PM Gaston Browne adamant no criminals in its ‘TCN arrangement’

One Antiguan called Prime Minister Holness weak; another labelled him, “jellyfish”

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, is talking tough on his government’s adamant position that it will not give any green light for the United States to include criminals in the Third-Country Nationals (TCN) arrangement being discussed. 

The Prime Minister declared that his country offered to take no more than ten third-country nationals per year, insisting that the 120 being proposed by the United States is unacceptable. Browne declared that this position is driven by an effort to cooperate with the United States while protecting the national interests of Antigua and Barbuda.

He made the declaration on Sunday while addressing the 78th Meeting of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Authority at Royalton Resort Antigua on Sunday, as he assumed the chairmanship for the next year. Antigua and Barbuda, like several other Caribbean states, has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with the US to accept third-country nationals. 

These are individuals whom the US is not able to deport to their respective countries, for various reasons. Currently, there is intense debate about Jamaica’s position on its TCN negotiations with America, admitting that an MOU has been signed but not implemented, as discussions are still taking place on the matter.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace, Dr Horace Chang, admitted that the agreed quota is for 25 TCN individuals to be facilitated every two weeks for transit through Jamaica to a third territory, including their home countries, emphasising, “individuals with criminal antecedents will not be accepted under this arrangement, as Jamaica’s security considerations remain paramount.”

However, the main Opposition and civil society groups have poured cold water on this explanation from Dr Chang, saying information in the public domain suggests that this is a distinct possibility.

Antiguans and Barbudans have been commenting on the debate on this matter in Jamaica, juxtaposing with the position and declaration of Prime Minister Brown, with Elaine Gassop posting of Brown, “this is a PM with backbone; he is not a jellyfish like the one in Jamaica. Another national, Janet Julien, wrote, “ PM (Brown), I totally agree with you. The USA has more resources than little Antigua. So they need to keep them.

A third commentator, Ruel Henry, wrote, “Unlike Jamaica, this is what I call strong leadership and protection of their citizens.”