BASSETERRE, St. Kitts (Thursday 22nd January 2026)-Prime Minister and Minister of National Security Dr. Terrance Drew has pushed back against public criticism surrounding the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US, pointing to St. Kitts and Nevis’ long-standing humanitarian response to Haitians, including the resettlement of fifteen (15) individuals rescued  at sea in February 2023 which included children and pregnant women.

Speaking live on Freedom FM’s ‘Issues’ programme on Wednesday 21st January 2026 with host Jamiella McPhail, PM Drew-who also serves as CARICOM Chairman-reminded listeners that despite being the smallest independent CARICOM state, St. Kitts and Nevis has accepted one of the highest per-capita numbers of Haitian nationals in the region.

“The other aspect that people are looking at in the MOU…is the aspect of the Haiti matter. Let me say clearly that per capita, St.Kitts and Nevis has accepted one of the highest numbers of Haitian-our brothers and sisters in Haiti, and the reason why we do that is that our administration is empathetic and it is understanding, and of course it would help, and so we have a very progressive approach to Haiti, and we wish Haiti well because at the end of the day what you really want is a stabilized Haiti so that the citizens and residents of Haiti can have a safe country to live in.”

The Prime Minister stressed that his government continues to operate within the CARICOM framework while recognising the country’s physical and financial limitations.

“Over the time we have accepted Haitians here, and per capita, we have accepted a whole community basically. But of course one would understand, I have to put it out there that we are the smallest in CARICOM as an independent country, and therefore there are limitations as to how much we can do.”

Highlighting government support services, PM Drew underscored that Haitian nationals currently residing in the Federation benefit from access to education and healthcare.

“The Haitian community that’s here, the children, they go to school for free that is on the government’s expense. Healthcare [is] free.”

He recalled a 2023 maritime rescue involving Haitians en route to Dominica, noting that the government made a deliberate humanitarian decision.

“I remember one time there was a capsized boat that was coming from Dominica, on its way our coast guard saved them…. They were saved and they were brought here and given all the support; they were treated very humanely, and I was asked ‘Would you deport?’ and I said ‘How can I deport children and how can I deport women…and I think they had pregnant women among then, and I said I cannot do that; what would they go back to?…. and we kept them and we settled them, and so that was our decision with respect to that.”

PM Drew said that while compassion remains central to government policy, capacity constraints must also be acknowledged.

“We have now reached a capacity where we cannot really accommodate anymore at this particular time because of the high numbers relatively that we have accepted. So I feel very good about what we have done. We know we are limited. We know we are small. We know our resource capacity but even with that we decided to resettle a community of Haitians here in St.Kitts and Nevis, and so I want that record to stand for itself.”

He suggested that some of the public commentary lacks full awareness of these realities.

“I’m pretty sure that some people who are speaking might not even know this because a lot of people are running with what is a politically expedient issue to run with.”

Nevertheless, the Prime Minister reaffirmed continued regional solidarity.

“However, we’ll continue to support the efforts to stabilize Haiti, we’ll continue to have our arms opened to our fellow brothers and sisters and people of Haiti…those who are talking I would invite them really don’t talk…help; do as much as St.Kitts and Nevis has.”

He added:“But I want to say today that the decisions that I’ve made are tough decisions, but they’re decisions to protect St.Kitts and Nevis while respecting and extending deep love for our people, brothers and sisters in here.”

During the programme, McPhail pressed the Prime Minister on why Haiti appeared excluded under the MOU, given its CARICOM membership.

“Decision about Haiti… I questioned why not Haiti because Haiti is a part of CARICOM so while I do understand the capacity issue, for me 10 Haitians and 10 Trinidadians are 10 people right? So can you speak a little bit to that and why that decision was taken?”, she pointed out. 

PM Drew responded by reiterating that Haiti already represents the largest share of the Federation’s intake.

“…of what we can afford, Haiti has received the most. This is what St.Kitts and Vis can afford…in our discussion, already Haiti has received the most of that…and not only have we reached that quota [but] it would be the largest quota for all who we’ve accepted…I think Haiti would represent easily 50% or more of our capacity to absorb others into St.Kitts and Nevis under any programme.” 

He contrasted his administration’s approach with that of the former government.

“…in 2019, under the former administration, and I would bring it up because the former administration is out there saying all sorts of things. They deported Haitians, and they included in the deportation were two pregnant women and a child. We have taken the position that we will never do that.”

He said his government instead prioritised immediate medical care and humane treatment.

“We picked up pregnant women and the order was get the pregnant women to the hospital immediately and get the obstetrician and the gynecologists to examine them immediately and the child as well to make sure-everybody would get checked but those ones has to be done immediately…and the decision was taken not…to deport them.”

PM Drew added: “So we have done exceedingly. So we have taken them to school, health care, all of that they have gotten, other social services we have extended as well so this is our capacity and Haiti will occupy the vast majority and they have already right so I just wanted to put that out there.”

A June 2023 press release  from the government’s St.Kitts-Nevis Information Service, headlined ‘STATEMENT OF UPDATE RE: HAITIAN DETAINEES, informed on topic of the sea rescue read:

On February 2nd, 2023, fifteen (15) Haiti nationals arrived in the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis after their boat malfunctioned in the area of Gallows Bay, Nevis. Since then, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has kept their basic needs satisfied and provided them with healthcare. Having entered the country illegally at that time, they were routinely detained in a government facility.

For humanitarian reasons, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has taken the decision to release the Haitians from detention and into the care of the local Haitian community as of June 10th, 2023. The Haitian community in the Federation had previously indicated as a collective that it is both ready and willing to fully accommodate its fellow countrymen and women.

In order to strengthen the regional thrust against human trafficking and illegal migration, the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis will shortly revise and enhance the nation’s laws on same, as well as the procedures through which asylum is sought. It is imperative that our nation’s legislation and laws are of a calibre that prohibits the inadvertent establishment or sustenance of a haven-like environment for human traffickers and illegal migrants.