The United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling for immediate answers from the Head of the Immigration Department and the Minister of National Security on the scandalous Antigua Airways Scheme.
We, like the general public, noted the many irregularities and breaches of immigration procedures which have surrounded the three Antigua Airways charter flights.
The Antigua Airways flights were advertised as “Tour Package Travel to Antigua”, yet many arriving Nigerians did not have prearranged accommodation.
Further, travelers who arrived at the Jolly Beach Resort stated to reporters that they were not aware of the price of accommodation, which they could not afford at just $80 USD per night. Such a low all-inclusive price is a virtual giveaway, yet these “wealthy Nigerians”, as Gaston Browne called them, could not afford it.
The Gaston-led Government claims the travelers are tourists, yet several of the Nigerians have stated they are here looking for employment.
In light of these scandalous developments, we demand answers to the following questions:
1. Why were some of the Nigerian visitors allowed entry into the country without any declared accommodation?
2. How could these visitors be granted visas on arrival when they had no accommodations booked?
3. Our brothers and sisters around the Caribbean are required to declare their accommodations on arrival in Antigua and Barbuda. Even Antiguans and Barbudans in the diaspora are required to fill out an address, on return to their homeland. Why was the requirement to declare accommodation waived in this case?
4. Reports indicate that of those visitors who declared their accommodations, many changed locations due to being unable to pay. What measures did the Immigration Department take to properly monitor the travelers as they deviated from their stated arrangements?
5. Government vehicles were seen to be transporting Nigerian travelers to various locations across the island. This is not consistent with what obtains when “tourists” visit our shores. What is the true nature of the Government’s involvement in the Antigua Airways Scheme?
6. Why has the Department of Immigration and the Government remained silent in the face of such obvious irregularities and breaches surrounding the Antigua Airways scheme?
The United Progressive Party is extremely concerned about the integrity of our immigration system, our national security, our tourism brand and our international reputation.
Concerns have already been raised about the possibly of human trafficking being at play in this situation. Our nation can ill-afford such negative international scrutiny at this time.
We further unequivocally condemn what appears to be the callous politically-motivated exploitation of poor Nigerian travelers, who were misinformed about the arrangements of their trip, only to be left unable to afford accommodation and pulling suitcases behind them in the streets.
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The question is why? It is obvious that there is panic in the ALP camp and these are really desperate measures. I have noticed that Gaston Brown’s picture is on the ALP representatives billboards. Are the foreign national’s vote no longer reliable or sufficient? Something is shady and illegal about all of this. Nowhere in the world can you enter a country without following proper immigration procedures. The people in charge of this must be made to answer. And make no mistake about it, there are security threats at stake here. Who are these people? Why are they being allowed to enter here unlawfully? The world watches.
Scandalous is really a mild word to describe this scheme of moving poor African brothers and sisters from Nigeria. Horrendous and nefarious would be more apt words to describe this scheme. With the establishment of Antigua Airways, we were told by Gaston Browne that wealthy tourists and business people from Nigeria would be flocking to Antigua. Instead what have we seen? Poor men and women, some with only a knapsack on their back, arriving at VCBIA with no known accommodation address. That alone is a breach of immigration policies. It would appear that the African brothers and sisters who show up at our shores were poor people lured off of the streets in Abuja and Lagos. This whole scheme is a matter that must be brought to the attention of the UN International Organization for Migration because something is just not right about it.
“Such a low all-inclusive price is a virtual giveaway,” is this supposed to be journalism? not even a pretense at objectivity
How come UPP leaving the Government of Antigua Extension Division chief officer out of this melee? He has been in Antigua long enough to find the best ways of bobul among the people he is trying to introduce to Antigua! Just what is he and his Antigua government posse up to?
Mr. Pringle as the elected Leader of the Opposition, even though Parliament has been dissolved, could you please go into the Government offices at Extension and ask the Nigerian man there what is he up to? Human trafficking for the election or just commerce?
Is it the printing delivery for ALP?
Is it gold and hard currency from West to East?
What the hell is he up to with this airline fiasco?
Jumbee_Picknee asks…
…are these #Africans
…arriving, on the shores of Our Nation,
…on the eve, of the General Elections
…#bare_feet 🦶🏿🦶🏿Tourists?
…asylum seeking #refugees?
…Niger_River #mercenaries?
…Obeahman or Televangelist?
…some say, they could be #terrorists
…but, some thing is amiss
…even grannie wants to know,
…fu sure! Fe sure!
…what is #this? Some thing ain’t right with #this.
…so, if #this is THE NEXT LEVEL
…we’re definitely in trouble
…even though, I ain’t Orwell
…just like what the ABLP did to Asot
…I, hope you haven’t forgot?
…’cause, Asot is catching HELL
…so, my good citizens beware
…yes, please! Please! Be Aware!
…since, Hell hath no fury! #No #Mercy!
…like, those crooked politicians,
…running Our Nation!
…be they UPP or ABLP.
…they’re as honest, as The African Anansi.
Ras Smood aka Jumbee_Picknee
De ‘ole Dutty Peg Foot Bastard
Vere Cornwall Edwards.
Probably all Boko Haram coming to soft country like Antigua to convert we to islam and hold our schools hostage like they do in Nigeria. Can’t wait to have a burning tyre round my neck by TN Kirnon child soldiers because me nar convert fi NOBADDY
MR. IMF ROMANTIC RHYTHMS WADADLI POWER CAN’T ABST HOTEL RIPOFF ABIB COLLAPSER BANKING-SECTOR COLLAPSER ANTI-UWI FIVE ISLANDS CAMPUS BAICO COLLAPSER etc etc etc
A you a tark? 👀
@ TEAR-GAS-TON
If i were you I would hide myself from the electorate for what YOU, CUTIE AND THE ABLP CABAL did to us ANTIGUANS on 8th AUGUST 2021. That is a day that will forever be etched in our minds. This is what THE TEAR-GAS DID TO US:
-CAUSED BLURRED VISION
-BURNING AND REDNESS OF OUR EYES
-DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING
-BURNING AND IRRITATION IN OUR MOUTH AND NOSE
-NAUSEA AND VOMITING
-TIGHT SENSATION IN MY CHEST LIKE A HEART ATTACK
-CHOKING
-BURNS
-DAMAGE TO FACE AND HEAD
-THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS CAN LEAD TO GLAUCOMA, BLINDNESS ETC
That is what GASTON AND CUTIE AND HIS CABINET CAUSED TO US, and not one of his ministers has ever condemned him, but expect us to vote for them? HELL NO, I SAY VOTE DEM OUT!!!
Athley Rodney on 08/08/2021 to Gaston and Cutie ‘should I proceed with the plan to tear gas the poor black hungry Antiguans and Barbudans?’
Gaston and Cutie’s response to Rodney ‘Yes, teargas DEM RASIIS, make certain that you hurt them real badly, let them know that a we run things ya’
Dem wicked evil and HEARTLESS Vagabonds.
Their time is up. NEVER AGAIN MUST THEY RUN THIS COUNTRY. GET RID A DEM
The “SCANDAL” is the GUNMAN u hab pan ya ticket. De same GUNMAN DAT HATES YOUR GUTS and warn fu be leader/prime minister.
Stick wit issues dat will impact de electorate voting choices, not grabbing at weak straws. Look at your so-called “slate” compared to 2004??? A drunk u drunk fu present dat HOGWASHING slate to Antigua people?? Your hands are tainted with IMF Blood!!
@ TESSA
@ TEAR-GAS-TON
If i were you I would hide myself from the electorate for what YOU, CUTIE AND THE ABLP CABAL did to us ANTIGUANS on 8th AUGUST 2021. That is a day that will forever be etched in our minds. This is what THE TEAR-GAS DID TO US:
-CAUSED BLURRED VISION
-BURNING AND REDNESS OF OUR EYES
-DIFFICULTY SWALLOWING
-BURNING AND IRRITATION IN OUR MOUTH AND NOSE
-NAUSEA AND VOMITING
-TIGHT SENSATION IN MY CHEST LIKE A HEART ATTACK
-CHOKING
-BURNS
-DAMAGE TO FACE AND HEAD
-THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS CAN LEAD TO GLAUCOMA, BLINDNESS ETC
That is what GASTON AND CUTIE AND HIS CABINET CAUSED TO US, and not one of his ministers has ever condemned him, but expect us to vote for them? HELL NO, I SAY VOTE DEM OUT!!!
Athley Rodney on 08/08/2021 to Gaston and Cutie ‘should I proceed with the plan to tear gas the poor black hungry Antiguans and Barbudans?’
Gaston and Cutie’s response to Rodney ‘Yes, teargas DEM RASIIS, make certain that you hurt them real badly, let them know that a we run things ya’
Dem wicked evil and HEARTLESS Vagabonds.
Their time is up. NEVER AGAIN MUST THEY RUN THIS COUNTRY. GET RID A DEM
Coach the ICECREAM SCOOPER 🍦 Gladys on how to talk sensible about FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT. That’s what Antigua people are concerned about – QUALITY Candidates which UPP lacks
And you lacking some brain cells 😄😄😄
Tessa.
Teach Grabston fu tap thief.
Just drink your red Kool-aid when Grabston bring it and go lie down. Never to be heard from again.
Useful idiot
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