Prime Minister Gaston Browne has rejected opposition claims that newly imposed U.S. visa restrictions on Antiguans and Barbudans are linked to the sale of the superyacht Alfa Nero, calling the assertions baseless and irresponsible.
Browne was responding to statements from the United Progressive Party, which has suggested the restrictions stem from legal disputes surrounding the vessel, seized and sold by the government amid Russia-related sanctions.
The United States is set to stop issuing visas to citizens of Antigua and Barbuda from Jan. 1, a move that has also affected Dominica and several other countries, prompting public concern and political debate.
Browne said the claims do not withstand scrutiny, noting that U.S. authorities were involved in and supportive of the process that led to the yacht’s sale. He argued that it would be illogical for Washington to retaliate over a matter in which it had cooperated.
The prime minister maintained that the visa decision is unrelated to the Alfa Nero and urged the public to disregard what he described as speculative and politically motivated narratives, as governments in the region continue to assess the broader implications of the U.S. move.
