Prime Minister Gaston Browne has stated firmly that Antigua and Barbuda will limit the number of refugees it accepts to a maximum of 10 per year. The announcement outlines a controlled approach to managing refugee intake.

Last month, the government of St Kitts and Nevis confirmed it had received its first group of third-country deportees transferred from the United States under a bilateral agreement with Washington.

Officials stated that three CARICOM nationals from Jamaica and Belize were included in the group, arriving under arrangements linked to individuals accused of breaching immigration laws.

(Prime Minister Gaston Browne pictured on the Browne and Browne Show- credit Pointe Broadcasting Network- Facebook)

Prime Minister Browne also told radio audiences that an earlier proposal had suggested accepting up to 120 people without clear support or proper vetting processes, which he said was not acceptable.

“At one point I’m told that they had access to accept as many as 120 individuals and there was no guarantees, no guaranteed assistance, no guaranteed due diligence, and I said to them that that is totally unacceptable.

“So I just want to keep the people informed. Again we’re not promoting any hostility with the United States,  we want to maintain good relations with the US, but they have to understand that  we have to defend our national interests. We’re a small, powerless and very vulnerable country,”  he added.

According to the statement, the decision is intended to ensure the country maintains oversight and balance in handling applications for asylum and refugee status.

The policy sets a clear annual cap, reflecting the government’s position on managing migration within its capacity and administrative framework.

No further details were provided on how cases will be selected or processed under the new limit.

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