{"id":229671,"date":"2025-03-18T16:23:31","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=229671"},"modified":"2025-03-18T16:25:38","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:25:38","slug":"press-statement-from-hon-gaston-browne-prime-minister-of-antigua-and-barbuda-on-the-sale-re-alfa-nero","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/press-statement-from-hon-gaston-browne-prime-minister-of-antigua-and-barbuda-on-the-sale-re-alfa-nero\/","title":{"rendered":"VIDEO: Press Statement From Hon. Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Re. Alfa Nero"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA<\/strong><\/p>

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Office of the Prime Minister<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

18th March 2025<\/p>

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Press statement<\/strong><\/p>

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From the<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hon Gaston Browne<\/strong><\/p>

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Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Re: Alfa Nero Sale<\/p>

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I refer to the controversy that has arisen over the sale of the Alfa Nero by the Government<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of Antigua & Barbuda, and the disposition of the sales proceeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will be perfectly clear about this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Alfa Nero was sold by the Government through an entirely lawful and transparent<\/p>\n\n\n\n

process for a total sales price of US$ 40 million. This was publicly reported, and it was<\/p>\n\n\n\n

documented before the High Court in Antigua.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every dollar received, and every dollar expended, have been publicly accounted for. I<\/p>\n\n\n\n

am today releasing an accounting in a form that can be clearly and easily understood by<\/p>\n\n\n\n

all interested parties. The same information was previously provided to the High Court.The Government has nothing to hide. In fact, it invites and welcomes public scrutiny of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

this transaction in all its aspects. I trust this public disclosure will put an end to the false<\/p>\n\n\n\n

accusations that have been made by unscrupulous persons attempting to further their<\/p>\n\n\n\n

own selfish interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I refer, in particular, to statements that were made by on behalf of Yulia Guryeva-<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motlokhov, the daughter of a Russian oligarch who is sanctioned by the US, UK and EU,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

among others. She has falsely claimed in our courts that she had an entitlement to the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alfa Nero in order to claim for herself the sales proceeds and damages and rob the people<\/p>\n\n\n\n

of Antigua & Barbuda of these public benefits. This alleged entitlement to the vessel was<\/p>\n\n\n\n

vigorously opposed by the legal team which represented the State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She and her attorneys have made scandalous, malicious and entirely false accusations<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in order to further her illicit ends. The principal targets of her defamatory comments have<\/p>\n\n\n\n

been myself, and members of my family. There is not a grain of truth to any of these<\/p>\n\n\n\n

attacks on my, or my family\u2019s integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is apparent that Ms Guryeva-Motlokhov has not acted alone, but in cahoots with<\/p>\n\n\n\n

desperate political opponents here in Antigua, who have previously raised some of these<\/p>\n\n\n\n

stale fabrications, which have already proven to be false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will not be deterred by this smear campaign against me. I have always been an advocate<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and practitioner of good governance, and I will continue to govern our country with the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

highest standard of integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I am currently discussing with my attorneys, in Antigua and the United States, the legal<\/p>\n\n\n\n

remedies available to me as a result of the libelous statements and other wrongs that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

have been committed against me and my family.
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