PMs Gaston Browne and Roosevelt Skerrit should not be blamed for recent U.S. visa restrictions, according to Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan.

Speaking in a recent interview, Astaphan said Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica acted early to strengthen their Citizenship by Investment, or CBI, programmes. Therefore, he rejected claims that weak programme management caused the U.S. decision.

Opposition figures in both countries have accused the prime ministers of responsibility. However, Astaphan described those accusations as ill-informed and misleading.

According to him, there has been sustained regional cooperation since 2023. That collaboration involved the prime ministers of the five Eastern Caribbean CBI countries and the heads of their CBI units. Importantly, they engaged directly with international partners, including the United States and the European Union.

Moreover, Astaphan pointed to a major milestone reached in October. At that time, senior U.S. officials met with regional representatives. Those officials focused on anti-money laundering and counter-narcotics concerns. As a result, both sides agreed on six core principles to protect the integrity of CBI programmes.

Following that, several follow-up meetings took place. Some also included EU officials. Eventually, those talks produced an 81-page agreement. That agreement established a regional CBI Regulatory Authority.

In addition, the reforms addressed strict due diligence, residency rules, and a ban on name changes. All of those measures were passed into law across participating states.

Astaphan stressed that Antigua and Barbuda acted first. He said the country passed and implemented the required legislation ahead of others. Therefore, he described the government’s response as proactive and responsible.

Furthermore, he explained that the U.S. proclamation referenced residency concerns. However, he noted that Antigua and Barbuda had already corrected those issues before the announcement.

“Those changes were already in place,” Astaphan said. Consequently, he argued that continued criticism ignores the facts.

He added that some critics either misunderstand the process or missed the parliamentary debates entirely.

Meanwhile, Astaphan noted that Dominica and Antigua and Barbuda are not alone. Several other countries face the same U.S. policy measures.

The issue gained attention after the United States announced new entry restrictions. President Donald Trump signed the proclamation on December 16, 2025.

According to the proclamation, the measures aim to protect U.S. national security. It also cited concerns about identity management systems and traveler vetting.

Nevertheless, Astaphan maintains that regional governments acted responsibly and in good faith.

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