During his presentation to the House of Assembly this week, Foreign Affairs Minister Alva Baptiste says a memorandum of understanding between Saint Lucia and the United States does not provide for the automatic transfer of third-country nationals to the island, with each proposed transfer subject to consideration by the Saint Lucian authorities.
Baptiste explained that the non-binding MOU requires the United States to provide information on individuals it proposes to transfer before any such transfer takes place.
“At section 2.2, prior to any transfer, the government of the United States of America intends to provide the government of Saint Lucia documentation of each proposed third-country national, biographical, medical, and criminal documentation to the extent available and permitted by law,” Baptiste said.
He said the arrangement also requires both governments to establish procedures governing its implementation.
“The MOU committed both governments to develop operating procedures for the implementation of the MOU,” the Minister said.
Baptiste’s comments come amid scrutiny over the potential implications of the agreement and whether Saint Lucia could be required to accept third-country nationals proposed for transfer by the United States.
The Minister said the Government has been assessing the potential policy, financial and institutional implications before proceeding with implementation.
“The potential policy, financial, and institutional implications of such an arrangement, the government considered it necessary to undertake a comprehensive technical assessment to determine the resources, governance arrangements, and financial commitments that would be required to implement the program effectively while safeguarding St. Lucia’s national interest,” he said.
According to Baptiste, the assessment has also informed discussions about the financial obligations associated with implementing the arrangement.
He said Cabinet last week considered a memorandum from the Ministry of External Affairs outlining the financial requirements Saint Lucia would seek in relation to implementation.
“Last week, the cabinet of ministers agreed to a memorandum from the Ministry of External Affairs proposing a comprehensive package of financial requirements by Saint Lucia for implementation of the agreement,” Baptiste said.
The proposed financial package has since been submitted to the United States.
“And this has been submitted to the US Embassy in Bridgetown,” he said.
Baptiste’s explanation indicates that Saint Lucia is seeking to establish the necessary administrative, financial and institutional arrangements before the MOU is implemented.
The Minister also stressed that information on each proposed individual would be provided before any transfer, allowing Saint Lucian authorities to assess the circumstances surrounding each case.
The Government’s position is that the MOU does not amount to an automatic acceptance mechanism and that Saint Lucia’s national interests must remain central to any implementation of the arrangement.