PM Browne writes to Trudeau about reviewing visa status

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Prime Minister Gaston Browne (file photo).

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has written to Canadian PM Justin Trudeau asking for directions on how to strengthen the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) in order to restore visa-free access for Antiguans and Barbudans to Canada.

The letter, dated January 13, comes in the wake of media reports revealing, for the first, an official reason  for the nation’s loss of visa free access to Canada in 2017.

“A video recording of a town hall meeting that you recently conducted has been doing the rounds of social media in Antigua and Barbuda, particularly the section in which you responded to a question about Canada ending visa-free access for holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports,” PM Browne wrote.

“Briefly, I understand you to have said that the reason for imposing visa requirements on Antigua and Barbuda is that our Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) did not have the level of stringency and analysis to satisfy Canada’s high standards for border control and security.”
Browne said he is unaware of Canada’s requirements so he could not comment on them, but he noted that Antigua had four levels of vetting including by INTERPOL.
He wrote that as recently as six months ago, his government invited Canada to “work with us to ensure our CIP systems meet Canada’s high standards.”
“Given the remarks you made at the Town Hall meeting, I am again renewing the invitation for your government to review our programme without restraint and make recommendations for implementing improvements that would satisfy Canadian standards.”
PM Browne noted that High Commissioner Ronald Sanders is scheduled to be in Ottawa on January 31st and February 1st and offered for him to discuss the matter with Canadian authorities.

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20 COMMENTS

  1. Scrap that f-ing CIP THAT MAKE ME STOCK IN NEW YORK AFTER I LEAVE CANADA TO VISIT MY BROTHER THEM ON MY WAY BACK OVER I COULD NOT GET BACK OVER TO CATCH MY FLIGHT AND ENJOY MY REST OF MY VACATION So i have to buy a one way ticket to come back home that spoil my vacation

    • I agree with you for the government to get rid of the CIP program. I haven’t seen the benefit of it yet. All it has done so far it has destroyed our visa-free access to Canada and our nation name.

  2. Tap gee Amnesty and passport to Jamaican and Spanish nearga. The CIP is not the only problem Canada have with us. All dem Jamaicans in Antigua who we gee amnesty and passport done gone a Canada a look Canadian citizen fe marry. Read the news Gaston. Canada nah trust the ALP so you can beg all you want dem nah gee you no visa free access. Dem no want dem poor criminal minded people in a dem place.

    • Antiguans don’t go weh go marry bitch ahyu pack up Bronx and a lib lackka dawg and a commit f**kin crime just like anyone else,call you f**kin ppl dem dat up deh weh a live affa food stamps you stinking bitch.Tap call up Jamaican wid u frozzy mouth.me done talk and who no like um can GFYS.

      • At least they not selling their body for 10 dollars to send back to that crime infested shithole called Jamaica and you don’t see us flocking to the shithole looking maid and prostitute work

        • Ah mean to say….who left dem crime infested country…come another ISLAND….”small island” at that ….come suck dik till the back ah dem throat can’t store no more stale cum…

          Even in ah farrin…dem pan welfare and go different churches….food pantries… to collect food FE pack barrels to send to dem shithole

    • The f&*ker juss a full up Antigua wid all dem Guyanese and jamaicans just for vote. Don’t he love his people, why maginalize Your own people

  5. Too little too late! Just another publicity stunt. If Gaston is really not serious about confronting the problem. The same haste with which this letter was drafted, is the same haste with which he should have sought an audience with Trudeau, to address the cancellation of visa free access, back in June 2017. Our PM is just too bright for his own good!

  9. Why d government don’t consider investing in mining & agriculture there r more sustainable. Canada does that in other country.

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