Connect with us

Caribbean News

Haitian Citizens in TCI Could Lose Quiet Nassau Visa Access Amid US Policy Shift

Published

on

Deandrea Hamilton | Editor

Turks and Caicos, September 6, 2025 – Haitian citizens living legally in the Turks and Caicos Islands, who for years have quietly traveled to Nassau for their U.S. visa interviews without controversy, could now find themselves caught in the crossfire of a diplomatic storm.

On September 4, the U.S. State Department announced that all Haitian immigrant visa processing would be moved from Port-au-Prince to the U.S. Embassy in Nassau, effective November 1. Washington said the decision was driven by worsening instability in Haiti and the inability of its embassy there to safely operate.

That explanation is not without evidence. On July 28, the U.S. ordered the evacuation of non-emergency diplomatic staff and family members from Port-au-Prince, warning all American citizens to leave Haiti amid rising gang violence. On August 6, the embassy was forced to temporarily close after gunfire erupted near its Tabarre compound, resuming service only once the immediate danger subsided. By August 31, the situation was so dire that the U.S. deployed Marines to Haiti, confirming that a security contingent was sent to strengthen the embassy, protect facilities, and assist with troop rotations. A UN report noted that more than 1,500 people were killed in gang-related violence between April and June alone, underlining the deteriorating conditions.

Against this backdrop, the State Department’s relocation of visa processing may seem logical. Yet the choice of Nassau as the new venue has sparked outrage in The Bahamas. Prime Minister Philip Davis’s government insists it was not consulted and rejects the idea of becoming a visa hub for Haitian citizens. Officials have been explicit that Haitian citizens will not be permitted to enter The Bahamas solely for the purpose of attending U.S. visa appointments.

That stance carries immediate consequences for Haitian citizens in Turks and Caicos. To visit The Bahamas, they must hold a Bahamian visitor visa. If Nassau enforces its refusal, then even those legally resident in TCI could suddenly lose access to their long-standing consular route — a quiet arrangement that has functioned for years without issue.

The controversy also raises a question: why Nassau and not Santo Domingo? The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, has greater capacity, and already hosts a sizeable Haitian population. But strained relations between the two countries, coupled with Santo Domingo’s recent mass deportations and a politically charged border crackdown, may have made it an unattractive or unworkable option for Washington.

For Bahamians, however, the optics are galling. Already grappling with irregular migration from Haiti, they see the U.S. decision as an imposition that disregards national sovereignty. Davis’s administration argues the move would create a de facto transit pipeline the country neither requested nor supports.

Lost in much of the uproar is the nuance: Haitian applicants traveling from Turks and Caicos have long relied on Nassau as their nearest U.S. consular post. That practice was manageable and largely unnoticed. What is new — and politically explosive — is the wholesale relocation of all Haitian visa cases to Nassau, thrusting the Bahamian government into a role it is unwilling to play.

Unless Washington reconsiders its plan or Nassau shifts its hardline stance, Haitian citizens in Turks and Caicos — once able to quietly secure U.S. visa interviews in the Bahamian capital — may find themselves stranded, locked out by the very visitor visa requirement that until now was just a formality.

Caption: Photo of US Embassy in Haiti

Caribbean News

Widow’s Testimony Recounts Night Haiti President Was Killed

Published

on

MIAMI, Florida — Emotional testimony from Martine Moïse, the widow of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse, has given jurors in a U.S. federal courtroom a chilling account of the night gunmen stormed the presidential residence and killed the country’s leader.

Martine Moïse took the stand this week in Miami as part of the ongoing trial of several men accused of helping plan and finance the July 7, 2021 assassination, a crime that plunged Haiti into political crisis and remains only partially solved.

She told the court that armed men forced their way into the president’s private home in the hills above Port-au-Prince during the early morning hours, firing multiple shots at her husband while she lay beside him. She testified that she was also wounded in the attack and survived by pretending to be dead until the gunmen left the room.

According to prosecutors, the plot involved a group of foreign mercenaries, including former Colombian soldiers, along with Haitian and Haitian-American suspects. Investigators say some of the men believed the mission was to detain the president, but the operation turned into an assassination.

The Miami trial is focusing on the alleged role of South Florida businessmen and others accused of organizing or financing the plan, part of a wider international investigation that has stretched across several countries.

More than four years after the killing, the question of who ultimately ordered the assassination remains unanswered, with suspects still in custody in both Haiti and the United States as the case continues to unfold.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Jamaica Joins Afreximbank Agreement, Strengthening Africa–Caribbean Partnership

Published

on

CARIBBEAN — Jamaica has become the 13th CARICOM member state to accede to the African Export-Import Bank Establishment Agreement, further strengthening economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.

The development was confirmed during the 50th CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting, where an Afreximbank delegation led by George Elombi and Kanayo Awani met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness to advance cooperation.

Prime Minister Holness thanked the bank for its support following Jamaica’s recent hurricane, noting that Afreximbank financing helped restore critical infrastructure including water, electricity, sewage systems and roads, while also assisting reconstruction efforts aimed at building stronger resilience to future disasters.

The meeting also focused on broader development opportunities tied to Jamaica’s membership in the agreement. Discussions included rebuilding and modernising infrastructure such as railways, hospitals and other public facilities, while strengthening regional transportation and trade networks to improve the movement of people and goods across the Caribbean.

Afreximbank has been expanding its presence in the Caribbean as part of its strategy to connect Africa with the region often referred to as “Global Africa.” The bank has already committed billions of dollars in financing and trade support to Caribbean economies in recent years, including funding for infrastructure, trade facilitation and private sector investment.

By joining the agreement, Jamaica gains expanded access to Afreximbank’s financial instruments, technical support and trade networks designed to promote commerce between Africa and CARICOM states.

Regional leaders say the growing partnership could unlock new opportunities in areas such as trade, logistics, tourism, manufacturing and cultural exchange, strengthening economic cooperation between the two regions with deep historical and diaspora ties.

Angle by Deandrea Hamilton. Built with ChatGPT (AI). Magnetic Media — CAPTURING LIFE.

Continue Reading

Caribbean News

Liberty Caribbean Supports Regional Forum on AI, Cyber Resilience and Digital Inclusion  

Published

on

Port of Spain, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (February 24, 2026) — Liberty Caribbean, the operators of Flow, Liberty Business and BTC, recently served as Gold-Level Partner of the two-day Trinidad and Tobago Internet Governance Forum (TTIGF), themed “The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience”.

The Digital Divide is of particular interest to Liberty Caribbean and is being addressed through its Charitable Foundation across the region. Low broadband penetration in the Caribbean contributes to diminished opportunities for individuals, communities, and local economies, but with the support of funding partners, this gap can be addressed through a comprehensive programme – JUMP – that focuses on providing access, devices, and digital skills.

“Liberty Caribbean was proud to serve as Gold-Level Partner of the TTIGF because the conversations taking place here shape key digital policies for multiple stakeholders,” said Simone Martin-Sulgan, Vice President and General Manager, Flow Trinidad.

“As technology accelerates at an unprecedented pace, we must ensure that innovation strengthens our societies rather than fragments them. The theme, ‘The Innovation Paradox – Balancing Progress with Responsibility and Resilience,’ speaks directly to the work we do every day: building networks that are not only fast and reliable, but secure, inclusive and future-ready.”

Across the Caribbean, the digital divide remains one of the most pressing barriers to equitable growth. Low broadband penetration limits access to education, entrepreneurship and essential services, and that is why we are deeply committed to closing this gap.

Through the Liberty Caribbean Charitable Foundation and initiatives like the JUMP Programme, the company is expanding access to technology, affordable connectivity and digital skills training so that individuals and communities are empowered to participate fully in the digital economy.

Martin-Sulgan further stated “at Liberty Caribbean, we believe progress and responsibility must move in lock step. By investing in resilient networks, inclusive programmes and trusted partnerships, we are helping to build a Caribbean that is innovative, secure and prepared for the opportunities ahead.”

Topics covered during the Forum, with over 140 participants, included “Securing Critical Infrastructure”, Integrating AI into Digital Transformation”, “The Digital Divide”, The Human Cost of Innovation – Mental Health and Well-being in the Digital Age’, and AI, Cyber Resilience and Regional Innovation”.

Focused on the underlying mandate of the Conference theme thought leaders, innovators, policymakers, technologists, researchers, and community stakeholders were invited to explore how countries can evolve boldly without compromising values or long-term stability.

Photo Caption: 

TTIGF – l-r Darren Campo, Regulatory & Compliance Officer; Yolande Agard-Simmons, Senior Manager Communications; and Kevon Swift, Senior Manager Government and Regulatory Affairs of Flow Trinidad in attendance at the Post Event Mixer at Caribbean Telecommunications Union’s Head Office in St Clair, Port of Spain

Continue Reading

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

TRENDING