ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says his administration is willing to have public consultations on the possibility of allowing Palestinians to settle in the country.

Skerrit made the statement in his contribution to the budget debate in Parliament on Thursday.

“I believe that we will be open to engage the governments of Qatar and Saudi Arabia with the view to quite possibly allowing the resettlement of a couple hundred of Palestinians in Dominica.”

“You have very talented people in these countries, doctors and engineers who we believe can assist us in our efforts to growing the economy and filling the gaps…” Skerrit said.

His proposal comes in the wake of several countries stating that they are willing to press for Palestinian statehood at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.

On Wednesday Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, announced his country plans to formally recognise Palestine and last week.  France and 14 other countries co-signed a declaration that pointed towards a wave of future recognitions of an independent Palestinian state.

Carney’s remarks were made amid growing pressure on Israel to end its military campaign in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023 in response to the massacre of over one thousand Israelis by the terror group Hamas.

Israel has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is eliminated.