ROSEAU, Dominica — Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit says Dominica continues to engage the United Kingdom government in an effort to have the country removed from the UK’s list of countries whose nationals require a visa to enter.

Speaking at a media conference on September 9, Skerrit said efforts to restore visa-free travel to the UK are ongoing.

“We continue to engage the British government,” Skerrit said.

He said Dominica will also formally appoint an envoy within the next few weeks to coordinate the country’s engagement with both the UK and European Union governments.

The UK imposed visa requirements on Dominican nationals in July 2023, citing concerns over the country’s Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme and potential risks to national security.

At the time, the UK government said there was a risk that sanctioned individuals could use Dominican passports acquired through the CBI to enter the country.

Then UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman told the House of Commons that the decision was taken for migration and border security reasons and was not a reflection of relations with Dominica.

“Careful consideration of Dominica’s and Vanuatu’s operation of a citizenship by investment scheme has shown clear and evident abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to individuals known to pose a risk to the UK,” Braverman said.