STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, THE HONOURABLE GASTON BROWNE, ON US VISA RESTRICTIONS
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has taken careful note of a proclamation issued by the Government of the United States suspending, with effect from 12:01 a.m. on 1 January 2026, the issuance of United States visas to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda.
We are deeply disappointed that Antigua and Barbuda has been included in this proclamation on the stated ground that our Citizenship by Investment Programme has historically operated without a residency requirement. That assertion does not reflect the present reality of our laws.
Over the past year, Antigua and Barbuda has worked closely and constructively with several departments of the United States Government to strengthen safeguards within our Citizenship by Investment Programme. We have engaged in good faith, accepted practical suggestions, and taken concrete steps to ensure that our programme presents no risk whatsoever to the security of the United States.
As part of this process, the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda has recently enacted comprehensive new legislation strengthening every aspect of the Citizenship by Investment Programme, including due diligence, transparency, information-sharing, and enforcement. Importantly, this legislation introduces a mandatory 30-day physical residency requirement in Antigua and Barbuda as a strict condition for qualification for citizenship.
It is therefore an error to state that Antigua and Barbuda’s Citizenship by Investment Programme operates without a residency requirement.
Immediately upon the issuance of this proclamation, Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders, contacted the United States Department of State. He was informed that State Department officials were themselves surprised by the proclamation and had received no prior notice of its issuance.
Ambassador Sanders has since initiated arrangements for urgent, high-level engagement with the State Department and the White House to clarify the matter, to present the full and accurate facts, and to begin the process of resolving this issue with a view to restoring normal visa access for citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.
In parallel, I am writing directly to President Donald J. Trump and to the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, offering the full engagement and cooperation of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to address any concerns and to take all reasonable steps necessary to allow for the restoration of all visa categories.
Antigua and Barbuda values its relationship with the United States, a relationship that predates the independence of both our nations and is grounded in long-standing ties of friendship, shared democratic values, and close people-to-people connections. The United States is Antigua and Barbuda’s most significant trading partner and continues to enjoy a substantial and consistent trade surplus with our country.
The Government will do everything within its power to ensure that the excellent relations between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States continue on the basis of mutual respect, cooperation, and accurate understanding.
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So it seems the other CBI countries, St. Kitts, St.Lucia and Grenada, negotiated their way off this list without restrictions yet Antigua and Dominica didn’t or couldn’t. I have a suspicion why but the PM needs to get this resolved since the optics are not good.
Could the stance with Venezuela be a reason?
The human is never in control , one way or the next power is taken away and we becomes powerless. There is always a bigger dog in the pen. Funny how some people became wealthy- managing the CIP program with exorbitant salaries. Agents and agencies as well making big money at the expense of the poor and vulnerable. Then there are the Americans that have gotten Barbuda’s land for popcorn and selling plots for millions.
All I want is for the USA to impose travel restrictions on the government ministers, those that manage the CIP programs and leave the poor vulnerable that are innocent bystanders. Well we are not so innocent- we voted these politicians into office. They turn around and disregard, disrespect us and make decisions that we don’t approve.
Time for we the people to take control of our destiny.
I know most of our revenues comes from the USA to substain our living standards, but USA keeps pissing on us simply because we are weak and depends on them for our daily bread. So sad the USA has begun to bully peaceful Caribbean nations. When I was growing up I used to see the USA as the champion of democracy, not anymore.
If your suspicion is the PM’s loud support for Venezuela then you are likely correct. This has all to do with Venezuela.
I wonder if this travel restriction will cause US tourists to avoid us in favour of other Caribbean countries? That would be terrible!
This has nothing to do with the CBI program but had everything to do with Antigua’s relationship with Muduro and Venezuela. Your policy of friends with all and enemy of done contrast with President view of the friend of my enemy is my enemy. Who are Antigua and Dominica to say that they want to play referee in big people business
Tap sell arwee funking passport
Recently the PM said, that the USA was not going to put visa restrictions on Antigua. That he and his administration and ambassadors are too skilled to allow this to happen.
I would have preferred if the US government had put travel restrictions on the government ministers, government officials and in particular the ministers of government and their families. We the people has absolutely nothing to do with decisions our government makes after we elect them. They don’t even care to respect those that are elected equally to parliament by the people.
So as the PM said the government will try and meet reasonable requests of the USA. Who is the government? What does the people of Antigua prefer? Do we prefer to scrap the CIP in its entirety or to have it and lose visa access to the USA. I personally believe that the people will vote to scrap the CIP program and have our access to the USA remain.
The Venezuelan alliance is, ofcourse, an issue but at center stage is the very cozy relationship with China and the invitation to colonize us. These power-hungry Antiguan leaders always chase the money.
Ask God the love off money is the root of all evil others over Antiguans first Canada now we can’t go America but you and your family can go anywhere in the world, you all bring everyone to our country but we can’t go no where how that fair to Antiguans oh lawrd jack, we can’t see grandchildren overseas wow.
I saw that coming it was just a matter of time so i certainly wasn’t surprised all these countries that are being banned many of their people are being citizens of Antigua and that’s their scape goat to a visa to enter the US that’s why you look into your decision on a larger scope before making these kind of decisions greed is what s caused that so our government made their beds so we all have to lie in it world boss wing cut your name world boss don’t mean a thing without visa pull your hand to your face ,it bun you ,take that
Yes everyone going to say they saw it coming but in reality its not about CIP its about when the general came to hold talks about setting up a base here with the war ships and not to work with Maduro that is the facts
Now that’s it. Trump sent his folks to chat about that. I was not sure but apparently Gaston might have turned them down.
The world should take note of Switzerland’s democracy. For every major decision made by the ruling Gov’t the people have by right to vote on it by REFERENDUM. So the people get to say what initiative goes forward. This of course does not happen in the rest of the world but should.
These are also the 2 countries that aided choksi in the biggest scam India has ever seen and his extradition is very imminent.
Don’t forget the power Modi wheels around the globe…
P.S They have alot of control within the WEF
You are so right .
My concern is that the proclamation clearly states that the next review of the list would come in 180 days. Our Diplomatic Representation in Washington is hopelessly lacking and a clear indication that a matter raised month ago was not being actioned. This is so troubling. 🙄
This is where spins and trying to “outsmart” -in other words, “Max heasrery”, have brought us. Just a few weeks ago PM Browne assured us-those foolish enough to believe- that this action by the US will never happen. But for more serious people, I would like to ask if the 30days of residency was presented and agreed to by the US? For me it is too short! Perhaps spending at least that time once per year would be better.
On the bright side of this, perhaps Antigua will lose it’s “stepping stones ” status and our forever open door policy will finally close.
Dominica and Antigua have had issues with the holders of their CIP passports, that’s why they were singled out, and Gaston stated that there is a 30 DAY residency requirement so what the US is saying is false. If I leave Antigua and stay in any country for 30 days, that doesn’t make me a resident, a lot of Antiguans are foolish but not all…
That is absurd!
Please do not separate the United Islands of Antigua and Barbuda (UIA&B) from the United Kingdom. We would be tremendously worse off. There are some watchdogs for the government and courts with this connection. Removing the United Kingdom from UIA&B will only make more of these things happen to the people of UIA&B.
Please take head, we are not in any era where we have sufficiently competent, selfless, and innovative government leaders. Take my warning.
In his decree on Tuesday, Mr. Trump cited multiple reasons to justify the travel ban’s expansion, including concerns about the ability to adequately vet immigrants from the impacted countries and the lack of reliable record-keeping and information-sharing in some of those nations.
Mr. Trump said Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica also offer citizenship to foreigners without a residency requirement, creating the risk that someone from the countries subject to the travel ban could seek to gain status in those Caribbean nations to bypass the U.S. entry restrictions.
Source:Yahoo News
Gaston said this would never happen because they are too smart. Guess the fact that they passed off self-enrichment as smartness and are largely getting away with it in Antigua has embolden them to feel they can do so with the US.
Boy, are we cooked!!???
I am in agreement with the US, I do not agree much with President Trump, but this is one of the few things I agree with (better scrutiny is needed in Citizenship by investment PROGRAMS and the relationship UIA&B have with Venezuela, China, etcetera).
Even though this is negatively impacting my work in administrative/regulatory law: immigration, victim benefits, licensing, etcetera.
Weh me bwoi @Brix deh? Weh me bredda @ Rasmood deh?
Time for the smart people to speak, wise people, people with experience, and those who are grounded in reality, time for us, not only to speak, but to be heard,because we have been speaking and vehemently trying to advice this foolish administration for years, but instead of being open-minded to the skills of others, they turned a def ear.
Remember, we didn’t start out by calling these people idiots, but by extension of their pompous ignorant views, we had no choice but to finally call a spade a spade!
I’m one of the biggest opposer of GB and co.
I don’t even know the man, but as leader of this beautiful twin island nation, these folks have shown over and over that they don’t fully have the interest of fellow Antiguan’s at heart. It’s in their actions, the very lackadaisical way they go about looking out for the best interest of their people.
Well hate America as you wish, but one thing you cannot never say, is, that they don’t look out for their people’s interest in general.
GB was advice over and over again, and he ignored it.
I told y’all that the Antigua Airways debacle will come back and bite this nation in the “you know what”..I scream from the roof top about the lacks CIP program..I screamed about the Indian crook turning Antigua into a pappyshow nation.
Then you go and straddle the fence about the Maduro issue, when I warned it’s a bad move. Not to mention the Chinese gifting GB and co everything but their underwear.
So what else was expected, nothing else but what has happened here. Shame on GB, shame on him..he is the one who brought us to this very low point.
12 years in power,and all this man has done is to get rich..that’s it..he was even on national radio bragging about it the other day.
” There is no law against me investing for my family”.
His words..well actions matter GB, they do.
And more to come..I’m just so sorry for the people of Antigua. Even foreigners have lived better than us in our own island.
Call it what you want .but those are the facts.
” Shame on GB, shame”
I personally do not think it has anything to do with support for Venezuela. The USA just do not trust the Administration. Our reputation precedes us. You all think is joke. This is just the Katta, the load behind to come. It’s up to us now so we can continue to bury our heads in the sand and continue with this Cabal to our detriment
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