OECS backs Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica after US visa restrictions

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The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission has expressed full solidarity with Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica following a decision by the United States of America to restrict visa access for certain categories of their citizens.

In a statement issued Sunday, the OECS said it respects “the sovereign right of all states to determine and enforce their immigration and border security policies,” while cautioning that such actions should be viewed within the context of “the historically close, cooperative, and mutually beneficial relationship between the Caribbean and the United States.”

That relationship, the Commission noted, is grounded in “shared democratic values, people-to-people ties, and long-standing economic, cultural, and security cooperation.”

The OECS underscored the contributions Caribbean nationals have made to U.S. society, stating that citizens from Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica “have formed an integral part of the social and economic fabric of the United States.” The Caribbean diaspora, it added, has proven to be “law-abiding, productive, and civically engaged,” with meaningful contributions across sectors such as healthcare, education, construction, entrepreneurship, the creative industries, and public service.

“These contributions have strengthened local communities and reinforced the enduring bonds between our societies,” the statement said.

The Commission also highlighted the depth of economic interdependence between the United States and the Eastern Caribbean, describing Washington as a principal trading partner, investor, tourism source market, and development partner for OECS member states. Those ties, it said, are reinforced through “continuous diplomatic engagement, private-sector collaboration, and structured dialogue” on shared concerns including financial integrity, border security, and transnational risk management.

Addressing Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPs), the OECS said its member states have been “actively and constructively engaged in ongoing dialogue with relevant agencies of the United States Government and other international partners.” These engagements, the Commission said, have been “frank, technical, and solutions-oriented.”

Importantly, the OECS pointed to “demonstrable progress in strengthening due-diligence systems, enhancing information-sharing, tightening eligibility standards,” and advancing plans for “a regional, independent regulatory authority to ensure consistent oversight, transparency, and compliance with international best practices.”

For small island developing states, the Commission emphasized that CIPs represent “one of a very limited set of lawful, non-debt-creating policy instruments” available to finance resilience-building, disaster recovery, and sustainable development. These programmes, it said, have supported investments in infrastructure, education, health systems, renewable energy, and social resilience—areas that “directly enhance regional and hemispheric stability.”

The OECS urged that “consideration be given to the unique vulnerabilities, constrained fiscal space, and limited economic diversification options available to small states in the Western Hemisphere,” arguing that a “collaborative, consultative approach—grounded in dialogue, proportionality, and shared responsibility—offers the most effective pathway” forward.

The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to continued engagement with the United States “in a spirit of mutual respect, transparency, and cooperation,” expressing confidence that sustained dialogue can yield solutions that meet security objectives while recognizing the developmental realities of small, open economies.

“The OECS stands firmly with Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica,” the statement concluded, reiterating the bloc’s resolve to ensure the Eastern Caribbean remains “a region defined by good governance, international cooperation, and constructive engagement within the Americas.”