Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s declaration that Antigua and Barbuda would rather accept tougher U.S. visa restrictions than receive criminals as part of any third-country transfer arrangement drew widespread support from commenters on social media.
Many users applauded Browne’s insistence that the country should not accept individuals who could threaten public safety, with several arguing that protecting national security should take precedence over preserving visa access to the United States.
“I agree with the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda,” one commenter wrote, adding that Caribbean nations have the right to determine their own immigration policies and should not shoulder a disproportionate burden.
Others praised the government for what they described as standing up for the country’s interests, with comments including “Stand your ground Mr. Prime Minister,” “Good job Antigua,” and “I would rather face visa restrictions than have my little Caribbean be destabilized.”
Some commenters also said other Caribbean governments should adopt a similar position, while others argued that deportees should instead be returned to their countries of origin.
Not all reactions were supportive. Several commenters questioned whether the government’s position reflected the contents of the Memorandum of Understanding already signed with the United States, while others expressed concern that negotiations could ultimately produce a different outcome than what was stated in Parliament.
Browne told Parliament on Tuesday that Antigua and Barbuda would choose visa restrictions over accepting criminals if faced with that choice, but stressed that current negotiations with Washington do not require the country to receive individuals with serious criminal records.
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That headline is untrue and misleading.
PM Browne did no such thing.
He has just exposed himself and confirmed every conscious Antiguans belief.
He is a selfish man to the core.
Visa is not an issue to him.
His son is studying in America.
His other children have ten years American visa which they recently acquired.
So to hell with the rest of Antigua if they do not have a visa.
His children have visas and travel on diplomatic passports.
See how he would move mountains if America was to say that they would not recognize diplomatic passports for anyone not employed with government and on official government business.
Then and only then would Antiguans see how much national security means compared to US Visa.
He would walk across the widest River in America.
He would drink all of Country Pond’s water in one gulp.
That’s the nature of this egoistic, nepotic, dillusional prime minsiter.
No commendations from me. Not that I think that we should invite criminals but for years and political expediency, we accepted many persons, who turn out to be criminals, into this country. As a matter of fact, just this week we learned that someone wanted for murder was caught in All Saints. So for years PM Browne and ABLP never cared about who comes into this country once they believe they would benefit politically. How do we know if among the Syrians, Jamaicans, Santo Domingans etc there are criminals? What background checks were ever done? Further, when did ABLP ever care? It is quite possible that the US reasoned that, “you guys don’t really care who you invite into your country anyway” so it’s an easy ask for you to take even more.
But as I said earlier, we already are restricted and already agreed to take people so don’t try that PM Browne.
The reason why we are in this shit storm is because Gaston and some Caribbean leaders said they will not aid the US in operation Absolute Resolve (Venezuela)….Everyone praised Gaston for standing up the Trump saying hells to the NO we will not help u go after our friend Maduro…..The US government looked at us like some little ungrateful kids and said PUNISHMENT!!! VISA RESTRICTION!!!! TAKE PEOPLE WE DON’T WANT!!!!!!
@The world.. I’m glad you are wisening up to the facts of all this. Great take, and the truth by the way, finally.lol.
Your honesty made my heart leap out of my chest. You may have just inspired a few of your fellow supporters of GB to speak the truth today, instead this word salad that they keep throwing out after the fact..love it..yep, the cart has already bolted..
GB is talking all this revisionist history crap now, because he know he has lost the poker hand, so now he’s trying to appear wise and strong..
Well too lait.
GB tactics now is to try a strong arm a strong man..good luck to him with that..but I’m glad you know where all this lies..They won’t listen to me a none supporter, but they might listen to one of their own..please tell them they has lost, and just say to Trump again. No coming back for Antigua with this Trump administration..that has been lost way back last year.
If Gaston really cared about National Security he would have told the USA we are not accepting any more criminals in Antigua and Barbuda we have enough here already and the Bobo Donkey he put in charge of National Security is a total waste
@the world and islanman the world is indeed a messed up place when supporting evil becomes the honourable thing to do. America says jump and we just have to ask how high MASSA.
The CIP is far more dangerous to the US than the third Party deportees. Canada , the USA and European Union are saying our passports are at risk of landing in the hands of dangerous international criminals. So our visa restrictions are more deeply tied to the CIP than anything else. Get rid of CIP and you will see the immediate positive outlook internationally.
@ Frankly speaking, please explain how the CIP is dangerous to the US. Their is absolutely no country in Caricom that has VISA FREE entry to the US. Nationals of all Caricom countries must obtain a US VISA before attempting to enter the US and it is only the US that grants that visa after doing their due diligence. An Antiguan or Dominican passport is not an American VISA and does not allow automatic entry to the US. This is just a smoke screen, with the millions of people that America is now deporting how many have passports issued under the CBI PROGRAM? America is the only country that travels the globe killing innocent fishermen, school children and kidnapping and killing leaders of foreign lands. America is a danger to the world.
My Goodness, why does Gaston Browne think we are not going to get CRIMINAL DEPORTEES. Marco Rubio said these are very bad people and that is why America do not want them. Trump is a liar and con man you cannot trust anything he says, same as we cannot trust his little brother from another mother right here, he will just claim he was duped again
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