{"id":239800,"date":"2025-06-06T04:23:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T08:23:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=239800"},"modified":"2025-06-05T16:24:23","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T20:24:23","slug":"government-reaffirms-ban-on-arms-shipments-under-national-flag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/government-reaffirms-ban-on-arms-shipments-under-national-flag\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Reaffirms Ban on Arms Shipments Under National Flag"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Government Reaffirms Ban on Arms Shipments Under National Flag<\/strong><\/p>

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The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has reaffirmed its position that no vessel registered under the national flag should be used to transport arms or ammunition to conflict zones, including the ongoing war in Gaza.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said it is \u201ca policy of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, in particular in relation to what is taking place in Israel and Gaza, that we will not support or have anyone affiliated with the flag or Antigua and Barbuda engaging in the provision of arms or ammunition to either side in that conflict.\u201d<\/p>

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He added that vessels found in violation of this policy will be deregistered, stating that \u201cthe Prime Minister was quite adamant on this, stating that Antigua flagships will be deflagged.\u201d<\/p>

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Merchant explained that the registration process includes requirements to declare cargo through a shipping manifest, which enables authorities to detect violations. \u201cThere are different procedures that must be followed before registration takes place,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd, of course, if you are shipping, you have your manifest. And so you must disclose what your cargo is\u2026 that leads to discovery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He noted that this is how the Department of Marine Affairs was able to identify a vessel carrying arms and begin the process of deregistration. \u201cThat is how the Department of Marine Affairs were able to flag or to discover the cargo of this vessel and to put out a warning and to indicate that the process of deregistration would proceed because of the cargo,\u201d he said.<\/p>

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Merchant also emphasized that the policy reflects the government’s wider diplomatic stance on the Gaza conflict. \u201cThe government abhors what seems to be or what many would describe as genocide on the Palestinian people,\u201d he said, adding that the administration has \u201cconsistently utilized its offices around the world to call on Israel and its partners to end this senseless conflict.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Government Reaffirms Ban on Arms Shipments Under National Flag The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has reaffirmed its position that no vessel registered under the national flag should be used to transport arms or ammunition to conflict zones, including the ongoing war in Gaza. During the post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday, Director General of Communications Maurice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":239801,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-239800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nGovernment Reaffirms Ban on Arms Shipments Under National Flag - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/government-reaffirms-ban-on-arms-shipments-under-national-flag\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Government Reaffirms Ban on Arms Shipments Under National Flag\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Government Reaffirms Ban on Arms Shipments Under National Flag The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has reaffirmed its position that no vessel registered under the national flag should be used to transport arms or ammunition to conflict zones, including the ongoing war in Gaza. 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