Browne Says Proposal for Antigua to Accept Up to 120 Third-Country Nationals Is Not Unacceptable
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says reports that Antigua and Barbuda could be asked to accept as many as 120 third-country nationals from the United States are “totally unacceptable,” as discussions continue between the two countries on a proposed deportee arrangement.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne radio programme on Saturday, Browne said Antigua and Barbuda has informed U.S. officials that it is willing to accept only 10 individuals per year under any such arrangement.
“At one point I was told that they had asked us to accept as many as 120 individuals and there was no guaranteed assistance, no guaranteed due diligence. And I said to them that that is totally unacceptable,” Browne said.
The prime minister said Antigua and Barbuda has made it clear that any individuals accepted must first undergo thorough vetting by U.S. authorities.
“We have said to them that they need to give us a commitment that they will do the necessary due diligence to make sure that they’re not criminal elements because one criminal element coming into our country can make a difference,” he said.
Browne also said the government has insisted that any third-country nationals transferred to Antigua and Barbuda must possess valid travel documents.
“We also said to them too that these persons must have travel documents because what happens sometimes is some of these immigrants, who they detain as soon as they get to the United States, they tear up their travel documents and we can’t have them come here as stateless individuals,” he said.
The prime minister said Antigua and Barbuda wants to remain a cooperative partner of the United States but must prioritize its own security and national interests.
“We have said to them that, look, they have their issues, and we want to help. We want to be a cooperative state. But we cannot participate or agree to anything that is to our detriment,” Browne said.
He added that no leader could justify agreeing to arrangements that are not in the country’s best interests.
“I mean, can anybody justify the prime minister of this country being part of any decision, or agreeing, or being compliant with anything that is not in the best interest of this country?” he asked.
Browne said Antigua and Barbuda remains vulnerable because of its small size and population and therefore must exercise caution when considering requests involving foreign nationals.
“We’re small, powerless and very vulnerable,” he said. “Based on that vulnerability, we have to make sure that we keep our country safe and secure.”
The prime minister said the government is particularly concerned about the possibility of inadvertently accepting individuals with criminal backgrounds.
“Where there is any probability for us to even inadvertently and complicitly allow criminals to come into the country, as I said, that’s not in my leadership,” he said.
Browne noted that discussions with Washington remain ongoing and said Antigua and Barbuda has not yet received a response from the U.S. State Department following its latest communication on the matter.
“I’ve asked Sir Ronald Sanders to follow up and ask them to get back to us,” he said.
The issue has been under discussion since Antigua and Barbuda signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with the United States regarding the acceptance of a limited number of third-country nationals. The government has maintained that while it is willing to assist its international partners, any arrangement must be consistent with the country’s national security interests and capacity.
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What the hell is wrong with our Prime Minister?
He talks as if he can’t do anything about it!
As the recently re-elected leader of this once great country (when it was under the guidance and tutelage of VC ‘Papa’ Bird), Browne sounds rather resigned to these “unchecked” US deportees coming over here.
Where’s all his pre-election confidence gone?
I’ve listened to his concerns about criminals entering the country, yet, he’s not standing up to the US administration and telling them NO WAY!!!
If Browne doesn’t stand firm on rejecting these US deportees, what else may he compromise Antigua & Barbuda for this global destabilising Trump administration?
I wonder what our Spanish speaking Antiguans make of this weakness:
“Nos informaron que Gaston era un jefe mundial, jejeje” 🤣🤣🤣
Brixtonian’s translation:
“We were informed Gaston was a world boss, hehehe” 🤣🤣🤣
Man just give up. You fighting a loosing battle. You may be Prime Minister but the US still runs the big things around here.
We should never entertain such discussions in the first place. These arrangements ensures that our sovereignty is compromised by accepting individuals who have no geographical or cultural ties to our islands. Plus, accepting refugees exacerbate our local socio-economic challenges, housing shortages, and overextending our national security and law enforcement capabilities. Washington has continued to use bullying and targeted measures such as visa restrictions and bonds and CIP in order to secure arrangements and force us into making these ridiculous concessions. We should not yield to bullying.
We should never entertain such discussions in the first place. These arrangements ensures that our sovereignty is compromised by accepting individuals who have no geographical or cultural ties to our islands. Plus, accepting refugees exacerbate our local socio-economic challenges, housing shortages, and overextending our national security and law enforcement capabilities. Washington has continued to use bullying and targeted measures such as visa restrictions and bonds and CIP in order to secure arrangements and force us into making these ridiculous concessions. We should not yield to bullying.
Jus mek him kno Carvaa.
Since Gastop and his administration has made Spanish the official second language, Trump & Co. will more than likely send those South Americans and their deported families to Antigua & Barbuda. Hey, they’ll help out with the Spanish, Spanglish, conversations.
Is it still legal to carry a #fork_tik and a #chap_lass in publiclike our Grandparents did when they were into farming?
Since, a gun license will be out of my reach while, I come and go out of Antigua, I’ll have to carry a #Walking_Tik designed as a fork stick with my #chap_lass in a shield on my waist!
Times is getting more and more crucial for being in public at certain time and at certain places.
Antigua & Barbuda needs to make owning weapons like certain guns, swords, crossbows etc. easier to use and defend life and property.
Having a dog only, unless it’s a #top_dawg breed ain’t gonna cut it in our future style of living.
Call it The Culture Shock from the Culture Shift. Gotta live with the times!
Gaston and. His government, sworn to secrecy in many regards MUST do what their HANDLERS say.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg 🦶🏿Foot
#Garrate_Bastard
Vere Edwards
Jus mek him kno Carvaa.
Since Gastop and his administration has made Spanish the official second language, Trump & Co. will more than likely send those South Americans and their deported families to Antigua & Barbuda. Hey, they’ll help out with the Spanish, Spanglish, conversations.
Is it still legal to carry a #fork_tik and a #chap_lass in publiclike our Grandparents did when they were into farming?
Since, a gun license will be out of my reach while, I come and go out of Antigua, I’ll have to carry a #Walking_Tik designed as a fork stick with my #chap_lass in a shield on my waist!
Times is getting more and more crucial for being in public at certain time and at certain places.
Antigua & Barbuda needs to make owning weapons like certain guns, swords, crossbows etc. easier to use and defend life and property.
Having a dog only, unless it’s a #top_dawg breed ain’t gonna cut it in our future style of living.
Call it The Culture Shock from the Culture Shift. Gotta live with the times!
Gaston and. His government, sworn to secrecy in many regards MUST do what their HANDLERS say.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg 🦶🏿Foot
#Garrate_Bastard
Vere Edwards
So why don’t the US just send the immigrants back to th country they come from? Why do they want to send them here? Send back to where they come from.
Antiguans wake up . This is just a big talk by the PM. Whether it is 10 or year or 120 in the first instance ,it is going to happen. The visa issues is hanging over him. He needs to get that back where it was. If these deportes aint criminals, why cant they go back to their original countries or stay in the US? Something smells fishy.
All a you who a comment were some of the SAME ONE were crying when your visa access was up in the air. Even if awe you and awe you picknie dem a sleep pan di sidewalk inna Merica awe you nah k….. now watch the SHIT awe you a chat….. bunch a hypocrite!!!!! You all behave as if is Antigua one getting dem. Several Caribbean islands already have. This is not a Gaston Browne / ABLP / Antigua issue. They know al u ass can’t keep outta dem place, so they treat you all like rats and cockroaches and you all still begging dem to be in dem place…..
Gaston chatting bullshit, we do not want any of them here. Antigua and Barbuda isn’t your property for you to make such decision. If Big, Huge America doesn’t want them why should tiny Antigua accept them. You love to sanitize people like the traitors from UPP, but that is as far as it goes. Not even 10 we want here
@ Antiguan To The Bone
YOU DUNCE NO FUCK
Please throw away your phone
@ Pissed Off UPP Supporter
Gaston will eventually buckle to Devilish America. He will eventually accept 120, tell us it’s only 10 because America will dangle the Visa access and he want that too bad so he can brag and I suspect big bucks will also be offered and you can guess where most of that will end up. Mark my word, it go happen
Prime Minister insisted of just sounding like you’re been intimidated or bullied, by the US why don’t you first request the Antiguan nationals, then if you feel like assisting in housing any other deportees make sure it guaranteed on paper that US would screen for none criminal, because Antigua will not be able to deal with the kind of crime they are coming with.”I am hoping that the Antigua constitution states that any prime minister deliberately allows criminals into the country shall be removed “.
It shouldn’t even be 1 … it’s none why the hell Antigua accepting God ones who in our country. What happen to the country they are from? Papa turning in his grave …. Pure bullshit
If any of you believe anything this folk-tongue swindler says, are idiots, period!
@Straight talk..please spell it out for these folks again.
Invariably,and by the very policies of the orange man, these folks are criminals.
It’s a criminal act to violate the immigration laws under this current administration..so by definition, the orange man has already charged them as criminals, and that’s why they are being deported, because they have broken the laws of the US..duh!