In an indication that the Browne government does not intend to bring its flawed and corrupt CBI program to world standards, Ambassador Ronald Sanders blames the United States for the visa restriction problem. He says the entire Caribbean will be “forced” and “compelled” to seek other trading partners.
“Caribbean businesspeople” who can’t travel to the U.S. will have to take their business elsewhere, he says, never mentioning the almost unique case of Antiguans and Barbudans because of Browne’s CBI.
In soft diplomatic language, Sanders is saying that Browne won’t fix his CBI problem by the July 1 deadline.
Writing in Caribbean Today, Sanders focuses on the difficulties that U.S. tariffs are having on small countries, and why it may be necessary to seek new trading partners.
But his third point – the real essence – of the article is to blame Washington for restricting visas on Antigua and Barbuda passport holders, and to make it look like everyone in the Caribbean is a victim.
“The third factor is practical, but no less important,” Sanders writes. “Caribbean businesspeople have long travelled to the United States to inspect goods, meet suppliers, attend trade fairs, negotiate contracts and maintain commercial relationships. Where visa requirements become more onerous, or where high bond requirements are imposed in some cases and may yet become more widespread, the cost of doing business with the United States rises yet again.”
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