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The government of Antigua and Barbuda is pushing forward sweeping changes to the nation’s firearms legislation, with a key proposal introducing stiff 5 to 10-year prison sentences for anyone caught openly carrying an unauthorised gun or ammunition in designated public spaces. Attorney General Sir Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin laid out the new penalty framework during parliamentary debate on the 2026 Firearms (Amendment) Bill, clarifying that the harsher punishment will only apply to individuals convicted via summary proceedings who do not hold legal authorization to carry weapons — a group that excludes active police officers, members of the national Defence Force, and other explicitly exempted parties. Benjamin used a recent high-incident to underscore the urgent need for the reform, referencing a political gathering held near the Parliament building that ended in chaos after multiple gunshots rang out, forcing attendees to flee for safety. He emphasized that the administration is taking an uncompromising stance against the proliferation of illegal weapons in public spaces, drawing a clear line in the sand against rising gang-related violence. “We are not going to allow Antigua to become a gangster place,” Benjamin stated firmly to parliamentary members. The new mandatory sentencing range for unlawful public carry is just one component of a broader suite of revisions to the country’s firearms laws, which collectively seek to ramp up penalties across all categories of gun-related crime. Under the proposed changes, the most severe firearm-related offenses will now carry maximum prison sentences of up to 30 years, marking a significant escalation from current punishment levels.

In a move aligned with its core commitment to governmental transparency, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has publicly released both the United States’ proposed operating procedures for potential transfers of third-country nationals removed from U.S. territory and Antigua and Barbuda’s formal counter-proposal, ahead of tabling both documents before the nation’s House of Representatives. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Sir Steadroy Benjamin will officially lay the two texts before parliament, opening the process to full public and legislative oversight.

This ongoing discussion forms part of a broader diplomatic push by the United States to negotiate similar transfer arrangements with nations across the globe, including multiple member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). To date, some CARICOM nations have finalized such agreements, while others remain in active discussion like Antigua and Barbuda, which is approaching the talks with a strict focus on protecting its national sovereignty, public security, domestic legal framework, public finances, and core national interests. As of the public announcement, no final agreement has been reached between the two governments, with negotiations continuing in line with Antigua and Barbuda’s stated terms.

The United States’ original proposal outlines a framework for transfers under a planned 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), setting eligibility criteria that excludes unaccompanied minors under 18, citizens of Antigua and Barbuda, and individuals with criminal records beyond U.S. immigration violations. The U.S. draft proposes a monthly transfer cap of 7 individuals, notes that neither government is obligated to commit financial resources to the initiative, but states the U.S. will explore available foreign assistance funds and plans to compensate a competent international organization for support services, with no costs to fall on Antigua and Barbuda. The proposal also requires a 5-day advance notice of transfers with full biometric, medical, and background information for all proposed individuals, and designates V.C. Bird International Airport as the reception point.

In contrast, Antigua and Barbuda’s counter-proposal builds in layered safeguards to prioritize national control and protect public interests, starting with a non-binding framework that explicitly confirms no final transfer may proceed without the prior, express written approval of Antigua and Barbuda’s government for every individual case. The counter-proposal tightens eligibility restrictions, barring all individuals under 18 (not just unaccompanied minors), restricting eligible nationalities primarily to CARICOM member states excluding Haiti, plus Brazil and Colombia, and requiring all proposed individuals hold valid unexpired passports with a confirmed realistic pathway for eventual return or onward resettlement. Additional exclusions apply to individuals with serious unaccommodatable medical conditions, vulnerable groups requiring specialized care without pre-approved cost coverage, and individuals with outstanding legal barriers to transfer from the U.S.

On transfer volume caps, Antigua and Barbuda’s framework sets a maximum of 7 total transfers per three-month period – a hard ceiling, not a mandatory quota – with an additional restriction that no new transfers may proceed if 7 or more previously transferred individuals remain in the country, unless Antigua and Barbuda explicitly grants an exception. The counter-proposal also strengthens financial safeguards, requiring binding written confirmation that the U.S. will cover 100% of all costs associated with transferred individuals, from accommodation and medical care to administrative and security expenses, from arrival through departure or until the individual secures an independent lawful status in Antigua and Barbuda, ensuring no burden falls on local taxpayers. The text opens the door for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to provide support services, but makes any IOM participation conditional on separate arrangements approved by Antigua and Barbuda’s government, with a requirement that alternative funding arrangements must be in place if IOM support is unavailable.

Procedural changes in the counter-proposal extend the advance notice period for proposed transfers to 10 business days, requiring the U.S. to provide a full suite of detailed information including full health assessments, asylum and protection claim history, proof of the individual’s written willingness to transfer, and confirmation of all legal processes in the U.S. have been exhausted. All transfers must be processed under Antigua and Barbuda’s domestic immigration law, with a clear stipulation that the arrangement is for temporary transit only, not permanent resettlement, and no transferred individual gains an automatic right to permanent residence, asylum, or work authorization. The U.S. is required to fund and facilitate all eventual return or onward placement of transferred individuals, with financial obligations remaining in place even if talks conclude or transfers are suspended.

Crucially, the counter-proposal grants Antigua and Barbuda the unilateral right to immediately suspend all future transfers if concerns arise related to national security, public health, capacity constraints, financial burdens, natural disasters, or public emergencies. It also requires a joint review of the arrangement after either the first five transfers or six months of implementation, whichever comes first. The Antigua and Barbuda government emphasizes that full sovereign authority to approve or reject any proposed individual remains exclusively with the nation, in every case.

In its public statement, the government reiterated that it values its longstanding bilateral relationship with the United States and remains committed to constructive negotiations, but any final agreement must align with Antigua and Barbuda’s domestic laws, limited national capacity, and core national interests, while guaranteeing dignified treatment for all affected individuals in line with international law. By releasing both documents publicly and tabling them in parliament, the government has fulfilled its commitment to open governance, and pledges to continue updating parliament and the public as negotiations progress.

During parliamentary debate on the 2026 Firearms Amendment Bill, a senior Antigua and Barbuda lawmaker has sounded a urgent warning over a growing public safety threat on the island of Barbuda, linking a recent surge in home break-ins to the relocation of recently released prison inmates from Antigua.

Trevor Walker, the Member of Parliament for Barbuda, told lawmakers that a growing number of individuals who have completed custodial sentences for criminal offenses in Antigua have relocated to the smaller sister island, and many are legally required to check in regularly with local law enforcement. Walker noted that on any given day, three to four of these former inmates are required to sign in at the Barbuda police station, a pattern that he says has coincided with a sharp uptick in property crime across the island.

Where once break-ins were a rare occurrence, Walker stated that Barbuda now faces at least one home invasion every week, a trend that has upended the island’s historically quiet, low-crime way of life. To illustrate the severity of the issue, Walker shared details of a recent break-in at a property owned by a relative of his wife, who resides permanently in the United States. He told lawmakers that the intruder did not just steal valuables from the vacant home, but appeared to have begun occupying the property as if it were their own. Local police launched an investigation into the incident, Walker confirmed, and identified the primary suspect as a repeat offender with a prior criminal charge on record.

Despite his deep concern over rising crime, Walker was quick to highlight the exceptional work of the Barbuda-based police force, offering specific public praise for Inspector Ogaro, the island’s lead law enforcement officer. Walker described Ogaro as the most proactive and effective inspector he has seen assigned to Barbuda in his tenure in office, noting that the inspector personally leads regular patrols of high-traffic areas including the island’s port and airport, and directly intervenes when he observes open illegal activity.

To further strengthen local law enforcement capacity, Walker has formally called on the national government to deploy additional police vehicles to Barbuda, a move that would allow officers to respond faster to emergency calls and expand the scope of their patrols across the island.

The concerns raised by Walker have formed the backbone of his strong support for the 2026 Firearms Amendment Bill, which introduces tougher regulations and penalties for firearm-related and violent crime across Antigua and Barbuda. The lawmaker stressed that he holds a zero-tolerance stance for the armed robberies, shootings, and homicides that have impacted Antigua in recent years, and emphasized that Parliament carries a constitutional and moral responsibility to address rising crime head-on to protect Antigua and Barbuda’s reputation as a safe jurisdiction for residents and visitors alike.

Walker also publicly disclosed that he is a licensed firearm holder, and affirmed that he will exercise his legal right to defend himself, his family, and his property from any criminal intruder. Closing his remarks, Walker urged his fellow parliamentarians to approach the national crime crisis with the gravity it demands, saying, “This crime thing is really serious.”