Pringle Warns Citizenship Programme May Be Doing More Harm Than Good, UPP Reviewing CIP

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Pringle Says UPP Reviewing Citizenship Programme Amid U.S. Visa Concerns

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle says the United Progressive Party is reviewing Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme to determine whether it is still working in the country’s best interest, amid growing international scrutiny and ongoing restrictions affecting access to United States visas.

In his 2026 New Year’s message, Pringle said the opposition is already examining the programme internally, noting that key government obligations have become increasingly dependent on it.

“Already, we are in caucus, weighing the viability of our Citizenship by Investment Programme,” Pringle said. “Because of the Browne Administration’s poor management, so many critical functions now depend on the CIP, including Government’s monthly payments to the Social Security Scheme.”

He said the party intends to engage experts and stakeholders to assess whether the programme’s benefits still outweigh its risks.

“Therefore, we intend to consult with experts, analysts, and other stakeholders to determine whether the current negatives dogging the CIP outweigh the benefits to our people,” Pringle said.

The opposition leader also directly linked the issue to recent developments affecting U.S. visa access, saying many Antiguans and Barbudans have been unable to obtain certain classes of visas as of the start of the new year.

“As of today, January 1, nationals who had had hopes of acquiring certain classes of visa in this new year will be unable to do so,” he said. “Unless you are already in possession of a valid visa, you will not be granted one in the foreseeable future.”

Pringle said the situation persists despite public assurances from the government that diplomatic engagement would resolve the matter.

“Despite the prime minister’s assurances that diplomatic negotiations would reopen those doors … the situation has not changed,” he said, adding that Antiguans and Barbudans are “paying the price for believing the word of Prime Minister Gaston Browne.”

He said a future United Progressive Party administration would prioritise repairing relations with the United States and protecting the country from further restrictions.

“A new United Progressive Party Administration will employ all strategic avenues, and our reputation for good relations with the United States Government, to resolve this matter in the shortest time possible,” Pringle said. “We will work in your interest to avoid any further restrictions or sanctions that could disrupt our economy and the stability of our country.”

Pringle framed the proposed review of the CIP as part of a broader effort to restore credibility in governance and safeguard Antigua and Barbuda’s international standing as the country heads into 2026.

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9 COMMENTS

  1. Sure, he’ll prostitute himself even, for the privilege of lapping up the dribble that falls from the mouth of those stinking fascists up north. The only resolutions that the “Little Black Boy” needs to make for the New Year’s are to grow some balls and to quit his present job as the Circus Events Announcer of the UPP!. Wish he would just disappear for 2026!

  2. The Citizenship by Investment Program seem to be heading in the same direction as our gaming companies of the 1980’s and 90’s. Realistically, the monies that our governments collect in taxes are woefully inadequate to service all our needs…..infrastructure, medical, education and others. Over the years we were forced to come up with innovative schemes and programs in order to help and to prevent our country from economic destruction. Yes the CIP has its flaws but with some adjustment, it could be the “Saviour” that we need. It has been working well for us over the years. No CIP would mean increase in taxes and further hardship for our citizens. The truth is, once the current administration is in office up NORTH; our CIP program is doomed and the pressure would continue to be on us to disband it, just as we were forced to do with our once thriving gaming companies. We risk enormous and continuous pressure once we keep the CIP going.

  3. I have spoken with many Antiguans over the last week and not a single one is still in support of continuing the CIP program now that we face US travel restrictions and a pending European Union revocation of our visa free travel status. The UK will follow suit. Everyone seems to accept that CIP has had its time, is now doing more harm than good and that it is now time to bring it to an end before we incur any further travel restrictions and visa requirements. If Gaston refuses to end CIP, he will likely lose the next election if all of these travel restrictions come into effect. He will be blamed personally.

  4. Wow, I’ve never noticed it before about @National #1 constant derogatory comments about the Honourable Jamal Pringle’s skin colour until another ANR commentator highlighted this recently.

    Is National #1 a Caucasian with racist tendencies?

    How do the ABLP attract such neanderthals!

    Lord help Antigua 🇦🇬 🙏🏾

  7. Why other Caribbean countries that have CIP wasnt affected? Is hard for us to use same requirements like them? Why our CIP is weaker than them? That is too hard to change?
    We have a ridiculous huge Government..Too big..thousands of workers on payroll, thousands of vehicles, hundreds of buildings, thousands of allowances to governments workers. That is unsustainable. The National Budget need it to cover those expenses is out of control. We don’t have Income to sustain that and we are using future Revenue, in order to justify to borrow money to cover the actual deficit. But the worse part, is the cash flow is already a mess, is just a game of numbers that most people don’t bother to pay attention to this matter. Our future generations are already in bankruptcy. That is what every single government worker that is not performing, the ones that are doing literally NOTHING, the ones driving vehicles with fuel allowances just to waste it doing personal business, those Antiguans are part of the mess, those Antiguans are sending the country into bankruptcy, isn’t ABLP, isn’t UPP, isn’t DNA is our cousin, uncles, friends, that are part of the government today the ones that are bleeding us.

  8. Just think about the crooks and criminals who were given our passports. Certain persons benefitted heavily from their sales while we as a country have nothing to show as we have seen with St. Kitts/Nevis. We don’t even know how many have been sold and that too, is a concern for the U.S. The Lawless Leader is pretending that he’s playing hard ball when he fully well knows that he is unable to negotiate because he has been watched and finally sidelined. Think about the Middle Eastern smuggling ring, the jailed Hong Kong national and the Chinese with common Antiguan/Barbudan names, who somehow made the journey to mainland USA. He needs to refrain from telling his idiotic followers that we were sanctioned because of our alliance with Venezuela. Did I just read that the Unfaithful National would love Pringle to disappear for 2026? That’s the MO of the great organization especially during the late 1960’s, early 70’s. They have now taken the act a notch further by handling the exercises like the true mob that they are. Will the police request that the Unfaithful National make an appearance for questioning if by any chance Mr. Pringle disappeared?

  9. @Brix. 😂

    Who else this ABLP administration gonna attract? I ask that question with a pinch of salt.. 😂.

    This person is a serious psycho, we all know that by now. But hey, look who he supports at the top of the ticket, another greedy madman!

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