BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — The St Kitts & Nevis government said it will carry out a review of the immigration policy in light of “certain evolving realities” while seeking to preserve the twin island Federation “as a friendly and welcoming country”.

“We felt we needed to do a revisiting of the immigration policy that addresses these new realities in a more comprehensive way and yet at the same time we believe it is in the national interest of every country to protect its borders,” Prime Minister Dr Timothy Harris said.

He said there was need to discuss the movement of contraband “as we discuss issues related to the illicit movement of people and the international implications for human trafficking.”

But Harris said that the Federation had to take into consideration realities in relation to the treaty governing the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which governs the 15-member regional integration movement. Both treaties provide for the free movement of Caribbean nationals.

“We have to be conscious about immigration policies. We want to hold something in the end that still preserves our Federation as a friendly and welcoming country, one that is responsible in that it provides a welcoming and supportive environment for people within the CARICOM region, and that consolidates the OECS Treaty and special arrangements that exist within the sub-region,” Harris said.

Prime Minister Harris, who is also the Minister of National Security, said that the OECS grouping now have to cope with the large influx of immigrants from non-member states and CARICOM such as nationals from the Dominican Republic, a country which is a part of the broader forum of Caribbean States (CARIFORUM).

“We still need to address that reality when our own local constitutions provide for the grandfathering and perhaps great-grandfathering of citizens from other jurisdictions, and when they come, there are other things and other people, family and friends, that come with them and so therefore, how do you fashion an immigration policy that deals with these realities,” Dr Harris said.

He said that his government has signalled its intention to work with the Dominican Republic to engage in consultations and discussions “because reciprocity has to feature into what we will do.”