visa free privilege was a significant hit for the country’s passport and the attractiveness of its CBI, he downplayed what it would mean for the average Dominican.
“Not that many of us go to the UK,” he commented.
“But it is something as a Dominican I wish we didn’t have to go through. I remembered the burden that I felt came upon me when I was in London on the 18th and I was told on the 19th the announcement was going to be made.”
He continued: “So, I felt that burden and I know the Prime Minister went that length to see how we could have averted that, but it is upon us.”
Henderson stated Dominica losing its visa-free privileges had a lot to do with the popularity of its CBI and geopolitics as the UK is concerned that persons from unfriendly countries may have access to their soil.
Henderson said the government “will not roll over and play dead” and will use its diplomatic relations to find a solution to the problem.
Henderson said Dominicans should not stress over the visa application process since it is mainly digital and the UK has assured that consular officers will make frequent trips to Roseau to process them.
Dominica has no plans on ending its lucrative CBI program anytime soon as Henderson said funds raised helped the country when it was affected by natural disasters like Tropical Storm Erika.
“We built a new village for Petite Savanne, we relocated Dubique and CBI money did that,” Henderson stated. “If we didn’t have CBI how could we have constructed those [300] homes?”
Henderson also took aim at St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves who criticised the CBI as an unfeasible source for development funds and revenue generation.
Henderson, who is also the minister of energy, noted that Dominica used CBI money to fund its geothermal energy plants while St Vincent and the Grenadines is still struggling to get theirs off the ground.
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