Caribbean RoundUp

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has recently clarified that citizens holding valid United States visas will maintain access to the U.S., and these visas will not be revoked during discussions on new regional visa arrangements. This ensures continued travel for current visa holders as future policies are considered.

According to a Facebook post, Browne wrote: “Antiguans who have U.S. visas will continue to enjoy access into the U.S., and there will be no revocation of their visa. New visas may be suspended for OECS countries until biometric passport systems are established to U.S. specs.”

The Prime Minister’s comments were later supported by Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States and the Organization of American States (OAS), Sir Ronald Sanders.

Sir Ronald stated he met with senior officials of the United States Department of State following the release of the U.S. Proclamation titled “Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,” issued on Dec. 16, 2025.

He stated that the meeting took place at the instruction of, and with guidance from, Prime Minister Browne, focusing on the implications of the proclamation for Antigua and Barbuda.

Sir Ronald said U.S. officials confirmed that all visas currently in existence and validly issued to holders of Antigua and Barbuda passports will continue to be respected and accepted for entry into the United States.

He also stated that there will be no revocation of any visas issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda prior to Dec. 31, 2025.

According to Sir Ronald, after Dec. 31, 2025, new visa applications will be governed by yet-to-be-finalized arrangements, which focus on implementing biometric information collection for compatibility with U.S. systems. This indicates a shift towards stricter entry requirements for future applicants.

The Barbados government expressed concern regarding the United Kingdom’s recent decision to issue a travel advisory, warning British travellers of terrorist risks on the island.

Barbados has welcomed 160,749 stayover visitors from the UK for the first nine months of the year, a slight decrease from the same period in the previous year.

In its travel advisory, the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) cautioned that “although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Barbados, attacks cannot be ruled out.”

“There is a high threat of terrorist attacks globally, affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times,” according to the advisory posted on the official United Kingdom government website.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds, while acknowledging general security concerns due to international policies, emphasized that the UK advisory’s mention of terrorism does not reflect an actual threat to Barbados. He suggested global policy decisions can prompt such advisories, but the local risk remains very low.

“I don’t see any basis for even mentioning the issue of terrorism with respect to Barbados because it is obviously a nonexistent threat and highly improbable,” Symmonds said.

“But I imagine that as with many countries in the North Atlantic, where, in recent times, right-wing public policy has alienated and offended both migrant populations and the dignity and self-respect of citizens of developing countries, there will be a concern about the potential backlash which such hateful and divisive policy making can cause.

“Perhaps that is the reason why the issue has been raised. But, as the report itself concedes, there is no recent history of such incidents in this country,” Symmonds added.

The British government also urged its nationals to be aware that “there have been incidents of violent crime, including armed robbery, sexual assault, gang-related shootings and carjackings.”

UK travellers have also been advised to ensure their accommodation is secure, to be cautious when walking alone on the roads and withdrawing money from ATMs, to avoid isolated areas, including beaches, and to only use licensed taxis.

“Take particular care around large gatherings, including street and beach parties, especially after dark or during the festival season. Do not carry large amounts of cash or wear expensive-looking jewellery. Leave valuables and travel documents in a safety deposit box or secure hotel safe.”

The FCDO also posted a special message to LGBT+ travellers saying that “in the Caribbean, attitudes towards the LGBT+ community are mostly conservative.

Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit recently expressed gratitude to the United States government for suspending a proclamation that would have restricted Dominicans from entering the U.S. beginning Jan. 1 next year.

Skerrit indicated that, following discussions with United States officials, an agreement had been reached to temporarily set aside the proclamation previously announced by President Donald Trump.

“I would like to thank the United States government itself for understanding the situation and agreeing to set aside for the time being the proclamation …and so this is good news. The anxieties that we all would have should  be set aside,” Skerrit said.

In his latest executive order, President Trump, nationals from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Haiti would be affected by the immigration policy.

Skerrit said his administration intends to continue working with the US to ensure Dominicans’ access remains unaffected as future U.S. immigration policies are negotiated.

Skerrit promised to provide further information on the “suspension of the proclamation,” and said Dominicans, who are holders of “visas of any kind are able to travel to the United States past Jan. 1, 2025.”

The Government of Guyana, through the Ministry of Natural Resources, will sign a Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) with Cybele Energy, a petroleum company based in Ghana, for exploration activities in Block S-7.

Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, announced that Cybele Energy is among six companies that were awarded a total of eight blocks offshore Guyana.

“Cybele has really advanced the negotiations with us to a stage where we would have finalized the agreement with them, and that is the company we will be signing with on Tuesday at 9 a.m. And so, we are very happy to have them in the country as well. They will be bringing a partner from one of the major operators in Nigeria as their operator,” he said.

He said the PSA is identical to the one signed in November with TotalEnergies, along with its co-venturers Qatar Energy and Petronas.

The agreement signed with TotalEnergies and its partners covers shallow water Block-S4 and is the first among the six bidders to have signed off on a PSA since the initiation of the 2022 Licensing Round.

Minister Bharrat stated that the government is still in negotiations with the other companies that were awarded blocks based on the 2022 Licensing Round.

These companies include: Sispro Inc; International Group Investment Inc. and Montego Energy: ExxonMobil, Hess and CNOOC; and Delcorp Inc, Watad Energy and Arabian Drillers.

“During the bid round, there were a few companies that were awarded blocks, of course, TotalEnergies, Qatar and PETRONAS consortium, we would have signed with them. Exxon was awarded one; we are still in talks with Exxon on the S8 Block, and then there was the Investment Group from Africa, which were awarded one too. Delcorp was awarded a deep-water block too, Sispro too as well and Cybele,” Bharrat said.

A third PSA is expected to be signed before the end of the year.

A team of 117 electrical linemen from Canada recently arrived in Jamaica to assist the light and power company, the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), in restoring electricity in areas disrupted by Category 5 Hurricane Melissa.

With the total number of foreign linesmen deployed so far being approximately 228, surpassing the initial projection of 200 under a planned 300-person mobilization, the Canadian crew will be stationed primarily across western Jamaica to the parishes of St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland and St. James, where the damages has been very severe, now requiring redesign and rebuilding of electricity networks, rather than simple restoration.

Speaking at the Sangster International Airport in the western city of Montego Bay, Minister of Energy Daryl Vaz said the rapid mobilization emphasizes strong collaboration between the Government of Jamaica and JPS.

The Government has loaned JPS US$150 million to help speed up restoration. The loan is expected to be repaid over a five-year period.

JPS President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh Grant noted that 84 % of their customers have already been restored, attributing this to 24-hour operations and structured recovery plans.

He noted that while the Canadian crews arrived without specialized vehicles, they came fully equipped with tools and will begin work immediately.

Specialised equipment is expected to arrive on Dec. 24 and 25 on two barges, which will further accelerate restoration efforts.