Prime Minister Drew reaffirms humanitarian record while stressing practical constraints for small island nation
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis – January 28, 2026 Prime Minister Dr. Terrance Drew has reaffirmed that capacity constraints and national security responsibilities were the primary reasons St. Kitts and Nevis excluded Haitian nationals from a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed with the United States in January 2026.
The non-binding agreement allows the federation to accept a very limited number of third-country nationals in U.S. custody who cannot be returned to their countries of origin. The MOU is restricted to nationals of other Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states — explicitly excluding Haiti — and applies only to individuals without violent or sexual criminal histories. Acceptance remains voluntary, case-by-case, with all costs covered by the U.S.
In initial comments during a January 8 press roundtable and in subsequent clarifications, Prime Minister Drew emphasized that the decision was made proactively and responsibly during negotiations. He stressed that the arrangement aligns with CARICOM cooperation while prioritizing national interests.
“This applies only to citizens or nationals of the Caribbean Community,” Drew reiterated. “This does not involve anybody outside of CARICOM. And I will further say that because of security matters, it does not include Haiti at this time.”
Humanitarian Record vs. Practical Realities
Addressing public concerns and regional criticism, the Prime Minister highlighted St. Kitts and Nevis’ strong humanitarian record toward Haiti. He noted that the federation hosts one of the largest per-capita Haitian populations in the Caribbean, with Haitian residents enjoying access to free education, healthcare, and social services — often at significant cost to limited national resources.
“St. Kitts and Nevis has, per capita, accepted one of the largest Haitian populations in the Caribbean,” Drew stated. However, as a small island developing state with finite infrastructure, public services, and security capacity, the government must balance compassion with realism.
Drew described the exclusion not as a lack of solidarity or discrimination, but as a responsible acknowledgment of practical limits to avoid undue strain on the nation’s systems.
Regional Context and Debate
The MOU fits into a broader pattern in which several CARICOM nations — including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and St. Lucia — have entered similar non-binding discussions or agreements with the United States amid heightened U.S. deportation enforcement policies.
While Haiti remains a full member of CARICOM, longstanding concerns among some member states about migration from Haiti — driven by security, economic, and capacity issues — have limited deeper integration in areas such as free movement and labor mobility. Many CARICOM countries impose visa requirements or restrictions on Haitian citizens, reflecting practical challenges amid Haiti’s prolonged crisis.
The announcement has sparked debate across the region, with some observers viewing the exclusion as pragmatic while others see it as a missed opportunity for deeper Caribbean solidarity.
L’Union Suite will continue to follow developments in U.S.-CARICOM migration agreements and their implications for Haitian nationals and the wider diaspora.
