BASSEETERRE, St. Kitts – “THE Government of the Dominican Republic must be condemned for its illegal behaviour which is a violation of the Geneva Convention and against international law.”
This condemnation was made by the Hon. Kenrick W. Clifton, Esq., a national of St. Kitts and Nevis who was elected to the Legislative Branch of a Municipal Government in the United States of America.
He was at the time, on a US radio station, addressing the crisis facing Dominicans of Haitian descent in that Caribbean Spanish-speaking country.
“As we celebrate the Fourth of July and pay tribute to perhaps the greatest democracy known to mankind, I cannot help but to reflect on the travesty of justice occurring in the neighbouring Dominican Republic,” Clifton told his listeners.
The Councillor reminded of the pivotal role Haitians played in the historical development of the USA and the Caribbean, noting that the historical ties remain strong and steadfast and are manifested today in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“I want to express my profound sadness and trepidation regarding the pending wholesale deportation of residents of the Dominican Republic who are of Haitian descent.
“In 2013, the Constitutional Court of the Dominican Republic essentially ruled that Dominicans of Haitian descent will not be considered citizens. The effect of this ruling is that Dominicans of Haitian descent would be considered to be ‘stateless’. In other words, they have no country,” Clifton said.
In the context of American life, Clifton explained that the Dominicans of Haitian descent situation means that if an individual were born in the USA and his/her mother and even grandmother were also born there, that individual could still not be considered an American.
“As a result of this law,” he explained, “Dominicans of Haitian descent will not be able to live in the Dominican Republic legally, children will not be able to go to school and some may not be even treated in hospitals. In essence, they will be considered to be ‘non-people’.”
He further explained that the threat to deport hundreds of thousands of people to Haiti would cause a humanitarian crisis in that country. “These people speak no Haitian Creole and the only country they have known is the Dominican Republic. Besides, Haiti is still yet to recover from the worst earthquake to have struck the western world in recent history.”
Clifton stated that many “good and decent” nationals of the Dominican Republic living in that country and also many of them who are residing in the USA are against the inhumane act meted out to the hundreds of thousand by the government of their homeland.
For that reason, Clifton emphatically stated that the Government of the Dominican Republic must be condemned and that pressure must be brought to bear on them.
“Commonsense must prevail,” he opined.
He however commended Prime Minister Dr. the Hon. Timothy Harris and other Caribbean leaders for strongly opposing and protesting what has been described as a crime against humanity.
“However, more must be done and must be done expeditiously by the Caribbean Community.
I also urge the United Nations and the Organisation of American States to take appropriate actions and avert the pending crisis,” Clifton intoned.
The Councillor also called on the US Government to take stronger action even though one of its major departments had already voiced its condemnation.
“The United States State Department has condemned this Ruling passed down by the Court of the Dominican Republic. But the US must be more resolute and pro-active in its opposition.”
He asserted that the USA and France, in particular, and the rest of the world in general, have a moral and ethical responsibility to prevent this misery and despair from happening, while urging the Government of the Dominican Republic to respect the rights, dignity and aspirations of all its residents, irrespective of race, colour, creed or place of ancestry.
In concluding his radio address, Clifton implored: “To you my fellow citizens, to prevent this humanitarian tragedy, I strongly encourage you to write to your senators, your congressmen and your local officials. We simply cannot stand idly by and allow this travesty and this humanitarian crisis to occur.”
The Hon. Kenrick W. Clifton was born in Sandy Point, St. Kitts of Anguillan and Nevisian parentage and had moved to the United States, where he completed his high school education and attended Boise State University in Idaho on an academic and athletic scholarship.
After graduating from that university, Clifton returned to his homeland and was involved in politics. However, his political career ended in 1995 and he, once again, left for the USA.
Reportedly, his accomplishments reached a crescendo when he was elected to the high office of Town Councilor in 2008 on the Randolph Town Council, the legislative body for the town of Randolph, a suburb of Boston, MA.
In his first attempt for political office, Clifton had defeated a number of well-established opponents and in 2011 was returned to office unopposed. He has also served on Governor Deval Patrick’s Task Force for the Implementation of President Obama’s Stimulus Bill.
