The Department of Immigration is debunking claims made in a social media post that seeks to undermine what was an otherwise well-attended and well-received engagement that it held with members of the Dominican Republic community here in Antigua and Barbuda.
In attendance at the event were acting Prime Minister Sir Steadroy Benjamin, the Ambassador of the Dominican Republic to Antigua and Barbuda, Yolanda Alexandra Victoria, the Consul General of the DR to Antigua and Barbuda, Joaquin Diaz Lopez, Chief Immigration Officer, Katrina Yearwood and other senior officials of the department.
The Department acknowledged that there was enhanced security for persons entering into the meeting area and that this followed both regional and international best practices whenever senior government officials and diplomatic representatives attend functions.
“The Department stands firmly by its security methods, which represent international best practices for protecting executive officials and members of the diplomatic corps. Given the attendance of high-ranking officials at the consultation event, enhanced security measures were deemed necessary and appropriate. These protocols have been developed in consultation with regional and international security partners and are designed to ensure the safety of all attendees and officials present,” a media release from the department stated.
The release added that the Department is aware that some attendees of the October 24th consultation event expressed discomfort with its security measures. “We categorically deny any suggestion that our checkpoints were created to cause inconvenience or discomfort to members of the Dominican Republic community or any other attendees. Every protocol in place served a legitimate security function necessitated by the presence of high-level government officials and diplomatic personnel, and was applied uniformly and professionally to all persons entering the venue,” according to the release.
One senior official of the department disclosed to Point Express Newspaper that during the security checks, four knives were confiscated from individuals with the promise that they would be returned at the end of the event.
Following the meeting on Friday night, there were a few social media postings indicating that persons were requested to present their passport before entry as part of the security procedures. The department stated categorically that this claim was untrue.
Interestingly, there have been no complaints or concerns expressed by either of the two senior representatives of the Dominican Republic who, along with their teams, were in attendance. Honorary Consul, Lopez also addressed the meeting.
Despite what have been described as ‘baseless allegations’, the Department said it remains resolute that its policy of engaging with the different immigrant communities in Antigua and Barbuda will continue.
“The Immigration Department recognizes the importance of the consultation event for the Dominican Republic community and appreciates the participation of all attendees. These public consultations are vital forums for dialogue between the government and immigrant communities, and we remain committed to ensuring that security measures, while necessary, do not detract from the meaningful engagement these events are designed to facilitate,” the release continued.
Our Ongoing Commitment
The Immigration Department remains committed to:
- Maintaining the security and sovereignty of Antigua and Barbuda
- Treating all individuals with dignity and respect
- Ensuring transparency in our operations
- Continuously reviewing our procedures to balance security needs with customer service
- Engaging with the public to address legitimate concerns
We encourage members of the public who have specific concerns about their experience at our checkpoints to contact the Department directly through official channels. We take all feedback seriously and are committed to addressing any legitimate issues while maintaining our security mandate.
The safety and security of our nation, its residents, and visitors remain our paramount concern, and we will continue to execute our duties with professionalism and integrity.
