Prime Minister Gaston Browne has indicated that Antigua and Barbuda is nearing an agreement with the United States over the acceptance of a limited number of third-country nationals, while firmly ruling out any arrangement that includes individuals with criminal backgrounds.
According to Antigua News Room, Browne made the remarks Tuesday evening at a reception hosted by the U.S. Embassy at Jumby Bay, held to mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence.
"The issue is not even so much about the numbers," Browne said, indicating that Antigua and Barbuda could consider increasing its annual intake of third-country nationals from 10 to as many as 14, provided adequate safeguards are in place.
The prime minister outlined clear conditions for any such arrangement. Those accepted must not have criminal records, must possess skills that can contribute to the country, and must not place a burden on public resources.
"If they come in here to be loafers, we don't want them," Browne said, arguing that Antigua and Barbuda, as a small developing state, cannot absorb the social and economic burdens that larger nations may be seeking to transfer.
Browne also stressed the importance of valid travel documentation, warning against a scenario where accepted individuals claim to have no papers and effectively become stateless.
"We don't want anybody to come here and say that they don't have any travel documents and they become stateless if we get stuck with them," he said.
The issue has gained regional attention following reports that the United States has approached several Caribbean nations about accepting third-country nationals being removed from U.S. territory.
Browne said Antigua and Barbuda remains committed to protecting its national interests while working toward what he described as a "sensible agreement." U.S. Embassy Chargé d'Affaires to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Karin Sullivan, was among those attending the reception.
