Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne has doubled down on his stance that Trinidad and Tobago is liable to policyholders in this country following the collapse of CLICO and BAICO in 2009.
The head of government, who is also finance minister, insists he has again written to the government in Port-of-Spain on the matter.
Prime Minister Browne says Trinidad and Tobago has only dealt with 40 per cent of the US$100m liability and insists talk of a possible lawsuit is nothing personal.
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Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne hasn’t shaken the Trinidad and Tobago Government by threatening to sue for US$60 million based on promises made for compensation following the collapse of Clico in 2009.
In an audio interview uploaded to the YouTube page of “Antigua Breaking News” on Sunday, which came from an interview done earlier on Pointe FM’s Browne on Browne programme, Browne is heard saying, “We are pursuing litigation against Duprey and company and possibly, we may eventually have to sue the government of T&T.”
Browne said the T&T Government had promised to pay a settlement of $100 million but had only paid $40 million. He did not say from which government, and which year this promise was made.
“They have not even treated us with the type of respect that is typical, you know, among countries and colleagues. So we’ll be writing to them again, this probably gonna be the third time,” Browne continued in the audio.
Yesterday, however, T&T Government officials declined to comment officially but Guardian Media was told the Government has no record of any such correspondence being sent to them. However, sources said the Government is ready for any possible lawsuit, mainly because lawyers advising the Government are saying there is no legal foundation for such a lawsuit.
The legal advice noted that the Antiguan government would have to overcome the June 28, 2016 Privy Council judgment in the case of The United Policyholders Group and others (the Appellants) v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago.
The ruling basically states a government can override a previous administration’s promise based on the current economic circumstances. The Clico policyholders argued then that the Government gave assurances of a Clico bailout which created a “legitimate expectation” of support. However, the Government did not agree to the terms when it announced a new bailout plan in 2010/2011.
The Privy Council ruled the Government was entitled to change its mind for what it perceived to be good reasons based on macroeconomic and macro-political issues.
But it’s those economic changes that have given Prime Minister Browne confidence T&T may be able to make a full payment. On the radio show, he said, “We hope that now that their fortunes have improved, that they are benefiting from the increase and escalation in fuel prices, that they will put some system in place to cover the rest of the liability.”
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“No more Mr nice guy …”
Here’s an idea Prime Minister, why not try more diplomacy and less harking and barking, you use it when dealing with caucasian leaders and ministers.
I’VE MENTIONED THIS WEAKNESS ABOUT YOU TIME AND TIME AGAIN – CALM DOWN AND THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK NAH MAN!
Acting like you are from the hood cuts no ice with our Caribbean brethren and sistas; all it shows is that you only know a certain way to behave towards them. Embarrassing boss!
You must have a cabinet member whose diplomacy skills are a lot better than yours, and who treats ALL world leaders equally the same?
But Gaston is from the hood. Whereas good many citizens from his area have not let their origins define them, Gaston continues to justify the stereotypes and even makes the hood look bad. Rowley nar study Gaston. A hot bag of gas!
Hey Brixx love Tone did u miss its wood not hood remeber its what u love… you seem to be the new kid on the block being greedy for wood
I note that education and the written word isn’t your strong point @ Curious.
I have a vast library of books that I can help you with at Nursery and Primary level schooling – just let me know.
I REALLY WANT AWAKEN YOU TO THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE …
… And always remember that erudition and cognition beats cussing, ignorance and hetrosexism every time!
I guess that PM ROWLEY is shaking in his shoes. He is SOOOOO AFRAID of Gaston.
LOL.
Gaslie, you not talking to the listeners of POINTE FM.
ROWLEY NA FRAID YOU
LOL
Humongous support for the PM of Antigua and Barbuda. Those who deserved to be paid what is owed to them then whatever legal means to help fulfill the full payout I 100% support. And I do hope you look inside yourself and realize that the LIAT WORKERS also deserve their full payment.
How about suing the United States for the hundreds of millions owed to Antigua from the online gaming case won at the WTO….What the U.S did to our online gaming sector is a crime against humanity…..COME ON TOP DAWG DO SOME BARKING AT THE USA.
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