(CMC) — Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has criticised the regional integration grouping, CARICOM, after it issued a statement late on Friday night regarding the visa situation involving the United States, Dominica and his own country.
On Friday, both Browne and his Dominican counterpart, Roosevelt Skerrit, issued statements indicating that the United States had agreed to suspend its proclamation that would have prevented citizens from Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda from entering the North American country from Jan. 1 next year.
The leaders of the two countries had indicated that, following discussions with United States officials at the embassy in Barbados and at the State Department in Washington, an agreement had been reached to suspend the proclamation that President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday.
“I would like to thank the United States government itself for understanding the situation and agreeing to set aside for the time being the proclamation … and so this is good news. The anxieties that we all would have should be set aside,” Skerrit told radio listeners, adding that Roseau was looking forward to continuing the good relations it has enjoyed with Washington in the past.
The Antigua and Barbuda government said that a similar suspension had been afforded to its nationals.
“This applies to all visa categories, including B-1, B-2, J, and M visas,” said Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, adding that “for the avoidance of doubt, this includes tourist, business, student, and other valid United States-issued visas.
“Second, there will be no revocation of any existing visas issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda prior to 31 December 2025,” he said in a statement.
He said with regard to new visa applications submitted after Jan. 1, 2026, “these will be subject to new arrangements that are still to be worked out with several Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Barbuda.
“These arrangements relate specifically to the collection of biometric information of Antigua and Barbuda passport holders to ensure full compatibility with United States biometric systems.”
But Browne, in a post on his Facebook, said despite being advised by him “that the issue was resolved and that it would be superfluous circulating this statement after the fact,” CARICOM still went ahead and issued a statement.
He said the CARICOM position came “especially in consideration of their inertia and initial lukewarm support”.
In its statement, the CARICOM Bureau, made up of the prime ministers of Jamaica, Barbados and Grenada, said it had taken note of the visa situation and that while it ”recognises the right of countries to implement policies regulating entry to their borders, nevertheless, the Bureau expresses concern that this decision was taken without prior consultation, especially in circumstances of its potential adverse effects on legitimate travel, people-to-people exchanges, and the social and economic well-being of these small states”.
In its statement, the CARICOM Bureau expressed concern about the lack of clarity regarding the status of existing visas after Jan. 1, 2026.
“The Bureau urges an early engagement by the United States with the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica to clarify the proclamation and address outstanding concerns, consistent with the strong and longstanding partnership between the United States of America and CARICOM.
“CARICOM remains committed to dialogue and cooperation based on mutual respect, shared interests and the rule of law as we seek to secure the prosperity of the region and its citizens.”
On Tuesday, Trump, in his latest executive order, said that apart from Antigua and Barbuda, nationals from Dominica and Haiti would also be affected by the immigration policy.
Trump said some of the countries identified in an earlier proclamation had offered citizenship-by-investment (CBI) without residency, which poses challenges for screening and vetting.
Under the CBI programme, several Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, offer citizenship to foreign investors in return for substantial investment in their socio-economic development.
Trump said both Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have “historically had CBI without residency” and that the entry into the United States of nationals of these two countries as immigrants, and as non-immigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas, is hereby suspended.
He said consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other non-immigrant visa issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica “to the extent permitted by law”.
Meanwhile, Browne has taken the opportunity to criticise an unnamed CARICOM leader, saying that it had been “brought to my attention, that one of our colleague heads, instead of standing in solidarity, publicly accused us of cursing the US administration. I challenge that leader to back her statement with facts.
“The inertia and insularity within CARICOM continue to undermine the effectiveness of our integration movement,” Browne wrote, adding that “however, as a hardcore integrationist and an eternal optimist, I remain hopeful for a stronger and more effective integration movement”.
Earlier this week, Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar, in a warning to her fellow citizens, cautioned them against “bad-talking” Washington when thousands of Trinidad and Tobago nationals have US visas.
“… because people like to go and visit the US,” Bissessar said, adding that Trinidad and Tobago remained in partnership with the US, stating that if the twin-island republic were to be attacked, “who will stand up to defend us?
“Careful you don’t end up like Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica … bad-mouthing the US and guess what happened … all their visas rescinded now,” she told those attending the ruling United National Congress Christmas Supper at the Diplomatic Centre on Dec. 18.
The media were not invited to cover the event.
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“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”– Martin L. King.
The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda continues to stand tall in times of controversy facing every challenge head on… even if it means standing alone and I must give him credit for this….
I will say no more
PM Browne is a man of credence and class. He fights for his people, he was elected for times like this. Stand tall PM may God continue to bless and keep you in all your doings.
Remember do good sir and you will receive your rewards.
Trinidad prime minister bright and out a order ……….she should concentrate on her behavior she is a damn traitor to Caribbean unity …….by the way tell she me just land inna JFK last night and not a issue ….didn’t even spend 2 minutes in front the immigration officer.
I just don’t get it, we celebrate the same person in Gaston that cause us to lose visa free travel to Canada and now the rejection of visa for Antiguans to travel to the USA.
Gaston will soon spin this like an Brer Anansi story and blame the UPP.
Gaston can sue Kamala for DEFAMATION, on behalf of the Nation. Just remember, Cutie B, can he travel to an American territory
?
Come on up Kamala THE PRICE IS RIGHT!
The real question is, what did the PM have to agree to in order to get the US to suspend the travel restriction? We know for sure that one is sending the Cuban medical brigade back to Cuba. This is already underway. What else? Time will tell. One think I know for sure, we will not hear the run his mouth about Venezuela again!
What I saw and complaint about was that ABLP Prime Minister Gaston Browne at every moment when the US and Cuba or US and North Korea or US and Venezuela or US and The Devil or US and China are having issues, at all times ABLP Prime Minister Gaston Browne is constantly and always against the US. And I can tell you this, a lot of the time, it is the US doing the moral, humane and legal thing to protect humans, democracy, fairness, peace, love, etcetera. But it seems ABLP Prime Minister Gaston Browne hates the US so much he can’t even say the US is right when the US is right.
He doesn’t know when to help, when to fold, when to stand up, when to walk away and when to count and publicize his money he made with clear conflict of interest obvious.
Bring strong is not always about bashing but also include telling those you do not like they are right and those you love, they are wrong.
Sometimes we should get so upset of human rights and constitional rights violation that we begin overturning tables and causing chaos when evil and wrongs against humans are being committed. Even Jesus show us that we must stand up for what is right.
How on earth am I going to stand up for a place like Cuba with its own government treating its people how they are literally currently being treated? How on earth could I live with myself? ABLP PM Gaston Browne is going straight to hell, if this man doesn’t change. Don’t you feel the pain of others? No heart exist? I am not perfect but I try my hardest to do right by others.
I am not ABLP or UPP but I am for God and advocating for the people of the United Islands of Antigua and Barbuda to get fairness.
Sometimes silence is golden. Kamla and Trinidad and Tobago are under tremendous pressure from Venezuela and her action is really about the protection of her country of an attack from Venezuela. Venezuela has threatened to attack Trinidad and Tobago if the US invade them and Kamla is really just in a survival mode and she is prepared to hammer her colleagues in Caricom and throw them under the proverbial bus at the expense of pleasing and appeasing Uncle Sam. And she is one of Uncle Sam’s greatest partner and ally in the region right now. She can do no wrong for them. Do you realize that the Chairman of Caricom Dr Andrew Holness of Jamaica has been inauspiciously silent in all of this. He knows better than engaging Trinidad and Tobago even as he might disagree with her position. Even PM Mia Mottley of Barbados is silent. Silence sometimes is the best form of diplomacy. The quicker we understand this, the better it is for us.
What benefit do we get from Caricom? It’s time for Antigua to leave.
@My Way of helping…
When was the last time, that you really dove into, the political fray, in America’s cities where the majority are HUEmans, of darker HUES? America – the US Congress still has an abysmal record, on how they deal with the wellbeing, of these Communities. Where crimes are allowed to flourish, education is poor to subpar, in order, to feed those in the pipeline from the womb to the penitentiary making a great living.
Representative Jasmine Crockett, the Texas Rocket watch how folks like her, dismantle America’s hypocrisy!
If CARICOM, its leaders were paying attention to America’s Foreign Policy, since, the NIXON era to REGAN to slick Willy Bill, I never had sexual relations with, that girl; I wonder what Hillary has to say, about his constant appearances with the PEDOPHILE Jeffery Epstein; or she was too busy BOMBING LIBYA with black Jesus Barack O?
This war against Venezuela and by extension the Caribbean Region, ain’t even about, the Ring Master Trump; he’s just introducing, the DEADLY CIRCUS ACTS, witnessed, by HUEmans who care and don’t give a damn, World over.
These war games are common place, since, time immortal…
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿 Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
@ Ras Smood, I promise you that I am not saying the US is perfect or even near it. But I would prefer the US over Cuba and Venezuela in terms of the available rights, due process and freedoms. I am looking at who is trying and who have progressed in these areas. I can’t say Cuba, can’t say Venezuela and I can’t say the devil. The sides that ABLP PM Gaston Browne constantly takes.
@My Way of helping…
Yes! Gaston and his advisors could use a little more [tack] in some diplomatic situations, such as the CUBA, vENEZUELA, TRINIDAD issues.
You know why, MADURO is not the first leader of a Nation America may want to take out, has taken out and will continue to take out in its best interest.
Gaston Browne administration MUST learn this, you don’t get suited up for a basketball game wearing stilettos. Our Nstion is not like those African Nation with unfashionable resources, like Ivory Coast, Burkino Faso, Chad, Sudan, South Sudan, all of whom, by the way are among, the fastest growing Nations in the world for 2025. They can tell Trump and the old guards, of the EUROPEAN FASCIST REGIMES, #go_2_Hell.
We are taking back what’s ours, and to hell with what you think.
Again, what is playing out in the CARIBBEAN today has been playing out in AFRICA for over 50 years! But you know what, in spite of the propoganda efforts by the AMERICAN MEDIA, these Nations, in Africa have being consistently being among the top ten fastest growing Nations in the World with or without America’s blessings or support…
BRICS TELLS THE TALE!
Gaston Browne and his colleagues just got stomped by KARMA, da_bitch! The same way Sir VIVIAN RICHARDS was reducibled, by Gaston because Sir Viv has his own opinion, regarding issues of his Nation, Gaston Browne and his cohorts, not only got slammed by the Americans for them allegedly running their mouths on INTERNATIONAL ISSUES, loosely, they have Gaston & Co, groveling to save/wash their faces from the mess they were stomped in.
By the way, one of the most crooked Departments of the Federal Government is the IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT, that deals with everything from work permits, refugees to deals with foreign cartels, in conjunction with the NSA & CIA. Many a lawyer, you know the professional who gets paid whether, they WIN, they LOSE or they DRAW. Money! No Money! Only Money Counts.
Pro Bono’s and Legal Aids, Public Defenders , they too get paid by tax dollars. Some say, they’re either lazy, incompetent or just don’t give a damn, because, they can siphon off the Pipeline – from the WOMB to the PENITENTIARY…
U dun kno, nah Luk fu black sheep aftah dark. Jumbee goh run U!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg 🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
I don’t remember anybody saying the policy would affect present Visa holders. It was for people who were applying for new visa going forward, so we are mixing spples and grapes. So Gaston and Skerritt did not really achieve anything specual