Senator Chester Hughes has criticized Caribbean leaders for failing to develop a unified regional response to the United States’ proposed third-country deportee arrangement, arguing that governments have instead addressed the issue individually.
Speaking during a United Progressive Party town hall meeting, Hughes said the matter should have been treated as a CARICOM-wide issue rather than being handled separately by member states.
“My final thought for us to look at is how our Caribbean leaders are treating this subject matter,” Hughes said.
He noted that Caribbean leaders recently met but said the deportee proposal was not addressed as a major regional concern.
“At no time have you heard CARICOM discuss this issue as a major Caribbean issue… They’ve all taken individual positions as regional leaders instead of taking a collective position and discussing the matter collectively.”
Hughes said the absence of a coordinated response was particularly concerning given the potential implications of accepting deportees from the United States.
He argued that the issue extends beyond Antigua and Barbuda because of the free movement arrangements within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.
“So while we’re talking about just the persons for Antigua, what about the others who are in St. Kitts, St. Lucia, who are not comfortable there but find out they can move throughout the region?” Hughes asked. He said the government’s White Paper does not address how such movement would be managed.
Hughes also questioned the role of the Caribbean Intelligence and Public Safety Agency (CARICOM IMPACS), saying the regional security body should have been more involved in discussions surrounding the proposed arrangement.
“What role is CARICOM IMPACS playing in this whole process?” he asked. “I don’t believe that they’ve been brought on board because you have not had a regional position on this subject matter.”
He further criticized Prime Minister Gaston Browne for saying the region should have acted together while, in Hughes’ view, Antigua and Barbuda had already pursued its own course.
“And then you’re hearing the Prime Minister… saying that the region should have been acting as one,” Hughes said. “We have a group of arrogant leaders who are leading this Caribbean that are not about people, but about themselves.”
Hughes said the proposed deportee arrangement requires a coordinated regional approach because of its potential impact on immigration, security and the movement of people throughout the Eastern Caribbean.
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Not true! Individual prime ministers with criminal background for example large amount of cash in offshore account that they got through looting their countries financial resources and complicity with the Colombian drug Kartel and selling their countries sovereign passport for their own financial benefits.
Chester you failed the CB Workers Miserably you use to come to that hotel very regular asking for rights and making sure that the Unión Dues Was Paid for Years now those people Retired at 60 years now some is 72 and some worked at the hotel for more than 40 plus years and still NO SEVERANCE PAY two people dies without getting their SEVERANCE and those that is alive is still waiting while they was waiting you went off to STUDY LAW FINISHED YOUR LAW DEGREE IN ENGLAND AFTER 5 YEARS CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BUT THE PEOPLE IN OLD ROAD IS STILL WAITING FOR THEIR SEVERANCE EVEN THOUGH THEY CLAIMS THAT THEY WINS THE CASE THEY STILL WAITING AND I NOW SEE THAT YOU ON THE COST PRO FRONT LINE AGAIN TO PHOTO COPY THE HOTEL IN OLD ROAD SAGA ITS A FACT MY KIDS MOTHER WORKS THERE FOR ABOUT 39-40 YEARS THERE OR SEASONS!!
Sir here is my thing: you cannot have it both ways. Your leader says before a decision is made the Antiguan & Barbudan citizens must discuss the issue first. As far as I know the discussion is coming. Yet you want CARICOM to unify a decision to demonstrate unity in purpose and understanding. You said you are disappointed that each country decides individually but yet you are still calling for a collective decision while you continue to call for individual decisions based on local discussions and consensus. YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!!!! decide which it is desired and stop hopping between two decisions.
…And Rev. Gordon A R Edwards, aren’t clerics supposed to be impartial and apolitical? Your political leanings towards this government is rather troubling to say the least… 🤔
Let’s pray 🙏🏾 that your church is filling in the gap for the poor and destitute amongst us, due to the ABLP’S astronomical high costs of living!
… As you yourself succinctly put it: “YOU CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!!!!”
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