Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Saturday accused political opponents of deliberately misleading the public about agreements between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States, saying false claims were being used to stir fear and undermine confidence in the government.
Speaking on his weekly radio programme, Browne said opposition figures have suggested that his administration agreed to accept criminal deportees or refugees from the United States, a claim he flatly rejected. He said no such agreement exists and described the narrative as reckless and dangerous for a small state already grappling with regional security challenges .
Browne said the government has been engaged in discussions with U.S. authorities under a memorandum of understanding that contains confidentiality clauses, but insisted that Antigua and Barbuda has drawn clear red lines. He said the country would not accept criminal deportees under any arrangement and would not agree to any terms that threaten national security or social stability.
The prime minister said he felt compelled to clarify the government’s position after what he described as persistent misinformation circulating in political discourse and on social media. While noting that the agreement itself cannot be published, Browne said the public has a right to understand its general scope and limits.
He argued that portraying the country as willing to accept criminals from abroad is not only false but harmful, as it damages Antigua and Barbuda’s international reputation and fuels unnecessary anxiety among citizens.
Browne said the issue has heightened political tensions ahead of broader public debate, accusing opponents of prioritizing political gain over responsible national discourse. He maintained that his administration would continue to engage the United States diplomatically while safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and security.
The prime minister urged the public to rely on official statements rather than political speculation, saying the government remains committed to transparency within the bounds of diplomatic obligations .
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Had the gpvernment been more forthcomung wuth the information, this ciuld be avouded. These refugeed are palestinians that Israel needs out of their own land. WOW Gaston. Youre in bed with the evil forces. Shame!!
My word Browne, we are sick and tired of being sick and tired of your constant moans and groans about blaming the opposition for your utter incompetence.
Accept responsibility nah!!!
The ABLP have been governing this small island badly since 2014, and you – and your cronies – are still calling out the UPP, whose job it is on behalf of the general public to hold you to account.
What’s going on in your head?
You’re like a naughty child who has evidence of cake crumbs round dem mout’, and they blatantly deny that they’ve eaten any.
We know you’ve eaten well Prime Minister 😉
Lester Bird was Antigua’s worst Prime Minister, but you are getting closer than close to he -; the Bird-Browne dynasty of over 40-odd years MUST come to an end at the next General Election.
Thankfully, it will soon be in our own hands to change our destiny and our history …
My Dear Mr PM, there are thousands upon thousands of Refugees that consistently flocked to the US, majority are being held in prison like conditions, as a matter of fact a facility by the name of Alligatortron was built in south Florida to accommodate them, and this site was chosen because of its huge Alligator population, if intended to escape.
If the US is required to hold these Refugees in such conditions and am talking like criminals, until they are deported, where are you Mr PM getting this thing about none criminal and criminal Refugees? To the US they are all criminals who entered or tried to enter the US illegal, and are therefore rejected. So are you now telling us, as an already over populated, crime rising little island, the rejects that US says no to, we have agreed to accept? They claimed our vetting of the CIP program is not good enough, are you approved of the full criminal aspect of the vetting background done by them, hence your decision?
Mr Prime Minister, I agree with you… you’re right again…. You’re the one that keeps misleading and spreading false information to this country!! I know you would never lie to the people of this country…. Just share the actual papers and agreement that you signed and put them in their place…. But you can’t do that can you because yah relationship with the truth is nonexistent
I just cannot see why the opposition can be blamed for anything. As I said before, if they have links in the White House then they should be running the country. It is the ruling administration that as you said made this agreement 5 months ago. I can bet that your cabinet members are just hearing this for the first time on point FM. However, they are a bunch of corrupt cowards and will say nothing. The people they all represent needs to vote them out of office. Any new mandate is to become a confirmed dictator.
I am not a political opponent. I am an independent thinker and I have no party affiliation. Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Grenada and St. Lucia are all small countries with with their own share of issues dealing with their own small population. So why would they undertake to bring additional burden upon themselves by agreeing to take deportees or refugees from the United States? Tell me how this make sense. These deportees/refugees are not people of Caricom origin. We in Antigua and Barbuda cuss the Jamaicans, Guyanese, the Vincentians and others when they come here talking bout they bang water come here, but government prepared to accommodate deportees/refugees and we must remain silent. It’s a rubbish decision.
UPP will do anything for POWER. They will never see power in Antigua until 2045. Jamale Pringle does NOT know what goes on , He is a PUPPET for the other Leaders of UPP. What a shame.
Trump knows that you are playing all sides, so why wouldn’t he present you with some deals?
You are making deals left right and center with China and Maduro with his oil , so Trump knows you are dirty, so why not try and make some deals for his own as well?
So talk about that part GB.
You denied him yes, but it’s only because his deal wasn’t better than the ones you already had with the Chinese and oil money. He was also asking you to cut ties with both, and you denied that as well.
What, he didn’t offer you one of his luxury apartments in Manhattan? 😂
So tell the entire story GB.
Didn’t you just signed a bunch of MOU’s, and a massive deal with Venezuela oil in the past few years?
So we know your pockets a over flowing with money right now.
But the big money from the oil is going to dry up, because trump is now involved.
So who is right or who is wrong doesn’t matter, just tell us the full story GB. We all know it’s not that simple to just deny the US it’s many request.
You didn’t want to give up your big oil money and your Chinese trinkets, and that’s fine, but now you are left empty handed.
So, here you are now talking about deportees
4 mouths later. Why it’s now we are hearing about it GB?
Why not also tell the people why you didn’t disclose that to them 4 months ago when it was presented to you?
What could be gain from not telling the public or your cabinet?
And I bet the public is curious as well as to why the president of WIOC was detained and his phone was searched by the FBI?
And why you felt that it was your place to call him, and what were the questions you asked him?
These are the many questions the public and Lovell has ask.huuumm!
Don’t try to blame the opposition GB, blame yourself.
Tell the entire story GB.
You talk a lot anyway!