US Embassy Bridgetown Barbados

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The Opposition United Progressive Party said it welcomes recent pronouncements by the U.S. State Department that it is considering the establishment of two embassies in the Eastern Caribbean.

The Opposition said it had continuously raised the desire to see the return of an embassy to Antigua and Barbuda with U.S authorities

The UPP said in a press statement on Wednesday that they see it as good news for the people of Antigua and Barbuda and also the rest of the region

Senator Shawn Nicholas said the UPP would welcome, even more, if Antigua and Barbuda is one of the countries chosen for an embassy.

Nicholas who is the Party’s Party’s Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs said “This would save our people the cost of airfare to and from Barbados, as well as the cost of accommodation and other expenses related to the securing of visas, especially at this time when the cost of living is so high,”

“In short, it would make the entire application process much more efficient and convenient for the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” she says.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne believes that Antigua and Barbuda is well positioned to have the United States Embassy returned to the country

“I believe that we are in pole position because of the work that we have done over the last nine years. So, I’ll be extremely surprised if Antigua and Barbuda is not one of the two. I don’t see any reason why we should not be, if anything, based on the fact that we had an embassy here before and based on the fact that we have been negotiating to get a US embassy presence here, I believe that we are in pole position…” Browne said last week

Adding, “But we waiting until a formal announcement is made. We don’t have any inclination whether or not Antigua and Barbuda is one of the two at this point. We’re just saying based on the work that we have done”

The US Embassy closed its offices in Antigua and Barbuda many years ago.