A UPP Administration will negotiate with Authorities to restore Visa-free access to Canada and will revamp CIP operations

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Source: Real News

Antiguans and Barbudans may have an opportunity to regain visa-free travel to Canada, once the United Progressive Party (UPP) is elected to office, says Harold Lovell, Political Leader of the Party.

Canada closed the door on this country’s decades-old free access in June 2017, and its decision is believed to have been linked to issues arising from the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).

However, Lovell says the UPP will be working with the relevant authorities in Canada to have visa-free access to that country restored.

He says it is disgraceful that Antiguans and Barbudans now have to suffer, spend money and be denied entry to Canada on account of the Gaston Browne Administration’s abuse of the CIP programme.

Accordingly, Lovell says a UPP Administration will do whatever is necessary to reverse the current situation.

Antigua and Barbuda could also be at risk for losing visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen region because of its CIP programme.

In March this year, this country, along with others in the region that sell passports, reportedly were given an ultimatum by the European Union (EU) to close the programmes or risk losing visa-free access.

Meanwhile, Lovell says the manner in which the CIP is now being run is not how the UPP intended it to be operated.

Among other provisions, he says, money raised through the programme should have been placed in special accounts to assist the people in various ways.

Under a UPP Administration, the Political Leader says, some revamping of the CIP will take place, including an audit.

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35 COMMENTS

    • Shame & disgrace in the UPP family. Was Shuggy lost for words at the town hall meeting….? Is this the type of representation UPP can produce? UPP need to raise their standard & raise it bodly and answer when duty calls

      • @Bluddy Bloke:Could you please tell me if Shuggy thief the people monies. Your Political Party Senior Leaders are thiefing from the people blindly.They are all very financially rich. While supporters like you are as poor as dirt.That seems to be very much okay with those of you who are brain washed.

  1. Shut up. Where do they plan to get money to run this country. Re introduction of Income Tax of Course. Low income earners do not care but the middle and high income sure do

    • @ Elizabeth – T

      The money will come from the Billion dollar rip off company that ABLP have registered in Antigua and the $6,000,000 paid to Deluxe and the $30,000,000 e-books rip off

    • LIZ T
      You don’t seem to have a problem with the government apparently spending nearly 2 million on a concert in order to try to get the youth vote. I guess you have no problem with that.

      • FAKE NEWS ALERT
        which concert the Government spending on?
        There you upp people go trying to fool people you think dont know better

        • I-Man who do you think will bear the cost for the Burna Boy concert? Can any of the promoters individually or collectively who constitute FETE KINGDOM bear the cost. I know many think that Antiguans are stupid but we are not all stupid. Also, that concert could never make a profit for the promoters irrespective of the high prices because the numbers are not there to support it.

          • Tabor just stop the dawn lies……You’re proving to be stupid. The group is made up of local and external money-brokers…. only time will show y’all desperation— Stop the Lies

    • Where is the government getting the money now. They did away with income tax to benefit themselves and now borrowing all over the place to run the country. Some of you Antiguans don’t want to pay for anything and would rather live in a stinking run down bankrupt country. The government then run to beg other countries aid from the income tax their citizens pay. Antigua is not Switzerland with millions of dictators money or the Middle East gushing with oil revenue. Do you notice Gaston is always looking for money from some billionaire crook?

        • @ Jahwa

          STOP U CHIT………which planet are you living on?

        • @Jahwa
          Where are you getting your information? I don’t think from the government reporting. What was the debt when UPP left office and what is it now? Forgot most of you Labourites can’t read, or don’t read, or are just lying hypocrites.

          • 325m imf, 135m(Venezuela @2am), 100m(airport runaway), 350m(ABIB), 89m(wico unpaid fuel for power generation -got paid from the customers and use off the money so its equal to a loan) plus many more just wanted to highlight the upp loans over 85 million dollars without return… this has nothing to do with the smaller loans they took….. butvif you only listen observer and crusader sad for you.

      • @Reality Have you looked at the national deficit.of the USA? How much do they owe and they are the most powerful country in the world and they also use income tax.

        Dont be fooled, Antiguans may not pay income tax but look at the taxes that we pay. When you buy a new car in the USA for US25,000.00, we will pay about US$75,000.00. So excuse us if we are happy to get a little break from the income tax.

        Have you looked at the cost of living in Antigua and compare it to the US, UK, etc? The Electricity cost here for a small house can be compared to a mansion. So Antiguan are not living for free, in fact, we pay alot to live here.

        • @JBF
          The government has shifted the tax burden from the rich and middle class to the poor. While the poor didn’t pay income taxes before, they are now paying all the indirect taxes the government imposed to compensate. If you don’t believe listen to Gaston when he said some people have millions in their bank accounts. I am sure the poor can’t even pay their bills.
          Don’t compare Antigua with Us, UK etc as these countries can print their own money.

  2. UPP and ALP both have baskets to carry water. We are very limited in our capacity to each money boos . No cold so precious metal , stones oil or exportable agriculture.

  3. Ok ok…I do support UPP but I know this is B**S**T to the highest degree.

    Why would Canada make an exception for only Antigua when all other Caribbean islands need a visa.

    Come on guys!!! Stop the political crap!

    • @ STOP ITTTT

      YOU STOP YOUR CRAPP YOU USEFUL IDIOT

      YOU ARE NOTHING BUT A LITTLE BIRDIE

  4. Revamping C.I.P…really. you need to cancel the program and return to our “Passports are not for sale!” That what you need to promise rhe Canadian Government.
    You need to promise the Antiguan people that our Passports are not for sale…so we can hold you and your party to it..
    You also need to repeal the full salary as pension for politicians… you lose power and still young go find work to do…you look power and at pension age… you should get same pension as ordinary citizens. Are you Damn wicked…all of you. We all gave same expenses when we retire… you done enjoy all the freebs.. free light..free water..and telephone…you nar buy gas etc…you have the heart to take full salary as pension. Then you say you love people… so Lovell promise de people that… then I guarantee you win the election clean sweep

  5. Do you really think that antigua passport and Schengen countries will ask for visa in the future? Is there such a risk?

    • How many Antiguans going to Schengen countries? Only those with money so they can pay for their visas. CIP passports holders are not the only ones causing problems for Canada. All the other people who couldn’t wait to get an Antiguan passport to loose themselves in Canada were a bigger problem.

  6. The only way visa free travel will not be endangered is to get rid of CIP. No more sale of passports. No local politicians will
    Have the balls to do this. They love the money too much regardless of the harm this program is doing to the country.

  7. Harold, you need to maintain your credibility and stop over-promising. We all know that Canada will not restore visa-free travel to any country that has a CIP program. We also know that the European Union will impose a visa requirement on Antigua passports if we continue to sell our passports. All politicians keep promising to negotiate a position where Antigua can keep selling passports and maintain visa free travel. This is unrealistic and over-promising. It makes you seem that you are only making these unrealistic promises to get elected.

      • How many Antiguans going to Schengen countries? Only those with money so they can pay for their visas. CIP passports holders are not the only ones causing problems for Canada. All the other people who couldn’t wait to get an Antiguan passport to loose themselves in Canada were a bigger problem.

      • Hope Gaston and his ministers lost a lot of money in this scheme. Some of the labour yahoo’s could also be involved. What would be the reason for the flight to the Bahamas and the telephone conversation. The sad thing is that it would be Antigua people’s money.
        Thieving come, thieving go.

  8. Pearl “FOOTS” Quinn
    Gladys Potter EMPTY HEAD
    Franz DeFreitas G-R-E-A-T-F-U-L
    Cleon DON’T TELL DADDY HOWDY
    Pringle CA-CAPA-TI-TAH and MASKses
    Serpent FARMing FOOL & DICTATOR
    Peter Redz CAN’T TALK
    Jonathan “VOTE ALP”
    King Lyadd Lovell Limpy Joe IMF
    Alex ABOUT TO EXIT
    Sean LAZY FORNICATOR
    APOSTLE SHUGY SIMON
    Alister “inTERllectual” Thomas
    Richard Lewis “BULLY BEEF”

    BUT NONE OF THEM EVER!!!! TOOK THE LIFE OF AN UNARMED BLACK GIRL!!! 😢 😭 😢 😭

  9. @Shot Tessa… The 19th year anniversary of her death at the hands of one of the #UPPNEARGA is fast approaching.

  10. That program known as Citizens By Investments Progam(CIP) should be renamed. The new name should be Citizens Buying Passports,(CBP).That is what the program entails. As it stands now,you buy a Passport and become a Citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. What would prevent a Citizens Buying Passports to run for Political Offices in Antigua and Barbuda.

  11. The Canadians 🇨🇦 do not want anything to do with Gaston Browne’s CIP (Corruption In Progress) programme.

    The money and the issuing of passports have become tainted because of this out of control pursuit by the Prime Minister.

    Even the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are closely monitoring this possible doctoring and deception.

    Merciful father, please look out for Antigua & Barbuda … because the ABLP government are not 🙏

  12. I-Man who do you think will bear the cost for the Burna Boy concert? Can any of the promoters individually or collectively who constitute FETE KINGDOM bear the cost. I know many think that Antiguans are stupid but we are not all stupid. Also, that concert could never make a profit for the promoters irrespective of the high prices because the numbers are not there to support it.

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