Attorney General Sir Steadroy Benjamin, Dominican Republic Ambassador Yolanda Alexandra Victoria, and Consul General Joaquin Diaz-Lopez
In an unprecedented move toward government transparency, Antigua and Barbuda’s Department of Immigration hosted its inaugural bilingual forum with the Dominican community on Friday evening, addressing long-standing concerns about residency and citizenship procedures.
The “Audience with Immigration: Residency and Citizenship Procedures” forum brought together high-level officials, including Attorney General Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, Dominican Republic Ambassador Yolanda Alexandra Victoria, and Consul General Joaquin Diaz-Lopez, demonstrating both nations’ commitment to addressing immigration challenges.
Chief Immigration Officer Katrina Yearwood acknowledged the Dominican Republic community as one of the four largest non-national communities in Antigua and Barbuda, recognizing that language barriers often lead to misinformation about immigration procedures.
Consul General Joaquin Diaz-Lopez, Chief Immigration Officer Katrina Yearwood and National Security Minister Steadroy Benjamin.
“Today is about you hearing from the horse’s mouth what should and should not be done for your applications for either residency, citizenship, or e-visa applications,” Yearwood explained to the packed venue, with every statement translated in real-time to ensure full accessibility.
The forum’s bilingual approach marked a significant shift in government-community engagement, acknowledging that effective communication requires meeting communities where they are, linguistically and culturally.
Senior Immigration Officers presented comprehensive information on three critical areas affecting the Dominican community: residency applications, citizenship pathways, and e-visa procedures. They outlined step-by-step processes, clarified documentation requirements, and addressed common misconceptions that have historically plagued applicants.
The presentations aimed to reduce incomplete applications and processing delays by providing clear, authoritative guidance directly from immigration officials.
The Q&A session revealed deep frustrations within the Dominican community. One attendee shared her husband’s experience: despite paying over $4,800 in EC for three work permits and applying for citizenship in 2023, they had received no updates on the status of their application.
“Up to now, they haven’t received any call,” she explained through tears, highlighting widespread concerns about communication gaps and processing delays.
Another pressing issue emerged when attendees asked about potential amnesty for those with irregular status. While Minister Benjamin indicated he would raise the matter at Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, he made no concrete promises, illustrating the delicate balance between community needs and political realities.
When asked whether people with irregular status for “six months, one year, two years” could approach the department “without fear,” officials provided measured encouragement. They emphasized that while everyone has rights, each case would require individual evaluation through proper channels.
This response reflected both the department’s willingness to work with community members and the complex legal framework governing immigration status.
The forum exposed systemic challenges facing both the immigration department and applicants. Officials acknowledged processing delays and communication gaps, and encouraged direct visits to the department for case updates rather than relying on third-party information.
The forum’s format—opening with prayer and the national anthem—struck a balance between formality and accessibility. Dominican diplomatic participation elevated the discussion beyond administrative procedures to bilateral relations between nations.
“We are deeply grateful for the presence and support of our esteemed partners from the Embassy and Consulate of the Dominican Republic, whose collaboration underscores the importance of strong bilateral and community relations,” noted department representatives.
While this inaugural forum marks progress in government-community relations, significant work remains.
The forum signals a potential shift in how Antigua and Barbuda engages with immigrant communities. By acknowledging language barriers and actively working to overcome them, the Department of Immigration has set a precedent for inclusive governance.
As one attendee observed while leaving: “At least now we know they’re listening. That’s a start.”
For the Dominican community, whose contributions to Antigua and Barbuda’s economy in construction, hospitality, and service sectors are substantial, this forum represents recognition of their importance to the nation’s future.
In a region where immigrant voices often go unheard, this direct, bilingual engagement is itself significant progress.
It’s not Dominican but rather Dominican Republic there’s a big difference,get your headline straight please
Among the topics discussed at this solidarity Show, I hope, were the following:-
1) respect for the nation’s laws. Case in point, for example, these migrants refuse to obey the simple traffic directive regarding parking on Joseph Lane, Ottos a street that is a critical access route for hundreds of local commuters especially the operators of buses and other commercial vehicles. The few that comply with this directive now contemptuously park on the adjacent sidwalks, with impunity.
2) the proper disposal of household garbage is still fostered and promoted in Antigua and Barbuda. Sadly, many of our locals, instead of teaching them our valued traditions of environmental cleanliness,simply resort to APING them!
3)The use of our streets and roadways converted into mini-bars or venues for social gathering is NOT a local practice likely to be condoned by the general public, especially when neighbours have to put up with their discordant music booming at undesirable noiseÿ levels.
Empowering outsiders without first securing their knowledge of AN̈D respect for AND conformity to local laws and social norms is a definite recipe for serious societal conflict. We need to learn from mistakes already made.
The DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Community and NOT DOMINICAN
Antiguans should be invited also, the Spanish pop up bars every where even close to school and churches making noise until 4 am residents can’t sleep, dumping food containers and beer bottles all over, they park with no space between cars so we have to back out the road for a vehicle to come through, off Shirley road they renamed it to Spanish town what a disaster add shacks onto rented houses devalue the property value, park cars by squabler mechanic shop to go in the bars we who work late work busses care drop off females at the door they walking 3am because it’s impossible not to touch the cars, the trash truck can’t pass so they come to said location and dump all their trash, we need help in this so call Spanish town, then they drive through the neighborhood with loud noise 3am this is Mrs. BROWNE constituency please don’t let one vote destroy a country assign ppl to issue tickets no stay in antigua if they destroy our communities please.
Alot of them are illegal here. I hope they get their papers straightened out.
We need action not another forum
They only talk, talk, talk. When you go to the office, it’s still the same stress. I left feeling disappointed
It felt more like a show for the cameras. We came hoping for updates, but they just repeat information we already know
Good initiative, but they need to come to the communities and check what people really going through. Many of us can’t even get an appointment
Honestly, the meeting left many of us even more confused,. They chat plenty, but when you ask real questions about your files or delays, nobody gives a straight answer. Dem say is personal matter. People been waiting years for responses.
Please visit their home before status given they talking about frustration home owners who built homes and need cleanliness and peace we are disrupted by ppl that don’t have regards for Antiguans
Bilingual forum? Fine. But if the system still slow, the language is not the problem. We want justice and respect
The officials were polite, but no one gave a real solution. Some of us waiting since 2021 for documents. That’s not normal
Long overdue, but still welcomed. For years we’ve had a large Spanish-speaking population working, living, and raising families here yet no structure