Everett Christian, a retired banker with 30-plus years in the financial sector, says he is reliably informed that the Gaston Browne Administration used the funds from the July 2021 bond to pay debts and reported this to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Only recently, the United Progressive Party became aware that Government had “secretly” floated a 10-year bond for EC$540 million, with a 4 per cent interest rate, which had been taken up by Resilience Partners Incorporated.
During Thursday’s sitting of Parliament, Prime Minister Browne denied receiving those funds. And he proffered what some pundits say was an unrealistic explanation for the bond being listed among the country’s debt stock on page 102 of the 2022 Budget Estimates.
But according to Christian’s sources, during the IMF Article IV consultations earlier this year, the Government informed the agency that the bond funds were used to pay outstanding debts and finance the country’s deficit, among other uses.
Christian says the Browne Administration is “lying through its teeth.” He recalls Lennox Weston, the de facto Minister of Finance, boasting that a half-billion dollars had already been secured and that the Government was not waiting to go “cap in hand” to beg any lending agency – namely the IMF.
Despite this, the Prime Minister is seeking to persuade the Nation that the July 2021 bond and the bond that he announced in February this year – and said had been cancelled – are one and the same.
But Christian is highly skeptical.
The former banker says the Browne Administration needs to be honest with the taxpayers and let them know exactly what the money was used for – since what he heard coming from the PM’s mouth does not make any sense.
Summing up the situation, Christian says this is a case in which Cabinet Members have been caught with their “hands in the cookie jar;” and now, they are trying to find the most plausible explanation for this debacle.
According to Christian, Browne was attempting to explain the inexplicable, and so his explanation appears to have further muddied the water.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
The most honest government, he speak the truth at all times. When your conscience is seared with a hot iron it is a terrible thing
Well, if you feel that you were defamed then SUE!! Call u lawyer and put forward the matter in the court.
Anyone who brags about how sophisticated they are, how stately they represent themselves, brag and boast about themselves. Is one who is not what they say they are. Talk is cheap than hot air.
It’s your actions that count. Your behavior; your attitude, tone, respect for others and their opinions that make you “sophisticated “ as you say. Aspirin can’t help you. Ask the good Doctor to prescribe something else.
Gaston Browne is dragging the country into the gutter – we deserve so much better!
I can imagine that financial investors are reading this right now, and are probably having second thoughts.
MY BELOVED ANTIGUA IS CRYING OUT FOR LAW ABIDING GOVERNANCE RIGHT NOW.
If you love Antigua & Barbuda as you say, then for everyone’s sake PLEASE GO NOW …
… can we swap him for Mia Mottley from Barbados, now that’s someone with honour, integrity and puts her country first! *audible sigh from Brixtonian*
OH WELL, I CAN ONLY DREAM …
Liard Everett Christian
Partly responsible for the destroying Antigua and Barbuda Economy and ABIB
Just HUSH
Iman you go by many names! Further you seem irritable today, now why is that? Is it because you know that the Pm is lying!
@ Horace, Iman knows the writing is on the wall and the games up for Gaston “Soon Gone” Browne and the ABLP.
NOT LONG TO GO NOW, JUST WAITING FOR THE PM TO CALL THE GENERAL ELECTION …
@ Iman
YOU AND YOUR ‘god’ GASTON DESTROY ANTIGUA ECONOMY BY STEALTHILY TAKING $540,000,000 MILLION TWICE FROM THE ANTIGUA PEOPLE WHICH IS UNACCOUNTED…..NOT TO MENTION FLIPPING GOVERNMENT LAND BY BUYING IT AND SELLING IT OVER TO MAKE MILLIONS. THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL FRAUD, NEPOTISM AND DOWNRIGHT THEFT. NO WHERE ELSE IN THIS WORLD COULD GASTON HAVE SURVIVED OUTSIDE OF JAIL. ANTIGUA PEOPLE JUST CHUPIT AND FOOLY AND THEN PEOPLE LIKE YOU BACK THEM UP WID THEIR THEIFING, SUCH A PITY.
USEFUL IDIOT
Preach @ Poverty Preach … 🤜🤛
Gaston says he no need no money. I guess when you and family accumulate so much since joining government that your coffers full, you can make that statement.
School children say that PM Browne was bruk before he entered office. Now they say he have only $300,000 million.
How did you get soooooo rich, Mr Browne in the last 8 years? Please tell us!
Does it have anything to do with your self-enrichment scheme?
Tell us, oh MIGHTY ONE, HOW MUCH DOES THE GOVERNMENT PAY YOU EVERY MONTH or Rather, how much do you pay yourself for all the SERVICES THAT YOU CHARGE THE TAX-PAYERS OF ANTIGUA.
YOU ARE GREEDY, SELF-CENTERED AND SELFISH.
That $300,000,000 million self-enrichment money @ jjj could have gone into better security for our schools; outstanding overtime; wages paid on time; pensions paid to the elderly when also due; and a raft of other financial issues.
Look at it another way citizens of Antigua.
Something is definitely awry when you look at other countries with a rich and vibrant yachting community, and yet Antigua struggling with infrastructure, finance and progressing in the region, where they are not – ah whey di money gone?
To prove my point, I watched a yachting programme called ‘Below Deck’ and the infrastructure of the countries visited was well maintained up and running well – including all roads and water systems.
This series also visited Antigua, where equally many of rich boating community frequented, however, unlike the other countries, Antigua’s finance from yachting just doesn’t match-up! Why?
SOMETHING DOESN’T ADD UP FOLKS …
Liard Everett Christian
Partly responsible for the destroying Antigua and Barbuda Economy and ABIB
Just HUSH
Long live Gaston Browne and the mighty ABLP 💯💯💯💯💯💯🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
All you haters will keep on hating for a very long time cause we will ensure that Gaston Browne and team labor is returned to office by a landslide come next election.
Why is it when anyone has a different point of view, it’s deemed as hatred?
Try and respond to the valid points and criticisms about Gaston Browne and the ABLP @ Quann or people will think that all you generational ABLP supporters can only throw out useless soundbites that do not address the citizens of Antigua’s current struggles.
There’s a distinct pattern in the lack of discussion and debating skills amongst Gaston Browne supporters …
… I would like to have a decent discussion with at least one of you – IS THAT AT ALL POSSIBLE THOUGH?
@ Quann
YOU ARE RIGHT, BECAUSE YOU WILL BE GOING INTO THE BOOTH WITH EVERYBODY THAT WILL BE VOTING TO HOLD UP THEIR HAND.
USEFUL IDIOT
For a man who claims to be a successful banker. You floated the bond, pulled it, refloated it and now you’re renegotiating. Your story makes no sense. You sound like you sell tray (chay). Why is your financial reporting so mixed up? You didn’t get the money so why is it on the books? This Guinea cock bring Guinea hen madness will not fly. We know that you’re a crook and you got caught. You can’t talk yourself out of this one.
Wow 😳 wow wow Let me tell you how I made my Millions to My Useful Idiots to My Gastonites first thing first less we forget, do you remember when an allegation was made that some one tried to Bribe a top official in My government $30000000 .00Euro you don’t remember right. I appointed My Ambassador to United Nations to get some lawyer to investigate the matter I am still waiting on the report from my Ambassador this was on a Sunday when I break it on Observe Radio you all don’t remember oderbresch scandal the manial bank that was my first hand. Then I flipped those lands at Dredge Bay for lands at oil refinery, Then I got those lands at long Bay where is JingJing Wha and Sue Sue Luie they are in Chinese Prison some where who gets the dividends me me no done yet a bae . Money again look at my lands at Jolly Harbour how I got it he didn’t pay his taxes that old gambler he still owes all those people from the Casino at St James and Michaels Mount I took the land for the taxes he owes us Ah Bae . So when I got all those lands in the National Park I sold plots for millions. The Big one the dredging of the Harbor I created history by using a Excavator And Dredge A Harbour My Gastonites Have you ever see anything like that not my comrades you know who is a Gastonites those who have jumped off The UPP they are more intelligent than you. Looku Money Choski you see how me set he up when Dem say he gorn a Cuba if the plane min come early me could a have more
Poor Christian. I wish you could be sued for this, but then you were careful enough with your words to say you have heard. It’s like when Joan Underwood said she had information that Kester Bird had an affair with a minor. And when the CID took her in for questioning, she couldn’t provide the information. So Everette heard from someone, but strange enough he said the ABLP has been caught with their hands in the cookie jar. But at the same time, he said they told the IMF that the funds have been used to pay debt and fund the deficit. The sad thing is Everett of all people knows how government works. Any money that comes in is signed by the FS and not the minister. Ministers do not have signing authority on government accounts. All that power is placed in the public servants. The FS and the AG. So how can you catch a minister with his hands in the cookie jar?
Another thing I keep saying to people is, when you are living in a glass house, don’t throw stones. Everett was in charge of ABI Bank when it got into problem. Everett was the GM that approved unsecured overdraft for the UPP government in order for them to meet payroll. And that happened against the very dismay of the board. Who then demanded his resignation. Sadly, a handshake deal was reach and he was awarded by Harold Lovell to come and work by his side as special Revenue Consultant, having authority over the IRD Chairman of the board of Social Security. We know the mess he caused when he introduced several new policies in order to increase revenue intake at IRD. Importers had to get letters of good standing before they could clear their goods. Lots of goods got stuck at the port for this reason. And the consequences were a decline in revenue at the port. In order to get more money from the PIT, he brought in more benefits as part of the taxable income. Like car allowance, housing allowance etc. I personally think those two policies were the drop in the bucket for many businesspeople and self-employed persons to go vote them out.
But the thing is this guy has so much blood and dirt on his own hands that if someone investigates how he built his house and asks to see the contractor’s bills, you will see a big gap in there. The rumors have it that allegedly the workers were brought from Guyana. The country from his wife. Indian Guyanese. It is alleged they worked on the house in order for him to save money. As we know, in building a house the labour cost is sometimes the highest. And it is alleged that they worked here illegally. And while working here they stayed in the incomplete basement of the house. One wonders if these persons paid in any of the statutory contributions, while he was the chairman of the board of social security and at the same time making policy that importers should be in good standing with these institutions in order to clear their goods. If you’re living in a glass house, don’t throw stones.
I still wonder what ever happened to his daughter. One of Antigua’s unsolved mystery disappearances of a person. Never ever seen. As if she went to heaven like Elijah. One God cantell us.
Only Gid can reveal this to us.
The fingers are too big for the keyboard.
Only God can reveal this to us.
Comments are closed.