ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — Barbuda MP Trevor Walker on Tuesday criticized the government’s handling of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States on the possible transfer of third-country nationals, arguing that members of Parliament were given too little time to examine the document before being asked to debate a related resolution.
Speaking during debate on the government’s resolution outlining the principles for continued negotiations with Washington, Walker questioned why the MOU was circulated shortly before the sitting and suggested that many lawmakers, including government members, may not have had an opportunity to study it in detail.
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Walker said Parliament should not be expected to deliberate on a matter of such national importance without adequate time to review the supporting documents.
“I don’t know if anybody in this Honourable House had seen this MOU before today,” he said. “Maybe some members on the government side saw it, but I certainly didn’t.”
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The Barbuda representative argued that members needed sufficient time to compare the memorandum with the White Paper and the proposed resolution to fully understand the government’s negotiating position.
He questioned why Parliament was being asked to endorse principles arising from a document that legislators had only recently received.
Walker also raised concerns about the version of the memorandum circulated to members, saying it appeared to be unsigned and asking whether it represented the final document agreed between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States.
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He said those uncertainties made it difficult for Parliament to properly scrutinize the negotiations.
“We have to know exactly what it is we’re debating,” Walker said, arguing that greater transparency would strengthen public confidence in the process.
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Walker stressed that his concerns were not intended to undermine the country’s relationship with the United States but to ensure Parliament was able to perform its oversight role effectively.
He said members should be given adequate time to examine documents before being asked to debate issues involving Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty and international obligations.
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The criticism prompted a response from Prime Minister Gaston Browne later in the debate. Browne said the White Paper and the resolution had been circulated in advance and argued that the memorandum of understanding was not a legally binding agreement. He also explained that it is generally not customary to publicly circulate diplomatic correspondence between governments, although a signed copy of the MOU was later provided to parliamentarians.
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I am one of the very few people, and maybe the only who have put it out there on this very ANR last week, that the government should disclose the MOU..
I asked why all now the voters have not seen the details of the MOU..we didn’t even know what the US detailed in their agreement.
Like I’ve said before.This Administration is a day late and a dollar short on everything.. They are just not honest people.. simple..
You will never get transparency from this administration, never.. everything they do is after the fact and shrouded in secrecy.
They operate like the Mob, a criminal organization.
Wait a minute!
Opposition, how long do we have to put up with your constant crying about not enough time to review documents? Are we not tired of hearing this over and over again? And what do you do to stop it? Just keep complaining and then going along?
ENOUGH!
Gaston has a right to do you all that. He knows that all you would do is yap, yap, yap and then just come to heel. You all go into the house and debate the same bills you say you know nothing about because you get them late.
Tired of you all. Getting on me last nerves.
@ Islanman26,
Do you realize that this is an Ai project supported by Gaston and the only original texts are those written by commentators?
Time to start writing in an independent journal instead of writing to support a propaganda outlet.
You are so correct @Country man.
This ANR has become pure regurgitation of GB nonsense, and not the actual real news.
@ Islanman26
To many times biting criticism that are not libelous, does make it through the moderator or are buried for tgry are too hot to handle.
Let’s put out the call to @Brixtonian, @Eldread and those who can offer fact based opinions; as well as any budding investigative journalist.
Not just Antigua and Barbuda but the entire Caribbean needs minds, pens and voices of people like yourself.
The barriers to entry are now lower than they were in the past.
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