Sir Ronald Sanders Says Antigua and Barbuda Cannot Absorb Large Numbers of Third-Country Nationals from US
Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, says the country is facing pressure from Washington to accept more third-country nationals than the government originally offered to accommodate.
Speaking on the issue, Sir Ronald said Antigua and Barbuda had made a limited offer to assist the United States as a “gesture of good faith and good friendship,” but stressed that the twin-island nation could not take on numbers beyond its capacity.
“We put forward a certain number,” he said. “We will play our part in trying to relieve the United States of the burden that it is facing. But we can do no more than that.”
According to Sanders, discussions between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States are ongoing, but the country remains firm that accepting migrants from countries with which Antigua and Barbuda has no established relationship could create serious social and economic pressures.
He raised concerns about the integration of individuals who may not speak English or possess qualifications and skills that can be readily recognized or utilized locally. Sanders questioned how such individuals would be housed, cared for, and integrated into Antiguan society if large numbers were accepted.
“What would happen with them when they come to Antigua? Where would they go? Who would look after them? How would they be integrated into the society?” he asked.
Sanders also warned that accepting excessive numbers could place strain on the country’s limited resources and potentially alter the nation’s demographics in ways that citizens may not support.
“The Prime Minister’s offered a certain number that he would be prepared to absorb,” Sanders said, adding that the government could not make decisions that would “put strain on our resources to the point where our own people would say, ‘No, no, no, we’re not doing that.’”
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This useless ALP government will fold under pressure and make Antigua an international trash dump.
So what is the USA saying about the visa restrictions?? We need to hear about that before they even ask about taking more refugees.
Trump: U want VISA???
Elections are over and now the reality is about to hit us. The US has applied enormous pressure on Caribbean nations including Antigua and Barbuda regarding the acceptance of refugees as a good-faith diplomatic effort to address issues like visa processing. Any objection to the US request is pressure for Antigua and Barbuda and our acceptance is almost a foregone conclusion.
Don’t be ridiculous!
We can hardly look after our own population, let alone accepting more Refugees and Deportees, especially after the unacceptable and unaccounted killing of fishermen in the Caribbean Sea (to which their families are still awaiting compensation).
If Prime Minister Browne has anything about him (which many Antiguans still doubt), he’ll politely decline this utter nonsensical US plan.
It seems that people are seeing the truth now. Regardless of what pressure is being placed on the Caribbean we need to stand as one and say no. There is no legitimate reason for us to be accepting refugees. That is the United States cross to bear. We need to find alternative ways to stay afloat and look at the bigger picture. We don’t need any refugees destroying our already delicate state. They aren’t Antiguans or Barbudans so they do not belong here.
No way. Trying to dump y’all issues on us? Gaston you better not accept foolishness like that. They don’t want us there ANYWAY. Don’t care about no visa.
If their country of birth doesn’t want them, then why should the government of Antigua and Barbuda accept them? Other than our own native born, we the people do not want them here. If this is the price for lifting the restrictions on issuing visas and green cards, please keep it. We can go on vacation to other countries around the world 🌎.
Wait! Antigua is such a great economy that it will help out third world USA?
All the man Gaston and them a play, when trump show them that he has their offshore banking account and a couple a properties they own around the world prepared for seizure, Gaston and Ron just day to hell with the people of Antigua and Barbuda, my money I got to defend plus the USA will pay me some money to.br their marionette politicians.
That’s the reason why we are not hearing of any resistance and Gaston is making this refugee thing esoteric, he Gaston is only playing to the gallery of his subjects that he procured with money to give them the impression that he is an unwilling partner, can Gaston or any world leader threaten the American president to carry out acts against his countries sovereignty?
@Audley?
Good-faith diplomatic effort to address issues like visa processing? You can’t be serious?
How about they fix their own problems……
Chupzz
This is BS. Antigua should not take a single person. Is this so Antiguan can get a visa? Is this “visa diplomacy?” Antigua is 108 square miles. America is how many millions of square miles. Let tRump take his BS and put it where the sun never shines! I am as red as Gaston could ever be, but then I would be what ever the opposition to this BS.
China is about the size the United States and China has 1.4b people, why are they asking other countries to accept these people.
Smfh; why & why are our Caribbean leaders can’t seem to stand in unity against first world bullying & aggression. It’s sad that we would rally around party & politics, but when situations like these derives we’re so silent, why would we even agree to accept any refugee’s in our small twin island state because of pressure from the present US government. Smfh… Modern day colonialism, where our third world heads of states/Government Ministers are nothing but puppets
We barely have foster homes. We have no halfway houses for addicts or the homeless. How on earth will we be able to manage any of this?
Antigua and Barbuda has become the dumping ground for US, sending their misfits and criminals from other countries to us. Why would our government want to accept the US problem? This is what you the citizens vote for, because you all know that our weak leader with no backbone will give in to the US demands.
If Big, big America doesn’t want them why should we accept them, this is pure craziness. We do not want any of them here. What I am saying will fall on deaf ears because this Administration will so want to please Trump they will fold. We no want dem yah, let them go to where they were born or stay put in SHITHOLE America