An investigation into the purchase of government vehicles outside established procurement and tax rules has ended, with the Ministry of Finance recovering funds and declaring the matter closed.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said the review covered hundreds of vehicles valued at more than EC$15 million. He said discussions with several dealerships led to agreements and repayments to correct what were described as procedural failures.
“The Financial Secretary and the Ministry of Finance have reached agreements with several concerned dealerships. Through these arrangements, funds were recouped from the dealers involved, and the Ministry now deems the matter settled,” Merchant said.
Opposition figures have argued that repayment alone does not resolve concerns about how the purchases were approved or whether safeguards failed, calling for a fuller public accounting. Merchant said the Finance Ministry considers the financial issues addressed.
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Sweep it under the rug
The price of 1 Bugatti Chiron…..Looney Toons theme song..THAT’S ALL FOLKS!
What about the CEO of the duty factory, namely the former comptroller of customs… simple resigning from the post is far from sufficient….walking around with all the million he collected under the table. You Mr Prime Minister cannot be judge, jury and executioner. And all the while two junior customs officers are before the court for far lesser amount. This is not justice. In the minds of the victims the matter is not closed Mr Prime Minister. Let all the actors face the courts….before people takes matters into their own hands.
JUSTICE MUST BE SEEN TO BE DONE…WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE 🦆 IS ALSO GOOD FOR THE
So are you saying I can steal from the government or anyone and if caught all I have to do is payback and there will be no jail time?
These guys are beyond the pale and absolutely taking ALL Antiguans fools (including their own supporters I might add).
When Maurice ‘AI Robot’ Merchant tells us “… the Ministry of Finance recovering funds and declaring the matter [now] closed”.
However, the opposition are correct in highlighting for “fuller public accounting”.
It’s very troubling when our Finance Minister’s Department (and guess who who leads it? 🥸) “…now deems matters settled”, because the country have to accept ABLP’s accountability without ongoing demands of the electorate for government transparency.
They’ve come out with this now, because they believe that the country has now looked away and no longer care about the vehicle acquisitions procurement scandal.
WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!!!
The ABLP were only bidding their time for when the dust and media brouhaha to settle down.
Nice one Maurice ‘Matrix Agent’ Merchant 👍🏾
So let’s get this straight; you (the perpetrators) rob the government (victim) no arrests, no charges, no prosecutions, no convictions (law enforcement) and all that happens is you get to return the stolen funds to the government (victim).
What this says, the Ministry of Finance is the law of the land under Gaston’s command.
So why is all the emphasis on Bronco and Harney. What happened to Hadeed and the Ambassador/organiser/bagman. Why are they not named or is it a normal ocurence for them?
YEAH I THINK THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO COME CLEAN IN THIS TOPIC….THEY WANT IT TO GO AWAY BUT I DONT THINK IT CAN GO AWAY SO EASILY….WHY WERE THERE NO ARREST??? THE RPFAB OFFICERS ARE TOO FAR BELOW THESE INDIVIDUALS? OHH WAIT MAYBE AN OFFICER OR OFFICERS ARE ALSO INVOLVED….
Well…Let’s be straight on this…
The message is very clear. A citizen of Antigua and Barbuda can steal anything from Government Instritutions, could be Cash, vehicles any types of goods. If you get caught, just return it and the case is close.
Seems like this logic can apply for private properties also or just Government properties.
Let’s get help from people who know law better, because at the end seems there is no jail time and no records if you “return”
Well…Let’s be straight on this…
The message is very clear. A citizen of Antigua and Barbuda can steal anything from Government Instritutions, could be Cash, vehicles any types of goods. If you get caught, just return it and the case is close.
Seems like this logic can apply for private properties also or just Government properties.
Let us get help from people who know laws better, because at the end seems there is no jail time and no records if you “return”.
This administration is a law unto itself. Where are the so-called intellectuals and Christian minded pastors in Antigua. Oops! Forget that most of them worship money not the truth.
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