Browne says Antigua could accept non-criminal deportees with needed skills
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda is prepared to consider accepting deportees or refugees from the United States if they are not criminals and possess skills the country needs, while maintaining that criminal deportees will not be accepted.
Speaking on Pointe FMβs Browne and Browne Show on Saturday, Browne said the issue arose after the United States asked countries to sign agreements related to receiving deportees or refugees sent to third countries.
βIf they have refugees, or deportees for that matter, who may be involved in minor matters but have skills that can help us, we gladly take them,β Browne said. βHowever, we made it abundantly clearβ¦ weβre not taking the criminal refugees from the third country.β
Browne said Antigua and Barbudaβs position was not new and had been communicated to U.S. authorities months before the recent U.S. visa proclamation.
βWe would have written back to the State Department about 90 days ago,β he said, adding that the government set out its conditions clearly at that time.
He stressed that the matter was handled transparently and not kept from the public.
βIβm reporting to my people. This is not supposed to remain as a secret,β Browne said.
The prime minister said an agreement was eventually signed, but emphasized that it preserves Antigua and Barbudaβs authority to decide who is accepted and requires intelligence sharing from U.S. authorities.
βWe signed an agreement which gives us the authority, not that we accept whomever, and that the United States will provide intelligence,β Browne said.
Browne said the governmentβs approach reflects cooperation without compromising national security or sovereignty.
βWe continue to operate a government based on sound governance,β he said.
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How can you trust Trump will be honest regarding background information on refugees?
Deportees from where sir? Any deportees coming from America or anywhere,care criminals. You better be careful with that intention, sir. Antigua is only 108 sq miles. You’re abandoning the Cubans yet, you’re planning to take deportees from America, whose backgrounds you have no clue about. What have you to say about the capture of Maduro and the effects it WILL have on Antigua’s economy?
For an economic powerhouse such as Antigua & Barbuda (according Gaston Browne), this is a very strange announcement to make.
And why would our Prime Minister come out with such a nonsensical statement at this sensitive time in world affairs?
To me, this doesn’t sound like a SKILL shortage recruitment into the country at all, unless it’s more likely another ABLP passport vote recruiting drive and exercise for an up and coming General Election for manipulative purposes.
Weird, weird, weird …
Clearly trying to pander to the US and get in their good books with a view of reversing and shifting the present trajectory and hoping it would help in the reinstatement of our Visa situation. The vast amount of Antiguans and Barbudans would reject, refuse and renounce any such intention of flooding our country with US refugees whatsoever and see this as a low attempt at appeasing Washington. This is where we must draw the line.
@Audley Phillip… You are such a damned hypocrite! Weren’t you one of those hemming and hawing about “decisions of the government” and how those “decisions impacted Antiguans and Barbudans being excluded from getting US visas”?
Have you ever thought that the visa issue was really about the Trump administration trying to force the country into accepting refugees in the first place? Have you ever thought that in engaging the US Trump set that as a condition for the resumption of visa services to the country? Were you the PM and that was one of the conditions, would you allow pride to cause you to deny Antiguans and Barbudans from being able to access US visas?
Man, you should do a little thinking before you run your mouth. The bad part about people like you is that you were once actually allowed time on the radio to reach an audience. Such a damned shame what passes for intellect in this country!
Wait! Tell me something Gaston gone crazy or what, he is so desperate that he will go that route. I would love to hear Chet Greene’s take on this, surely he cannot be as stupid. Damn time to challenge Gaston for Leadership
Election around the corner.
alri alri alri… everyone making this about the visa….
question?… ya want ur visa r not?
will this prevent crime from ever occurring? no… cus crime always happen with n without refugees. crime wouldn’t necessarily rise because of this for he’s not looking for criminals…. ru just hush n mek the man do his thing ur little voice is of no importance cause ya opinion doesn’t matter… this comment… doesn’t… neither does mine.
he will do what he deems fit, u can’t change that. say wut u want. he done speak. e nah change.
Sometimes I wonder hmmmmm
Gaston really must be retarded! A real dunce element!
The US must shit on we and still use us as toilet paper?
Listen WORLD DUNCE, let the US figure their mess out! We have enough mess here to deal with
Never hear such dunceness in weeks!
The Top Dog lost all his teeth. Are you really serious? I know the visa restrictions from the USA is an embarrassment to you,but you are acting like you lost it in your head . You can hardly provide sustainable electricity and water for us. U hab big chat when it comes to antiguans and lub fu attack people , Trump let you afraid to talk. Tek that!
This why I never celebrate Independence Day, because we were never independent. From one slave master to the next. If it ain’t the European Union , it the USA telling us how we should behavior. Unfortunately , we are a small defenceless country and must obey our masters. We have no say in any issues. This is our reality, no matter which party is in power. I am a bit disappointed with China and Russia, they need to show more backbone since they are the only ones that can confront the beast in the north.
Over my dead body. Gaston you must a really crazy.
Refugees, I might support. I live by the principle that if you have to deport people send them to their country of birth! I βΈwould like Haitian Refugees
The media can say anything they want why deport them?????
Why not leave them in America this is crazy real crazy nobody Kno for sure what these ppl capable of
Total bullshit this be nobody knows there back ground
YES YES YES !!! This is why me lub gaston see. Let Antigua be at the forefront of the refugee crisis. If America won’t take them, WE WILL !! We will not discriminate, but lend them our warm, open hearts.
Are you people serious? With all this shit happening next door in Venezuela, and keep in mind congress wasn’t even notified in advance, this is considered true power and no one can do anything about it. The President is showing all former President’s, and the rest of the world how to rule the most powerful nation in the world, I am the true Strongman and anyone dares to go against me better think twice. Greenland is next on the agenda.
A small island like Wadadli might speak boldly, but when the pressure hits, whether it’s bad for the country or not, in the end you only have one choice, so Wadadli will now become a dumping bag for deported criminals. All we have here are some white sand, and white sand can’t maintain a country.
I will make it abundantly clear and say he’ll no!!! This little tiny country which is 108 square miles that hardly have job for its people and also have so many foreigners competing with us cannot and will not tolerate that!!!! I wonder if Gaston head is going. Gaston don’t even try that, because the national will rise up for a fact.
@Jacob Stapleton no all America deportees are not criminals most are not convinced or even charged witb anything trump’s goal is to report all Latin immigrants in particular might be more in the future, he even deported native Americans and American citizens be been saying 1 million per year not only that he also going after asylum seekers as well.
I’m curious if this is also if this includes money like they been doing in other countries like El Salvador.its definitely strange move I’m not a fan since the would proceed involving in deporting by ice is illegal and violent.
That’s what I have been saying from the inception of Gaston propaganda about skill workers from Mexico for Barbuda, it was him ostensibly with his mouth watering about the monies he is pocketing, same thing like the corrupt Kenya president ruto..
And he would also be propped up in government by the USA re-installing him as their marionette prime minister during the upcoming election, they have allowed him a residence in the USA he could flee to if the power of the people was to take precedence.
You’re supposed to report to your people before you make those kind of decisions so don’t try to play Patriot now
Time to get these people out of power. When are we Antiguans going to stand up? We don’t have space for ourselves much less for foreign deportees. That’s exactly what he has been doing, that’s why our crime rate up. At this rate the US will always look down on us.
What is the position of the UPP on this issue? They want to be the government so we need them to state their position on all major issues confronting the country. More importantly Jamal Pringle needs to step out from the shadows and state his views on issues. That is how he will be able to convince people that he is leadership and Prime Ministerial material. At present while people see Harold as Prime Ministerial material, they do not see Pringle the same way.
TRUMP: You Want ur precious VISA??? What are u willing to do for it then?? I sent a NAVY Admiral with a big check book and u said no….I’ll tell ya what u can take some rejects down there with some skills and i’ll think about ya VISA story..Ok Lil buddy bye bye…Who’s Next?!?
Consider the number of Antiguans who go overseas on student scholarships granted by the government and on their return cannot find work for the skills they have acquired, and as a result leave Antigua for better opportunities. Were these students granted scholarships for unneeded skills or has the govt. done nothing to assist in providing skilled work opportunities for them? Yet GB sees the need to accept deportees from the US for wanted skills in the country. Amazing, World Boss! I guess thatz how you make Antigua and Barbuda a βpower houseβ.
So, we can’t fully implement free movement of Caricom brothers and sisters, but we can accept deportees and refugees from the US. Make it make sense!
Maybe not now, but I’m the years to come and Pringle become more studious and read up on pass history and attend historical lectures on ideology that black people the world over share by fate it would be different, it’s time for Pringle humbly pass the mantle tp someone with more institutional capacity, that would be Lovell ,Bowen and Richard Lewis, these international affairs need more semantic gymnastics abilities coupled with historical references, Pringle is a young man who happen to win a seat or political bacchanal and is loved emotionally by die hard UPP supporters who thought he could be their Sampson. He must admit to them.he has a lot to learn, nothing is wrong with the young man differently. Lovell I call upon you to lead with succession in the youthfulness of Richard Lewis and the legal and financial competence of Bowen to guide us in this perilous diplomatic period in history, where we can’t have people like Gaston continue to speak emotionally and imperil us because he has no political ideology, only money greed as you see from his namco design and CIP and the forceful land seizure in Barbuda for a pocket full of monies that Antigua or barbuda can see to this day.
@Carvaa. What are you really saying here?? If it is what I think then we should have just stayed with Britain!! Better yet, call them back.
@Man on the Street. Let UPP figure it out!! It’s support that makes leaders strong. If you are a UPP supporter, support your leader and he will be strong. It’s not Pringle who caused me not to be able to get a US Visa; it’s not Pringle who caused our crime rate to be spiraling out of control; it’s not Pringle that is causing our cost of living to be so high! It’s not Pringle who presides over the worst roads in the Caribbean. As a matter of fact, he had NOTHING to do with causing these things. Let’s solve one problem at a time and the biggest problem now is Gaston Browne, and ABLP.
Zackie …ππΎ
The big reveal came sooner than expected. I knew government had promised the USA something in return for lifting the visa restrictions. How dumb do you think we Antiguans are? Let me rephrase that. I’m not one of the dumb ones that take things at face value.
Lets face it, Trump has no intention of lining up deportees and ask if they are skilled workers. Is this government planning on going to the US and conduct an interview to find out if they are skilled workers who does not have a criminal record before they are accepted? I don’t think so.
How did you write back to the US 90 days ago, 3 months ago and you’re saying you didn’t keep this from the people?
You think any top notch person is leaving the US and being sent here?
What exactly are “minor matters”?
You already can’t solve crime but you’re opening up yourselves to this?
This is something you were forced into so don’t make it seem like you have so much say in who you receive and finally
I WANT TO SEE THE AGREEMENT.
@Zackie I see that you misinterpreted my comment completely. The point I am making is that Pringle and the UPP must state what is their position on issues and not just criticize with no alternatives. They are supposed to be the government in waiting. Even more importantly, the leader of the UPP Mr. Jamal Pringle has to state the positions of his Party and show strong leadership.
People of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston will agree to anything the US requests right now. He wants the Visa situation to be as it was before, so he can proclaim what a great negotiator he is, election round de corner jack. The dude think he slick, he has no respect for our intelligence
This is crazy stuff! What next, America’s colonization of Antigua and Barbuda? How much longer will we allow this administration to prostitute this country and it’s people? People wake up! Antigua and Barbuda has lost its name and any credibility it had under this administration led by Gaston Browne, and we will never be taken seriously until there is a change of administration. THIS EVIL, CORRUPT CABAL MUST GO! THE POWER OF THE PEOPLE IS GREATER THAN THE PEOPLE IN POWER!
I really do not understand the article and the issue because there is a fundamental difference between Deportees and Refugees. If the article is referring to Deportees only, then Antigua and Barbuda has no choice in accepting Antiguan nationals that are deported from the USA for whatever reason. The question of accepting Refugees is another matter and is not clear from the article since the article is referring to Deportees and Refugees as one and the same. They are not the same. Some clarity is therefore required on this issue.
This is a disaster waiting to happen. Antigua is in a crises and you think taking on deportees is the way forward.. I guess it’s for the votes.. Antigua WAKE the $%$# up.. Gaston is looking clout with Trump and voters.. bring in the murders the drug dealers rapist etc.. your compassion will reform them. I am an Antiguan lord God me shame
Your most Honourable Pearl Quinn Williams, I totally agree with your sentiments.
However, I would like to add that with crime already on the rise in the country, any further influx of unchecked deportees and refugees will only see a further rise in criminal activity we can ill afford.
Gaston Browne’s credibility has long gone and he’s become a real liability to this country.
All the best in your future endeavours.