CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Government Weighs Legal Action After Alfa Nero Court Victory
The government of Antigua and Barbuda is considering legal action against individuals it accuses of orchestrating a politically motivated campaign surrounding the sale of the Alfa Nero superyacht.
During Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant confirmed that the Cabinet is consulting legal counsel on possible next steps, following a U.S. federal court ruling that quashed subpoenas related to the controversial sale.
“The government is resolute in its position that those who defame government, country, and government officials will receive necessary reactions,” Merchant said. “They must not go unpunished.”
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Tuesday vacated all subpoenas initiated by Yulia Guryeva-Motlokhov, the daughter of the yacht’s former sanctioned Russian owner, and ordered the destruction of any evidence collected.
Government officials say the legal challenge was supported by unnamed members of the opposition in Antigua and Barbuda and amounted to a “smear campaign” targeting Prime Minister Gaston Browne, his family, and senior public servants.
Although the Alfa Nero case was briefly discussed at this week’s Cabinet meeting, Merchant said the administration has long viewed the matter as “a dead issue.” Still, the financial toll was significant, with the government reporting legal expenses exceeding US$1 million.
Merchant emphasized the broader reputational harm inflicted by the case, saying the defamation affected not only politicians but “all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda” in the international arena.
He added that the government will continue efforts to protect its image and defend decisions made in what it says are the sovereign interests of the country.
Legal proceedings in Antigua’s High Court related to the Alfa Nero matter are still pending.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Stop it!!!!!
You are not talking to laboRATs only…
Intelligent people read this rubbish to……
The government cannot do a thing about this…
Though it might be a good thing so this government commits suicide…..
I repeat myself, absolutely no legal action can be taken against anyone.
Further this government needs to be honest.
The matter was discontinued with prejudice….
This means it can be reinstated at anytime….
That’s why I want this government to go after possible low lying fruits.
That would ignite the flame to hang them.
Why U.S. courts feel dem can dig into we business?
Mi hope this nah cost taxpayers too much. Legal fees can pile up.
Show us where di $40 million gone.
If the sale was lawful, then why all the secrecy?
@Straight Shooter, dismiss WITHOUT prejudice means the case can be heard again.
Please do! Jus do um!
WHAT THE HELL…! …RULING ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL SALE…? …DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS SEEMED ‘…WRONG LIKE HELL: …NOTHING IN JUDGE JESSE FURMAN’S ORDER ABOUT ‘…SMEAR CAMPAIGN.’
***
WHEN ‘…DIRECTOR GENERAL OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS’ WRITES:
‘…RULING OF QUASHED SUBPOENAS OF THE ‘…CONTROVERSIAL SALE’ [Paragraph 2], IRRESPECTIVE OF INTENTION, HE TOO, SEEMED ‘…WRONG LIKE HELL.’
***
WHY…?
(i) ‘…THE SALE WAS NOT CONTROVERSIAL:
(ii) …SALE WAS PERFECTLY LAWFUL:
(iii) …IT HAD ‘…PARLIAMENTARY/STATUTORY AUTHORITY:’
***
STATUTE LAW:
‘…Port Authority (Amendment) Act’ [Section 1: No: 1 of 2023: Section 38A: Port Authority Act: Amendment of Section 38: Chapter 333].
***
NOW:
(iii) …THE ORDER QUASHING THE SUBPOENAS WAS:
(a) ‘…NEVER ABOUT THE ‘…SALE OF THE ALFA NERO: but
(b) …AN APPLICATION BY THE ‘…APPLICANT: for
(c) …DISCOVERY OF INFORMATION: relating
(d) …TO WIRE TRANSFERS’ THROUGH CERTAIN US ENTITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE ORDER.’
***
LITIGIOUS VICTIMIZATION
NO CITIZEN SHALL BE SEEN AS BEING ‘…LITIGIOUSLY VICTIMIZED.’
***
EVEN SO:
IT SHALL STILL BE UNDERSTOOD THAT NONE OF THE ‘…DIRECTORS GENERAL OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS’ RULES HIM/HERSELF.’
***
ALL SUBORDINATES ARE SUBJECTED TO:
(a) ‘…COMMANDS:
(b) …ORDERS:
(c) …INSTRUCTIONS: or
(d) …DIRECTIONS: and
(e) …TOTAL OBEDIENCE.’
***
ROLE:
WHAT THE HELL…! THAT IS THE MAIN ROLE OF ‘…DIRECTORS GENERAL OF GOVERNMENT COMMUNICATIONS.’
***
ROLL ON DIRECTOR GENERAL: …ROLL ON.
***
BUT NOTHING IN ‘…JUDGE JESSE FURMAN’S ORDER’ ADDRESSES ANYTHING CALLED ‘…SMEAR CAMPAIGN.’
***
TALK GOOD.
***
It’s never a kind thing to kick a man when he’s already on tge ground. Most would agree however that this Alpha Nero saga qualifies for an exception! Kick ’em hard!!….where it hurts the most!
It not over. It’s discontinued with prejudice.
Watch for the next round in The US Federal Court of Appeals
@Casual Observe -The Russians are milking the taxpayers money and feeding American law firms.
Gaston Browne and his Government has no basis to charge anyone in the UPP for treachery, any treason that has been committed, is by him and his gang who sold the Alfa Nero and put Antigua’s and Barbuda’s name into disrepute. Time to stop blaming the UPP and face the consequences of your Self Enrichment Schemes. You have been fighting for far too long to turning your wrongs into rights.