Antigua and Barbuda’s Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene has responded defiantly to reports that the United States may impose visa restrictions on countries operating Citizenship by Investment Programmes (CIPs), declaring, “We will not be bullied. Our foreign policy is one of principle.”
His comments follow a Washington Post article published over the weekend, citing a leaked U.S. government memo that reportedly names Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St Kitts and Nevis, and St Lucia as potential targets for visa restrictions unless they comply with new U.S. immigration standards within 60 days.
Defending the CIP, which allows foreign nationals to acquire citizenship in exchange for a minimum investment of US$230,000, Greene insisted that Antigua and Barbuda would be “fighting like hell” to protect the programme.
“They want to impose travel restrictions on us—for what reason, God only knows,” he said during a media briefing.
Greene also praised the integrity of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), saying its leadership and operations are beyond reproach.
“We know that Charmaine Donovan, CEO of the CIU, and her staff are all people of impeccable character,” he said. “This nation’s integrity is not to be questioned where their work is concerned.”
Introduced in 2013, Antigua and Barbuda’s CIP has become a major source of revenue for the twin-island nation. The programme allows applicants to acquire citizenship and a Caribbean passport in exchange for economic contributions, and has helped support the country’s development and public finances.
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I hope they ban us, so Antigua people will finally wake up.
Investing y’all pockets….. stop selling our passports. Don’t they 2 persons locked up that had our passport by investing. Give me a break …… no tax should’ve have been raised when you the government have our CIP money that can fix roads 🙄….. ppl of this country wake up
No Problem Mon! Just send in the clowns like ambASSador Dave Ray to grovel on his knees with head in the sand and waving a white flag letting them know that the ABLP will take as many of their convicts been released from the american prisons.
Agreeing with E.P 100% on this. Don’t make Trump bully this government. We little but we talawah.
What the hell Chet Greene knows about principle, green backs is all the principle you guys know, even Faithful National # 1 will testify to that
We don’t support citizenship by investment…. your defending you investment meanwhile you have the opportunities that we loose as a result… thanks guys!
I just do not understand why these Antiguan officials cannot see that this is not about what great due diligence is in place for the CIP or if you have one of impeccable character running the program. The USA and Europe will stamp down on it and stop it, and if we continue to fight, we lose everything both the revenue stream and poor antiguans would not be able to travel. It is nothing you can do to satisfy them, and without them the CIP in nothing. Stop the CIP now!!
Also, the way Chet is speaking already turn the USA away. He needs to be more diplomatic in his speech.
I know the USA do not act with any principle but at the end of the day, without them we would be done with. We will be even worse than Cuba. So sometimes for one’s best interest, one has to comply even when it is difficult and unreasonable so to do.
Defiant or silly? The utterances of the Foreign Minister are ill conceive. We have to be very careful of the message that we are sending to the US. Yes respectfully engage the them in meaningful talks that will bring about a satisfactory and amicable solution but don’t play bold, aggressive and audacious. The US will view this as being stubborn and deliberately wanting to fight and disrespect them. How we handle this is very important. We cannot show or exhibit contempt for the US. After all, we need them far more than they need us.
I am in full support of the position taken by the Minister. I hope that coordination is done with the other islands that may be affected. The CIP program has been in place even before the current president took office in his first term. The current president now wants to have his Gold Card program — hint, hint – CIP program.
Now, if Antigua and the other islands are willing to accept foreign nationals deportees, we can continue with the CIP program and we will not be banned. It is very clear that there is no threat from the CIP program but the big boss knows it will hurt our pockets and therefore using it as a tool to us to accept deported nationals from other countries. Yet, you have people like @Ma’at telling people to wake up when he/she appears to be fast asleep.
Our people have become so abused by these big countries that we are suffering from the battered wife syndrome. We feel that we cannot live without the abusive husband. In fact, what has the USA been doing for us recently?
We need to gain back our pride! Look at the Canadians – they have not been banned – but, their people have stopped buying USA made product, they pretty much avoid any travel to the USA – and that is because they have PRIDE.
Several other countries have issued notices guiding their citizens to stop travelling to the USA. When we travel there, we contribute to their economy. Why not spend our money where we are appreciated? Several European and Canadian airlines have started reducing flights to the USA – soon they will be begging for persons to come.
Im no foreign affairs expert but if the nation is banned from entry to the USA I assume it’s Likely the UK who also scrutinises the same program will make some similar restriction maybe establishing visa requirements then the Schengen will do the same. My question here is what worth will this passport be to the buyers? Then the passport ranking will fall. Sometimes we just gotta go back to drawing boards instead of making a bold stance against a giant
@No Problem Mon
I agree with you to send Madame Dave Ray, that’s the only position he knows, on his knees with head on the ground and another oart in the air, there are guys up there who will accommodate him and we might just get what we want
The Washington Post is a liberal newspaper. They don’t speak for the government. Why don’t we just wait until we get proper information before rearing up like ‘orses? For all we know, they’re just trying to make trouble for Trump
The Foreign Minister has to try and impress Gaston, remember he has his eyes on the prize, just waiting for Gassy to f up the thinks it will be smooth sailing for him but he will get a rude awakening