Antigua Today

20/12/2025

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗥𝗘𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗨𝗦 𝗩𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗦 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗚𝗨𝗔 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗕𝗔𝗥𝗕𝗨𝗗𝗔 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗦

From Sir Ronald Sanders
Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda to the U.S.

On the instructions of, and with the guidance of, the Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda— with whom I have been working closely following the issuance of the United States Proclamation entitled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” issued on 16 December 2025—I met today with senior officials of the United States Department of State.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Proclamation and its implications for Antigua and Barbuda.
At that meeting, the following matters were confirmed and agreed, and I wish to place them clearly on the public record.
First, all visas currently in existence and validly issued to holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports will continue to be respected and accepted for entry into the United States. This applies to all visa categories, including B-1, B-2, J, and M visas.
For the avoidance of doubt, this includes tourist, business, student, and other valid United States-issued visas.
Second, there will be no revocation of any existing visas issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda prior to 31 December 2025.
Third, with regard to new visa applications submitted after that date, these will be subject to new arrangements that are still to be worked out with several Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Barbuda.
These arrangements relate specifically to the collection of biometric information of Antigua and Barbuda passport holders to ensure full compatibility with United States biometric systems.
I emphasise that the process of gathering the biometric information will be no different than now applies to all Antigua and Barbuda citizens; only the technology will change to align it with the US system.
This alignment of biometric data systems will apply to all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, including citizens by birth, descent, naturalisation, or investment.
On behalf of the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, I wish to express appreciation to the officials of the United States Government who have worked with us constructively and in good faith to address this matter.
We are grateful for their commitment to continue working with us in furtherance of the cooperative relationship that our two countries have long enjoyed.
Antigua and Barbuda recognises and respects the responsibility of the United States to protect its national security.
We have pledged—and we reaffirm—our commitment to continue working closely with United States authorities on all necessary measures to ensure that our systems present no risk to U.S. security, while preserving legitimate travel for our citizens.
We are pleased that clarity has been achieved on these immediate concerns, and we will continue to participate fully in the work now underway to ensure the continuation of strong people-to-people exchanges between the United States and Antigua and Barbuda.

13/12/2025

𝗦𝗜𝗥 𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗔𝗟𝗗 𝗪𝗔𝗧𝗧 𝗣𝗔𝗦𝗦𝗘𝗦 𝗔𝗪𝗔𝗬 𝗔𝗧 𝟴𝟲

The nation is in mourning following the death of Sir Gerald Watt KC, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and former Attorney General. Sir Gerald passed away on Saturday at the age of 86, while receiving medical care.

Sir Gerald devoted decades of his life to public service, holding several key national roles. He served as Attorney General, Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, President of the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association, and Speaker of the House of Representatives. He resigned as Speaker in 2024, after a decade of service in the role.

His passing has deeply impacted the legal fraternity, as Sir Gerald was widely regarded as one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most distinguished and respected legal minds. He was Head of Chambers at Watt, Dorsett, Hewlett Law. Partner Dr. David Dorsett described him as “one of a kind.”

Sir Gerald would have marked his 87th birthday on December 19.

29/11/2025

𝗤𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆.

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝘄𝘆𝗻 𝗝𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗶𝗿 𝗖𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻?

15/11/2025

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗮𝘅𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁?

Something is very wrong in Antigua and Barbuda.
While local businesses struggle to survive under the full weight of ABST, Social Security, Medical Benefits, and endless government fees, a wave of Syrian shawarma shops has quietly built a tax-free empire. Cash only. No receipts. No paper trail. No oversight. And no consequences.
Every month, these shops rake in millions — while contributing nothing to the tax system the rest of us are forced to fund. That is the definition of unfairness. Not business competition. Not entrepreneurship. Unfairness.
And what does the Inland Revenue Department do?
Absolutely nothing.
The IRD is quick to penalize small, compliant Antiguan businesses for the slightest filing error, but refuses to confront the fast-growing network of cash-only shawarma shops operating right under its nose. It is hard to tell whether this is laziness, fear, or outright compromise — but whatever it is, it has destroyed public confidence in tax fairness.
Antiguans are expected to play by the rules.
These shops are allowed to play by none.
That is the IRD’s failure — and the country’s disgrace.
If fairness still means anything in this nation, enforcement must start now. Not next month. Not next year. Now.

12/11/2025

05/11/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 — 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀?

01/11/2025

𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟰𝟰 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗮...🇦🇬

23/10/2025

𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗠𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗣𝗮𝘆𝘀 $𝟭𝟬 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁

In a stunning turn of events, Harney Motors, one of Antigua and Barbuda’s most prominent auto dealers, has paid a wopping $10 million in restitution to the Government following revelations of its involvement in an illegal duty-free factory scheme that defrauded the state of millions in taxes and customs duties.

20/10/2025

𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 $𝟭𝟱 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹

Minister of Works, Maria Browne, has finally spoken out amid growing public debate over the alleged $15 million vehicle scandal rocking her ministry. In a heartfelt statement shared with the nation, Browne described the situation as another challenge she faces in her mission to serve with integrity, accusing her political opponents of twisting her efforts to plug a decades-old loophole into a smear campaign for their own gain.

“I’m not one to share a lot on social media because by nature, I’m a quiet person. Daily, it is enough for me that I find gratification in just knowing that I have made, and continue to make positive impacts in the lives of others and solving problems in scenarios that arise in my line of duty. My heart smiles every time I get the opportunity and make good on it, to ‘be the change’ that is necessary. From the day I took office I’ve been met with many challenges, and through the grace of God I have been able to surmount each one. What I face today is no different; another decades-old loophole is being plugged in an effort to save our country money. Incidentally, those who crave power by whatever means, want to spin this good deed to sully my name in hopes it will propel them to victory because on their own, they have no merit. Under the principles of good governance, and doing right by the people who put me here, I shall continue to serve our nation (regardless of who likes me or not).
Placed here by the people; working for the people to fulfill a purpose and no amount of distractions will ever break my focus.
Huge heartfelt thanks to everyone who reached out to me. I love and appreciate you all so very much.
A note to everyone out there: work towards your goals with pure intentions as murky ambition will block your blessings.
Do good and good will follow you ❤️.”

20/10/2025

𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲’𝘀 𝗗𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼

Letter to the Editor

Opposition Leader Jamal Pringle has found himself embroiled in the very vehicle scandal he has been calling for an investigation into. Evidence obtained by investigators confirms that a vehicle already flagged in the ongoing probe was transferred from Harney Motors—a key player in the duty-free and fake tax exemption scheme—to a company owned by Pringle around Christmas last year.

Investigators have uncovered that Harney Motors, One of the main financier of the United Progressive Party, operated an illegal duty-free selling racket and used fake tax exemption documents to evade import duties and pocket millions in profits. Those profits, according to the evidence, were funneled into political circles connected to the UPP.
The attached documents show clearly that Pringle’s company received one of the same vehicles now under investigation, directly linking him to the network accused of defrauding taxpayers and using fake duty-free transactions to finance political favors.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, no senior UPP figure will publicly condemned Harney Motors. Party insiders say the leadership will never attack him because he remains their most powerful campaign funder and a critical financial lifeline heading into the next general election.
It is a case of hypocrisy laid bare. Pringle stood in Parliament demanding accountability from the government, while his own company is connected to a vehicle at the center of the very scandal he condemned.
For years, Harney Motors has bankrolled UPP campaigns, supplied vehicles, and quietly financed operations behind the scenes. The scandal exposes the double standards at the heart of the UPP. While Pringle publicly demands investigations and accountability, he is personally tied to the same corrupt practices he condemns, leaving the public to question whether the Opposition is genuinely committed to integrity—or merely protecting its own.

If you live in a glass house, don’t throw stones.

14/10/2025

𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗙𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘁. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻’𝘀

A vehicle that was reportedly stolen on Sunday, October 12, was recovered by the police following a high-speed pursuit through the streets of St. John’s on Monday afternoon.

At approximately 4:40 p.m., officers from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Gang and Guns Suppression Unit (G.A.G.S.U.), and the Traffic Department were on mobile patrol in the vicinity of the Ministry of Works when they observed a white Honda Fit motor car, which had been reported stolen.

The officers attempted to intercept the vehicle, however the driver reportedly sped off in a dangerous manner along St. John’s Street.
A chase ensued, and during the pursuit, the suspect vehicle struck several parked cars before colliding into a culvert at the junction of St. John’s Street and Wapping Lane, where it came to a stop.

Two male occupants exited the vehicle and fled on foot. The police conducted an extensive search of the area, resulting in the arrest of a 19-year-old Villa resident on suspicion of robbery.

He was taken into custody at the St. John’s Police Station for questioning, and the vehicle was transported to Police Headquartersfor further processing.

The police are appealing to anyone with information surrounding this incident to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913 or call the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline number at 800-Tips (8477).
Investigations remain ongoing.

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