Source: Erasmus Williams FB
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS — The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has stated that its decision to exclude nationals of the Republic of Haiti from the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of the United States “is not a withdrawal of compassion, nor a departure from regional solidarity, but rather a responsible and transparent acknowledgement of national capacity constraints.”
In clarifying its position, the Government noted that it has long demonstrated “compassion, solidarity, and support for the people of Haiti.”
The statement emphasised that the Federation has consistently been at the forefront of embracing and defending Haitians both within St. Kitts and Nevis and in international fora, advocating for their dignity, protection, and right to humane treatment wherever they reside. Over the years, St. Kitts and Nevis has accepted and integrated a significant number of Haitian nationals, proportionately among the highest in the region.
The Government further noted that it is from this position of empathy and responsibility that it continues to approach regional and international migration matters with care and realism.
As a small developing state, St. Kitts and Nevis must balance humanitarian considerations with the practical limits of its resources, infrastructure, and social services, the statement said.
“When assessed on a per-capita basis, the Federation has reached a threshold beyond which it cannot absorb additional inflows without placing undue strain on essential systems and potentially threatening national security,” the statement concluded.