LETTER: Let’s offer a helping hand to the Africans

35

Dear Editor,

I am here penning this letter with a heavy heart.

Interestingly, for the past few weeks I have been hearing  stories about the African immigrants who are presently here on island in transit, looking forward to move on to other countries. I’ve understood that some are at the moment faced with some challenges to reach their final destination.

I will admit that throughout their time here, I have not given these Africans much attention because I am of the view that as a normal practice and similar to other nationalities including ours, they are seeking a safer haven & greener pastures to better themselves & their families.

Recently, I heard an interview done by Dr. J. Quinn with one of the Africans, and I found it to be a conversation that was very enlightening, very touching & very emotional to say the least. However, I paid little attention & did not allow it to resonate because I thought the interview was done for a political mileage.

Interestingly,  my feelings towards these African immigrants took a twist yesterday.  Instead of ignoring them, I am now begining to have concerns of their wellbeing during their stay here.

Coincidentally as I was returning home from my morning walk around 5.30 am, I saw a group of casually dressed individuals scattered in a near by park,  and so,  I decided to go and inquisite as to who these persons were and to see what they were doing.  At that time, it was dark and chilly.

Surprisingly, it was a group of the Africans who I assume were congregating to have their morning devotions. According to how they were operating in the park, they reminded me of squatters or loose animals grazing.  This included men, women, boys & girls who seem to be at an average age of perhaps 23 years old. The oldest might be around 30 years old & the youngest about 2 or 3 years old.

From my vantage point, some were seen trotting to & fro in their own carved out space, meditating; while others seemed to be speaking to themselves perhaps praying.

Immediately, my thoughts went racing. I began to wonder if they do not have access to a  building to assemble in? I also began wondering if they slept in the park since I saw a few sheets with them? Overall I wondered how are they surviving?   Is it a case of survival to the fittest?

At that moment I felt extremely saddened and I was hoping that my perception of their living conditions is not as bad as how I am thinking.

It is for this reason, I felt the urge to script my feelings and pray that we, Antiguans embrace these Africans and acknowledge them as our brothers & sisters. Many of them have been seen in small groups in St. John’s seeking assistance. We should reach out to them and desist from making fun of them. They are human beings like us and moreso they have the same complexion, the same nappy hair and same facial profile like us.

It would be nice if the African community who resides here, the churches, the charitable organizations, the govt and us, the citizens & residents to reach out to them a little more to assist them.

None of us know what tomorrow may bring forth. The Barbudans had their experience during hurricane  Irma. They seeked asylum here in Antigua.  The Montserratans had their experience also with the volcano. They seeked asylum in other Caribbean countries including  Antigua.

A civil war is the cause of these Africans’ experience. All these scenarios are a cause of a circumstance beyond their control. Let us extend a helping hand and be our brother’s keeper. We can never tell when we might be face a similar fate of seeking refuge else where in the future.

Let’s give a helping hand & pray that God continue to bless us all!!

 

Alex

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35 COMMENTS

  1. We were told by the government that these passengers would be wealthy tourists. Why did it take 4 plane loads for the government to suspend these flights? Now conveniently after the elections the government suddenly realizes that something is wrong? Pls give us a break. Let the government figure this out. A public inquiry is warranted. How many passengers are still here and what does the government plan to do?

    Don’t put this on the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda. What type of due diligence was done? How did the government benefit?

    • @Patriot !!! I completely agree !!! WE NEED ANSWERS .. WE WERE LIED TO… DEPORT THEM … I have never seen a government who get a plane and go get refugees and bring them in the country and drop them on the citizens.. we are not a first world country.. we are poor and struggling ourselves … contrary to popular belief we are NOT A POWERHOUSE … NOT EVEN NEARLY BOT WHEN. PENSIONERS ARE NOT GETTING THEIR MONIES AND WE HAVE NO RUNNING WATER

  2. Amen.Amen too that .and before these people turn too wrong doing because of NEEDS “.When I drove pass APUA Telephone Extrange where they were sitting on the wall.i felt for them “

  3. As i understand i heard its because of human trafficking organized by a minister to get them here by the king in Africa and a gov minister the matter needs some clarification as this is very serious and troubling. Antigua neèds answers on this matter thank you.

    • Hello what king you talking about? They’re here just to transit and continue their journey. Keeping them here by refusing them to not fly will do no good.

      • Which flight you know of that keeps passengers in transit for nearly 3 months? Some of them are in Antigua since November 1st.2022. Gtfoh wid ur BS.

  4. I agree with what you said. I also think that the person/persons who exploited these innocent people for monies on empty promises should look about these people as well. They brought them here to starve and sleep.in the open?
    Just stopping flights from Africa now will not solve the problem with those who are already here and want to move on. The exploiters need to held accountable! Period

  5. Listen to me and listen to me good! WE WILL NOT LEND A HAND TO NO DAMN AFRICANS!!! ANTIGUANS WERE LIED TO. THE AFRICANS WERE ILLEGALLY LET INTO THIS COUNTRY .. THE GOVERNMENT LIED TO THE ANTIGUAN PEOPLE ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF THESE FOREIGNERS AND ANTIGUAN/AFRICAN AIRLINES..

    They should be rounded up and deported.

    This country can barely help itself… pensioners have no money .. the medical system is horrible.. the roads are horrible and many people are out of work or under employed. People on maternity leave aren’t getting money .. people from liat and other establishment haven’t received their pay and are struggling to this day. WE HAVE NO RUNNING WATER .. food prices are up..

    THE GOVERNMENT LIED TO US … THERE IS NO ANTIGUAN AIRWAYS AND NEVER WILL BE.. THIS FRAUDULENT VENTURE IS STILL A MYSTERY. IT HAS NOT BENEFITED ONE ANTIGUAN !!! HOW HAS THIS BENEFITED ONE ANTIGUAN???? LIES ALL LIES.. THESE PEOPLE COME IN AND WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THEM NOR DO WE WANT TO KNOW … GET THEM OUT!!!! THIS WAS A CHARTERED FLIGHT WITH THE ONLY PURPOSE TO LOAD THIS COUNTRY WITH RANDOM FOREIGNERS …. ANTIGUAN AIRWAYS STILL HASNT BEEN FORMED AND NEVER WILL BE … NO ANTIGUAN WILL EVER BENEFIT FROM THIS.

    THIS IS A FRAUDULENT VENTURE AND WE NEED TO GET TO THE BOTTOM AND NOT LOOK THE OTHER WAY WAY.

    THEY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED IN THIS COUNTRY AND WILL NOT BE HELPED … GET THEM OUT!!!!!

    • Hope u will not find ur self in such situation one they are a human and more so ur brother and sisters think as well ,if u are a Christian ur won’t say that

  6. Most of them seem to come from Nigeria; a country with the biggest African economy and that is doing pretty well. They are seeking a better live abroad and get stuck for various reasons (they can’t enter easily the US as promised etc). They are not coming from a war zone ! Some of them even think Antigua and Barbuda is Antigua Guatemala and that they can walk over the border to the states. It’s all very concerning because none of them are tourists as the government announced. These flights have to stop and as I can see for other reasons, Parlament made this decision yesterday. Our economy doesn’t need extra workers from abroad, we need to employ Antiguan’s !

    • These africans are not harmful. A couple of them live in my apartment and they are not harmful. They are just looking for their way to get to Brazil and other countries. Antigua cannot host them but we should let them go any where they want to go. Nobody should stop them from moving to where they want to go. They are very intelligent after talking with a couple of them there is no illiterate among them.

      When I verify what Is happening in cameroon I was shock to see the kind of war in cameroon its horrible, the random killing in cameroon,.

      Let them just move to where they want to go.
      Let no man hold them hostage

    • Exactly they thought it was Antigua Guatemala and they can walk to America. We need the government to be held accountable. WE NEED ANSWERS NOW!!!!

      They can’t ans could never have just flown inside America because America protect its country .. WHO IS PROTECTING ANTIGUA ????

    • Who told they came here to work?
      We offer them job but they refuse cuz they want to continue their journey. If you think just taking your jobs that inhuman.. you put money first when life is the most important thing. Try to reason before talking

  7. Also, wouldn’t it be nice to hear the Ministerial side of this issue after all of the fanfare of the airline link-up with Nigeria.

    Furthermore, there was a handful of dignitaries at the launch, and we’ve yet to hear their side of the story.

    Why the silence?

    Don’t we as tax paying citizens need some clarity as well as the Africans strolling and straying around the country?

    I have no idea about International law, but surely Western and European countries are watching these developments very closely.

    • No rational human being would disagree with the author. I hear Gaston and others in his Party talking about racism towards the Africans. Africa is the cradle of civilization. The first human being to walk the face of this earth originated in Africa. For that very reason many of us are very conscious of our proud ancestry and would never see our African brothers and sisters as foreigners. However, the accusation of racism by Gaston is such utter nonsense. The author of the article needs to explore the establishment of Antigua Airways and the genesis of the migration of our poor African brothers and sisters from Nigeria to Antigua. Only a serious enquiry can get to the bottom of this scandalous matter created by Gaston and his agents and actors in Nigeria. Gaston proclaimed that we would be having wealthy Nigerians coming to our shores. We are still waiting for that to happen. Let me tell Gaston Browne something, I have studied African history and he is certainly not more Afrocentric than I am and many others so stop the bull shit about racism against our African brothers and sisters.

        • POINT, the first point I will make to you in response is that slavery was universal. It existed in every society. Many people ended up in enslavement as a result of wars. Some of the people you refer to who were sold into slavery by our ancestors were the conquered in tribal conflicts. Of course in any situation you will have people who are mercenaries and will do anything for money. So there were some mercenaries who were complicit with the European slave traders. A modern day example is our government and the African migration crisis. If you believe our politicians have not benefitted from this scandalous affair you need to have your head examined. Initially, servitude and slavery was not associated with race. However, the association of slavery with race was a phenomenon which came into being with the African slave trade. This was done of course to justify slavery by the argument that Africans were inhuman. Now POINT please note that that could not be further from the truth. Africa was the cradle of civilization and please do the research and don’t forget that. From your reading and enlightenment you will begin to appreciate the contribution of Africa to knowledge and world civilization.

        • So you African? Why walking with heavy heart cuz of the ancestors. Africans free themselves slavery under their colonial master about 65 years ago but you guys are still under slavery being under British (the master mind of slave) wise up

  8. The government should take responsibility for these people! They’re the ones who brought them here!! Not the people of this country…. this is just other fail experiment by this incompetent Government to hide whatever real motive for this “Antiguan Airways” send all of them back to the country, its as simple as that.

    • I quite agree with SENDING THEM BACK TO NIGERIA WHERE THEIR FLIGHTS ORIGINATED….. When in New York, I encountered many Africans from various countries in Africa…. Africans for the large part do not see us as their brothers and sisters… They call us *Water People*, *Descendants of Slaves*, *They say our Ancestors were Weak, and to Avoid Slavery, they should have Killed Themselves* My take is let who brought them here, find the funds to help them…. I can barely help myself. There is no way I will facilitate this Mess that Some Unscrupulous Members in the Government has Unleashed on Antigua and Barbuda…. LET THE GASTON BROWNE GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN TO US, THE MESS THEY BROUGHT ON US…

  9. I agree with Lenny H.

    Please you Antigua ppl, once these people get grounded in Antigua, we will not be able to find them . much less get rid of them. They are NOT REFUGEES.

    SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE !

  10. That might be an open eye to all of us here in antigua ,the people never do that to them self i have african friends and they a very loveing people so dont put the bleme on them god may send these people to see what we here in antigua is made of ,put your self in these people place if i can help i will i wi get my praise from the lord

  11. I have read the article and all the comments. It is indeed a very sad state of affairs
    To use people in that way for financial gain is indeed terrible. I can imagine the impact on the environment and whole country.
    I have many African friends especially from Nigeria, they are hard working and given an opportunity good business people
    On the human side, Alex is correct. Try to be your brother’s keeper
    Gaston should make every effort to urgently solve this problem.. whatever money he collected from the deal, use it to help them. It is a horrible situation, one which I hope gets settled soon. Let’s look at it, if no more are coming, help those who are already here. Greed lead to their arrival unfortunately, but we are our brothers ‘ keepers.

  12. A Journalist in Holland sent these questions for me to post in this chat….

    For example:
    1. Have these people applied for asylum and what was the outcome?
    2. How did they arrive in Antigua?
    3. What help has already been offered and what organizations or individuals have already provided help?

  13. I really pray to god that none of you never ever have to be in the position that these Africans are in. Being a refugee is not easy! Leaving your life and family behind to try find the better is also not easy! Give these people a break! Did any of you sit to think maybe the Africans were also LIED to aswell? Stop judging people and do the right thing and help!

    Imagine going into epi to buy food and you can’t even afford to buy a bag of rice! Yes a bag of RICE! Jesus Christ people open y’all eyes and stop being so disgusting! These people are human beings they have feelings too! JUST STOP!

  14. I agree with you Sister Keeper. But I think the author should have written the letter to Gaston! Must Antiguans live paycheck to paycheck. Gaston and some of his fellow ministers are worth millions and millions of dollars. Let them open their purses and help the Africans! Let them have a heart!

  15. WOW!!!Lots of responses!
    Look…Gaston brought dem in to help him win de election by a landslide.
    Now he and Maria will abandon these people as we all knew they would..
    We told you guys this would happen.
    Why the fu*# do I need to lend a hand to help them now.
    Send dem up to Gassy’s farm to wuk…andblet dem wuk in Maria’s seven homes
    Jackasses!

  16. This short letter is for all the people who is speaking negatively about the immigrants from Africa,who ever brought these guys to Antigua is the ones to blame,all the local people in African country’s are under going a a rough time because of bad governance like the one in present day Antigua they make deals with China,and big investors all over the world for(bribe money in the millions) they buy big homes,big boats,big cars etc,come election they buy out the local people with $50.chicken and turkey,don’t blame the Africans your government bring them from the mother Country these guys are victims they been victimized twice once by what ever African countries they are coming from and by Antigua present government,my fellow Antiguan do not look down our brothers and sisters from Africa instead please help in any small way you can,I know they will be very thankful we are a giving people.i will most certainly play my part on behalf of my immediate family and extended family,yes these guys are my people.having lots of money don’t make anyone a better person,helping a brother or sister in desperate,and emergency times does,who ever read this letter I challenge you try going for a day without food.then you can answer.

  17. Having heard and listened to the interview with Dr. Quinn, it is difficult not to empathize with our Cameroonian brother. It is important that we as a people and descendants of Africans ourselves and our Government display some degree of grace towards these refugees and try to get to the bottom of what appears to be human trafficking condemned by the United Nation and a crime against humanity.

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