NEWSCO: They will not be afforded Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship, but the West African visitors who choose to remain in the country could be offered residency and work permits.
That confirmation came yesterday from Cabinet spokesperson, Information Minister Melford Nicholas, as questions linger after the government’s previous announcement that the hundreds of Africans who arrived in the country on charter flights in recent months will be allowed to remain.
“Antiguan passport? No…I don’t think that that is on the cards, but certainly the whole idea of residency and work permits, that is part of the legal framework that we are considering,” Nicholas told media during yesterday’s post-Cabinet press briefing.
The Africans’ arrival and failure to leave, having initially come into the country as ‘tourists’, has stirred controversy over the past few weeks, with the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) even going as far as staging a protest outside the Office of the Prime Minister.
There is still no word on how many African refugees have decided to seek asylum in Antigua and Barbuda.
The Immigration Department has been tasked with tracking down and investigating just how many of the Africans would like to be repatriated – as the government has also offered – or remain in the country. But, according to Nicholas, Cabinet has yet to receive an update.
He did however say that for those who wish to stay, government will be looking at various options to ensure they do so legally while contributing to the country’s economic growth.
“One of the features that we have asked the Immigration to do is to do a skills audit amongst them as well, to determine whether or not we have some additional benefits to be derived from some of these persons that are here.
“As the economy continues to expand, we are going to need additional skills to be able to develop some of these projects and so, from the standpoint of having them integrate, and when we say integrate we mean integrate to become a full part of our society, we are asking Antiguans and Barbudans as they have already begun to do on their own account to embrace and have an open heart in respect to this matter,” Nicholas said.
Government said last week that 637 of the more than 900 people who touched down between November and January remained in Antigua. Many of them are Cameroonians fleeing a bloody conflict back home.
It is unclear how many of these asylum seekers came aboard Antigua Airways or other chartered airlines which the government and Antigua Airways officials claim mirrored their operations.
The announcement that they will be allowed to stay has prompted calls for more bipartisan discussions between the government and the opposition – but the government is insisting that it has no obligation to engage in that manner.
Opposition leader, Jamale Pringle, questioned the government’s stance during the party’s protest earlier this week and said more talks should have taken place before the decision was made.
“There are many areas in the parliamentary life of the country where there is opportunity for bipartisanship even dealing with issues of reports that are presented to parliament from time to time,” Nicholas said when questioned at Thursday’s press conference.
“The opposition serves on a number of the committees that have oversight over the work of the central government, and so there is every built-in opportunity for there to be bipartisanship dealing with those matters.
“If you take for example, the opposition wanted to engage myself or any other ministers on any particular matter and they wanted to raise it before the parliament then the opportunity is there in the order paper for them to pose questions to the ministers and it provides that engagement in the open forum for the public to see what is going on, but the responsibility for managing affairs of the state falls to the government of the day,” Nicholas said.
He added that his statements were not intended to bring malice or dismiss the value of the opposition, but were in line with the protocols established under the law.
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No, no and no again! This whole fiasco stinks to high heaven.
What has our Prime Minister have to say about this new development?
Antiguans were lied to from the get go by this government about how Africans arrived here. Not fair on them, not fair on us, and those of us who will have to pay for all this through direct, indirect and STEALTH taxes.
Furthermore, the Head of the Immigration Department needs to resign now – not tomorrow or next week. Now!
There seems to be no accountability, and the lack of responsibility by the government is shameful at best. Someone should apologize for the lack of oversight in this whole fiasco. The immigration laws were eased and abused in this instance and many others. The Minister needs to start there and correct it, and not consider residency to people just to cover up a breech. What skills do they have? What professions do they have that’s transferable to benefit Antigua? These are important questions to ask and research before offering compromise to scammers.
Absolutely correct @Adjunct Professor. Especially when you say: “… What professions do they have that’s transferable to benefit Antigua”.
Are the Africans here, engineers, accountants or fleeing from war?
And remember, there are those who may have criminal records and slipped under the radar; and that puts our homeland security at a very high risk.
Gaston Browne needs to come out as soon as possible, and reassure all Antiguans and Barbudans that everyone who came into the country was security checked and vetted.
Prime Minister, step up or step out – this sounds more and more like a serious security breach … I pray that I’m wrong!
The PM and the chief of Immigration officer is incapable of providing the nation with the truth because of their unscrupulous involvement with this extraordinary development.
The most honourable thing for them is to return those asylum fraudsters back to Nigeria. In reality, Antigua would experience difficulty with returning them to Nigeria, because those fraudsters left Nigeria without the knowledge of the government of Nigeria, it’s possible that they left Nigeria as tourist, therefore Nigeria would not accept them as asylum seekers and if indeed they are Cameroon citizens, Cameroon would not make it easy for them to return.
Marvellous Mike has truly pulled the wool over the PM’S eyes! Mr PM welcome to the real world of fraudsters. Shame on you PM, you have left our nation expose to be victims of fraudsters, shame on you PM, you have compromise our safety and security, as well as on caribbean neighbours and the US.
Shame on you PM your reckless involvement with Marvellous Mike has potentially made it possible for the UK government to emulate the Canadian government to impose visa restrictions on our nation. Thanks for nothing PM
Brixtonian, I concur with your expressed views. It is obvious Marvellous Mike pulled the wool over Gaston and his deluded merry men eyes. He duped them that he could provide “rich” tourists, but instead Antigua has been landed (no punt intended) with asylum fraudsters that are now being considered for residency and work permit.
One couldn’t make this up if one tries. It is complete nonsense. Nicholas should understand that Antiguans are not prepared to tolerate this nonsense.
The asylum fraudsters, as well as ALP has not provide substantial evidence to support the argument that citizens of The Republic of Cameroon are in jeopardy, we are only hearing this hysterical nonsense from ALP and the fraudsters. If there was any truth to this claim why did they not make that claim upon entering Antigua?
A Nigerian employee , employed by the Ministry of Argiculture stated on Observer Radio that Antigua is under populated and the fraudsters were brought to Antigua to improve our population. Incidentally, he was at the airport the early morning they arrived in Antigua, the chief of Immigration claimed that the Nigerian was at the airport using a government vehicle to meet a friend!
Tissues of lies, upon lies. The actions being considered by ALP is further evidence of the broken and ineffective Immigration service. The sensible way forward is for the government to return the fraudsters back to Nigeria.
@ Brixtonian: Please advise the author of this article to edit the headline. Instead of using ” could be ” they should use ” will be “. The final decision is in the hands of the Labour Party not UPP.
@Bluddy Bloke…the vibes in the ether surrounding this fiasco is feeling like, Gaston has recruited these Africans(refugees, mercenaries, terrorists) as soldiers for a private army. They brought them in as #tourists on private charters like a CIA, Nazi Mission and who the hell knows what other cargos were on those flights.
Him and his government are now paying them with public funds and more than likely lands to set up their private Army Base.
Lest you forget, many of these Africans are well trained and seasoned guerrillas, who have being fighting and killing each other since, the days of the Triangular Slave Trade.
If, their fore parents had no quarms in capturing and selling our fore parents, to the Europeans for profits, in today’s world where the same exists, do you think, these Africans give a fuck about Us?
And, please this African Brotherly Love through compassion for the most part is a SHAM and SCAM from the RASTAMAN in Ethiopia the dreads in Ghana to the Woke_Movement in America.
Yes, definitely there are pockets of progress with these groups but, for the most part, they’re SHAMMING and SCAMING while other cultures are progressing at the expense of our IGNORANCE.
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De ‘Ole Dutty Peg Foot Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Folks, they are winging it. They have no clue how to wiggle out of this situation which has such international implications for Antiguans and Barbudans. Unemployment here is what 30%? Where are these people going to find work? People have been out of work for over a year in some cases, and now we dump these Africans into the system to worsen the unemployment rate? The heat is on, so they’re trying to save face, hoping the human trafficking and money laundering allegations go away.
My people dont let the government off the hook with this one. The compassionate game they want to play should not eliminate the need for an enquiry.
wait…somebody other than Antigua Airways put “Antigua Airways” on the side of a plane, land it in Antigua at least once and nobody notice? Do we look like idiots?
There needs to be an INDEPENDENT inquiry into this sordid affair. The UPP needs to champion this, it’s the only way the truth will come out.
It is just sad how this situation is being forced upon us. Nobody gets a harder time in this country like Jamaicans and Guyanese. They are often hounded by immigration but West Africans to get a free pass….residency and work permit if you please. We should never settle for this!
I was actually thinking the same thing..the amount of tickets bought to send back other islanders. Sighhhhh
For all the people who didn’t vote the mf@$& ers out or didn’t bother to vote.
What a fiasco.
The nancy stories the govt. feeding Antiguans (about their hatched scheme) are just ridiculous.
Are all the Africans given this offer? If so, what makes the Nigerians qualified for such — did they flee due to war also?
As per DeVine the Cameroonian, $6000.00 USD per person they paid — multiply that by 1000 passengers, that’s a cool million usd. Was this part of the govt. creative ways of generating money? What else came into ANU on those flights?
Shame on all of you who took part in defrauding those desperate Cameroonians.
*A cool Six million…. S6,000, 000 USD.
*A cool Six million…. S6,000, 000 USD.
Brixtonian, I concur with your expressed views. It is obvious Marvellous Mike pulled the wool over Gaston and his deluded merry men eyes. He duped them that he could provide “rich” tourists, but instead Antigua has been landed (no punt intended) with asylum fraudsters that are now being considered for residency and work permit.
One couldn’t make this up if one tries. It is complete nonsense. Nicholas should understand that Antiguans are not prepared to tolerate this nonsense.
The asylum fraudsters, as well as ALP has not provide substantial evidence to support the argument that citizens of The Republic of Cameroon are in jeopardy, we are only hearing this hysterical nonsense from ALP and the fraudsters. If there was any truth to this claim why did they not make that claim upon entering Antigua?
A Nigerian employee , employed by the Ministry of Argiculture stated on Observer Radio that Antigua is under populated and the fraudsters were brought to Antigua to improve our population. Incidentally, he was at the airport the early morning they arrived in Antigua, the chief of Immigration claimed that the Nigerian was at the airport using a government vehicle to meet a friend!
Tissues of lies, upon lies. The actions being considered by ALP is further evidence of the broken and ineffective Immigration service. The sensible way forward is for the government to return the fraudsters back to Nigeria.
This is exactly what u get when u vote an incompetent Government. The Kiss ass folks will try and justify it by saying what about our “African Brothers and sisters” give me a break!! The Africans don’t care about caribbean people! They just want to come down here and raid whatever limited resources we have. People need to stand up for this nonsense!! We all know the government just want to pack extra voters for them in the next election!
@ Lying Alp
YOU HAVE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD – they are packing extra voters for themselves for the next election.
Antigua. WE NEED TO STOP THIS. WE CANNOT ALLOW GASTON AND HIS INCOMPETENT GOVERNMENT TO GET AWAY WITH THIS
How could the Tap Dawg be out smarted by Marvelous Mike. The PM did say,he has a nose to smell those with money. So what did he smell on Marvelous Mike? Did he smell a lacking in good hygiene or poop. Remember his misjudgment with that man from the Old Road Project. Gaston Browne,Tap Dawg, a way de Sheikh garne with are we land Title Deed.How could you being so smart,bright,brilliant,could be so blinded and be fooled by those people.I am not forgetting that man to whom you leased your Private Home.That man from Western Imperial Economic Zone.What has become of him and his billions to be Invested in Antigua? What has become of your Political Savior in 2014.The great YIDA was supposed to spend $2 billion a year for 5 years.A way he garne? Why is everyone running away from you,TAP DAWG? Do you have a rancid smell?
This is human trafficking.
Whay kind of tourist allegedly pays US$5 000 for a flight to a Caribbean country, and arrives with no accommodation or spending money???
These people have been trafficked in the broadest sense of the word. And I suggest with the collusion of the Antigua & Barbuda Govt.
They were on their way to the USA. Now they have become wards of the state and need assistance, taking away from Antiguans who can ill afford to compete with even cheaper labour.
I am disgusted at the callous actions of our politicians. They need to be held accountable.
Who approved this scheme; are there payments to Antiguan officials; why are these “tourists” not returning home? How on earth did Antigua become involved with a Nigerian scheme of any sort?
However, Antiguans will never vote to rid this country of bad actors. A sorry state of affairs.
And what makes matters worse @ Innocent, Antiguans had a fantastic opportunity to rid ourselves of these heinous devil’s on the 18th of January 2023.
We had all the previous evidence of mismanaged projects; lack of due diligence; self-enrichment schemes; cronyism and nepotism.
The world and his dawg predicted that we would re-elect Gaston Browne and the ABLP – and we damn well obliged.
IT LOOKS LIKE THE ABLP DAM ABLP BURS, AND THE FLOOD OF CONSEQUENCES IS ON ITS WAY …
*IT LOOKS LIKE THE ABLP DAM HAS BURST, AND THE FLOOD OF CONSEQUENCE IS WELL ON ITS WAY …
… remember, you’ll get no mixed metaphors from Brixtonian, just the real deal …
Mami_Wata and Papa_Elegba’s rattling bones are saying, these refugees, mercenaries, terrorists were recruited by the ABLP Government and promised payments for their services. Hence, they’re not leaving until they get paid. Therefore, the Ruling arm of the government will be paying them with scarce public funds and lands.
Antiguans and Barbudans keep getting screwed royalty, with a sting_ray Lance by those charged management of the public coffers.
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De ‘ole Dutty Peg_Foot Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Nigerian organ trafficking is big story in UK right now.
Antigua this week big news on kidney transplant.
Ummm
The only solution that will satisfy all concerned is to return all the passengers to Nigeria and seek diplomatic assistance from Nigeria to allow them to stay in Nigeria.
They would be closer to their families. Away from the persecution. Antigua would learn from this travesty and never to repeat again.
Marvelous Mike et al to return our 10 CIP passports, Gaston resign for putting this country in such an embarrassing international scandal of money laundering and human smuggling. End
This is absolutely unacceptable. We cannot allow Gaston Browne and his administration to get away with this. It is a criminal act. These people did not flee from their countries as asylum seekers. Gaston Browne orchestrated this egregious offense, disguised as tourist and expect us to sit back and shut up because we don’t have sense. Gaston should be in jail, he is a boldface liar insulting our intelligence. Is Nicolas implying that there was a security breach by other chartered flights ? So flights coming to Antigua are not monitored? immigration is not functioning? Do they really think we are that stupid that they can pull wool over our eyes every time? The people who voted for Gaston need to admit their mistakes and demand answers. WE ARE IN SEROIUS TROUBLE IF THIS LAWLESSNESS CONTINUES.
Wealthy Africans turn tourists, turn low-end tourist, turn refugees. Soon to be legal residents and maybe Antiguan and Barbudan citizens? People go watch the movie Animal Farm or read the book by George Orwell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5JgD8AhRjs. Take the blinders off and open your eyes.
I’m not here pounding my chest saying ” I told you’ll do” but my goodness man. I am not even Antiguan, but love the island and it’s people and have had a great amount of interest in the place over the years, good grief I cannot go back to my homeland without passing through Antigua, so by virtue of such, I decided that I should learn and understand the people that I have to deal with on a personal and professional level, so yes I have a big say in this. I have come on here ” way before election ” when I got news of this venture, and have explicitly stated that ” Antiguan government should run far from anything to deal with Nigerian businesses men” but no, there were those who were on here trying to validate what great deal this would be for Antigua and the region, passing this deal off as some “great connection” for Caribbean people to have a direct connection to theirs roots, all bullshit, pure and utter bullshit. Some people just don’t know how far their hands can reach, and get it stick to rarse..smdh. let me say this loud and clear…us small islands in the lesser Antilles will never me the main course on the plates of any big nation, never, we will always be a side dish, a pawn at best, a figment in the imagination of these great and powerful nations. That’s all we have ever been and will ever be in the eyes of these nations. The occupation of the Caribbean was just an after thought when we were originally occupied, and us who were brought here, were not certainly wanted by the leaders that sold us, no smart leader get ride of it’s best assets, so the best of us were left back in Africa, so don’t sell my own that bullshit scam that we need to connect to Africa as people. The Antiguan Government went into a deal with these scammers (unbeknownst maybe) and got hoodwinked, but there is no excuse for this blind expeditious endeavor that was orchestrated here, just no excuse at all. The signs were fully there, and many wise and smart people on here gave clear warning, no we are left with this who “garbage” to clean up,and I say “we” because if it is left to this government to clean up this mess, they will just make a bigger mess judging from their incompetents. And I’m done. Smdh. Highly upset right now, just furious as hell.
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