H.R. 1579 (114^th): United States-Caribbean Partnership Act of 2015

While often overlooked, the countries of the Caribbean are important United States partners.

United States-Caribbean cooperation on commerce, security, and energy must be deepened.

The countries of the Caribbean are key voting members of the Organization of American States.

There are five countries in the Caribbean with which the United States has diplomatic relations, but within which the United States does not have a permanent diplomatic presence. Those countries are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Diplomatic relations with these five countries are conducted through the United States Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Due to the lack of presence of United States diplomats in these five countries, citizens of these five countries are required to travel to Barbados for all consular services.

Due to the lack of presence of United States diplomats in these five countries, in order to meet with local officials, civil society representatives, private sector leaders, United States citizens or others, embassy officials must fly from Barbados to these countries on what are often expensive, sometimes infrequent flights and remain overnight in what are often expensive hotel rooms.

Due to the lack of presence of United States diplomats in these five countries, United States citizens living in and visiting these five countries do not have full consular services, and in the event of a consular emergency, air traffic could be shut off to any of these islands, in effect stranding United States citizens without full in-country consular services.

Due to the lack of presence of United States diplomats in these five countries, key events, meetings, ceremonies, and other opportunities are often not attended by United States officials as they are in other countries where there is a permanent diplomatic presence.

Due to the lack of presence of United States diplomats in these five countries, it is more difficult for United States diplomats to establish close working relationships with local officials, civil society representatives, and others.

Due to the lack of presence of United States diplomats in these five countries, United States official diplomatic interaction with these countries, including delivery of demarches and other diplomatic messages, which the Secretary of State sometimes requires embassy officials to personally deliver, particularly if of a confidential nature, is often relegated to telephone, facsimile, or email, dramatically reducing the ability of the United States to engage host governments in substantive dialogue.

Due to the lack of presence of United States diplomats in these five countries, it is more difficult for the United States to conduct public diplomacy in these five countries.

provide consular services to citizens of these countries and United States citizens living in or traveling to these countries; and

engage in direct diplomacy with appropriate government counterparts in these countries.