PM Challenges Opposition to Declare Position on China, Citizenship Programme
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has challenged the opposition to publicly declare its position on Antigua and Barbuda’s relationship with China and the Citizenship by Investment Programme, accusing it of sending mixed signals at home and abroad.
Speaking on his Browne and Browne radio programme, Browne said opposition figures have been critical of the government’s ties with China while avoiding a clear policy stance on whether they would end the relationship if elected to office .
He said the opposition should state openly whether it would be prepared to forgo Chinese concessional loans, grants and other forms of support that have financed major public projects. Browne argued that any proposal to sever ties with China must be accompanied by an explanation of how the resulting funding gap would be filled.
The prime minister also challenged the opposition to clarify its position on the Citizenship by Investment Programme, which he said generates more than US$100 million annually in government revenue, in addition to wider economic benefits .
Browne said the public deserves to know whether the opposition would be willing to dismantle the programme in exchange for maintaining visa-free access to certain markets, rather than leaving its position ambiguous.
He accused the opposition of avoiding a formal policy declaration while allowing external actors to frame its positions, and said it should “state a position categorically” on both China and the citizenship programme.
Browne said the government’s position on the two issues has been consistent and transparent, and urged the opposition to offer the same clarity to the electorate.
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The answer is Yes….Remember Stanford u saw how quick he was thrown under the bus…Horrible man did nothing for the country and government never saved our asses when we were running dry…Strip his knighthood!! Look Obama we don’t like him…..If UPP was running this ship China would get the boot ASAP because they fraid Uncle Sam they not brave like you Mr. PM who stood up to the Orange Tyrant…Now we have VISA blocking and soon if we keep smart mouthing we will be sanctioned and we will be totally dependent on China…Oh well who cares about a stupid US VISa anyway?? We can go to Ping Town!! Hells yeah!!!!
It is obvious having followed different blogs throughout that opposition parties and their supporters are using this visa issue for political gain. They would say they would have done the opposite, challenge the USA etc if they were in power but any rational thinking person know these are just games being played.
Remember Daren ask Jonathan that question bout the CIP Jonathan staredi ecplaing himself an Daren never gave the man a chance to clarify himself he keep letting Hurst control that program they had on twin island media
Gaston, the Opposition doesn’t need to tell you a damn thing. How many things have you done without informing us. Just go and rest your money hungry self
PM they well know they will maintain the relationship with China and still push for CIP. It was them who first said no to CIP then changed their mind after reality set in. When in power they argued China was the future and we needed to start pushing for Chinese tourists (Barbados is now pushing this market) . Unless the US plans to do for us like it does for Israel (won’t happen), makes no sense we shoot ourselves in the foot. The US president since Nov, has made clear he has permanently paused all immigration from third world countries. Antiguans & Barbudan’s will no longer be able to do like Bowen did 40 years ago, overstay and then work illegally in the US. They will no longer tolerate non white persons breaking their immigration laws. Trump says the focus has to be on immigrants from places like Norway..
You would have to be the dumbest set of elected officials, to even think of such nonsense. Is this really all about visa, to enter a country where you’re not welcome? Even a green card application where the family sponsor, have to first prove he is financially comfortable to support his family members, and the many papers one have to provide, plus traveling for the strictest of interview, you have now decided all that isn’t enough, for applicants of certain countries to freely enter, reside, work and receive the benefits applicable to them.
After all China did and continue to do for this country you will be willing to dump them for a few visa, I wonder if you can recall how often you ran to China for assistance, at your last go around as government, Remember your Power Plant?
Just like the rest of the world you’re fighting a loosing battle. Look at Europe! With close to 30 countries, but continues to humble themselves to one country, they talk and pushes back on the Greenland issue, but it means nothing, so we now have the possibility of NATO fighting NATO, which will become the end of NATO, and this man is not backing down. Across South America airlines have to fly with caution, he said he needed a Las Vegas style development in Gaza, and he may now have it since Isreal bumb the hell out of Gaza without resistance.The world is in a mess, the same US of which you guys are so desperate to go to is in hell, yet we’re are talking Noble Peace Prize. Here in Wadadli you live freely in your own house or shack, and majority are living far better than most living in the great US. As stated previously, three more years to go, and instead of pulling together as one people, one Caribbean we have opposition parties using visa and green card band to run for office and score political points.
Great question and that is what I am looking for from the Opposition, alternatives to whatever the issue is. The UPP must put what their policies would be on the table and they have failed miserably to do so. That is one of their major weaknesses.
@Onlooker
OK UPP criticiser.
The entire situation with Antigua hangs on ABLP’s ‘whosoever will may come’ and purchase and sell our passports with no adequate due diligence. The amount of fraudsters and criminals with our passports is unbelieveable, with them being given away by the hundreds and thousands to all sorts, so dont place Antigua amongst the other caribbean islands. Our situation is unique.
IT IS PURELY ABLP’S MONEY HUNGRY AND UNSCROPULOUS FAULT.
Ok Gaston is trying to create a situation between the UPP and the Chinese where he become the handpick of the Chinese for political financing during elections.
This damn fooley man love to play “Simon says” or should it be “Gassy says” with the opposition UPP.
If I were the UPP, I’d ignore him. Simply because Browne’s hypothetical question is a trap to ensnare them into helping Browne find answers to his mess.
Mek he clean it up himself!
He’s in a quandary, and he knows it. Because he finds himself caught between a rock and a hard place with the Trump administration, and doesn’t really know what to do to appease the Americans, while staying a close allie with the Chinese, who are good “economic” friends with Antigua & Barbuda.
Gaston think he smart!
Please, please, please UPP don’t respond, or take his bait. He’s acting like a fisherman who can’t smell he own basket … but everyone else can!!!
Smokes and Mirrors!!!
This crab-in-a-barrel mindset has to end. They want us to end our relationship with China which is vital and must not be sacrificed. Look at what Orange Head is doing to EU simple because they oppose his Greenland take over.
There is no trap here.
This is word play and an attempt at tongue twisting.
The US never asked GB to abandon the CIP, they asked him to tighten it and put in place better vetting measures to ensure it’s security against these unscrupulous crooks that use Antigua as a stepping stone for access money laundering and many safe heaven for their nefarious activities.
GB was trying to play all sides and got caught, and now he’s out here asking childish questions.
So don’t let this man come with his fork-tongue lies to deceive you.
This man is a two bit swindler in sheep clothing.
The Antigua CIP as it stands has to go. It’s simply not a safe and feasible program in its current form.
GB is trying to turned his failures into this childish foolishness.
You choose China and your CIP over the US, not because you think the Chinese are better, but because your money is tied up with corrupt men in the CIP, that’s it. And the Chinese gave you a bunch of little trinkets in those MOU’s.
And if the UPP fall for your foolishness, they are just as foolish as you.
China gives us affordable loans but the US and Europeans mainly the US protects our democracy……We love our democracy but we also love our cheap loans from China…
The UPP would not have to cut no ties with China, because the UPP would had never allowed China to build an Embassy here, RESEMBLING A BASE, this is what really upset Trump and the United States, this is really the problem Gaston Browne and we all are quite aware of this.
Mr. Prime Minister, the UPP are not the Government and are not obligated to respond to your foolish challenges. The geopolitical situation is not in our favour and we need competent Leaders who can manage this complex and difficult situation. Unfortunately your ill advised and ignorant rantings and ravings on foreign policy issues show clearly that you are not the Leader we need. You have created a mess and you show no signs that you have the competence to get us out of it. I listen to the PM of Barbados..and I wish you would learn something from her.
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