Antigua and Barbuda’s former Finance Minister Harold Lovell has called for a full, independent investigation into a $15 million vehicle procurement scandal, citing concerns over fairness, accountability, and transparency.
In a statement, Lovell said the latest revelations — which allege that hundreds of vehicles were purchased and distributed without Cabinet approval — underscore the need for an impartial inquiry. He emphasized that no individual should be tried in the court of public opinion.
“We need an investigation that allows all facts to be properly presented and ensures that each person is treated fairly,” Lovell said. “It is unacceptable for persons to be tried and convicted by one man on a radio show. We have seen selected facts used to exonerate some individuals while others are unfairly targeted.”
Lovell expressed concern about key figures allegedly involved in the scandal remaining unaccountable and stressed the importance of holding all public officials to the same standard. He described the probe as an opportunity to restore public confidence in government oversight and accountability.
The former minister linked the scandal to broader issues of governance, arguing that past controversies have revealed a pattern where public resources are vulnerable to misuse. “Until we have true transparency and justice is served, the chain that binds corruption will only tighten, link by link,” Lovell said.
No official government response has been issued regarding Lovell’s call for an independent inquiry.
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oh I see the headline was changed. Good on you Editor.
This man has NO MORAL AUTHORITY TO CALL FOR ANY TYPE OF IINVESTIGATION!!! Let someone else with clean hands do so. This man BRUISED, BATTERED AND SHIPWRECKED OUT ECONOMY. IMF is his favourite word. He allowed butch to hold on to 65% ABST MONIES instead of paying in all to goverment coffers.
This man is anti-UWI FIVE ISLANDS
ROMANTIC RHYTHMNS
BANKING SECTOR was on life support under his watch
Too many painful memories of this man under his WICKED “SUNSHINE GOVERNMENT”
As an innocent by-stander who is watching all this unfold….
Where did the $15 million dollar figure come from?
Don’t come for me people….just asking…
Harold , JAQUI and Wilmoth should be in jail for Bus Scandal. CHUPTZ. HAROLD hide your face.
Mr Lovell, why are you not here in Antigua.? You are needed here. Mr Pringle’s name is calling up in this Vehiclegate mess, and the party really needs you to lead the fight against this corrupt government.
If you knew you were going back to Canada, why did you put your name in the mix? You can’t have one foot in and one foot out. You are either in or you are out. It is time to show that you are serious about trying to bring back this damaged nation to respectability.
@ STEEM,
A couple of used busses should have put 3 people in jail. By your reasoning Antigua will have to build a super size jail for all the people involved in this scandal of the $15million worth of new brand Broncos.
You need to bury your head with your disjointed reasoning .
The Honorable Former Minister is being facetious to suggest that any independent assessment would do justice in bringing accountability to, what is clearly, a systemic issue. There is no need for forensic probes or deep dives, as every Antiguan and Barbudan citisen knows that these issues have existed for far too long, regardless of regime.
Why not call for a unified approach or a bipartisan investigation of same to ensure these issues are stamped out for good. Every organisation and individual called presents the same response from the local man – i.e. that sounds about right or that seems likely.
We need to realise that greed and corruption is at the heart of the public procurement and revenue generation systems and only integrity and love for God and country can root it out.
Technology can fix a bevy of woes and issues and I support this 100 percent. But no system is infallible when flawed human beings are running them. This is why true accountability must start at the foot of the Honorable Former Minister and so many who either turned a blind eye to the issues and accused good civil servants falsely while cuddling up with the actual perpetrators of the corruption. It is silly and has been going on for far too long and too many generations.
To put an end to this is to look at the man in the mirror and ask yourself am I benefiting from the corruption and am I too a part of the problem. If so, let us start by removing ourselves from improper and move towards the proper, following processes and holding the public service to a higher standard.
For starters an audit of the car companies involved should be carried out. Aziz Hadeed bragging about how he made his dynasty but we all know Hadeed bobol in all of Government has been number one for years with no checks on payments etc. How much Hadeed charge for used trade in cars he supplies to various Government minions the last 20 years!
? Me hear they charged as new needs investigation.
This year alone check how much of our money flow to Hadeed possibly half Government income?
@SMH
He forgot the public works scandal when Daniel was there. They moved him to Health and he walked with his people. Then it became a solid waste scandal. Chairman, Chaku and his woman GM. All UPP Ministers had trucks in solid waste. Legitimate business people was thrown aside.
The sidewalk scandal. The bathroom scandal.
UPP people forgot Antigua during the period 2004 to 2014…….
The dutty paat dem a call kettle black…….. ku pan dem
In my opinion the $15 million vehicle procurement scandal is more than just a headline; it’s a critical test of our nation’s commitment to fairness and accountability.
Harold Lovell as well as all of us have the right to demand a full, independent investigation.
This isn’t about finding guilt on a radio show or in the court of public opinion. It’s about a fair, transparent process that brings ALL the facts to light—not just selected ones. We keep asking for Public officials to be held to the same standard, and public confidence must be restored.
I believe the real issue at hand is ensuring our public resources are protected by a system of true transparency and justice.
#Accountability #Transparency #FairProcess #AntiguaBarbuda
Harold you do not learn when to hush. Why didn’t you have all those investigations when you had all those scandals. Up to this date you cannot tell us what happened to our Seven Million Dollars of Romantic Rhythm monies. And your supporters here will come to your defends. Maybe they can explain what happened to the monies. Ghane a Gwassa
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