BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, November 16th 2009 (PAM Secretariat) - Shadow Minister within the People’s Action Movement (PAM), Roy Fleming has called on the Prime Minister to issue an amnesty to non-nationals in an effort to regularise their status.
Fleming, in speaking to the media, urged the government to give non-nationals who have not regularised their status at least a three months of putting themselves straight. Fleming strongly believes that a number of immigrants, mostly from the Dominican Republic, Guyana and Jamaica, are estimated to be living in the Federation without valid residency or work permits.
Fleming urged the government to provide amnesty for persons who have been living in the Federation prior to October 2004. He noted that persons who have failed to meet the time deadline of residency but have employers who are willing to employ them should be granted amnesty.
Fleming said that while some persons may criticize the initiative, he strongly believes that it would urgently help in "cleaning up" and regularise the immigration system for those who may have valid reasons to be in the Federation. He said that such an initiative is greatly needed as it would certainly help in boosting the issue of immigration at a time of rising unemployment and economic crisis.
He said that a three-month grace period should be immediately introduced, reiterating his call that there is a pivotal need for wider immigration reform. He declared that a number of non-nationals from Santo Domingo, Guyana and Jamaica have been making valuable and significant contribution to the advancement and development of St. Kitts and Nevis while they have also been making serious financial contributions through the payment of bills, among other things.
“There are a lot of Kittitians and Nevisisans who lives in several other countries and, therefore, we must remember the days that we had migrated to other countries in search of a better life. Therefore, I strongly believe that we need to demonstrate our true hospitality as we have always been receiving…so giving will help,” he said.The PAM candidate noted that while Kittitians and Nevisians may not be going to Santo Domingo, Guyana and Jamaica, this was prevalent in years gone by, adding that there is an immense need for sympathy to be expressed to citizens of these countries. He stressed that if government is truly serious about the many promises it continues to make to non-nationals, then Prime Minister Douglas as Minister of National Security should immediately established the three-month amnesty.
