Walker Says Parliament Had Too Little Time to Review US MOU

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — Barbuda MP Trevor Walker on Tuesday criticized the government’s handling of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the United States on the possible transfer of third-country nationals, arguing that members of Parliament were given too little time to examine the document before being asked to debate a related resolution.

Speaking during debate on the government’s resolution outlining the principles for continued negotiations with Washington, Walker questioned why the MOU was circulated shortly before the sitting and suggested that many lawmakers, including government members, may not have had an opportunity to study it in detail. 

Parliamentary Concerns Regarding Unsigned Memorandum of Understanding.wav.docx

Walker said Parliament should not be expected to deliberate on a matter of such national importance without adequate time to review the supporting documents.

“I don’t know if anybody in this Honourable House had seen this MOU before today,” he said. “Maybe some members on the government side saw it, but I certainly didn’t.” 

Parliamentary Concerns Regarding Unsigned Memorandum of Understanding.wav.docx

The Barbuda representative argued that members needed sufficient time to compare the memorandum with the White Paper and the proposed resolution to fully understand the government’s negotiating position.

He questioned why Parliament was being asked to endorse principles arising from a document that legislators had only recently received.

Walker also raised concerns about the version of the memorandum circulated to members, saying it appeared to be unsigned and asking whether it represented the final document agreed between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States. 

Parliamentary Concerns Regarding Unsigned Memorandum of Understanding.wav.docx

He said those uncertainties made it difficult for Parliament to properly scrutinize the negotiations.

“We have to know exactly what it is we’re debating,” Walker said, arguing that greater transparency would strengthen public confidence in the process. 

Parliamentary Concerns Regarding Unsigned Memorandum of Understanding.wav.docx

Walker stressed that his concerns were not intended to undermine the country’s relationship with the United States but to ensure Parliament was able to perform its oversight role effectively.

He said members should be given adequate time to examine documents before being asked to debate issues involving Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereignty and international obligations. 

Parliamentary Concerns Regarding Unsigned Memorandum of Understanding.wav.docx

The criticism prompted a response from Prime Minister Gaston Browne later in the debate. Browne said the White Paper and the resolution had been circulated in advance and argued that the memorandum of understanding was not a legally binding agreement. He also explained that it is generally not customary to publicly circulate diplomatic correspondence between governments, although a signed copy of the MOU was later provided to parliamentarians. 

PM WRAP.mp4.docx

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]