ANTIGUA'S PRIME MINISTER PUSHES DISINFORMATION ON VISA SUSPENSION BY UNITED STATES, CONTINUES HIS ANTI-AMERICAN, ANTI-CARICOM RHETORIC

GASTON  BROWNE, the outspoken pro-Venezuelan Prime Minister of ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA, one of the two Eastern Caribbean states identified by US President Donald Trump for essentially total visa suspension, due to historical defects in the their Citizenship by Investment (CIP) passport sales program, pushed back by giving his constituents disinformation about the situation. As the above chart clearly shows, Antiguans, with extremely rare exceptions, can no longer qualify for US visas. Browne's deception, telling his citizens that he had, through diplomatic prowess, succeeded in reversing the suspension, has no basis in truth or in fact; he tried to make it seem he had saved the day by receiving assurances that existing visas would still be valid, but that arrangement was already agreed to by the United States  

Browne also took the opportunity to criticize CARICOM, the organization of Caribbean states, which publishes a statement expressing concern about the visa suspensions, and agreeing to cooperation and dialogues with the United States, as well as to dispute statement of  the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, with out naming her, for "cursing the US administration. " Browne's public announcements, which have extolled the autocratic regimes in Venezuela, Cuba and China (which is building a 'Hong Kong' type enclave on what was an Antiguan nature preserve) have featured negative comments on the United States, and in support of the China-sponsored ZONE OF PEACE proposal, which calls for the  disengagement of American military assets in the Caribbean.

Browne's exposure, due to a number of major pending scandals, including but not limited to the $10m missing from a luxury yacht sale, "Vehicle Gate,"  the turnover to US DOJ of financial records incriminating him in corruption, and the Mehul Choksi CIP extradition, the aviation controversy with Nigeria,  and the EU policy statement on CIP as grounds for the revocation of visa-free entry into the Schengen Zone, have placed his political future in jeopardy. Insiders in Antigua believe Browne fears he will be indicted in the United States as soon as he leaves office, and loses immunity as a Head of State.

2026 could see some major changes in Antigua, both politically, as well as what are now understood to be existential threats to the Citizenship by Investment program, and due to its ever closer affiliation with the People's Republic of China, and American responses to Chinese influence in tghe region.