Lovell Questions Why Refugee, Deportee Issue Was Not Disclosed Earlier

Opposition politician, former finance minister and United Progressive Party candidate for All Saints West Harold Lovell has raised concerns about the government’s handling of discussions surrounding the possible acceptance of refugees or deportees, saying the public has been left in the dark about who would be accepted, under what status, and why the issue was not disclosed earlier.

Speaking on Observer AM, Lovell said Antiguans and Barbudans only recently learned that the matter had been under consideration, despite indications it had been on the government’s agenda for months.

“We didn’t hear anything at all about the decision to accept whether it be refugees or deportees,” Lovell said. “We’re still not clear as to what is the status of the people who will be taken, what that status is.”

Lovell questioned why the issue was not raised publicly at an earlier stage, particularly if it had been under discussion for an extended period.

“We heard that it’s been on the table for 120 days, but why did we only hear about that a few days ago?” he said. “Why were they hiding that?”

He linked the issue to what he described as a broader pattern of poor communication and lack of transparency by the government on sensitive national matters.

“These are the types of things that I believe we have to be very concerned about, the way in which the matter is being managed,” Lovell said.

Lovell argued that decisions involving refugees or deportees carry significant national implications and should be handled openly, with clear explanations to the public rather than emerging only after disclosure by officials or media reports.

“It should be managed in a way that is open, that is transparent, that builds trust with the people — not in a way that is clouded by secrecy, by silence, and where people do not know exactly what is going on,” he said.

He said the absence of clear information has left citizens uncertain about the government’s intentions and the potential impact of such decisions.

Lovell called on the administration to provide full disclosure on the matter and to explain the status, scope and timing of any arrangements under consideration.

“The people have a right to know,” he said.

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