Antigua to end ‘liberal’ immigration policy

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Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencerlamented that the promise made two years ago by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the Conference of Heads of Government, to execute a study to assess the socio-economic impact of

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, July 3, 2009 – Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer says his country can no longer continue its “liberal” immigration policy and has made it clear that, in absence of a promised study on the impact of free movement on his twin-island nation, it could also not expand the categories of workers who can move there under the Revised Treaty that established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME).

His government has already started public consultations as it seeks to reform its immigration policy and related matters such as work permits, citizenship and electoral reform.

And Spencer told last evening’s opening of the CARICOM Summit in Georgetown that since signing on to the CSME, Antigua and Barbuda has honoured most of its obligations despite tremendous difficulties and challenges that arise because of the country’s limited resources. He said that even before then, the country welcomed Caribbean nationals to live and work there.

“In short, Antigua and Barbuda has been practicing a very liberal immigration policy for a number of years. However, this open and liberal immigration policy cannot be sustained amidst the growing threats posed by cross border criminal activity and the challenges of the global financial crisis. Continuing this liberal immigration arrangement is counter-productive to my government’s policy of providing the greatest good for the greatest number of our citizens and residents,” Spencer told his colleagues.

The Prime Minister lamented that the promise made two years ago by the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) and the Conference of Heads of Government, to execute a study to assess the socio-economic impact of the free movement of individuals in Antigua and Barbuda, has still not been fulfilled.

“This is a critical study and a priority for my Government,” he said. “It was recognised that Antigua and Barbuda was a special case where thousands of CARICOM nationals already reside, and as a result tremendous pressures have been placed on the social and economic infrastructure. We urged that all efforts be made for its completion prior to Antigua and Barbuda’s consideration of any further expansion of the existing or the addition of new categories of individuals moving within the meaning of Chapter three of the Revised Treaty.”

Even so, he said, his country remains committed to the principles of the regional integration movement.

According to statistics, between September 2008 and June 2009, the Immigration Department in Antigua and Barbuda approved 14,318 applications from persons seeking an extension of time to remain in the country. Among them may have been applicants who received multiple extensions.

In respect of work permits, during the period 1998 to 2008, about 5,000 were granted every year.

Furthermore, during the period 1999 to 2008, a total of 5,958 persons became citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, which averages about 600 persons per year. These figures do not include those persons who qualified for citizenship under the Millennium Naturalization Act which conferred citizenship on over 3,000 individuals who were living in Antigua and Barbuda legally for at least three years prior to December 31, 2000.

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