In what appears to be a poor attempt at extortion, being made by Antigua's Prime Minister GASTON BROWNE, against the European Union, the Government of Antigua has taken the position that, unless the EU replacement funding for the current CIO income, (which is scheduled to disappear in 2028), with loans and grants, it will not terminate its problematic economic passport sales program. The EU has warned that, unless CIP is terminated, Antigua's Schengen access to its European Members will be cancelled.
Observers of the past actions of the EU fear that, if Browne's public statements, demanding funding for Antigua, to take the place of CIP income, which is used to pay a large portion of a budget swollen with unnecessary and nonfunctional staff positions, the EU will sanction Antigua, resulting in the same situation that currently exists for its passport holders in the United States.
An untenable situation, where Antiguans can neither travel to the United States nor the European Union after June 2028, could very well occur, interfering not only with most of their leisure travel, but necessary student and business visas, for a nation that imports most of its consumer goods, and sends its best and brightest young to universities abroad. Furthermore, will the cost of living increase there as a result, and could its critical tourism sector suffer a substantial decrease in visitors ?
The local economy could plunge into a depressed state, all due to a governmental position that replacement funding was the EU's obligation if it terminated CIP. Are there no reasonable leaders in St. John's, or will Antigua become isolated, due to its leader's posturing in favor of a discredited passport sales program? We hope new leadership, making better choices, finds a way to bring Antigua out of it current nationalistic fever, into the realities of today. CIP is dying, Gaston, for many reasons; move on.
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