ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Feb 07 2017 – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it will only issue diplomatic passports to non-nationals on a two-year basis as it moves to implement new measures to deal with the issuance of the travel document.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, speaking in Parliament Monday, said that the conditions under which passports are issued to the non-nationals will be reviewed annually.
Browne told legislators that Antigua and Barbuda, as a member-state of the international community, adheres to obligations under international law and these include the conduct of international relations in conformity with international treaties.
“The government recognizes that threats to global well-being have altered and intensified, particularly in relation to terrorist activities and organized crime,” Browne said, noting that in March 2017 when new electronic passports, containing biometric data, will be ready for issue, his administration will re-issue all existing diplomatic and official passports.
He said the only exceptions will be the travel documents held the Governor-General and spouse, the Prime Minister and spouse, Ministers of the Government and spouses and to diplomats accredited by formal agreement to other states and international and regional organizations, and their spouses and immediate dependent families.
He said new measures will be put in place for issuing diplomatic and official passports to the Leader of the Opposition; Speaker of the House of Representatives, President of the Senate, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and spouse.
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