BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) – Noting that St Kitts and Nevis has one of the largest per capita Haitian populations in the Caribbean, Prime Minister Dr Terrance Drew says capacity constraints and national security responsibilities were behind the country’s decision to exclude Haitians from a recently signed US agreement on relocating third-country nationals.

St Kitts and Nevis is among several Caricom countries to have signed an agreement with the United States government to facilitate third-country refugees so as to mitigate scenarios where Washington cannot return these individuals to their state of birth or origin.

The regional governments say, the agreement which is non-binding and is at the complete discretion of the governments, establishes a framework for co-operation and does not trigger any immediate transfer and future engagements. They say the agreement is orderly, transparent and consistent with the laws, policies and national interest of their individual countries.

However, under the Memorandum of Understanding, St Kitts will not accept Haitians, a position that has led to public concerns.

Responding to these concerns, Drew told a radio audience that his administration’s position must be understood within the broader context of St Kitts and Nevis’ humanitarian record, particularly when compared to actions taken under the former administration.

He said that since assuming office, his administration has adopted a deliberately humane approach, prioritising the protection of vulnerable individuals and rejecting policies that would place lives at risk.

“When children and pregnant women arrived here, my decision was clear. Get the pregnant women to the hospital immediately. Get the children checked. We are not deporting them,” he said.

Prime Minister Drew said the twin island Federation has, per capita, accepted one of the largest Haitian populations in the Caribbean, providing free access to education, healthcare, and social support, often at significant cost to a small state with limited resources.

“We are very accepting and progressive towards Haitians,” he said, stressing that Haiti’s exclusion from the specific agreement should not be interpreted as a rejection of the Haitian people, but rather as a reflection of capacity constraints and national security responsibilities.

He reiterated that the government remains fully committed to working through regional and international mechanisms to support Haiti’s long-term stability.

Drew, who is also the chairman of the 15-member regional integration grouping of which Haiti is a member, said that under his leadership, the twin island Federation has never and will never engage in the dehumanisation or mistreatment of Haitian nationals.