Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to CARICOM Clarifies Position on Free Movement
In a recent interview with Twin Island Media, Dr. Clarence Henry, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to CARICOM, discussed the country’s stance on free movement within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The discussion centered on Antigua and Barbuda’s position on the matter, highlighting the government’s current approach and future intentions regarding free movement.
Ambassador Henry began by acknowledging Prime Minister Mia Mottley as the lead spokesperson on the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
He stated that during the press conference following the 46th Heads of Government Meeting in Guyana, Prime Minister Mottley presented the conclusions reached regarding free movement.
He emphasized that Antigua and Barbuda, along with other CARICOM member states, has been actively engaged in meetings to discuss the details of how free movement will be implemented.
“Prime Minister Mottley did put on the table the conclusions… and as you know, she did inform that the discussion negotiations at the level of the intergovernmental task force… set a decision timeframe of the end of March this year,” Ambassador Henry stated.
He said, from the outset, Antigua and Barbuda expressed its position that it does not currently wish to implement a policy of full free movement.
The country has communicated this stance through letters and verbal statements at various meetings, including those of the Intergovernmental Task Force (IGF) and the Community Council of Ministers.
“We prefer to adopt, as we have been adopting for the past many years, a skills regime… we certainly cannot implement that carte blanche Open Door policy,” Ambassador Henry reiterated.
Ambassador Henry emphasized that any decision to change Antigua and Barbuda’s position on free movement would need to come from the Cabinet and Parliament.
He highlighted the country’s history of allowing regional movement and its commitment to the integration movement, while also acknowledging the current fiscal challenges facing the nation.
“Once we are able to implement such a liberal policy, we would signal to the Secretariat and to the community that we are ready,” Ambassador Henry explained.
Antigua and Barbuda’s stance on free movement is not new, as the country has previously obtained derogations and opted out of certain obligations within CARICOM.
Ambassador Henry noted that there has been no pushback from other member states regarding Antigua and Barbuda’s position.
“We have obtained derogations, we have opted out of certain obligations… we have not seen experienced any pushback from any member state of the community,” Ambassador Henry clarified.
Ambassador Henry reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to CARICOM while maintaining a cautious approach to free movement.
The country remains open to adopting a more liberal policy in the future but will do so only when it is economically feasible and in the best interest of the nation.
Listen to his full interview from Twin Island Media here:
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We are STOPPING JAMAICANS especially from coming to ANTIGUA as they do not come Antigua as SKILLED WORKERS eg LAWYERS DOCTORS TEACHERS CIVIL ENGINEERS ppl that can POSITIVELY bring Value to ANTIGUA & ANTIGUANS.
We dnt care for more BROTHEL FILLERS PURCELL SECURITY WORKERS….ELDERLY CARE ….HOTEL STAFFING….HAIR NAIL FOOT TECHNICIANS
Antigua is very small …. The movement that we currently have isn’t BENEFICIAL TO ALL it’s ONLY benefit the foreigners!
So who here done here but NO MORE
While I understand ppl need to go where they can be useful to themselves & family
ANTIGUA has its fair share of foreigners….we need to STOP FREE MOVEMENT FOR A FEW YEARS ….
Too many unskilled foreigners in Antigua we dnt need no more please tap where aru lib
Some ONLY came to Antigua bcos they are wanted in their country…. Can’t get a US VISA so by obtaining an Antiguan pport is heaven to them
It’s not jus the Jamaicans it’s also the SPANISH & SYRIANS
ANTIGUA IS SMALL EVWRY SPACE DNT HAVE TO BE OCCUPIED
GASTON ……SAYS MORE TAXES ARE NEEDED HERES AN IDEA CHARGE MORE FOR WORK PERMITS!!!!
I’m a cma now doing my surgery equipment sterilization certification so I can be even more useful
It’s now y’all growing a spine or some wisdom and taking a stance?
Where was this prudent thinking, when we the people were crying from the rooftop, to not make the move with the Antigua Airways debacle, where was all this showing of strength when you followed up the Antigua Airways debacle, with the Air Peace canundrum at the airport(where many of the passengers had no papers whatsoever), where was this stance against open boarder back then?
We warned of the impact on crime and the economy back then (infact, many crimes happened immediately after those Africans arrived, when many were smuggled out and some even got killed at see) but because Gatson Browne and his band of crooks were benefiting financially from those deals, not a damn thing was done or said about those endeavors.
Freedom of movement has always been the calling card of this ABLP party, look at their track record, so now that it is back firing in their faces, and the fact that good citizens are finally asking tough questions, this fork tongue administration is suddenly changing their tune.
A bunch of corrupt hypocrites this bunch are,and they only do things for their pockets, so don’t believe one damn thing they say.
They can call UPP a bunch of dunces all they want, but at least there is one thing they cannot call the UUP, and that’s a bunch of lying thieves!
Wake up Antiguan’s. How long are you going to allowed yourself to be duped by these liar’s, who change their stance on anyone thing every week to suit their fraudulent behavior?
If y’all can’t see a fraud when you see one, then Antiguan’s are really the blind fools that Gatson Browne treat y’all as.
Wake to hell up!!!
@Islanman26. Couldn’t have said it better. All these years of shouting, the country too small to be taking in so many unskilled, untalented, and some right out criminals; the ABLP said said, “just come, they hate foreigners and we LOVE you”. They then try every machination in the book to get them on the voting list. Amnesty after amnesty, and so on. They with their own eyes that these people only reason to he here is to “higgle” while clogging up downtown St Johns, “Wendy’s”, turning point into a pleasure city where on the streets late at night one can have their fill of either women or men! I could go on but the point is made. ABLP knew all along that the “For your eyes only” approach would destroy this country but they did not care! Now that the Alpha Nargo, LIAT and all of their other vanity projects are bleeding this country dry, their “love” of “foreigners” at the expense of the nation is now spent.
@Zackie, @Islanman26.
Hear Hear. You both hit the nail on the head, your arrows hit Bullseye. When I first read the headlines on Antigua’s ‘new, improved designer’ position on free movement, I confess I burst out laughing. My merriment however, was short lived. What pulled me up short is the fact the horse had already bolted. The all-knowing wise guys of the ALP/ABLP cared little for the concerns of the Antiguans who complained of the adverse impact a ‘ Come one, come all’ policy would have on little Antigua and Barbuda. Now the chickens have come home to roost and Antigua is now plagued with criminals mostly from Jamaica having the time of their lives robbing and terrorising the local population. What then was the purpose of this disastrous free for all entry into Antigua? It doesn’t get any dumber; it was simply to secure the votes of the overwhelmingly semi illiterate newcomers, criminals et al. Presently, we are told officially by a government senator that non nationals now outnumber born and bred Antiguans. Yes, read that again and ponder why very little of this is aired to the Antiguan people. Dumb, dumber, dumbest sums up what is the leadership of this country. Remember peaceful little Antigua? It has gone forever. Who cares? Certainly not our brilliant leaders. Creative enrichment is the order of the day.
Antigua shouldn’t worry, once the other countries implement free movement the vast majority caricom nationals will move to those countries. Guyana needs workers at all levels.
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