Prime Minister Gaston Browne has voiced concern that new United States visa restrictions are causing tangible hardship for Antiguan and Barbudan families, students and businesses — while expressing hope that the measures will not be made permanent.
According to Antigua.news, Browne made the remarks on the sidelines of the 51st CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in Saint Lucia, where he told reporters the revised US visa policy is creating unnecessary obstacles for citizens who depend on travel to the United States for education, commerce and family visits.
"The visa policy of the United States is undermining trade, commerce and even our students who require a visa to study in the United States," Browne said. "We also have individuals who like to visit their relatives in the United States, and they too are affected."
Under the revised policy, visitor visas issued to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda are now limited to a single entry and valid for only three months, replacing the previous 10-year multiple-entry arrangement. Some applicants may also be required to post a bond of up to US$15,000. The changes were introduced amid US security concerns surrounding Antigua and Barbuda's Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme.
Despite the restrictions, Browne said he believes the measures were intended to be temporary, referencing a July 1st date by which he had hoped they would lapse.
"I believe that it would have fallen on July 1st, even though we have not heard formally from anyone in the US. We're still hopeful that now that July 1st has actually come, that it will not be repeated," he said.
"We haven't heard any words from the United States to confirm whether or not they're going to extend it or if it falls away. Again, we hope that the latter will prevail and that the restrictions will fall away because at any day we have absolutely no issue in the United States."
The Prime Minister stressed that Antigua and Barbuda maintains a close and cooperative relationship with Washington, describing the United States as the country's most important development partner. He noted that approximately 80 percent of goods consumed locally originate from the US, and that American tourists represent the country's single largest source market.
"Our most significant source market for tourists is the United States, and so for us, our development is inextricably linked to that of the United States. And we continue to work harmoniously with the US," Browne said.
Browne also addressed ongoing discussions regarding a proposed arrangement that would allow Antigua and Barbuda to receive third-country nationals deported by the United States. He reaffirmed the Government's willingness to participate in such a programme, but insisted that national security remains the overriding concern.
"All we're seeking to do here is to protect our country to make sure that we do not attract criminal elements to our country," Browne said. "But we have indicated to them that we will certainly participate in the third country nationals programme."
He added that his Government is seeking an agreement that excludes any individuals with criminal backgrounds and remains within the country's operational capacity to manage.
Browne said his administration will continue engaging with US officials to pursue the lifting of the visa restrictions while safeguarding the strong diplomatic and economic relationship between the two nations.
