The Government of Antigua and Barbuda wishes to clarify the status and scope of the Non-Binding Understanding between the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the United States of America regarding third-country nationals, including refugees.
First, the public is advised that this Understanding has not yet been operationalized. Consequently, no arrangements of any kind have been put in place by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda or any of its agencies to receive third-country nationals from the United States or from any other country.
At this time, the only movement of non-nationals into Antigua and Barbuda continues to be: free movement within the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); and eligible applicants under the reciprocal CARICOM Skills Qualification Certificate programme.
The Understanding will become operational when a critical mass of countries join the process. Some CARICOM countries have already joined, and Antigua and Barbuda’s participation will proceed strictly in accordance with its national laws, institutional capacity, and the explicit approval of the Government.
Under the terms of the Understanding, the United States may propose, on a case-by-case basis, the transfer of non-criminal third-country nationals, particularly persons seeking refuge from return to their own countries where they face grave conditions. However, in every single case, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda retains the absolute right of refusal, based on national interest and security considerations.
No third-country national can be transferred to Antigua and Barbuda without the prior assessment, approval, and express consent of the Government. There is no automatic acceptance, no obligation, and no delegation of authority.
In addition, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has strictly capped any potential acceptances under this Understanding at no more than ten (10) persons per year.
The Understanding is non-binding, creates no legal obligations, and may be terminated at any time with ninety (90) days’ written notice.
The United States is home to the largest refugee resettlement programme in the world, and this Understanding reflects an effort by many countries to help share that burden in a cooperative and orderly manner, in accordance with their respective capacities.
The Government further assures the public that before any decision is taken to operationalize this Understanding, a full public announcement will be made, outlining safeguards and procedures that will be employed.
(END)
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I must state that I do understand the pressure that the government is under at this time and it is good that the govt is trying to provide some clarity. But so many concerns still exist and I find the situation to be very ironic.
1. Do we really need to accept refugees and still have to pay bonds to get a VISA?
2. When bonds are paid to the USA, will it accrue interest or do you get back the same 5 to 15 thousand dollars after 50 years (which will make no financial sense)?
3. When we accept the refugees, will there be a pathway to citizenship?
4. If there is a pathway to citizenship where these persons will now hold an Antigua and Barbuda passport, why does the USA have a problem with our CIP program?
I also believe our government should plan long term like the Chinese (which would involve both parties in our case). We need to plan quietly and diversify of markets, we depend too heavily on one country – that time has passed.
@JFB
What pressure where?
This press release is too little too late and creates more confusion than clarity. It’s not worth the trouble to even read this.
“The Government retains the absolute right of refusal, based on national interest and security considerations”.
Another BS statement: “There is no automatic acceptance, no obligation, and no delegation of authority.”
What are the reasons or conditions for refusing anyone the US wants Antigua to accept?
How do we monitor these individuals? Tge Africans were walking the streets begging …. They were supposed to be business people.
On top of this Gaston Browne is facing an appeal to the Alpha Nero Discovery in US Court in Florida.
That why thee weeks ago he claimed he is filing a defamation lawsuit against the Law firm of the Alpha Nero owner.
The only place he can claim he is going to sue a lawyer bringing a case against him is Antigua.
Any place with formal discovery, including completing interrogatories and requests for production of documents, or discovery depositions, that are designed to discover assets and debts.
Any place other than Antigua; he’d be called a darn fool.
Now he is faced with a superseding and more threatening situation.
He now has these law enforcement and immigration officer making meal culpa statements. Trump is not against charging them also.
What they should be doing is working together extensively with each other to successfully drive down crime, investigate homicides, get guns off the street, and have strategic plans to arrest gang members and deal with the narcotics trade.
But instead they go before the Country to make excuses to cover Gaston Browne.
Just like the President of WIOC they may also be questioned.
If you stop anyone, and I mean anyone, as a detective or police, and ask to search them, or confiscate their belongings, you better have probable cause or reasonable suspicion, otherwise in the US courts, your entire case will be thrown out as fruits from the poisonous tree.
That’s the burden.
So though we have individuals in GB cabinet going around talking about, oh there is no evidence, oh Trump is just being racist, y’all better think twice.
The FBI met that burden when they stop and detained the WIOC president, the question is what were they further looking for, on top of the probable cause evidence they already have to execute the detainment in the first place?
Again, naive Antiguan’s..these people do not do anything without a plan or reason.
This is not Antigua where the head of police can force a police officer to drop a case. These people are onboard with each other with their plans, and once they pick up a trail, they will hound you to the end.
and that’s why he called the WIOC president to find out what happened or what was said.
More than likely, the WIOC President struck a deal for himself, and was told not to disclose the detainment to anyone, and that’s how GB found out about the WIOC president detainment through an article that was published.
Think people, think.
The ducks are lined up.
If their own countries do not want them why the hell should we want them here. Who would believe America would give honest information on whether these people are dangerous or not. Gaston does not have the right to accept these people in our Country. Antigua neither belongs to him or his family. His home is huge enough, if it’s just 10 of them why doesn’t he let them live with him and his wife and stay the hell out of our way
Well ! Well! That ONDCP head kernel croft don’t do any work since ALP in power, all the politicians and family got rich overnight and he sees nothing, everytime his subordinates lockup any Caucasian or Syrian , a call will just come from the politicians and say let them go, then they send the subordinates on useless trips abroad about courses just to stay their hands.
But all of a sudden kernel croft get teeth and on he back foot as his master Gaston compelled him to do in public swearing that they are not involve in drugs, the avenue Gaston created shows their propensity , like global port taking over port security accessing cruise ship and PLH own airport in Barbuda with buffer zone and yeda with it’s own sovereign state within a state with their own customs and buffer zone around the sea near their sight, they always get these civil servant to make an a$$ of themselves whenever the politicians are in trouble, it’s a full state capture whenever ALP is in power so nothing functions, only puppets acting for their largesse, edmeade Jarvis was a civil servant that did what the minister ask and did jail time for it. Leroy king died dishonorably in jail.
On that day all theses civil servants may be call to take the stand in a trial.
Power is like ice in the sun, it will eventually leave everyone, and you will pay for your crimes.
Hay last Saturday we heard on point FM that this agreement was signed over 90 day ago which was a big lie. Not being truthful, lack of transparency and accountability by our government has led to total mistrust. These are not refugees- refugees leave their countries to seek shelter. These are deportees with criminal records don’t matter what level. With a criminal record we cannot get a job , you cannot get a visa to travel.
So a white criminal deportee from timbucktoo will come to Antigua and get in the big circles. Probably respected as well and of course will get his Antigua passport in short order. A black Antiguan deportee remains a deportee for the rest of his or her life. We are enslaved mentally, politically, emotionally, financially and everything else.
I don’t care about getting any visa. It is my strong conviction that not one third party deportee should be allowed to land on Antigua and Barbuda.
Our government and more so our PM needs to be transparent and as often as possible consult with us the possible. As far as I am concerned the other cabinet ministers or all dummies. The MP’s we voted for have not said a word to their constituents. Antiguans and Barbudans and Caribbean people in the West minister system of government, we vote in our constituencies for a single individual to represent us. We do not vote for a prime minister. Legally the MP’s belonging to the party that win the most seats choose the Prime Minister. Although under this system of government the prime minister seems to have unlimited powers. We have only one power tool that can instantly remove a PM and that is a vote of no confidence. That takes courage, testicular fortitude and can only be accomplished by none corrupt representatives. So all we calling on the minister of foreign affairs to step up , he cannot- the self enrichment scheme has his hands tied, minister of tourism- the cinema deal has his hands tied, the minister of education- heard he is building the hotel on Dunbars lands . Next up – all put up their hands.
So now the other course of action is we the people and the opposition members of parliament. Many of them are also eating from the same dirty pot. They all go looking for $2.00 per square foot lands – instead of fighting for equality for all both parliamentarians and the masses. That might not work either. In fact that is why we are in this position. A weak opposition. Black Panther you have no right to give baba any contract to build your house. That is an indefensible crime.
So as usual the power is always in the hands of the masses. What is bad is that we don’t know what. So instead we stay oppressed and dictated to by those we employed / both by our votes and paying their salaries with our taxes.
We as a people need to protect our children’s future. I repeat we need to demand that our representatives speak to issues. That our representatives hold town hall meetings on issues. This cannot be no one man show. I repeat we vote for them to represent us , we need to compel them to do so.
Ohh we are only gonna take the ones that are real clean and have skills that can contribute to our society…..We won’t take drug dealers, rapist, thieves…ya know the bad ones….Everything will be fine, Antigans will be safe and before ya know it WHAM! We in the good books with old Uncle Sam again…..
@JBF. “When we accept the refugees, will there be a pathway to citizenship?”. You ask a very important question here. If the answer is yes, then imagine one of those, “whatever you choose to call them”, getting an Antiguan & Barbudan passport then applying to the same US for a VISA afterwards! For reasons like these, we need to be very careful or our Visa situation could only get worse.
We need some meaningful contributions from the ALP dregs, but then, I just said meaningful. They usually appear whenever Harold Lovell is mentioned. Let’s see what happens.
Donald Trump labelled us as shithole countries now he is turning us into bigger shithole countries by dumping thieves, vagabonds and maybe even murderas and these IDIOTS in the region are accommodating him by proving they are also SHITHOLE LEADERS. I believe Trump is the worst leader America ever had but he is brilliant compared to the JACKASSES we have down here. Gaston talking about accepting thise with skills, doesn’t he know skillful people are also CRIMINALS
As a proud and patriotic Antiguan, I never thought I would witness the days when my fellow compatriots would be asking the difficult questions of our government. I’m in shock!
It has taken a long time for it to happen.
Antiguans are waking up, and are now fed-up with the constant obfuscation, misdirection and downright lies.
Remember, what’s hidden in the dark, reveals itself in the light … 🙏🏾
THERE’S HOPE YET FOR ALL OUR FUTURES!
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