MP Kelvin “Shugy” Simon responds to statement by PM Browne
As Kelvin “Shugy” Simon, MP for St. Mary’s South and a member of the United Progressive Party (UPP), I feel an urgent need to address not only the recent remarks made by Prime Minister Gaston Browne regarding the situation involving my constituent Mr. Jack Stroll and the Global Bank of Commerce (GBC) but also a deeply concerning issue reported by the Observer newspaper.
The Prime Minister’s statements, which are not only beyond absurd but also veer into the realm of the ludicrous, seem to be an idle attempt to change the narrative and perform a mind trick on the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
He has completely deflected from the situation and constructed a narrative that bears no relation to the truth.
It is my understanding that Mr. Jack Stroll never requested the government to pay the debt owed to him by the GBC.
Furthermore, no member of the United Progressive Party, including myself, has ever promised Mr. Stroll that the government of Antigua and Barbuda would assume his financial losses when the UPP comes into power.
The Prime Minister’s assertion that our party would engage in such a promise is a leap into the realms of complete insanity and absurd rhetoric.
The UPP is not the issue here but the continuous poor judgement of the Minister of Finance of Antigua and Barbuda who also happens to be Prime Minister Browne.
The Prime Minister simply cannot absolve himself from the responsibilities that come with the governance of our nation, particularly in regards to the regulation of the banking sector by the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC).
There is no doubt that proper regulation of GBC or any other financial institution under the watch of the FSRC may prevent this absolutely shocking affair from happening.
Given the state of affairs should the FSRC be concerned with why GBC is unable to pay its depositors and intervene to protect the financial integrity of Antigua and Barbuda? This is not a political question but one of good governance.
I am of the opinion that this oversight is a governmental responsibility, and the Prime Minister cannot simply distance himself from it.
Additionally, it is alarming that the government permits funds, specifically those from the National Development Funds through Citizenship by Investment applicants, to be deposited in an offshore bank, whose solvency is clearly questionable.
This raises serious questions about the fiscal responsibility and ethical governance under Prime Minister Browne’s administration.
Why aren’t other members of the present government team not concerned with this untenable state of affairs? If they are why aren’t they speaking out or doing something?
Turning to the recent Observer report, another distressing example has come to light. It concerns a donation of US$1 million by the British charity, the Steve Morgan Foundation, intended for Hurricane Irma recovery efforts in Barbuda.
This money, sent through GBC in September 2017, has yet to reach the people of Barbuda. What else has to happen before Gaston Browne and the FSRC act? Please hear me, this money destined for Barbuda has been stuck in the Global Bank of Commerce for seven years.
How can this possibly be allowed to happen? How would any regulatory body in any country in the world allow a bank to continue to do this?
Our party remains dedicated to the principles of accountability, good governance and transparency, and we vehemently reject any attempts to drag our name into unfounded, fantastical, and fanciful narratives.
The people of Antigua and Barbuda deserve a government that is responsible, transparent, and accountable, especially in managing the nation’s finances and international goodwill gestures.
It’s time for concrete action and honest governance.
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You just cannot make this stuff up! Their are bankers that think and believe that they are smarter than the average BEAR. I’m here to tell them that they are not. A digital footprint cannot be erased. You can try. There is always a sender, a recipient and a clearinghouse. You can only hide for so long. Sir Allen is prime example.
So what does the PM suggest that Jack Stroll do? What recourse does a citizen have in such situations? What is the role of the FCRC? The bank is just allowed to continue to operate without a proper investigation? We can now see why the ABLP administration has failed to attract any real investors with a PM and Minister of Finance like Gaston Browne. The place has really gone to the dogs and of course Gaston is the top dog
Its clear that MP Simon is an idiot. In the very pleadings {claim ANUHC2023/0188) by Stroll , the insistence is that government payout a 10 million us treasury bill that has not matured. GBC gave Stroll the instrument to satisfy its debt to him. The depositor argues that promises were made by the bank to have this done but government makes clear, it made no such arrangement.
In terms of MP Simon’s statement that GBC is unable to pay Stroll, the bank has publicly stated its been paying Stroll. Stroll argues they are not doing it in a timeline he would like. The courts will deal Stroll and GBC
Is Gaston Browne the Public Relations Officer for the Bank ? Please tell us.
Look, at the end of the day, if you are a client at a bank and wish to deduct your funds, don’t you have a full right? Put yourself in his position. Now, if the bank is clearly very intertwined with the government or even owned by the government, who should be liable?
@mr really ..government is not a share holder in gbc. Again the depositor admits gbc has been paying him, but he wants faster payments the matter is in court
Lennox Weston we need a report on this GBC debacle. You can bolster your position, as a politician, that the People can trust to help get rid of #CORRUPTION IN THE NATION.
Kum een Lennox! Kum een Weston!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Mr. Simon, it doesn’t matter how much you try to get a respond from the Prime Minister, you are not in his league so he will never ever give you an answer or engage in any discussion with you. You just come in the scene and you want to take on the top man. Forget it. You are not qualified. No matter how many people write your script for you. Cause we know your vocabulary and what words you cannot even pronounce let alone write.
Take on Dwayne George. That is your match
@ Less We Forget
Bitterness does not really pay.
You and your top DAWG bitterness over the blow-out loss from Shuggy cannot be helped. Y’all CANNOT BUY SHUGGY like you bought out that JUDAS ISCARIOT with a new jeep and job.
Shuggy stood up to yall and TOLD YOU THAT U CANNOT BUY HIM. You send all kinda people to beg, including Daryl to offer senatorship etc but he still said no.
For that I respect him, a highly principled guy and thats why Gaston hate his guts so much, the only MP that got ELECTED TWICE WITHIN A YEAR, even after your party spent over $5,000,000.00 to defeat it.
I can only pity your bitterness.
@sulphur bitters are u sure Shuggy not in Gaston’s pocket and is just playing a game… Watch this space
@sulphur bitters Gaston is going to make Shuggy the leader of the upp then control both parties
@ Curious
You think Shuggy can be bought like all you minions, tenman, Colin, Lamin, Donna, Winston, Namba? You guys would sell your mother if Gaston demanded it.
NOT SHUGGY. I know and respect the guy so much, humble and caring. He is the polar opposite of the DAWG, then again only because Gaston is in power why all of you are flocking to him- i can bet you that once that power goes, all of you will scatter.
I cannot believe up to now how that guy sold his soul to ”the devil” aka HITLER. Pity
Wow wow wow Suggy I think that the message has been heard you will be his prime target Hon Simon you are sent by the people looking across the Isle is Juliette focus on her mentally he will be disturb and he will be eratic just focus on her
At last! Someone who stands up and tell the lunatic, failed Gaston Browne where to go.
The whole GBC think reaks of corruption, malfeasance and greed. I saw folks throwing all kinds of laws trying to defend the FSRC for what I think is pure dereliction of duty. If the timeline is reliable, they have say quite for almost 7 years allowing this bank to exist, now causing all kinds of problems.
But, as always,the DAWG was running his mouth in matters he would best have allowed the relevant authorities to handle, calling the man greedy for wanting his money and a withdrawal of that size would bankrupt GBC.
So you want to tell me, according to Gaston Browne, Medford Nicholas and the Biltmore et el, that in 2017 this bank was having problems? No, we are no all so naive. They got the money and must now account for it. That’s the issue here.
@ tellhim
Wait Tellhim has to be Tenman why? Like Tenman another ABLP troll there are identical characteristics and a few other things in common
Starting off with a derogatory characterization (idiot) that’s Tennan modus operendi
The projecting (accusing others of exactly what you are) and making refutable references is both tenman and tellhim vice.ms are uncannily similar
Attacking MP Simon as being an idiot while you are the one making idiotic comments.
Stroll is a depositor. What type of depositor isn’t clear. He does not seem to be time barred in getting his money when it’s requested. Global Bank has not been able to give Mr. Stroll’s back his money.
What dog does Gaston Browne and The GOAB have in this fight?
When it comes to Stroll the fight is between the Bank and the depositor Stroll. Except Gaston expect Stroll to hold the US Bills until they mature.
There is no rational defense of Gaston’s position. Stroll has been waiting for a long time; he wants to cash out now.
With what else we know now about Barbuda’s Relief money being trapped unless the Chinese finalize takeover of Global Bank during the current Bi-Lateral discussions.
Both Global and Gaston is in deep shit on this one. Like Gaston the only answer you gave is to become rude and derogatory.
It’s called the Projection Syndrome.
Like Tenman who lives to go to youtube and Google;, stating the case number does not give you credibility when your entire thought process is false
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