ROSEAU, Dominica (CMC) – The Opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling on the Dominica government to “immediately halt” the implementation of an agreement with the United States to facilitate third country deportees in the country.

Under the agreement, the deportees are to be sent to Dominica so as to mitigate scenarios where Washington cannot return these individuals to their state of birth or origin.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told a news conference on Monday that during discussions with the State Department there has been careful deliberation of the need to avoid receiving violent individuals or individuals who will compromise the security of Dominica.

He said given the importance of bilateral relationships between the United States and Dominica, he as prime minister and head of government, “believe it is important to find key points of agreement and compromise between our countries.

“This engagement is based on our responsibility to safeguard the wellbeing of our people, particularly their access to lawful travel, education, employment and family connections, while strengthening cooperation between our governments.

“I believe this will further deepen our longstanding relationship and signal clearly that Dominica remains a willing and reliable partner of the United States in the region,” Skerrit said.

But the UPP said that while it recognises Dominica’s humanitarian traditions, “this decision raises fundamental questions that demand immediate answers from the administration.

“The prime minister’s brief statement announcing this agreement falls far short of the transparency he has repeatedly promised the people of Dominica. Most troubling is his declaration that this is “a done deal” – a unilateral decision made without any consultation with the Dominican people. This represents a blatant disrespect to the citizens of this nation and a dangerous precedent for governance.”

The UPP said it is demanding that Prime Minister Skerrit halt the implementation of this agreement until proper consultation with the Dominican people has occurred as well as “release the full terms of this deportee agreement to the public”

The Opposition party is also calling on the government to provide detailed information about security vetting procedures and protocols, provide detailed information about financial compensation and support mechanisms as well as outline specific plans for housing, employment, and integration

The party is calling for consultation with all stakeholders, including opposition parties, civil society, and affected communities and allow “parliamentary debate and scrutiny of this agreement before any implementation proceeds”.

During the news conference on Monday, Prime Minister Skerrit was asked to disclose from which countries the migrants would be coming to Dominica, but responded by saying “there are details” which he cannot share with the country at this stage.

“But all of the questions you have asked have been considered as part of the discussions and part of the agreement, the MOU between Dominica and the United States,” Skerrit said, noting that Washington “has been very respectful and reasonable and understanding of our concerns”.