Asot won’t run on ABLP election ticket if charged

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“If criminal charges are brought against former Minister Michael he shall not be the candidate for St Peter on the Labour Party slate for the next general election.” Those were the unequivocal words of Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

Speaking on the government run ABS TV Thursday evening, Browne said he was not suggesting whether MP Asot Michael was innocent or guilty but was making his position clear.

After Michael was held by police in London for questioning on Monday, the prime minister acted swiftly to remove his portfolio as Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy minister, a move which many have declared to be hasty.

However, the prime minister said, at the time, he was informed that Michael had been arrested by the UK National Crime Agency in relation to bribes made by a UK national for business projects in the Caribbean. PM Browne emphasised that Michael was arrested, not merely detained, as some have argued.

He added that the former Tourism minister was released “under investigation” and that there was a possibility of criminal charges “in due course.”

“I felt the arrest itself was sufficient enough to revoke (his ministerial portfolio) temporarily pending the outcome,” Browne said. “I would have acted correctly and promptly to ensure the integrity of my government was not brought into disrepute.”

Browne took shots at the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) saying that, unlike them, he would not tolerate criminality in his party. He claimed that four of the UPP’s general election candidates have charges against them, two are known to the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) as narcotic traffickers, and one is involved in human trafficking.

Meantime, Browne says he automatically assumed the ministerial portfolio for Tourism and that between Friday and next week, he will announce which ministers will assume Michael’s former portfolio.

Michael, still the Member of Parliament for St Peter, maintains his innocence.

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15 COMMENTS

  1. The truth is coming out as well as the lies. Asot made a statement he was not arrested. Gaston states here he was informed Asot was arrested. This is another example of the lies A sot has done and will keep on doing whether in office or not. The good thing is A sot can’t bribe the UK folks with turkeys, hams, microwaves etc to look the other way. After recovering from his almost death bed, he claimed god spared his life and he is now a changed man. Leopards never changed their spots. It is a known fact he groped a very young teenage girl recently where there were many witnesses. So much for being a changed man. I hope this time he has finally met his Waterloo.

    Gaston, knowing fully well he groped the young woman still allowed him to remain in office while claiming he holds all his members to the highest standards. All empty words Gaston. If that were the case, the very same thing Gaston did immediately when he found out Asot was arrested, he would have done then. It appears that Asot might have some serious pull on Gaston and because of that Asot has been getting away with it all.

    It is high time Antigua and the people get rid of parties who have their own political agendas as well as financial reasons why they in key positions.

    I wonder what other country in the world would have a person who has groped a young lady represent them? This a huge black eye on Antigua.

  2. Hthe nasty,dirty,deep,dark secrets are about to come out.
    Let the cage bird sing.
    Just you listen,watch and learn.

    THE COUNT DOWN IS ON PEOPLE.
    THIS ONE IS GONNA BE THE BOMMER.
    ASOT IS GONNA SING OUT,WHISTLE OUT,PEE OUT,DETOX………
    HE IS GONNA CHAT OUT EVERYTHING!
    GASTON,CUTIE,ROBIN,MOLWYN…..GET READY FOR THE CAGED BIRD GONNA SING!!!

    • Typical Garrot Antiguan already plotting the mans demise before knowing what and why he was detained.

  3. The nasty,dirty,deep,dark secrets are about to come out.
    Let the cage bird sing.
    Just you listen,watch and learn.

    THE COUNT DOWN IS ON PEOPLE.
    THIS ONE IS GONNA BE THE BOMMER.
    ASOT IS GONNA SING OUT,WHISTLE OUT,PEE OUT,DETOX………
    HE IS GONNA CHAT OUT EVERYTHING!
    GASTON,CUTIE,ROBIN,MOLWYN…..GET READY FOR THE CAGED BIRD GONNA SING!!!

  4. I’m in full agreement with the PM, if one does wrong they should removed from office, however this article highlights a few thing.
    1. At what level is the wrong recognize, is it when it is done in an international area? Dose that mean that we have to suffer anything that is done to us on this soil?
    2. If the answer to question one is yes , then my second observation may be may not make much sense, but none the less : It is common knowledge that various ministers are under investigation for serious crimes yet they are allowed to hold offices that require the highest integrity.

    I hope wrong doing everywhere will bar anyone from holding ministerial positions.

  5. So how cutie still in office mr.pm? And member when u fired him the public will know everything cause all a are u a the same red & (…) blue nun better than nun u better give cutie he walking ticket to

  6. who never sin cast the first stone people just love to see when a brother falls but life is like a circle … wait for it just wait for it

  7. We’re talk about the British Government! To Arrest a high ranking official from another Government, honestly Bribery? If the investigation was ongoing as they said it was they wouldn’t release any real info to any media outlet for danger of it hampering with an ongoing investigation. Yes they want someone but it’s not Asot. Asot said what he needed to say to be released, they’re obviously trolling for a bigger fish! They want your PM!!!

Comments are closed.