Haitians resident in Dominica have requested for better life from the government. The foreign nationals said they work hard and pay taxes in Dominica, and should be treated with respect and fairness. They urged the Skerrit-led administration to improve living conditions for Haitians in Dominica and added that they deserve treatments equal to what Dominican citizens are getting.
Gathering at the Windsor Park Stadium to press home their demands, the Haitians said they look forward to meeting with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit and National Security Minister Rayburn Blackmoore. Speaking on behalf of his Haitian kindred, Albert Eustache who has lived 18 years in Dominica and speaks Creole fluently said the general behavior of Dominicans to Haitians in the country indicate unfounded dislike and disapproval.
“The government has its laws and we need to respect it,” Eustache, who is the special adviser to the Haitian community in Dominica, said. “Haitians pay taxes in Dominica they worked hard after Hurricane Maria to clear Dominica, I have been living in Dominica for 18 years, I am a citizen and I love the country but it appears now that 95 percent of people no longer like we Haitians and it’s sad.”
The Haitian community drew attention to how the police and immigration officials treat Haitian nationals whose work permits have expired – despite the promise of the Skerrit-led administration to renew their work permits so that they can continue working in the country. Eustache said the government ought to do better considering that Haitians are CARICOM nationals that must be treated fairly.
Eustache made note of the fact that he voted for Skerrit in Roseau Central before he emerged the parliamentary representative for the constituency, and must step up to alleviate the sufferings of Haitians on the island.
In a related development, event promoter and culture activist Leroy Charles said it is wrong for people from neighboring French islands such as Guadeloupe and Martinique among others to enter Dominica illegally to “de-stress” in the face of the restrictive COVID-19 regulations in their own country. He said sneaking out of your own country to escape getting infected with coronavirus is an endangerment to Dominicans if you sneak through the backdoor into Dominica.
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