Prime Minister Gaston Browne has drawn parallels between the United States government’s planned sale of the seized superyacht Amadea and Antigua and Barbuda’s controversial disposal of the Alfa Nero.
Browne, writing on social media, questioned whether the two situations were fundamentally different, suggesting that Antigua may have set an example. “Don’t underestimate the power of a Black man; those of you who continue to seek validation from the caucasians,” he added.
The 348-foot Amadea, complete with an infinity pool, helipad, cinema and marble-clad salon, was seized in Fiji in 2022 by the US Justice Department’s KleptoCapture task force. Authorities allege it belongs to Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, who is under sanctions.
After a protracted legal battle, a New York judge awarded the yacht to the US government earlier this year, ruling that rival claimants were “straw owners”. It is now being auctioned by sealed bids, with a minimum deposit of $10 million.
The vessel was once valued at $350m but experts say ongoing litigation and market conditions mean it could fetch between $80m and $120m. The US Marshals Service has already spent $32m maintaining it since its seizure.
The dispute mirrors controversies surrounding Antigua’s handling of the Alfa Nero, another high-value yacht seized under complex ownership claims and sold by the government amid international scrutiny.
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So is the PM saying after the sale by the US the money will go into the pockets of a few politicians? Similar to what happened in Antigua? I guess it figures because it was the US that covered for the PM by destroying evidence
The US spent billions of dollars on aid for Ukraine war efforts while Antigua on the other hand spent zero $$$. Antigua financial gain is $40 million windfall …Mr PM ….WHAT COMPARISON? GIVE ME A BREAK
Gaston please!
First thing the owners of this Mega Yacht are not suing America in various jurisdictions costing the American taxpayers millions.
Next unlike the sale of the Alfa Nero there are transparency and accountability on the part of the American Government Agency which is handling the present negotiations regarding the sale of the mega yacht. Lastly the American media will not do news clips, video sound bites. They’re doing indepthvinvestigations and reporting and not feeding the public what politicians like you feed these online blogs and they repeat verbatim like your propaganda machine.
BULL POO POO
So because the USA spent millions is Aids to Ukraine they can sell and keep the money. The issue here is the sale of a sanction vessel… so please give me an aspirin.
There is indeed a mirrored situation..but we did it first.