Caribbean Community to weigh in on Dominican ruling that strips citizenship

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad – Caribbean leaders will hold a special emergency meeting to discuss a court ruling in the Dominican Republic that could strip citizenship rights to migrants and their descendants.

The Caribbean Community will issue its response to the Dominican ruling after heads of government meet Tuesday in Trinidad.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has been an outspoken critic of the ruling and will attend the special session. Haitian President Michel Martelly is also expected to be there.

The Dominican Republic has applied for membership in the 15-member Caribbean Community organization.

Human rights group says the Dominican court ruling may strip the citizenship of hundreds of thousands of people, mostly of Haitian descent brought to the country as migrant workers.