Reigning Soca Monarch Tian Winter is reportedly among several entertainers from Antigua and Barbuda whose United States visas have been revoked.
The entertainers were summoned to the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown, Barbados, where they were informed of the decision, according to reports. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the reasons for the revocations.
The development has raised concerns within Antigua and Barbuda’s entertainment industry because many local artists depend on performances in the United States for income, exposure and career development, particularly during the carnival season.
Winter is one of Antigua and Barbuda’s best-known soca performers. He has won several Party Monarch titles and the Road March crown and has represented the country at major events, including Notting Hill Carnival, Toronto Caribbean Carnival and Miami Carnival.
The reported revocations come as the United States continues to scrutinize Antigua and Barbuda and its Citizenship by Investment Programme. However, there is no confirmed connection between that scrutiny and the action reportedly taken against the entertainers.
The United States previously imposed visa restrictions affecting nationals of Antigua and Barbuda and several other Caribbean countries, including limits on certain new visa applications over security concerns.
Following discussions between the two governments, Antigua and Barbuda said it received clarification that valid U.S. visas already held by its citizens would remain recognized and would not be automatically cancelled under the broader restrictions.
Neither the U.S. Embassy nor the government of Antigua and Barbuda has issued a public statement explaining the reported revocations. The identities of the other entertainers have also not been officially confirmed.
Reigning Soca Monarch Tian Winter has appeared to question a news report claiming that his United States visa was revoked.
Responding to the Observer Media report on social media, Winter suggested he had not been contacted before it was published.
“But Observer ya’ll know more than me man, next time call me and let’s have a conversation,” he wrote.
The reports have prompted questions on social media, with some people seeking clarification about why existing visas were revoked after assurances that valid visas would remain unaffected. Others said entertainers and disc jockeys from other Caribbean countries were also facing similar action.
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This article is confusing. Suggestions in the last two paragraphs notifies the headline and rest of the article.
Trump: I’m gonna F everything up for u guys…..Take more people don’t question me….Just take em…..U said u won’t help the US in the Venezuela campaign…U said u gonna stay Neutral….U said no cause u were doing big business with Maduro and u got China all over down there….We can’t have that so these VISA restrictions and sending refugees is just a lil punishment to teach u guys to always be on Uncle Sam’s side……OK WHO’S NEXT!?!?! NO NO NOT U UR FAKE NEWS……
Trump: Ur CIP Programme??? U keep thinking it’s about that buddy….Yeah we knew u guys been selling passports to questionable people but it’s mainly about ur dealing with China and u saying u won’t have the United States back when we need u….That really hurt my feelings…..I don’t like my feelings hurt at all cause i’m a big baby…..OK NEXT!!!!
WHAT THE HELL…! …US VISA REVOKED? …ARTISTES SECRETIVE OR DISENGENUOUS?
UNITED STATES WORK VISAS
***
Interesting news-breaking story by ‘ANR.’
Some of the ‘…ARTISTES’ might simply be:
(a) ‘…SECRETIVE: or
(b) …DISINGENUOUS.’
***
TRUE OR FALSE or FACT OR FICTION:
Those so affected or likely to be affected should know whether or not they were ever issued any of the ‘…UNITED STATES’ issued ‘…WORK VIAS:
(i) ‘…THE ‘EB-1: EXTRAORDINARY ABILITY- PROFESSORAL:
(ii) …THE EB-2: PROFESSIONALS NWITH ADVANCED DEGREES:
(iii) …THE EB-3: SKILLED WORKERS- PROFESSIONALS: and
(iv) …THE EB-4:SPECIALIZED CATEGORY- RELIGIOUS OR EMPLOYEES OF INTERNATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS.’
***
SUGGESTION:
Those ‘ARTISTES’ without any of the referenced ‘…WORK VISAS,’ possessed any other category of ‘VISAS:
(a) ‘…OTHER THAN TRAVELLING TO BARBADOS: simply
(b) …TO BE TOLD THE ISSUED VISAS WILL BE REVOKED: then
(c) …A PASSPORT PORT PAGE MESSED UP WITH THE WORD: ‘…CANCELLED:
***
NOW”
(i) ‘…BY WHATEVER OTHER MEANS: let
(ii) …THE EMBASSY, USE THEM TO NOTIFY YOU.’
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
(i) ‘…INCURRING COSTLY TRAVEL, THEY WILL STILL BE CANCELLED:
(ii) …AT NO COST TO TRAVEL, THEY WILL STILL BE CANCELLED.’
***
AIRLINES WOULD BE NOTIFIED ANYWAY.
***
DON’T GO A DARN WAY.
***
SING AH ABROAD: …SING AH BACK YARD: …DIFFERENT AUDIENCES:
STILL SAME DARN SINGING.’
***
SING AH CANNAVAL (vernacular) …NO BACCHANAL, THOUGH.
***
Trump: Tian didn’t do anything for the record…There is zero reason for his VISA to be revoked i’m just badminded…OK I’M DONE!!! THANK YOU EVERYONE!!!
Well this article is confusing. Was his VISITOR visa cancelled because if he’s an entertainer? If he has performances planned in the US, I would imagine that he would need a work visa of some kind. Just like everyone, if you are there as a visitor then you are not allowed to work.
But come on……you cannot publish a story like this…
1) Without having all the proper details and ,
2) Not contacting Tian before publishing the story. I think that’s a privacy violation no?
You have now left everyone to ASSume what’s going on and created panic. You said “entertainers”, but have singled out only Tian. Who were the others? You are already in for a penny, why not go full in with a pound.
@ this world is a messed up place
If the US is really pissed off because we prefer China over them, then their current actions will just push us and the region further into their arms.
They’re actually not that smart you know. Sad part is that the world had moved on and they are still rolling around on the ground throwing a tantrum.
Best to ignore them….
Observer was heavily criticized by some commentators when they mentioned the artist name. Now ANR is doing the same thing and they have nothing to say.
Why the precieved prejudice against that one particular media entity?
We need to stop being naive and accept the fact that the consequences of CIP are just starting to be experienced. The authorities of the day are fully to blame for what is happening because what we are experiencing was seen a million miles away. And I am going to say this right now, if the Antiguan God’s do not agree to Europe’s and USA’s request, the next step will be sanctions.
Keep blaming the US and not your PM who was trying to play all sides and got found out.
Enemy to none and friends to all huh!
I guess Antiguan’s doesn’t really know how the power structure works. But then again, how can I expect Antiguan’s to know any better when they have been drinking the coolaid for the last 12 years.
All when Trump is gone, Antigua will continue to be in things and keep going backwards because of who is at the helm. They can’t even fix a simple thing as their crime problem, so I don’t expect this government to tackle the first fallout of the US in the two countries history.
This government has always been a fair weather government, but every problem they keep having, they made it for themselves. They keep sticking their noses in the wrong place, especially GB. The T&T leader warned him, I warned him.
But don’t worry, China will soon pull it’s plug as well, because they have already built all the bridges and ports that they needed to build.
Just watch.
Keep blaming the US and not your PM who was trying to play all sides and got found out.
Enemy to none and friends to all huh!
I guess Antiguan’s doesn’t really know how the power structure works. But then again, how can I expect Antiguan’s to know any better when they have been drinking the coolaid for the last 12 years.
All when Trump is gone, Antigua will continue to be in things and keep going backwards because of who is at the helm. They can’t even fix a simple thing as their crime problem, so I don’t expect this government to tackle the first fallout of the US in the two countries history.
This government has always been a fair weather government, but every problem they keep having, they made it for themselves. They keep sticking their noses in the wrong place, especially GB. The T&T leader warned him, I warned him.
But don’t worry, China will soon pull it’s plug as well, because they have already built all the bridges and ports that they needed to build.
Just watch.
We are so entitled. A tourist visa does not allow you to work. Antigua places that stamp in your passport when a visitor enters. For years hundreds of Antiguans go to the US on a visitor’s visa and work or work amd overstay. They are breaking the law.
Simple. Are we above the law? Immigration in the US used to be lax. Under Trump that has changed. ICE, Homeland Security and Immigration are not playing with black and brown people. As Dr. Robin’s notes not one white country is on Trump’s Immigration Hit List. In fact the US doors are open to white South Africans.
And while we are cursing Trump look how the black South Africans and treating other black Africans.
The world has changed. Stay home.
YOU CAN ENTER THE USA ON A VISITORS VISA. HOWEVER,YOU CANNOT WORK ON THAT VISA. IT IS AGAINST THE LAW AND THEREFORE ILLEGAL SO TO DO.IF YOU ARE CAUGHT DOING THAT YOU WOULD BE ARRESTED AND BE DEPORTED.A VISITOR TO ANTIGUA FROM THE USA CANNOT WORK THERE WITHOUT PROPER DOCUMENTS TO DO SO.
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