Skerrit declines to weigh in on US visa denial for incoming CHTA president Gregor Nassief

Dominica Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says he is not in a position to comment on the United States' decision not to renew the visa of prominent Dominican hotelier Gregor Nassief, arguing that the matter falls solely within the jurisdiction of US immigration authorities.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday, Skerrit said questions regarding the denial should be directed to the US government rather than the Dominican administration.

“I do not know the circumstance. I'm not part of the consular department of the United States government,” Skerrit said. “That question is better addressed to the United States government and the consular department in Barbados.”

His comments came days after Nassief, the incoming president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), confirmed that he and his wife had been denied visa renewals by US authorities.

Nassief told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that consular officials informed him the decision appeared to be linked to restrictions imposed on citizens of Dominica under a broader review of Citizenship-by-Investment (CBI) programmes in the Caribbean.

“We were turned down, we were denied,” Nassief said. “The gentleman was very clear. He asked some questions and then he said, ‘Well, you know, there's a ban on Dominica, so we're not able to issue a visa.’ And that was the end of it, really.”

Nassief's current 10-year US visa is due to expire in August, while the visa of his Venezuelan-born wife is set to expire within weeks.

The issue stems from measures introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump targeting countries that operate Citizenship-by-Investment programmes. Washington has expressed concerns about the screening and vetting processes used in some Caribbean nations that grant citizenship to foreign investors in exchange for significant economic contributions.

Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda have been engaged in ongoing discussions with US officials regarding the restrictions, which include limitations on certain immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Grenada was also subjected to a limited visa ban earlier this year.

Despite growing concern about the impact on Dominican citizens, Skerrit sought to downplay the significance of individual visa denials, noting that refusals occur regularly around the world.

“There are hundreds of Caribbean people, if not thousands, who have been denied US visas over time,” he said. “So I don't think one should make a big issue of anyone being denied a visa to any country.”

The prime minister also said visa restrictions are ultimately a sovereign matter for individual governments.

“Personally, from an ideological standpoint, I do not believe in visas,” Skerrit said. “But the reality is now that countries are faced with security concerns and other considerations, and therefore countries choose to put restrictions that they believe are in their national interest.”

While reiterating that Dominica disagrees with the US position, Skerrit said his government would continue engaging Washington through diplomatic channels rather than confrontation.

He revealed that Dominica's ambassador has been holding regular discussions with the US State Department and that he remains in direct contact with officials at the US Embassy in Barbados.

According to Skerrit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had previously indicated during discussions with Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders that Washington would review the visa restrictions affecting Dominica around June.

“We continue to engage the US on this,” Skerrit said. “We maintain that there was no real justification to impose this on Dominica in the first place, but it has been done.”

The prime minister expressed hope that the review would lead to a restoration of the previous arrangements, adding that Dominica believes it has taken the necessary steps to address concerns raised by US authorities.

“This is entirely in the hands of the United States government,” Skerrit said. “Based on our engagement with them, we believe we would have taken all of the necessary actions to address any perceived or real concerns which they would have had.”

Nassief, one of the Caribbean's best-known hoteliers and business leaders, is scheduled to assume the presidency of the CHTA at the end of this year.