The Government of Grenada has been urged to clarify reports that the United States has issued an ultimatum for the island to accept refugees being deported from the US.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the civil society group – Coalition for a Zone of Peace – said it had been reliably informed that Washington had approached the island’s government to receive third-country nationals whom it was deporting.
While the government said back in February it had denied a proposal from the United States, the coalition’s latest statement suggests that fresh attempts may have been made.
The group is demanding that the authorities inform residents if this is, in fact, true.
It said that if this is indeed the case, the people of Grenada must mobilise and organise to say a resounding “no”.
The coalition stated, “On principle, Grenada will not support an inhumane US immigration policy. Grenada is a small sovereign country, and we will not accept non-Grenadians as refugees to our shores; some of whom could be criminals.”
The organisation described the matter as one of national dignity and sovereignty, declaring that the country is not for sale.
The statement was issued on October 19, the anniversary of the death of Grenada’s Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and others in 1983. A US-led intervention subsequently led to the restoration of order in the country.
It also comes against the backdrop of a reported request by the United States to set up radar equipment in Grenada, amid a US military buildup in the region.
In its statement, the coalition called on Grenadians to “rally together to defend our principles, our sovereignty, our national pride and dignity”.
As part of its response, the coalition announced plans for a series of public activities, including a mass demonstration on October 22 and candlelight vigils on October 25.
A petition opposing the alleged US request has also been circulated, with organisers encouraging citizens to sign in support of what they described as “a strong no to the US requests”.
A number of countries have been accepting refugees under the Trump administration’s third-country deportation programme, including South Sudan and Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland.
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