Within the Caribbean region, Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Saint Kitts & Nevis and Saint Lucia are pegged to join sister island Haiti on this list. But how has Trump come up with this list of four OECS countries, each with their own governments, democratic processes, and legal systems as if they were indistinguishable security liabilities?
For those decrying the Citizenship by Investment Programme, what of Grenada’s omission from the list? Is it convenient or tactical? Grenada has an active Citizenship by Investment program and even an E‑2 investor visa treaty with the U.S. Like Grenada, Egyptian citizens also hold E‑2 treaty privileges but Egypt is included in the ban. So, why is Grenada spared?
This discrepancy suggests political selectivity rather than consistent security criteria. It raises the possibility that the U.S. targeted Caribbean Labour governments deliberately—leaving Grenada untouched either because of current political winds or perhaps diplomatic calculations. Grenada’s exclusion signals that the list is not driven strictly by objective benchmarks. Trump’s expansion and heavy-handed assertion of U.S. dominance seeks to undermine the Caribbean region’s autonomy.
The memo from Secretary of State Rubio frames the move as a national security step, citing concerns over:
Poor passport security
High visa overstays
Government cooperation with deportations
Anti‑American or antisemitic activity
However, as activists and critics have noted, the criteria apply inconsistently and undermine the credibility of the list’s justification. This is not a neutral, needs-based list; it’s a political statement.
Democratic Caribbean governments are being penalized and sovereignty is being overshadowed by U.S. political calculations.
Trump’s proposed Caribbean travel ban is less about national security and more about exerting influence over regional politics. The selective inclusion of Labour‑governed countries, juxtaposed with Grenada’s exclusion, highlights a deliberate political strategy—not a principled policy. This approach erodes respect for Caribbean sovereignty and risks damaging diplomatic relations under flimsy pretenses of “security.”
Where are the great orators and thinkers of the Caribbean region? Where is the voice of CARICOM as its members are being bullied by this high-handed administration? Will everyone remain mute in fear of a "leaked memo"? The region looks on, we await.
By Caribbean Writers
