Public Works Minister Maria Bird Browne says she will not resign despite weeks of pressure from the opposition over the $15 million government vehicle-purchase controversy.
Speaking publicly on the matter for the first time, Bird Browne told ABS after Thursday’s Throne Speech that the demands for her removal are “politically motivated.” She has faced escalating criticism after revelations that the vehicles were acquired outside proper procurement procedures.
The United Progressive Party has staged protests, motorcades, and public meetings calling for her resignation. Bird Browne said she remains focused on her duties and committed to serving the public.
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$15 million misappropriation, abuse of office, theft, fraud, and other failures that have caused a substantial loss to the country (no matter if the money is returned), this truly requires/demand those in authority (PM, MP, Senator, Permanent Secretary, director, financial department, cabinet) to resign, impeached, etcetera. At minimum the MP and those below her but at managerial positions MUST be fired. I am not happy saying this because she is so attractive but every competent, reasonable and prudent person would have to let them go, fire them.
If she wasn’t involve, she must still be held responsible for failure to exercise properly care and failure to exercise her duty. If she was involved, then it is obvious the result for that.
But in a matter like this, she must be fired or she resign and I would say she can run in the next election to see if the people still want her but at this time she must step-aside until next election.
ABLP will not follow my morality, ethics and legality.
Look, as long as Maria Bird-Browne instigates an independent investigation into the vehicle acquisitions procurement scandal then there’s absolutely nothing she should concern herself with.
The country is demanding transparency as well as the opposition party. Many citizens have always suspected some sort of self-enrichment of politicians, this investigation should go someway in silencing her many critics.
An excellent opportunity for Minister Bird-Browne to show the country she’s not always subservient to her Prime Minister husband.
An excellent opportunity to listen to the citizens demands for open governance.
Serve the public with transparency, accountability and good governance. Clear your damn name .
‘Politically motivate’? Really?
This female is such a clown.
The people of RURAL EAST will determine this
Not Pringle
Not RAG-TAG CLOWN
Not Man Cow aka Lipstick Hag
Not Winkkup pastor
Not the GUNMAN
Not the Jamaican husband
Not FOOTS
Not the snake
Why should she resign when it is she who exposed that there was this irregularity going on in her department, which when she investigated took all the corrective action and removed those that dropped the ball from those positions. This is not a case where it was revealed by someone else and she was clueless. Her seeing two BROCO’s parked at the police station made her curious as she know government doesn’t authorize the purchase of these expensive vehicles. And from that investigation she discover a much bigger plot going on. The Cabinet decided to return all those vehicle back to the dealers. So all illegally purchase government vehicles has been returned to the dealers and those that are not returned will be sold in order to pay back for the expense. This then also exposed another inappropriate dealing in Duty Free Warrants by the car dealers. And here again Cabinet took measures to rather start legal procedures request that the car dealer repay government for all the lost Duties and Taxes. What else is their to see. This is transparency. Government in the end didn’t lose any money. And we also safe long and expensive court procedures.
In leadership and professional settings, accountability builds trust because it shows that individuals will own their part in whatever happens, even negative ones. Quite recently, the BBC Boss Tim Davies and Head of News Deborah Turness both resigned from the media giant after a news editing scandal. They were not personally involved but they acknowledged that as the bosses, the buck stops with them. When we are head of anything, we take credit when things go exceptionally well. By the same token, when there’s foul up, we must accept and acknowledge our failure to properly oversee and manage things. This is what good “Managers” do.
Less (it’s LEST dear) We Forget
Are you ah freaking high schooler?? are you DAFT?? I swear everyday I fully understand how scammers are almost always successful after reading and analyzing the way some of you think smh The actual whistleblower is NOT this lady she just has to bite the bullet (apparently hubby knows even she too has a price) ride the wave and buy two extra luxury pocketbook. Antiguans have to be the most gullible on the face of the earth that am I ashamed to be classed as one. An independent inquiry will clear up any and every misunderstanding so why are they RUNNING from one of the hands are clean?? Just sit down before u hurt ya self trying to think too hard
Looking at the expression on this young lady face she needs her life back, she have been forced into politics to ensure Gaston political stability political longevity, she is just perfunctorily going through the motion, she is not interested in being no minister, someone please rescue her from the ALP before they destroy the life of such a young and promising person that have a roll to play in life somewhere or some place else, and not at this time forced upon her to benefit someone else’s selfish ego.
She was not forced. the PEOPLE ELECTED her!!!!
Someone just said if you robbed the bank and called the police after the burglary and robbery you are immune from criminal charges and convincing. Never once did they teach me this rule in law school. I want back my $120,000.00usd a year that I ate Ramen noodles to pay for by myself (parents helped with bachelor’s and masters but not with the Jurisdoctorate, law degree, directly).
I heard people in domestic violence matters says, I called the police so I should get arrested for beating the person. Now on this news medium, I am hearing the same illogical thing that because you discovered the wrong that you are not suppose to be held accountable, if appropriate.
The right thing for her to do is resign, and I am only saying this because it is the ethical, and legal thing a good leader would do. And then announce she will run in the next election to see if the people will forgive her or determine she should not be blamed but she must show to the people she is a woman of dignity and class.
Again, she is gorgeous, so I am not happy saying this but I must always stand up for morality and legality. And I will always do that.
Less We Forget [He], once again defending the indefensible.
The country is demanding an INDEPENDENT investigation, and here again this irreligious DINGBAT is skirting around an inquiry that the majority of law abiding citizens want, and could actually exonerate Maria Bird-Browne – but he hasn’t got the foresight to see this. Fool!
Hopefully, Less We Forget[He] will one day engage he SMALL cranium before he open he BIG mout’
@Audley Phillip November 20, 2025 At 7:14 pm
“Quite recently, the BBC Boss Tim Davies and Head of News Deborah Turness both resigned from the media giant after a news editing scandal. They were not personally involved but they acknowledged that as the bosses, the buck stops with them.”
Yes, the website for the Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as HealthCare.gov, experienced significant technical problems and performance issues when it was launched on October 1, 2013. The head of the department was told to fix it and then resign. Does the buck stops with Barak Obama or not. So does he had to resign. And the thing is in both instances it was something that became public by someone else doing not by the person in charge. The way government is set up the persons that have direct supervision of a department are the Permanent Secretaries. Not the Ministers. Why is it you guys do not call for them to resign. No that is why the Cabinet reshuffled them. Even you as a trade unionist know very well that you cannot easily fire these people. All you can do is put them somewhere where they can do little damage.
The PM gave a perfect example. If a teller is caught stealing do you fire the teller or fire the bosses of the teller. That is how silly you guys argument is.
The case is being investigated and those that have dropped the ball have been replaced. One thing you should understand the PM doesn’t like to take bread out of anyone’s mouth. Or put anyone in jail for that matter.
“The country is demanding an INDEPENDENT investigation”
A group of imbecile you mean are calling for an independent investigation. Where was the independent investigation during then Fencing Scandal. No Lovell said we do not need one. He did an internal investigation with the Treasury head and a few others. And still that report was damming yet no body got fired. And we lost millions more than here.
Nothing to defend here. The case is being investigated by the FS.
@Less We Forget any investigation begins with anyone who reported the crime you deranged imbecile.
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