Pringle accuses PM of ‘double standards’ in handling ministerial misconduct
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle on Monday accused Prime Minister Gaston Browne of applying “double standards” in his response to allegations involving government ministers, contrasting past dismissals with what he described as a softer approach to the ongoing vehicle-procurement controversy.
Speaking during his response to the 2026 national budget, Pringle listed several instances in which Browne removed ministers from office, arguing that the prime minister’s actions in those cases differed sharply from the tone taken regarding the current matter.
Pringle said former Education Minister Michael Browne was removed from his post in 2020 after being charged by police, even though he was later found not guilty. He also pointed to the dismissal of former minister Dean Jonas, saying Browne had fired him for what the prime minister described at the time as “toxic relationships” with staff. Pringle further noted the removal of Asot Michael in 2018, telling the House that the former minister was dismissed after he was questioned by British investigators, despite not being charged.
Pringle contrasted those examples with what he said was a noticeably different stance taken toward the recently exposed vehicle-procurement issue. He argued that the prime minister’s public comments suggest a reluctance to impose consequences when “the matter involves someone close to home.”
According to Pringle, the responses outlined in the budget debate raise questions about consistency, accountability and whether the same standards apply across the government. He said the public should not be expected to accept varying levels of action depending on who is involved.
Pringle made the allegation as part of broader criticism of the government’s handling of procurement and oversight. He has called for an independent investigation into the vehicle matter, saying the prime minister’s internal review is insufficient.
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