Government rejects Misleading and Inaccurate claims regarding Antigua and Barbuda’s relationship with the USA

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PM Gaston Browne

..The Government of Antigua and Barbuda strongly rejects the misleading and inaccurate claims recently circulated regarding the nation’s relationship with the United States, the status of the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC), and the operation of the Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme.

The commentary in question presents conjecture as fact and creates a distorted picture of Antigua and Barbuda’s policies and international engagements. Several of the claims are demonstrably false.

1.⁠⁠U.S.–Antigua and Barbuda Relations

The assertion that relations with the United States are “under extreme strain” is incorrect. Both governments remain in regular communication, including at senior diplomatic and technical levels. Where policy adjustments occur—such as changes to visa procedures—they are part of wider U.S. global measures and not targeted actions against Antigua and Barbuda.

Any suggestion that Antigua and Barbuda is being singled out or punished is unfounded.

2.⁠⁠West Indies Oil Company (WIOC)

Claims that WIOC is the subject of U.S. pressure or that its operations are in jeopardy due to its shareholding structure are inaccurate. The Government has been fully transparent regarding WIOC’s ownership for many years and continues to operate within all applicable international legal frameworks, including those relating to entities under sanctions.

There has been no request—public, private, direct, or indirect—from the United States for Antigua and Barbuda to seize, expropriate, or forcibly transfer any shareholding in WIOC.  In addition, WIOC has been doing business with United States entities without restrictions over the past seven years.

3.⁠⁠Citizenship by Investment Programme

The allegations that the CBI programme is being used by “adversaries” to circumvent security systems are speculative and irresponsible. Antigua and Barbuda maintains one of the most rigorous due-diligence regimes in the region, including multi-layered vetting, international security checks, and continuous review of procedures in cooperation with trusted global partners.

There is no evidence whatsoever that the programme presents the type of security risks claimed by the commentator.

4.⁠ ⁠Use of False or Invented Information

The narrative presented is heavily coloured by personal bias and includes several statements that have no basis in fact. The public should treat such material with caution, particularly when it attempts to manufacture tension or portray routine governmental processes as evidence of crisis.

Conclusion

Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to responsible governance, respect for international law, and constructive diplomacy with all partners, including the United States.

Attempts to portray the country as isolated, pressured, or non-compliant are inaccurate and misleading.

The Government will continue to correct misinformation wherever it arises to ensure that the public, investors, and international partners receive accurate and verifiable information.

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20 COMMENTS

  1. Doth thou not complaining too much!!!!!!!
    My mother said, “if you have nothing good to say shut your mouth”.
    I am piercing my two lips and using one ring in the two..

  2. Unfortunately, we have no choice but to wait and see what happens. Prior information provided to us, including statements from our leadership that the United States would not block our visas, was clearly inaccurate. As a result, we are left with no immediate recourse other than to wait. Godspeed, Antigua and Barbuda.

  3. Apart from Antigua and Dominica, which other OECS country is subject to this $15000 visa bond. Just speak the truth and all these speculations will go away. Why do we have to obediently accept third country refugees/deportees from the US and come January 21st 2026 Dominicans and Antiguans if they don’t already have a US visa, will be banned from entering the US. Please make this make sense.

  5. There is one thing this government is very very good at, and that’s their ” Clean up” campaign.

    If they could have just used these very talented skills to govern the affairs of the people, well damn, people like me would have given them every glowing praise I could muster out of my being.

    It’s simple causality GB and co, that’s all this is.
    Cause and action.

    But I truly hope Antigua recovers from this Administration by the time they are voted out of office.
    I also did say that GB would be the scourge of Antigua & Barbuda, and here it is.
    Just too corrupt.

    More to come!!!

  7. THEN JUST RELEASE THE RECORDS/MINUTES OF THE MEETING WITH USA OFFICIALS – THE COUNTRY DEMANDS IT!

    STOP PONTIFICATING FOR GOODNESS SAKE, YOU ARE JUST DIGGING YOURSELF DEEPER AND DEEPER INTO TROUBLE …

  11. I am not going to blame the government for any of this because Trump caught everybody completely off guard….The situation with Maduro and Antigua is like renting a car knowing the driver doesn’t have a license you make money but if the driver gets busted you have to decide if your going to be honest our say the driver stole the vehicle……The government did business with Maduro knowing he was not the recognized leader of the country but did so anyway in the best interest of Antigua but now we are busted by the US we are in weird fishy suspended VISA refugee situation…Same with our harmless business with the Chinese but it has come back to haunt us because Trump thinks we are naughty and we too close to a country the USA does not want to have too much influence on this end….The government did nothing that was not in the best interest of the nation Trump jus came with a big ass stick to remind everyone who is the real World Boss…

  13. Mr PM, if you had told the truth from the beginning, citizens would not have speculated and posted misinformation, as you called it, on social media. The people hired you to handle the country affairs, and when they ask you a question, come clean with the truth to them.

  14. Everybody, please believe what you can see and not what they are telling you to believe. Use your eyes, ears and nose like you were taught in kindergarten.

    Jamaicans overstay in the US more than Antiguans and Barbudans, I am getting their greencards approved. While Antiguans and Barbudans greencard appointments, I am getting letters that canceled such appointment.

    This is not about visa overstay, this is about a problem the US have with ABLP and ABLP PM Gaston Browne. I am guaranteeing you this. This is personal.

  15. @ My Way of helping yes Trump is pissed off because of doing business with Maduro, CIP, China and neutral stance concerning Venezuela and USA issue…..That’s all it is and I am going to say it again UPP would also have this issue or a worse one if they were the government in charge….The ABLP’s business deals were all towards the benefit of the country no one expected Trump’s radar would be on us….

  16. Please review my over 57 comment on this platform during the last few years begging ABLP PM Gaston Browne to stop attacking the US. Every chance he gets, he attacks the US. Even when the US is morally and legally right.

  17. @ Messed up.

    Stop peddling that foolishness.
    You must not be reading some of my comments on this forum.
    I knew this was coming. I have warned over and over again on this forum that this is coming if GB doesn’t hurry up and pick a side, and that side should be the US.

    I’ve also know for years he was playing all sides, and spoke of it on here, because he’s a two bit swindler, that’s all he is. The biggest con artist in Antigua.

    He got you fooled, but not me, and not the US.

    Way back when many were pissed off about the first boat being blown up by Trump.
    Even your boy @young Communist, didn’t like the fact that I used the term ” lesser of two evils” to explain the situation.
    Those are some of the terms I used to try and persuade GB about his affairs with Maduro.

    I also warned over and over to stop using that stupid term ” friends to all and enemy to none” because in reality of our current political climate(Trump) there is no such thing, and that he should abandon it and stand with the US.

    I’ve been saying this for years now..
    So don’t sit there and say ” no one knew this was coming” because I did.

    I also warned over and over for years that GB should scrap the corrupt CIP. It wasn’t a popular topic back then, but I was warning him. Even some of my comrades seems to be skeptical about what I was saying.

    I don’t just talk for talk sake..I speak from knowledge. I always knew the CIA was watching Antigua, since the days of Allen Sanford, and many on here have also heard me Sanford out to the end about the corruption he left behind in Antigua.

    I also said way back when the topic came up about the US embassy coming back to Antigua, and said it loud and clear that it will never happen under this current administration. Some call me a hater and many other things.

    But I just don’t talk son, I speak from wisdom..not to get my head big, but to let the people know that there are more viable options than the ones that are presented to them.

    So stop the BS .GB is to blame in this, because he didn’t listen to constructive criticism.

    Like someone said ” Satan cannot correct sin”.
    You have a few things about Trump correct, but you are still not seeing the bigger picture..it’s not only about Trump and who he is, it’s also about who you are as a PM/person.

    And oh..I also said many times that GB suffers from “The dunning syndrome effect”.
    Look it up.

    ” Causality” cause and effect son.

  19. @this world is a messed…Stop trying to convince somebody that this would also have happened if UPP were in office. There is zero evidence to support that crap. UPP which started the CIP only sold 5 passports in a year and had a residency requirement. That was because they were careful not to offend greater powers and acted on advice. Your gassy dread once he got his hands on it, remove the UPP guardrails, listened to no one, and sold without care. UPP would have done this more slowly and more carefully. In terms of in the interest of Antigua, there is no evidence to show who creatively enriched or otherwise. So in the absence of information I cannot be convinced that this all done in the national interest. In any event we are now here and facing tough times. The captain has to take the blame. Stop trying to preach otherwise thinking that everyone is foolish.

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