Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has indicated that despite reports in the media regarding deportations of Saint Lucian nationals from the United States, the Government of Saint Lucia has only eight active cases before it, which the Ministry of External Affairs is handling.
According to the media reports, the United States has over two hundred Saint Lucians among thousands of Caribbean nationals on its deportation list.
Donald Trump’s return to power has triggered the ‘mass deportations’ of illegal immigrants.
In keeping with Trump’s campaign promise, military aircraft are carrying deported migrants back to their home countries, such as Guatemala, Peru, Honduras, Ecuador, Colombia, and India.
“The changing foreign policy of the United States of America will have implications for small, open economies like Saint Lucia,” Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has said.
In this regard, the Government has launched two task forces to assess the impact of recent United States policy changes, including immigration enforcement measures and new tariffs on goods and services.
Home Affairs Minister Jeremiah Norbert heads the immigration task force, while Commerce Minister Emma Hippolyte leads the one dealing with tariffs.
“The Government of Saint Lucia will do everything within its power to safeguard the economic stability and social well-being of Saint Lucia,” Pierre said. “We will continue engaging with our international partners and stakeholders to protect our national interests.”
“We are confident that together, we can navigate these volatile times and continue to work in the best interest of all Saint Lucians,” the Saint Lucia Prime Minister declared.
Let’s send American nationals who are overstaying their 6 weeks back too. USA will run out of friends if they follow the words of a dicktator
Prior to 2012, the year Canada imposed visa in SLU, more St.Lucians were deputed back to St.Lucia from Canada. If I could take a guess, over 300 St.Lucians were deported back to SLU.
Today, Donald Trump has only 200 Lucian’s on the list which is far less in numbers from the Canadian list.
Why is there such a big concern. The folks are coming home 🏠
Let hope they become productive down here
Jeremiah is handling this? Make sure he documents everything he says and does as it may be that his memory might not be so good. Also you might want to house them in central Castries please if they are troublesome ones.
Tarriff … bunch a jokers… the hardship is already at our door step a long time, you people agree to everything the WTO throw at your door step and what us local people to follow their guidelines.. This country is full of BS leaders
Undocumented Lucians should stay out of sight after their hustle. Stay out of trouble with police. Just survive in the shadows. However, returning to St Lucia is not bad. There is no place like home.
@ Anonymous 1, Trump is perpetuating a lie. He thinks all immigrants are criminals whereas the Canadian government deported the undocumented immigrants without demonizing any of them. Trump is trying to substitute perception for reality. He is hoping that perception will then become reality. As a consequence, you are making a false equivalency simply because the intent between the US and Canada was totally different. Are you aware that undocumented immigrants contribute more than $100 billion annually to the US tax system? I will leave you with one simple note: stupidity is nearly impossible to oppose. And if you don’t believe me please ask Donald trump.
What become of the promised that was made that St.Lucians will not need Visa to travel to the US? Is 8 deportees or 800?
Somebody clear the air on this.
PJP two wrongs cannot be right or a wrong cannot be right for that fact. You cannot go into someone’s country and break their law, they are consequences. Within your government inclusive of the UWP. You guys are well aware of people who commit crime here and bail the island leaving the victims to suffer. Non of you can bark because you all think the USA is a shrine fearing you all visa get revoked because US now voted in a totalitarian.
It is sad that we are unable to understand what is at stake here . WE will suffer if we are not proactive and understanding . This comes at a high cost to every single one of us .
The majority of the undocumented people have been sending their money to financial institutions in st lucia and will open businesses so it is a blessing in disguise some of the people even have their own homes and land in the island
Off topic! @The fake John Snow, why don’t you find your own stage name?
There are so many names you can call yourself, but you just had to use John Snow. Go back in the comment history of topics and you will know what I’m talking about.
Back to reality;
There is and will always be a chance of someone getting caught if you’ve overstayed in one’s country. There’s nothing complicated about it. People knew the risk and the consequences that came with it!!
and @bipolar…many of us have been benefitting from the barrels and other items from our families in the usa…a blessing i call it….this is really not going to look good for some households in st lucia as it helped to ease the financial strain…sad state of affairs….some of these family members have productive jobs in the usa and have been there for many years..i wish there was something the usa could do to have them documented….imagine you go and learn a skill in the usa and come down here you cant even use that skill….smh..on the flip side…some have gone up years and have not saved a black cent…sad state of affairs..