The following Statement was issued today by Prime Minister, Honourable Gaston Browne, on a boat tragedy which left Antigua and Barbuda illegally.
“On behalf of my government and myself, I express deep sorrow at the loss of life and distress suffered by persons aboard a vessel which left Antigua and Barbuda illegally earlier today, Tuesday 28 March for an unknown destination, and which capsized in the open sea.
While reports are still sketchy, we understand that the majority of persons on board the vessel may be Africans who were part of those who arrived here as tourists but with the intention of migrating to other countries.
It is widely known that my Government has been making every effort to be helpful to these brothers and sisters from Africa who were marooned on Antigua, including by granting them residence and the opportunity to work.
We have also been engaged with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and the International Organisation for Migration on the best ways of treating them as refugees.
Two things appear clear from today’s tragic events.
The first is that the Africans on board the vessel wanted to leave Antigua and Barbuda for another country.
The second is that the owners and operators of a vessel in Antigua and Barbuda facilitated their transport on an illegal journey.
My government will launch a full investigation into the circumstances of this unlawful and dreadful affair, including the involvement of any citizens and residents.
We will also uphold our international obligations against human trafficking and illegal migration by strengthening our domestic institutions and enhancing our cooperation with regional and hemispheric partners.
In the meantime, my Government will also continue to offer refuge in Antigua and Barbuda to the survivors of today’s events, and we will make appropriate arrangements for the burial of the deceased.
We will also make every effort to contact their relatives to advise them of this heart-breaking tragedy.
We appeal to the Africans, who are in Antigua and Barbuda, not to be tempted into any schemes such as happened today, but to work with the Government, through our Immigration authorities, to help find acceptable solutions to their circumstances.
All of the facts surrounding today’s calamity are not yet known.
However, I know that we all want to understand what occurred and to take action to ensure it does not happen again.
My Government will further advise of all these circumstances as soon as we receive more and better particulars.”
ALSO READ:
(Reuters) -At least three people died and 13 were missing after a boat traveling to the eastern Caribbean island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis from neighboring Antigua capsized early Tuesday morning, a government news outlet said.
The boat, which capsized some 12 miles (19 km) south of St. Kitts’ Conaree village, left Antigua with 32 passengers aboard, Antigua’s government news service ABS said in a statement, with many believed to be African migrants who arrived to the island as tourists.
Hundreds of Cameroonian refugees fleeing a five-year war in the country’s eastern Anglophone region traveled to the Caribbean nation in recent months, local media reported, via charter flights which were briefly allowed from the Nigerian capital Lagos.
In February, a government minister told local media that nearly 640 of more than 900 migrants who boarded the flights remained on the island, though it was not yet clear if they would be given legal residency or deported.
In a statement on Tuesday, Antiguan Prime Minister Gaston Browne said the government had been making “been making every effort to be helpful to these brothers and sisters from Africa who were marooned on Antigua, including by granting them residence and the opportunity to work.”
Browne said his government would launch an investigation into the illegal boat launch and advised Africans in Antigua and Barbuda to avoid illicit schemes and work with state immigration authorities.
He said the government would offer refuge to the survivors, arrange burials for the dead and make every effort to contact their relatives.
Of 16 people who were pulled from the water and taken to St. Kitts, media reported, two were Antiguan and Barbudan nationals and 14 from unidentified countries in Africa.
Colonel Telbert Benjamin of the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force told media that an aircraft had been deployed to help search for the missing.
(Reporting by Sarah Morland; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Brendan O’Boyle)
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
And also take FULL responsibility for your part in this terrible terrible tragedy.
Look now, how you coming out that people have lost their lives. Yet, when the autochthonous Antiguans – and the world were asking pertinent questions, you stayed very very quiet.
On behalf of the relatives victims, you must now reveal EVERYTHING that you know; no half-truths; no misinformation; no pushing others under the bus.
They want the whole TRUTH and nothing but the TRUTH!
THEN STEP DOWN FOR A BETTER ABLP CANDIDATE – IF THERE IS ONE!!!
@ Brixtonian: Let’s hope that it is not the hostile & antoganistic behavior f UPP towards these Africans that made them not feel welcomed here and cause them to jump ship to migrate else. Remember, the blood & souls of these Africans who have their lives during this tragedy will be on UPP! IT IS VERY UNFORTUNATE THAT UPP DOES LIKE FOREIGNERS!!
That’s a good one @ Bluddy Bloke, putting the blame on the UPP.
You guys really are something else!
Ah so you love Gaston so, before country?
I didn’t know how deep your Idolatry for the Prime Minister went; no wonder the watching global audience thinks that Antiguans on the whole continue to be POLITICAL lightweights. Wow.
Please accept my apologies … I had no idea boss!
@Bluddy Bloke
You darn well know that these Africans are using Antigua as a transit point to America. They had no intension of staying in Antigua. Instead of trying to blame UPP, you should find out who brought them to Antigua and who facilitated them being on this boat. Are the Africans on their own able to find a boat to smuggle them out of Antigua. Oh I forgot, it is the UPP that facilitated this tragic voyage. Did Gaston write this? He thinks he too smart and uses fools like you.
Brix i hope you can keep it up for the next five years. Cause the election just passed and you lost. Or are you hoping for a miracle? So sad.
… And still no condolences or comfort for the relatives of the deceased!
What a awful excuse for a human being you are From The Sideline.
As someone else mentioned in the comments; that there seems to be a lot more to you with your BLIND support of Gaston Browne. Hmmm! 🤔
Your support of GB 🥸 seems more than the ABLP themselves. Intriguing …
Who transported then to the dock. Remember to ask that.
HYPOCRISY
No full investigation on the root of the problem?
Absurdity whomever wrote that press statement exposed the PM to ridicule…..
That statement made the case for the public enquiry ..
THESE ARE THE WORDS OF GASTON BROWNE TODAY AT HIS NEWS CONFERENCE
( AND I QUOTE )
“the majority of persons on board the vessel may be Africans who were part of those who arrived here as tourists but with the intention of migrating to other countries”.
AT FIRST GASTON SAID THEY WERE RICH AFRICAN MEN READY TO INVEST.
THEN GASTON SAID THEY WERE AFRICAN TOURISTS,
THEN GASTON CHANGE AGAIN AND SAY ANTIGUA AIRWAYS WILL LINK AFRICA TO THE CARIBBEAN AND THAT SAME AIRLINE WILL HAVE AN AGREEMENT TO WORK WITH LIAT,
THIS IS THE SAME GASTON BROWNE WHO IS NOW CALLING HIS OWN AGREEMENT “DEFUNCT AND OPPORTUNISTIC MIGRANTS”.
NOW AFTER THE TRAGEDY HIS STATEMET FOR TODAY MARCH 28TH 2023
HE CALL THEM
” AFRICANS WHO ARRIVE AS TOURISTS BUT WITH INTENTIONS TO MIGRATE TO OTHER COUNTRIES”.
THOSE WERE HIS WORDS, NOT MINE.
ANYONE IN ANTIGUA WHO QUESTIONED GASTON BROWNE ABOUT THE AFRICANS HE WOULD DEMONISE THEM AND VERBALLY ABUSE THEM ON HIS RADIO STATION, HE SEEMS TO HAVE CONTEMPT AND A HATRED FOR ANTIGUA PEOPLE.
MY QUESTIONS TO HIM
GASTON BROWNE, WHERE IS YOUR BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS NOW?
GASTON BROWNE DO YOU STILL HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS?
GASTON BROWNE, ARE YOU AWARE THAT YOU NOW HAVE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS?
PEOPLE OF ANTIGUA, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST CHAPTER OF GASTON BROWNE’S HUMAN TRAFFICKING SAGA, THE NEXT SHOE IS GOING TO FALL AND ANTIGUA WILL BE CAUGHT RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
GASTON REALLY FULL OF SHXX AND NEED TO RESIGN IF HE HAVE ANY SHAME AND DECENCY.
Your comment is awaiting moderation
Another ABLP and Gaston Browne failure…
Blood is now on your hands for this development.
UPP must make a real push for his dismissal not resignation.
Why ABDF plane was not involved in the rescue?
@ Melchesidec : Bcuz the French from Guadeloupe/Martnique were in control of the rescue mission and they had their aircraft already in operation.
What would be deemed to be a full Investigation? I for one would not be holding my breath.
Gaston Browne is a disgraceful human being. Him and his cabinet has fallen below the level of humanity. They are the party of shame.
It is interesting he is calling for a full investigation after he has opened the flood gate for migrants to risks their lives on opened waters equal to what we have seen in Europe. Gaston et al who were responsible for trafficking those Africans to Antigua they eyes were on $ signs with hope they were going to line their pockets with Niara!
Antiguans, we should stand collectively and petition the redundant Governor General and request the removal of Gaston from office.
This is an awful tragedy and yes I agree that those who facilitated this mess should be held responsible and prosecuted. I do not think that this would be the last effort of this group because clearly they have no interest in staying in Antigua. Government need to see how quickly they can be repatriated to their homeland or we risk having many more of these issues in the future They do not want to remain in Antigua – that is clear. Many more attempts would be made to flee Antigua. This is only the first one.
@ Audley Phillip. Please help understand yr logics. Why repatriate the Africans back to their homeland when these very same people are fleeing their native land not primarily for economic reasons but to have their life saved.
It is true that during their fleeing they may be targeting the Americas where they all percieved it to be a place of milk & honey. However, if we as nationals especially those on the blue side of our political divide were more hospitable to them as our PM is so trying to do, then many may not have ventured of taking a risky voyage ended up in such tragedy……
What y’all need to know is that before we left Africa we already considered as dead people. Repatriating us we all gonna die upon arrival and leaving us here in Antigua is not our thing . We came prepared for either life or death so if y’all the authorities are blocking the airports for us to evacuate then we shall follow any available routes to our destination. RIP 🪦 😭🕯️🕊️ to our fallen comrades but we won’t stop trying until we get to our destinations. We weren’t forced to come here so y’all should understand we not under human trafficking. It’s either you open the airports for us to leave because we don’t wanna stay in Antigua or we all will die by any means of finding our ways out .
The gods of motherland #Africa are angry . Open the airports cuz we planning another routes that will shock the world .
If this ANR correspondence is true, then it’s a real eye opener @ Lead Africans to their destination.
The fact that you’ve taken the time out to put your side of this horrendous story speaks volumes – which I for one do appreciate.
I have a few questions for you, because our government aren’t telling us anything – and we’ve been asking since the planes landed before our General Election:
1) How was travelling to Antigua & Barbuda sold to you, and what were you promised, and by whom or which enterprise or government?
2) Was your arrival on our island for a stop-over before moving on elsewhere, or was it long-standing with accommodation?
3) Where was your intended destination if it wasn’t Antigua & Barbuda? Many of us are speculating that it was to the US … was it?
And finally!
4) As it now seems, that whatever you were promised, it now obvious that this/these promise(s) was/were broken.
What now for you and your African brethren stranded in Antigua?
Regards … a much concerned citizen
First of all we Africans are not stranded, in the sense that we know what we are up to hence I don’t think you ever saw a stranded African walking in the streets begging?
Secondly nobody promised us anything as to come to Antigua as our motives were transiting . Only an African will understand how much our hearts bleeds .
Y’all should understand that we were never influenced by any sort of violence into Antigua but the biggest mistake y’all made is during your elections you accused the prime minister for trafficking in order to vote for him which we have no business with y’all politics.
Our only call for concern is to open the borders for us to leave , we appreciate your warm welcome and hospitality but matter of fact we have long way to go and if you keep blocking the borders we will not give up until we all die . We were already dead in our minds before we left home so we not scared of loosing our lives. Antiguans don’t let the blood of Africans spread in your hands for y’all are innocent but lead them to their destination if you intend to help them or open the borders for them to go otherwise we’ll do more
If you all were already dead in your minds as you stated, why didn’t you stay in your country and fight to the death? And if y’all are not afraid of dying then just go beach and start swimming to your destination, simple.
I done believe an African is writing this, someone is trying to defend the PM here, appallingly disgusting! However, if by a scintilla of a chance it’s really and African writing this, gather your people together and go picket the PM and immigration officials to let you all leave. Further, make sure when the investigators arrive in Antigua you tell them to repatriate you back to your country or some other country in Africa. Because you’re not white, the USA , EU, UK, nor Canada will not readily accept you like they did Ukrainians. Your options are limited, but you do have some. Gook luck on your journey!
So true @ Hoax, I think that the original response had some sort if truth or merit from @ Lead Africans, but the reply from @ All Africans are one isn’t genuine.
How can anyone stoop so low to try and make the ABLP look innocent out of this tragedy is way beyond my comprehension. Tarl!
The evil in humankind has no boundaries … 😔
The Gods of our mother land are really angry.please free the airport for us to move to our dream destination.
@Rex what Gods..lol good one.
Go to the PM office and protest. And call upon the Gods of the motherland to make the PM and immigration officials do what you want, ASE OOO.
Action speaks louder than Words!
This reminds me of the Haitians who used Dominica as a getaway to migrate illegally to Guadeloupe, Martinique and st..Martin.. They would leave their Jobs, stay Hungry to pay US$500.00 for their journey,then the next leg is to Head to
St Thomas illegally..All these Haitians and Africans got their eye on the Great America
To the prime minister
Trupz!!
Condolences to the families of the 3
When fools lead fools. When Antiguan & Barbudan’s going to get sense? Stand for nothing fall for everything. Hope for a turkey or ham again in the next few years. While Hitler sneaks off to Dubai to hide his money…
We have a PM whose vision is clouded by money and votes. Hold on to the saddle Antiguans, more shit is there to come.
That man has a weirdly shaped head. Could that be the reasons for his unsavoury behaviors? Gaston Browne,in the past you have been known to give we the people your middle finger. Now you should be sitting on the middle finger yourself. Payback’s a Beach,then you die.
Sad when some people can take advantage of other people’s misery. This is a clear case of Migrant Trafficking. I wonder how much they had to pay to make that trip. The thing is we see these kinds of crimes happening daily when people try to flee from war thorn regions for their lives. Many times, on the news you see loads of immigrants drowning before reaching beaches in Italy. Or right here at home you see Cubans or Haitians fleeing in seacrafts that are not seaworthy. Hope we now can bring up some empathy for these people, who are from our black race.
Give us a phucking break!
Stop acting like the ALP govérnment were rescuing these people. They served some purpose to the ALP government — whether it was to look as though an airline route between Antigua and Africa was established or something was being transported on those flights that benefitted the ALP. The latter would be my guess. Antiguans in general, and UPPites in particular, are not responsible for ANY part of the fraud that were perpetrator on these people. And, I would dare say, that the same people responsible for them being in Antigua were very likely assisting them trying to leave Antigua. Btw, what happened to the African man who scammed some of them out of thousands of dollars claiming he could arrange a charter flight out of Antigua; what was the outcome of that investigatiion?
What ever happens to these Africans while in or fleeing Antigua, the ALP needs to accept its responsibility for facilitating their arrival here. Doubling down and deflecting blame only makes y’all look like psychopaths.
@ From the sideline and bloody bloke. I wonder how you and your elk sleep at night. Some of the political crap you people spew makes me hope and pray that you don’t have off springs. What the webbed feet bird does UPP have to do with this tragic mess? Did they bring them here? It’s a pity that God is not like man- to make you choke when drinking the Kool aid. Be real men. Use yuh names. We blame hatred of blacks when it happens in Europe and we fume and cuss. Now it has happened here and webbed feet birders can only come up with nonsensical crap spewed by the two of you. Do you think when the shite hits the fan, that only one group of people will suffer? I wonder if this entire travesty had happened under another regime, what your comments would have been? Give me a paracetamol.
Arrest the Big fat African that live In Johnson’s . I am talking about the one that import provisions from Dominica . The one that when questioned by ONDCP about the other flights blood pressure went so high that he was hospitalized. He collected 2,500.00 USD from each, upon arrival. Banjo was at the airport also and is fully aware of what went down at the airport. Banjo I will start the inquiry with you. You left Antigua immediately after. When things got hot you took off and went to Nigeria. Then we heard that you are share holder in Antigua Chamber of Antiguan Chambers of commerce/ Nigeria.
Next the ministers that were Duped needs to resign immediately. Yes you told us they were investors, then you told us they were tourist. Then they were opportunistic immigrants. What are they now calling the dead. I remember Chet Greens press statement about them renting and spending in the economy. While he had to house some of them at the Foreign money built complex/ self owned just like the buses.
So it is a time for a full inquiry Mr.GG . Starting with the signing of the agreement / MOU. Then the setting up the Antigua Airways. All flights that arrive from Africa. The immigration department and if anyone there is involved. They needed Visa to enter Antigua – so who encouraged the breach of our border security. The immigration head needs to be part of this investigation. See when people do not stand up and say no , this is wrong. I am not going to allow you yo corrupt me , this is what happens. We are going right down to the issuing of Antigua passports to Marvelous Mike and Co too . I am talking about an investigation like the medical benefits investigation. Open and transparent. PM if you are innocent as you say let the gauntlet fall where it may.
Sidelines tek stone an wipe you yeye! Ole hypocrite, you an Gaston go get punish, mark my words, Africa juju bad a raas!
“For an unknow destination?” Who wrote this nonsense? We have known from the beginning that these Africans were not tourists, not wealthy businessmen, just desperate folks using Antigua aa a transit point to get to the USA, Canada or the UK. The reports say that they were headed for the USVI.
All I know is that this mess just continues to exposed the corrupt, greedy, incompetent Gaston Browne led administration. The sad thing is, our country is sinking daily into depths that it has never been before.
I can not take anything this fool says seriously. Just the other day he was calling them opportunist, now he wants to pretend like he really cares? This man is neck deep in nefarious activities and its just a matter of time before it all comes full circle.
There is purpose in the UPP lost at the poles on January 18th. As an elder said to me, “I am glad UPP lost so ALP can deal with their own mess.”
The Labourites continue to spew their garbage because they must earn their bread, but at the rate we are going, we might be headed back to the poles to rid ourselves of this scourge.
Can we really live like this for the next five years.
The Gods of our mother land are really angry.please free the airport for us to move to our dream destination.
What y’all need to know is that before we left Africa we already considered as dead people. Repatriating us we all gonna die upon arrival and leaving us here in Antigua is not our thing . We came prepared for either life or death so if y’all the authorities are blocking the airports for us to evacuate then we shall follow any available routes to our destination. RIP 🪦 😭🕯️🕊️ to our fallen comrades but we won’t stop trying until we get to our destinations. We weren’t forced to come here so y’all should understand we not under human trafficking. It’s either you open the airports for us to leave because we don’t wanna stay in Antigua or we all will die by any means of finding our ways out .
It’s terrible when fellow blacks treats another like the way most of the Antigua’s pipo do.
Thanks to the prime minters for recognizing the Africans as brothers and sisters and for the help render so far.
Let the airport be open so the Africans can leave freely.
The gods of motherland #Africa are angry . Open the airports cuz we planning another routes that will shock the world .
A psychiatric evaluation is warranted for the above.
We are not fooled by this hoax. Only a absolute psychopath over bloated with his own hubris would be writing about thanking the PM after the deaths of 16 Africans have occured. Everytime you try to prop yourself up Mr PM, you become more contemptible to sane persons.
If any African thinks that their dying is going to stop the world turning they can start holding their
breaths — As a matter of fact, that’s what the powers that be want. You are the carbon they want to reduce. So go right ahead help thin the herd. The WEF, NWO/Great Reset thanks you for your sacrifice.
GB should resign immediately and have all his assets forfeited to the people of this island..
@ From The Sideline: A broken clock is right twice per day. This is a clear case of migrant trafficking. But the Trafficking of this specific group did not begin at Jenning; it started in Nigeria and I hope that is where your clear case begins.
Hope we now can bring up some empathy for these people, who are from our black race. The American actor Blair Underwood took the DNA and found out his forefathers were from a village in Cameroon. I’m surprised that Gaston and his Government have not put forward that these Anglophile Camaroonians are our blood cousins.
My empathy is not for those who sold us into slavery, but for those among us who are slavery survivors and are still poor and hungry because of the type of poverty politics which thrives in Antigua and Barbuda
Comments are closed.