Senator Chester Hughes has accused the Gaston Browne administration of accepting, rather than negotiating, a proposed third-country deportee arrangement with the United States, arguing that Antigua and Barbuda was presented with terms instead of participating in meaningful discussions.
Speaking at a United Progressive Party town hall meeting on the government’s White Paper, Hughes rejected the administration’s characterisation of the process as a negotiation.
“The government of Antigua and Barbuda negotiated an MOU, and up to this day have not come to this country and said anything to its nationals,” Hughes said.
“This MOU, I believe, was given to them. No negotiations. They’re making it sound fancy. America did not negotiate with any of these governments. America told them, ‘You’re going to take these persons.’ And that’s it.”
Hughes said the Prime Minister has offered varying explanations of the arrangement, including the number of deportees Antigua and Barbuda would accept.
“He is playing fanciful with words,” Hughes said. “First, ‘I’m not taking more than 10.’ Then recently, ‘I’ll accept 16.’”
He also claimed the Prime Minister indicated the country would accept however many people arrived on a flight from the United States.
The senator argued that the government has not explained key aspects of the proposal, including where transferred migrants would be housed or how they would be managed after arriving in Antigua and Barbuda.
“Where are these people going to stay?” Hughes asked, questioning whether they would be accommodated in communities, government housing or elsewhere.
Hughes also criticized the government for signing the Memorandum of Understanding before consulting the public.
“The government of Antigua and Barbuda negotiated a MOU and up to this day have not come to this country and said anything to its nationals,” he said, adding that the White Paper was only released after the agreement had already been signed.
He further argued that Caribbean governments should have adopted a common position on the issue rather than responding individually to the United States.
“And then you’re hearing the Prime Minister… saying that the region should have been acting as one,” Hughes said. “We have a group of arrogant leaders who are leading this Caribbean that are not about people, but about themselves.”
Hughes maintained that Parliament should use the upcoming debate on the White Paper to challenge what he described as the government’s handling of the agreement and press for answers on behalf of the public.
Antigua Newsroom
