The opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) has announced it will hold a series of public consultations before Parliament debates the Government's White Paper on a proposed third-country deportee agreement with the United States.
According to Antigua News Room, UPP Political Leader and the party's sole Member of Parliament, Jamale Pringle, said the consultations are designed to give constituents a chance to voice their views ahead of a special parliamentary sitting expected during the week of July 13.
While the meetings are planned to take place before the parliamentary debate, the party has not yet announced specific dates or venues. Further details, including locations and schedules, will be released in the coming days, the UPP said.
Pringle argued that elected representatives have a duty to consult those they represent before taking positions on matters of national importance. "We operate within a representative democracy, and representatives should reflect the wishes of the people who elected them," he said, adding that Members of Parliament should not take decisions without first seeking constituent input.
The opposition leader said the UPP intends to use the parliamentary debate to challenge what it considers shortcomings in the Government's White Paper, including the absence of supporting documentation outlining the proposed arrangement with the United States. A key concern, the party said, is why relevant documents connected to the proposal have not been made available to the public.
The Government published the White Paper last week, setting out proposals from the United States regarding the possible reception in Antigua and Barbuda of certain third-country nationals removed from the US. According to the Government, the document covers the background to the discussions, the issues at stake for Antigua and Barbuda, the Government's assessment of the proposals, and the principles and conditions under which any cooperation could be considered.
The White Paper identifies the matter as touching on issues of sovereignty, legal responsibility, public finance, national security, social stability, and Antigua and Barbuda's international obligations. It further stresses that Antigua and Barbuda, as a small state with limited resources and capacity, cannot responsibly accept open-ended obligations involving individuals who are not its nationals and whose removal is being sought by another country.
The Government has confirmed the White Paper will be laid before Parliament during the special session expected in the week of July 13.
