US Visa Bonds & The Road to Ruin: Is Public Works Obsolete?
In this episode, Alex and Jordan navigate two crises squeezing the nation from the outside in: the prohibitive new cost of US travel and the deteriorating state of local infrastructure. We begin with the diplomatic shockwave as the US imposes visa bonds ranging from US5,000toUS15,000, a move Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle calls a “special type of humiliation” caused by CIP mismanagement,. We contrast this with Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders’ view that this is a broad US domestic policy shift regarding “public charge” risks rather than a targeted sanction, and discuss Historian Miguel Tinker Salas’ warning that the region is collateral damage in a wider geopolitical game. Then, we hit the potholes. We analyze Former Works Minister Trevor Walker’s blistering critique of the government’s infrastructure strategy. With major road works increasingly outsourced to private contractors like Amdex, Walker asks a fundamental question: What is the Ministry of Public Works actually for?,. We also break down the controversy surrounding the Utilities Minister’s plan to create an internal road repair crew within APUA a move Walker warns could duplicate responsibilities and further erode the Ministry’s authority. Show Notes & Key Takeaways: • The US Visa Crisis: ◦ New requirements include visa bonds of up to US$15,000 and a pause on immigrant visas for 11 CARICOM nations,. ◦ Sir Ronald Sanders urges CARICOM to negotiate collectively rather than fragmenting, warning that “sovereignty cuts both ways”,. ◦ Professor Tinker Salas suggests these measures reflect a lack of care from the Trump administration towards the Global South. • Infrastructure & Public Works: ◦ Trevor Walker challenges the government to define its vision for the Ministry of Public Works, suggesting it is becoming merely a “sign-off agency” rather than a construction body,. ◦ The proposal for APUA to establish its own road repair crew is met with skepticism, with fears it will strip the Public Works Ministry of its core functions and technical oversight,. ◦ UPP Caretaker Ashworth Azille describes the nation’s infrastructure as being in a “state of decay,” specifically highlighting the condition of All Saints Road. Mentioned in this Episode: • The Daily Observer • Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders • MP Trevor Walker (Barbuda) • Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) • Ministry of Public Works
