An unsurprising change of government in Britain now means that Dominica may have to restart efforts to convince London to reinstate visa free travel for locals.
Until labor replaced the conservatives earlier this month, talks between Britain and Dominica were at an advanced stage but the change of the political guard is attracting fears in Dominica that the process may have to be restarted as the new cabinet settles in.
Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, who briefed reporters on Monday, said he remained “hopeful” that a deal can be reached for Dominicans to resume traveling to the United Kingdom without the need to apply for visas.
The abolition of visa free travel was implemented a year ago while London had been expressing fears about the security of the Citizenship by Investment Program (CIP), which offers golden passports and local citizenship to foreigners who pay a minimum of about $200,000 into real estate education or to business ventures. Grenada, St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts are the other participating countries.
