The views expressed in the following opinion piece are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of ANR or its editorial team. ANR provides a platform for diverse perspectives and opinions, and we encourage readers to engage critically and thoughtfully with the content published.
What has occurred in Antigua and Barbuda over the past two weeks is in my opinion, nothing short of a constitutional coup.
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I refer to extremely controversial and, in my opinion, very likely illegal, actions of officers from the DCA, who, backed by the police, entered onto private land on two separate occasions and removed politically critical banners from two billboards.
Understand the gravity of the situation. The state has acted in a manner that can only be described as rogue.
There is no law that empowers the DCA to regulate the content of signage and to forcibly remove or alter public messaging.
Antigua and Barbuda is a liberal democracy despite the corruption, nepotism and cronyism that suffocates us in this place.
This is not the former Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) of Antigua and Barbuda.
This is not a Putin-styled state where police and state officials descend on the premises of the opposition to tear down signage and posters critical of the government or its allies.
But that is exactly what has happened in this case.
Police and DCA officers moved in within hours – literally hours – to rip down banners from pre-existing billboards.
These banners bore messaging that was critical of an ally of the Prime Minister and the Browne administration – Browne’s Ambassador to China, Brian Stuart-Young.
The banners highlighted the fact that the bank of which Stuart-Young is boss, the Global Bank of Commerce (GBC), is in a legal battle with a wealthy depositor, Jack Stroll, over millions that the bank says it cannot give him back upfront due to its ongoing financial situation, and despite court decisions in Stroll’s favour.
Stuart-Young has become an opposition target because he is a close ally of Gaston Browne. He has been Ambassador to China for years, and he and Browne worked at GBC when it was Swiss American Bank.
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Additionally, many will remember that Browne’s government bought a majority stake years ago in Caribbean Union Bank, headed then by Brian Stuart-Young.
Whether or not Brian Stuart-Young warrants the level of attention being paid to him by the opposition is another matter, and one that is debatable.
But he cannot expect to be in the public eye as (a) the CEO of a significant financial institution and (b) an official of the government of Antigua and Barbuda, and escape scrutiny and criticism.
And yet, sparing Brian Stuart-Young from criticism and ridicule is exactly what the Gaston Browne administration set out to do when it sent DCA officers onto private land to tear down billboard banners that were critical of Stuart-Young, a key official in the Browne administration and a close and longtime ally of the Prime Minister.
This is so blatantly wrong, illiberal autocratic, and unconstitutional, that a blindfolded man staring in the opposite direction could see it vividly.
What’s worse is that the DCA falls under Maria Browne, Minister of Housing, Lands, Public Works etc – the wife of the Prime Minister.
So, here you have officers working in an agency that reports to the Prime Minister’s wife, acting to censor public messages critical of the Prime Minister’s friend, over a matter involving a bank where the Prime Minister and his friend used to work? Do I have it right?
This politically incestuous behaviour is abhorrent.
The officers of the state are not the personal henchmen of Gaston Browne or his wife, whom he or she can dispatch at their whim to violate the private premises of citizens and hinder, alter, censor, or destroy speech, which is politically inexpedient to them or their friends, supporters, family members, or allies.
The constitution enshrines the right to freedom of expression and mandates that no person shall be prohibited from such expression in public, in written or oral or other form, except when it is reasonably required in a few circumstances.
Among them, are public morality, public order, and the need to protect the reputations, rights, and freedoms of other people.
So, were the messages displayed vulgar and immoral by reasonable standards? No.
Did the messages incite violence, such that it was a threat to public order? No.
Was it harmful to the reputation of anyone such that what it stated was untrue? What was untrue about the messages displayed? You tell me.
In any event, would it not be incumbent upon the offended party to seek immediate relief from the courts by way of an injunction to have the signage removed or covered pending the courts’ decision on the question of defamation?
The DCA notice said the signage was “defamatory”. Did the DCA have a court order that it was enforcing when it removed the signage? Which arm of government makes determinations of issues of defamation? The executive? Or the judiciary?
How did the DCA and by extension, the executive branch, usurp the role of the courts in determining what is and is not defamatory, and determining the appropriate steps to be taken?
That is a violation of the doctrine of separation of powers.
And it is exactly why that doctrine exists – to prevent the executive from arbitrarily overreaching to clamp down on things it simply does not find politically convenient at any given time.
What has transpired is an overt and vulgar instance of state-backed censorship. I have every confidence that it was baseless and unlawful.
In this regard, the main opposition must meet the government head on.
File an application in court for a declaration that the actions of the DCA were ultra vires and seek an immediate injunction to prevent the DCA from removing the same signage again.
Further, seek damages and restitution for the property that was destroyed.
The government must be brought to heel and must been seen so to be. When the injunction comes back barring the DCA from repeating what it did, let Gaston Browne retreat to the comfort his gossip and echo chamber, and rant and rave, and attack the court, and be cuddled, mollycoddled, and consoled by Donna Chaia and Colin O’neal.
Let the officers from the DCA dare to do it again and let them be arrested for contempt.
It is long past the time that the lawlessness and gangsterism that is the hallmark of Gaston Browne’s administration, be fought tooth and nail.
Sincerely, a Fed Up with this Lawlessness
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The way how people and their families are attacked and destroyed in Antigua by politicians and their anxiousness in getting to Government is SICKENING.
Well I hope the executive of the opposition read the article and take heed. I sometimes wonder if they are afraid to challenge the government in court for fear that it sees a precedent that they don’t want when they come to power, thereby sacrificing the people’s freedom!
Wow!wow!wow!
This is among the best written articles ever published in ANR.
We thank both the writer and ANR for your work in enlightening the reading public on this subject matter.
It’s erudite in the manner in which it encapsulated our current state of affairs, and the political machine that governs us day to day.
Hopefully this article will begin to raise awareness and bring about a change in our consciousness.
Well done writer. Bravo!
@ Country Man Abroad
I concur with your sentiments.
The writer should be knighted for enunciating his points of view.
IF I KNEW WHO HE/SHE IS I WOULD SUPPORT THEIR WRITING WORK WITH $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
@CountryMan Abroad…”ah fraid Karl…”
Colonel Klink is on the war path!
But according to Chalkdust, he fraid Karl, too!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoz1DpCOuBo
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Lard .. Good to know you are safe with bridges are going for a swim around you.
Well written and a great and balanced article.
DCA, GASTON, MARIA and the police should not get away with their disregard and trampling of the law.
It is sickening that in what is supposed to be a democracy, the publisher has to make a disclaimer statement; and the writer knows the consequences of being identified.
It is sickening a tiring that expressing one’s political opinion is a sure way of one’s financial and social demise.
Don’t kid yourself this Antigua and Barbuda not a democracy, and has not been even before it became an independent country.
Question, why Gaston Browne don’t send police to lock up Pearl, Allister or Ivena for Defamation? He is seeking redress from the court for what he call Defamation.
You see he don’t have the power to determine Defamation he can make a claim but it is up to the court to determine if an act is defamatory was committed.
How can the DCA determine that a message on a board is defamatory?
So the DCA is the court? they were acting on a court order? I would hope.
STop flirting with Dictatorship, STOP GIVING a safe haven to Autocracy. You will wake up when the shoe is on the other foot and cry victimization when u have to deal with your own policy.
STOP YOU’LL NONESENSE!!!!
STOP IT!!! STOP IT !!! STOP IT!!!!
What this and many articles miss is -even if this may be ‘legal’ is it right?
The courts are involved for a reason – and will see the matter through.
I’m not comfortable ‘selling our soul’ to support a rich man’s tantrum because he can’t wait on due process.
At some point, the moral compass of the party has to ask, in getting this man’s money (a man who has never contributed to Antigua’s economy positively), are we putting the welfare of an entire sector at risk in the court of public opinion?
@ Diasppointed UPP Supporter
SHUT THE HELL UP. YOU ARE NO DAM UPP SUPPORTER.
U TINK WE STUPID LIKE THE ABLP MINIONS.
DO NOT PATRONISE US.
YOU, GBC, BRIAN STUART YOUNG AND GASTON GI BACK THE MAN HE DAM MONEY!!!!!
@Insane, are you censoring Disappointed UPP Supporter’s FREEDOM OF SPEECH??? HAHAHA. Isn’t that what you are speaking up against?? Not everyone has a sheep mentality like you! Try looking in the mirror for a BLUE minion!!
@Oh the IRONY and Disappointed UPP Supporter
As I thought and confirmed through your ramble: YOU ARE NOT A UPP SUPPORTER!
NOTHING BUT A DECEIVER, LIKE ALL THE ABLP AND THE TURN-COATS.
@Dissappointed UPP Supporter, I’ve been critical of the UPP’s tactics for some time, but your concern is not the matter the letter discussed. What is being discussed is an attack on freedom of speech and expression. You simply cannot be ok with these sort of acts, regardless of which party you support or regardless of your qualms against any political party. As the author stated, this is not Russia. The UPP should indeed go to the courts for recourse.
Well done writer. But now what?
I said, last Monday on Observer, that this country is running, full tilt, toward dictatorship, and the breach of this constitutional right of freedom of expression was the evidence writ large.
That a letter as erudite and accurate as this one has to be published under a pseudonym is further evidence of the chokehold this Administration has on democracy.
I believe the water cannons have already been ordered.
Here here, I concur your Honourable D. Gisele Isaac 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Very few of us are bold and open enough to take an identifiable position to issues. Many talk silently but they are afraid to stand up be identified with the issues they so fiercely talk about.. Whether we are for or against any issue we must be prepared to take a stance and let our voice be heard. Silence is no longer an option.
This is a great article. It is clear we are not living in a democratic country. How the PM can get away with this clear dictatorship in a democratic country is mystifying. Has the PM studied democracy, is he accountable for any of his unlawful actions? Shame, shame, shame. It is past the time for new leadership.
Look how you people are overly concerned about mass great grand child. Slavery is truly real up to this day. Or is it just the likkle politics?
This is one of the most articulate and compelling letters to editorial that I’ve ever come across.
The fact that the writer has highlighted how the laws of the land have been bypassed and trampled on by this government needs to be investigated immediately.
But many critical thinkers may say by whom?
Who investigates the the investigators?
I have my own private land, and are you telling me that if I gave permission (paid or otherwise) for a banner or billboard to be erected that the government can come on my land and remove it without some sort of compensation? Tarl!
In the not too distant past, I’ve had election and by-elections posters placed on my fence and trees situated on the perimeters of my land, and left them there and never made a fuss, because I thought both the main political parties had the right to do so.
NEVER AGAIN!
The recent actions of Maria Browne, the government, and the DCA have opened my eyes.
My only disappointment with this letter is that the author failed to put their name to this brilliantly written, lucid, and erudite piece. Was that out of fear? You’re preaching something that you yourself is fearful of.
The more I hear this issue about the billboard being ventilated I become more convince this is just UPP politics and politicians at play. Give me a break. Hear the one call Fled on the distrurber right now.
Excellent article. Shuggy has vowed to take the matter to court, as well he should. If this order came from the politicians, guess what? They will walk, as is always the case. It’s the stupid, dumbasses who do the biddings of these clowns and end up as lawbreakers in prison. Well, so be it. When will Antiguans learn. If the order comes from a politician that breaks the law, get it in writing with their signature and cover yourself. There are folks in prison today who broke the law and when asked why, stated that they were following ORDERDS.
Gaston Brown and Brian Stuart Young go Waaaaaay back, so the DAWG know this man. He is doing all he can to shield this man, but it will not work.
Y’all voted for a clown, what else y’all expected? When Gatson Browne sits in private with the Chinese, (which is one of the most suppressive government that ever exists) what else y’all think the conversation would be?
Well this is a “showing of hands” of sorts, and a direct reflection of what’s in this man’s heart for this country.
Wasn’t there a bunch of MOU’s that we’re just signed from the Chinese? This man is blatantly violating laws wide out in the open for all to see, and who is taking a page from his play book, isn’t it the many daylight bandits that are reeking havoc in Antigua right now?
I wrote a post about this when the article first came out about the billboard being removed, and it was taken down from ANR, so yes, censorship is in full mode with this Corrupt dictator we gave here as leader.
This is not the first time this man has gotten away with breaking the law, and it won’t be the last.
Who is there to stop him, who, cause clearly those who are in position to uphold and prosecute violators of the law, are in lock step and barrel with this man.
I told y’all Antigua is doomed.. the writing was on the wall when COVID exposed the wicked heart of mankind and all these corrupt governments.
Look around the world and see what the evil leaders did when the pressure hit them, please look back.
What did Gatson Browne do? He teargas his very own people.
If that’s not a sign for y’all, then y’all are as lost as I thought.
Smdh.
Hard, hard irrefutable facts @ Islanman26, however I don’t believe it is all doom and gloom – although it is now under this current ABLP administration.
Antiguans must now look to the future to turn things around; and this can only happen by acknowledging the mess Antigua & Barbuda are now in, and putting corrective measures in place for the future of our children’s children.
Not an impossible task by all means, but it starts by NEVER re-electing this ABLP government again, or what we are witnessing today will continue destroying generations for tomorrow.
Without a shadow of a doubt the country is at a crossroad; the question is which direction do we take?
THE SAME ONE, OR A NEW DIRECTION?
Enjoy your day sir …🤜🏽🤛🏽
Excellent article. Well written, not overly wordy or complicated (Looking at you RP). My concern is that China is obviously involved given that their ambassador is. The colonization might be further along than we thought.
How dear we the black people of this country impugn the character of his whiteness, was it a black man he would have been called “thief”
Gaston defends white monopoly capital domination and enforce Jim crowism, as you can see the opulence life style for white people with buffer zone included paid for by our tax concession while it appear as though they get their largesse.
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