637 of the more than 900 people who touched down between November and January have remained in Antigua. Many of them are Cameroonians fleeing a bloody conflict back home. Photo: Loop News

Last week Tuesday, Justice Carol Gobin granted the application to the lawyers representing the African nationals less than four hours before they were to be placed on a flight to Panama and then back to Cameroon. 

Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams, delivering the traditional Throne speech at the opening of the new Parliament following the January 18 general elections, said that the Gaston Browne administration, which is dealing with a similar situation where hundreds of people from Cameroon are stranded here, is aware of the High Court ruling in Port of Spain. 

“My government notes with interest, the decision of the High Court in Trinidad and Tobago less than a week ago to prevent the Trinidad and Tobago government from deporting the West Africans back to their homeland. 

“My government further notes that the UNHCR, (UN Refugee Agency) played a significant role in stopping the deportations. My government is required to take the High Court decision into consideration and to the role of the UNHCR prior to making its final decision,” Sir Rodney said. 

Earlier this month, following the weekly Cabinet meeting, Information Minister Melford Nicholas told reporters that the government had decided while West Africans will not be afforded Antiguan and Barbudan citizenship, those who choose to remain here could be offered residency and work permits. 

The government had previously announced that the hundreds of Africans who arrived in the country on charter flights in recent months would be allowed to remain. 

“Antiguan passport? No…I don’t think that that is on the cards, but certainly the whole idea of residency and work permits, that is part of the legal framework that we are considering,” Nicholas told the media. 

Nicholas said the Immigration Department had been tasked with tracking down and investigating just how many of the Africans would like to be repatriated – as the government has also offered – or remain in the country. But, according to Nicholas, Cabinet has yet to receive an update. 

He did however say that for those who wish to stay, government will be looking at various options to ensure they do so legally while contributing to the country’s economic growth. 

Government had earlier this month said that 637 of the more than 900 people who touched down between November and January remained in Antigua. Many of them are Cameroonians fleeing a bloody conflict back home. 

The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) called for a Commission of Inquiry to determine whether the authorities here are engaged in human trafficking after supporters staged protest action against the government’s decision to legalise the status of hundreds of African migrants. 

Opposition Leader, Jamale L. Pringle, told reporters that “there is some semblance of human trafficking “adding “we are asking the government to come clean on this matter and how we can be comfortable knowing that this situation is a legitimate situation is by a public inquiry. 

“We are just making our voices be heard, we are just showing our presence here asking for the government to call an inquiry into this situation where we are now seeing over 700 persons on the ground and they are not in a comfortable position,” Pringle said, as he led the “peaceful protest” outside the office of the Prime Minister earlier this month. 

But Sir Rodney told legislators on Monday that the West Africans will be treated with respect. 

“My government has a history of demonstrating its care for and concern over the more vulnerable defenceless and persecuted. My government is committed to protecting all residents from exploitation and harsh treatment and would never have our West African brothers and sisters dwell illegally in the shadows”. 

He said the government would also not allow “our kith and kin to be subjected to exploitation and harsh treatment by those who may seek to create victims. 

“My government has extended amnesty four times over the past eight years from immigrants who fail to maintain lawful status and no foreign national, except for criminals should fear deportation,” Sir Rodney added.