PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) – Haitians wishing to visit Suriname from September 15 must be in possession of a visa as the Dutch Caribbean Community (Caricom) clamps down on criminal activities, including illegal migration.

According to the Haitian authorities, Suriname has made it mandatory for nationals from Haiti, a Caricom member state, to be in possession of a visa from September 15 to enter the Dutch-speaking country.

Media reports here said that the French government, through its embassy in Suriname, had complained that Haitian migrants passed through Suriname to enter French Guiana in large numbers seeking asylum.

Figures released here show that more than half of the passengers on the airline, Insel Air, which serves the French side of the Caribbean island, were of Haitian origin.

A March 2016 report had noted that more illegal Haitian migrants had entered French Guiana and that many had used Suriname’s international airport.

The report noted that most of the Haitians did not speak English and for the most part, could neither read nor write. Some were also unable to provide the authorisation documents for children who accompanied them or held false documents.

It said that airlines now had to file their full lists of passengers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Suriname and that while a tourist card was given to the travellers from September 15, all Haitian nationals with a ticket for a trip to Suriname will have to be in possession of a visa.