The Prime Minister’s justification a year ago for blocking an inquiry in the wake of the Antigua Airways-Migrant Drowning scandal was that it did not appear to him and his aides that there was any criminal wrongdoing on anyone’s part.
His stance betrays either a genuine ignorance of the purpose of a public inquiry in a democratic society, or alternatively, that he is merely a deceitful man.
To have said that an inquiry is not necessary because it does not appear that there was any criminal wrongdoing is dumbfoundingly idiotic. It is.
It is idiotic for the simple reason that an inquiry is not a natural response to obvious evidence of criminal wrongdoing anyway. If you suspect that someone has acted criminally, you call the police and the DPP.
While an inquiry can uncover criminal wrongdoing and then hand over what it has found to law enforcement for further action, the main purpose of an inquiry has nothing to do with criminality.
Every elementary student of politics knows this. And it is why I say that Gaston Browne is either a fool or a liar.
What is a public inquiry?
In traditional parliamentary democracies, a public inquiry is at minimum, an official review ordered by a government body into events or actions. Different jurisdictions have different laws surrounding inquiries.
Inquires serve a number of functions. When those conducting the inquiry are independent, they can serve to avoid cover-ups by taking investigations out of the hands of those who were responsible for a gross failure in the first place.
In the UK, generally all public inquiries aim to avoid a repeat of whatever issue is being looked into. This is an important point.
Public inquiries into government failings specifically, also serve a political function, in that they can help restore confidence in public administration when a scandal or gross failure has seriously harmed the image of the government. However, summoning an inquiry is often a power that resides with the government of the day.
In practice, advocacy groups and opposition parties tend to ask for public inquiries for a variety of things and sitting governments typically only accede to a fraction of these requests. In some jurisdictions, governments hardly accede to any requests at all.
Since summoning an enquiry is often a political decision of the government of the day, there may have to be enormous public and political pressure on a government to call one of such a government is traditionally reluctant.
How much critical media attention is the issue receiving? Have members of the ruling party threatened to break ranks? Have civil society organisations come out against the government? Is the state under threat of sanction?
The other major political question that sitting governments ask is: How politically damaging are the findings likely to be? Are they likely to be so politically damaging that it would be less damaging to the administration, politically, to endure public criticism for not calling an inquiry.
Finally, enquiries do cost money. Sometimes, an inquiry’s cost might be weighed against its findings and it may be argued that not much was gained for the resources expended. However, in many places, sitting governments dismiss inquiries out of hand as being too costly to attempt regardless of the circumstances.
Should there have been an Inquiry?
Many people will answer that question depending on how they voted in the last election. But my simple answer is yes.
Remember that public inquiries are often convened on the simple basis that someone was reckless, irresponsible, or incompetent in doing their job – something we witness daily in Antigua and Barbuda.
There need not be evidence of criminal activity or the suspicion of criminal activity to justify calling an inquiry. For example, situations that may warrant an inquiry include overcontracting at statutory bodies or multiple issues creating a crisis at the hospital.
Members of the inquiry commission would seek to discover the nature of the failure, its impact, why it occurred, which parties are responsible, what steps ought to have been takento prevent the problem, whether everyone acted in accordance with their duty, whether the law governing the areas are adequate, etc.
In various countries, inquiries have been called into things such as sex scandals, deception from officials, unchecked spending in government departments, missed government targets, and failed programmes that were costly.
When the inquiries are done, people may be fired, reprimanded, or demoted. Departmental policies and leadership may change, and new laws may come into force to prevent a reoccurrence of what happened.
An inquiry into a sex scandal may lead to the firing of those involved, and the implementation of a departmental policy about preventing inappropriate relationships in the workplace.
An inquiry into wonton overspending in a department may lead to a change in leadership and the introduction of an oversight officer to police spending.
An inquiry into persistent losses at a government owned company may lead to the sacking of the board, and the implementation of new management polices and leadership selection criteria.
As stated, an inquiry does not hinge on there being a suspicion of criminal activity. There need only be a matter of public concern which would be well served with an official investigation that can provide clear and reliable conclusions on missteps and the necessary improvements to prevent a repeat.
Of the Antigua Airways saga, any right thinking citizen would be entitled to conclude that the government’s involvement in a botched airlift project that resulted in hundreds of migrants from a conflict zone being stranded in Antigua, and some of them later drowning while attempting further migration, would constitute a matter of public concern which would be well served with an official investigation.
Let us break the scandal down into four stages and ask some questions which an inquiry might have sought to answer.
Four Stages of Failure
Stage 1: Failure of Planning
Are there any clear, discernable criteria by which the government selects partners for joint enterprises?
Are there any criteria which seek to ensure that the investor is scrupulous, of good character, and has a proven record of success in the particular commercial field?
How was the investor introduced to the government in the first place?
Was it reasonable to have planned an association between this venture and the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP)?
Does the CIP not conduct its own diligence on businesses which it approves for investment? Did such a process occur wholly or in part in this instance?
Were there any restrictions placed on which nationalities would be allowed to enter?
What research was done by immigration on the risk associated with travellers from certain nations on the African continent?
Stage 2: Failure of Execution
Were any of the standard visa or entry practices waived, altered, or not adhered to?
When processing the migrants, did immigration properly execute its mandate under law and act in accordance with standard procedures?
How was the government’s decision making affected by its stakeholdership in the enterprise?
How was the government’s decision making affected by being both a facilitator/stakeholder, but also a regulator with the power to determine when and whether or not to halt flights?
How was the government’s decision making affected by the political imperatives of an ongoing election?
Did officials mislead the public at any point?
Did any officer of the government fail to execute their functions under law in relation to the operation of the charters?
Stage 3: Failure to Respond to the Arrival of the Migrants
Having halted flights, to what extent did the government take adequate steps to trace, identify, and monitor the movements of the people in question?
To what extent did the government take adequate steps to register the migrants, afford them legal advice, supervise their work status, and assist them with other needs?
To what extent did the government take adequate steps to inform the migrants of its purported intention to facilitate and promote their integration into society?
To what extent did the government make an adequate effort to interview the migrants and assess the nature of their circumstances?
Stage 4: Failure to Respond After the Drownings
To what extent did the government take adequate steps to establish the identities of the dead following the drowning?
To what extent did the government take steps to facilitate communication with the families of the deceased?
To what extent did the government take steps to demonstrate due compassion and regard for the mass loss of human life?
To what extent did the government continue to track and monitor remaining migrants in Antigua and Barbuda?
To what extent did the government adequately communicate with the public throughout this period?
Answer those questions for yourself, and you will realise just how inept, callous, and dishonest the entire handling of this nonsensical and deadly fiasco was from its beginning to its end.
Gaston Browne said that he was satisfied there was no evidence that anyone in his administration engaged in any wrongdoing, and therefore he saw no need to have an inquiry.
He maintained that both the government and the Nigerian investor with whom it partnered in the Antigua Airways venture were victims of a third party, a tour operator called HiFly, who used the charters to book travellers under false pretenses.
But he refused to answer for his abhorrent recklessness and that of his government in concocting this slapdash scheme in the first place by partnering with some no-one’s-heard-of-you and never-to-be-seen-again investor, evidently with inadequate planning, and a dangerously inept response to the problems that unfolded.
You do not have to have acted criminally to be guilty of recklessness, lawlessness, incompetence, and of acting in a manner unworthy public office. The Prime Minister knew that.
He knew that any credible inquiry would have laid bare the extent of the government’s compound failures. And he knew that the political embarrassment would have been staggering.
The blame is to be laid squarely at the foot of the Gaston Browne. He refused an independent inquiry that might have otherwise apportioned blame for all the bad decisions that many made along the way. Accordingly, he should keep the blame all to himself. Zero accountability.
Ernest J. Farfingbottom
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Oh Ernest… the migrants came on their own free will…may be they had other travel plans…and they left on their own free will…they must have known the risks associated with such stealth in the night…I don’t hear their mother country crying for an investigation.
Why don’t we the people of this fair country demand an inquiry into the the “WADADLI POWER PLANT” where a $100.000.000.00 of our blood, Sweat and tears money 💰 was spent into a power plant that never worked. 20 years later not a drum was heard. $100,000,000.00 broad dollar notes down the Chinese pipe…. another monstrosity is the “The SunShine Hub Car Park…how many millions $ down the Trinidad 🇹🇹 pipe..20 years later…Can’t done.
Now these are criminal act committed gainst the people of Antigua and Barbuda…
I’m sure you can dig up many more wrongdoings against the people of Antigua and Barbuda 🇦🇬….that warrant investigations and inquiries…ERNEST…DONT YOU THINK?
I agree lives there were loss of lives…families in Africa are still crying…it was a sad situation.
@ Dexter Pelle
The same Power Plant that is still being used.
ALL U MINIONS DO IS REPEAT THE TALKING POINTS FROM GASTON.
AND I WILL CORRECT U: ITS NOT $100,000,000.00 the country lost, NAH……
IT WAS $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000:STUPID FOOL!!!
The point is thIs: did the opposition ALP ask for an inquiry into these matters or not? If not, why?.If they did not then.they fell.down on the job, in other words ‘Deriliction Of Duty’. Who then is to blame? At least no lives were lost in the instances you referred to.
Migrants are drowning left , right and centre all over Europe, are any one going to waste taxpayers money to conduct inquiries. They came here under false pretences and with ulteria motives, no one here should feel guilty and loose sleep for what transpired.
@Tyrone Ferrari more than likely, those migrants dying at sea trying to get to Europe is due to hardships in their homeland(s) caused by crooked African government officials #WHO’RE still selling out their People and resources to western conglomerates[governments and businesses] who don’t give a damn, if these AFRICAN MIGRANTS (UNDESIRABLES) die at sea running from their miseries.
The Antigua Airways Saga is no different, even though, it may be on a much smaller scale.
I, Vere C. Edwards can guarantee you Tyrone Ferrari, that if those “migrants” dying at sea trying to get away from the same or similar atrocities in their naive lands(France, Germany, Italy etc.) and they were pink, white, Caucasian the MASS MEDIA would make sure, that they do their utmost, to rally support for those white Caucasians drowning at sea, and something would be done.
In addition, let’s just say, a Catamaran carrying WHITE TOURISTS capsized while circumnavigating Antigua and the Leeward Islands, no goddamn rock or corral under the sea, would be left unturned to figure out what was the cause of the accident.
The only reason why folks like you don’t give a damn about these Africans who drowned off St. Kitts is very clear. They are African migrants who are not worthy of respect.
However, you can best believe, those in Antigua #WHO’RE responsible for these types of atrocities will face their own state(s) of anguish and demise before they take their final breath as HUEmans.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Man you are a brilliant writer.
Keep them coming. Enlighten us on the dangers and recklessness of Gaston B and the sick ABLP.
They mashing up our ‘fair Antigua and Barbuda’ with no consequence for their abuse.
They all ought to be jailed when they leave government. We shall all watch them eating grass.
Mr. Ernest J. Farfingbottom must be Mr. Pompey’s alias, I have noticed that these epistles are usually penned by an unidentifiable person in the community.
So, may I ask:
Are you willing to finance these public inquiries or do you have any way that the government can access the resources to facilitate the same?
Why is it that only in opposition you guys request these inquiries?
How many inquiries happened under the former administration on any issue?
Why is it so concerning to you that this drowning unfortunate, as it is, should cost millions of dollars to be an expense on the government’s purse?
Who sent them on this voyage, late at night?
Don’t you think that they weren’t aware of the risk they were taking?
There boats traveling between Cuba an Haiti into Miami regularly, but never make it?
Have you heard of any inquiries executed into these drownings?
We are eagerly trying to solve a water problem in Antigua, and do you think we should be spending the limited resources on a “gotcha” exercise at this time?
Because you posses a little intelligencia, doesn’t always mean that your innocuous opining is warranted at this time.
Your epistle won’t move the needle in any direction.
The opposition has already moved on from that 9-day talk as well.
@Dave Ray…one thing is certain about R. Pompey, the only time he’ll or would hide his true identity is when he was an undercover cop, and he has since retired from being an active law enforcement officer.
It’s understandable why folks like you wouldn’t want an inquiry into the Antigua Airways Saga and its aftermath. Your handlers are knee deep in the mess, therefore, you have to do your best at deflecting from the real and true issue at hand.
While, the Antigua Airways Saga to include, the drowning of the Africans off St. Kitts may be gone from [some] peoples minds, it’s still very fresh in the Essence of Nature’s Ether and in the minds of those responsible, and no amount of drugs nor alcohol can erase it.
They’ll face their #hell right here on this planet.
The Nation of Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA will soon get an Attorney General like Letitia James, you must know who she is.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
@Vere C. Edwards, if that is your real name. I know it’s not Mr. Pompey, as you obviously are unable to recognize the noncount irony in my statement.
Are you accusing someone of something ontoward without facts? The typical Antiguan with a political partisan twist to everything.
All you have is chatter on these issues. Bring your Leticia James-like Attorney General and come. If wishes were like horses, beggars would ride.
Your expectation is Pollyanna. Continue dreaming. The vast majority of voters will never again make the same mistake they made for the 10 years of agony under the former administration.
Good luck, Sir or whoever you are…
@Dave Ray…luck is for fools; and, yes my incorporated name on what is [called] a birth certificate is Vere Cornwall[there is no surname on, said document, since, the law of religion and state classified me, as a #bastard); however, the bloodline and genes comes from surnames such as, Bailey, Lake, Ashe, Severn, Brodie, Edwards all the way to a british wheelwright brought to English Harbour and took one of his female African slaves to bed, to satisfy his appetite for the natural BBL of the day.
Got it [Dr.] Dave Ray, in case you or anyone want to bring any litigation against me, it’s Vere C. Edwards.
I don’t have to “accuse” anyone, in the government regarding anything. If, the proper law enforcement systems were in place, managed and directed, by competent law enforcement agencies, many of those in the purported upper echelon would be scared, to even wake up from their nightmares, similar to what RA Stanford and Leroy King were subjected to.
The subject is “inquiry’s,” and you mentioned the lack thereof, under the Government[Ruling Arm – UPP], but the one which the UPP sanctioned, the LINDQUIST INQUIRY, and its final findings after thorough Forensic Investigation(s), gave the UPP, the weapon to weaken the ABLP. However, due to the degree of separation, in the Nation, and the fact that, some of the UPP members were probably implicated in the final report, the LINDQUIST REPORT is collecting dust, as a Cold Case.
Lester and Vere Bird Jr are dead, but Gaston Browne and Asot Michael are still alive, and according to reports, several of the recommendations by the IHI Report have no statute of limitations.
Again, once proper law enforcement matrices are put in place managed by well educated and trained law agencies with the proper tools and equipments, to do their forensic investigations, many in the purported upper echelon would be running from Antigua like PAPA DOC out of Haiti.
Hopefully, it happens sooner, than later so that, we don’t end up in a State Of Emergency like Haiti is today.
I don’t change #Hairstyles, nor #hairdos, nor administer silicone gels for BBL, I change the dynamics in what they call the #getto[state of mind, not state of being], since, it’s not where you’re at, it’s what you do with what you got.
As for Ms. Letitia James, the present Attorney General for the State of New York, born of Antiguan blood; kid, she’d run #Crop_Circles around QT[10yards] Benjamin, that a satellite view from space will show the #crop_circles on his stomach like, it’s an alfalfa farm landed upon by an Alien spacecraft.
By the Way…I still got your email correspondence(s) when you had the [title] of Dr. or was is #D*c_tor Dr. Dave Ray. You know, even though, I won’t come at you this way, I gotta keep it #straight, #hard and #real. Why did you drop the Dr.? Or, should I do some forensic investigation(s), to determine if you’re a fake, AI, Bot or #P. Diddy_Clone?
Jumbee _Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
@ Dave Ray you said:
“Why is it only in opposition that you guys request these enquiries …”
May I remind you @ Dave Ray that in 2014, I was an ardent supporter of the ABLP and Gaston Browne’s leadership at that time.
I was part of a group of Antiguan entrepreneurs in a Q & A session that was encouraged to invest in all aspects of business.
As you can imagine I didn’t hold back on my particular question.
Suffice to say, the Prime Minister answered all of the questions, and he came over as a confident and articulate person, and a few of us put our money where our mouths were.
However, over the coming years Gaston Browne’s RHETORIC just didn’t match his ACTIONS and our business acumen; it seemed that he just wanted to engage with us at the time, but not invest in us, or give future start-up concessions unlike many others with a different hue.
And in addition, along came Covid-19 a few years later, and Antiguans were blocked from returning home (including students). Why?
And once the ABLP realised it was ridiculous to stop their own Antiguan – passport holding – nationals from coming home, the damage was incalculable.
Now fast forward to 2024, and Gaston Browne doesn’t seem to have changed his methodology when dealing with small, medium or large scale businesses.
Again, it comes over as more rhetoric from the Prime Minister, but with very little action so far.
That’s why his current venture in Airlines fascinates me Dave.
CAN A LEOPARD 🐆 CHANGE ITS SPOTS?
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Did anyone hold a gun to their head and tell them to get on the boat, or did they go there of their own free will. The same people who are calling for an inquiry into the drownings weren’t you the same set of people who said that you don’t want them here in Antigua, have the most nasty and foul things to say about them. Some of you, the same people calling for an inquiry, were even walking around with spray bottles spraying the people. Now this unfortunate drowing happens, you are sorry. Those African knew damn well what they were doing and the risk that comes with it. They got on that boat of their own free will. If they were such victims, why did the survivors escape the detention center in SNK trying to smuggle out again. Nobody gives 2 Fs about these Africans cause they were no victims.
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