Jamaica defends CARICOM over Dom Rep citizenship issue

Jamaica is defending CARICOM's response to the planned deportation of thousands of people of Haitian descent from the Dominican Republic. 

Jamaica coordinates foreign policy among CARICOM member states.

Yesterday, a group from the University of the West Indies (UWI) said it wrote to CARICOM Chairman Perry Christie, expressing shock that the regional body has not commented on the issue.

In a statement in the Jamaican Senate this morning, Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, AJ Nicholson, outlined the various efforts in which CARICOM has been involved to get the matter resolved. 

He said efforts were advanced during last week's high-level meeting involving CARIFORUM and the European Union. 

According to Senator Nicholson, leaders agreed with CARICOM that CARIFORUM and the EU would provide greater monitoring of the Dominican Republic’s commitment not to engage in mass deportations or render stateless, people of Haitian descent.

Wednesday was the deadline for more than 250,000 people, mostly of Haitian descent, to regularise their status or face being removed from the Dominican Republic.