Returning National Alleges Fraud by Builder and Lack of Police Action
A returning Antiguan national has raised serious concerns about alleged fraud and misconduct by a local builder who is also a serving police officer.
In a letter to the press, the individual described hiring the builder in July 2024 to construct a modest two-bedroom wooden home, only to face what was described as “a deeply disappointing and distressing ordeal.”
According to the account, the project quickly fell into disarray. Construction was halted for weeks when a carpenter left, while structural flaws such as incorrectly installed ceiling beams, mismatched tiles, and substandard paintwork emerged. Electrical wiring was allegedly installed at the wrong voltage, raising potential safety risks. Closets were left unfinished, and materials were said to have been salvaged from other sites.
The writer claims to have paid over $160,000 EC but says the builder abandoned the site for months, later citing “demotivation.” Despite repeated requests, no receipts or breakdown of expenses were reportedly provided. Instead, the homeowner alleges they were met with verbal abuse and evasive behaviour, including staged photographs meant to give the impression of progress.
Over nine months, the complainant states that “not one area of the house was properly completed,” and described the final structure as unsafe and far removed from the agreed design.
When the matter was reported to police, the individual says little action followed. A report lodged at a local station was allegedly not pursued, and a referral to the Commissioner’s office produced only an acknowledgement.
The complainant expressed alarm that the builder remains a serving police officer, arguing that the lack of accountability “sends a dangerous message to the public and severely undermines trust in our institutions.”
The writer is now calling on the authorities to investigate the matter fully and to ensure that returning nationals are better protected from exploitation.
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He needs to take civil action. See a lawyer.
Their only recourse will be to sue him.
This is not a police matter. It is breach of contract which is a civil matter for the High Court. Get a lawyer and sue.
Which will takes years for the case to be called.
Anybody who takes money to do a job for an agreed price & REFUSE to do the job properly & completely for no good reason, & when you try to contact them you’re met with verbal abuse and evasive behaviour, such an individual is a WICKED person who out of stupidity & dishonesty think they can act with impunity, & while filing a police report against such a WICKED person is a part of the legal process to seek URGENT redress, consulting a lawyer to make them pay for their stupidity, dishonesty, & impunity is the BEST course of action.
Police seem to protect their own.
This case is not a police case. This is a civil matter. You can get justice by seeking the services of a Lawyer and sue him. Going to the Police cannot help you. The Police can investigate the matter and if there is evidence to prove your claim, then the police can charge him disciplinary .
Just another sad story in Gangsters Paradise, Antigua and to think he is an officer of the law
This is a civil matter. It will also take years in court. Speaking from experience
In this age of fraud, deception and crookery, one cannot give any meaningful assignments and jobs where considerable sums of money are involved to anyone without a corresponding contract. Policeman or not, protecting yourself and your investment is important. Whether you know the builder or contractor very well is besides the point. You leave yourself open to trickery and theft and unsatisfactory work without recourse when the proper steps are not followed. Contracts are an absolute necessity!
You hired a police officer to build your home!
Say that 5 times and learn from your mistake. I know from experience. I hired a friend who was an engineer but also sold homes.
When I bought my first home with his help there weee many mistakes but I realized mine. He was an engineer 9-5 not a real estate agent. When you hire a professional, make sure that’s the only thing they do.
I believe the writer, this is the practice of builders in that small island. It is very sad that they can be so dishonest and ignorant with their horrible construction of other people’s property. This has been going for as long as I can remember. I have instructed my children that one of the most difficult things in that small island is trust and the worst thing is that there is no accountability.
Remember honestly is the best policy.
@Breach of contract,
Usually this kind of matter is presumed to be a civil matter, a breach of contract matter, where punitive damages/penitentiary cannot be included.
However, I have learned that folks knowing this, is using this argument to deceive and defraud people out of their money, the intent to do this existed prior to the hiring, causing the manner to not be a mere civil matter but a criminal matter.
I get these complaints all the time in Antigua and based on what I have seen, these “builders” already had the intent to defraud, which makes it criminal. But converting what appears to be civil into a criminal matters requires strong evidence that includes but not limited to a pattern of conduct (pattern in society to do this and or pattern from the individual of doing this).
I do not know anything about this case, but just my general observation in Antigua, these matters are usually criminal fraud but executed in a way by the criminals to look like a contract law matter.
They are usually criminal but you can not have incompetent police investigating such matter when they have zero knowledge of contract law, UCC, remedies, criminal law, criminal procedures, evidence law, administrative law, etcetera that would be highly relevant in properly investigating a matter like this one.
Why would you give a construction job with this type of cost to a part time contractor? I have no time for stupid people with money to waste. Why are you even complaining? This could obviously have no other outcome than what has occurred. .
Agree with Mr.Phillip, Antigua has changed a lot. When investing serious money do your research and people are supposed to be paid in phases. You need the service of a lawyer to better advice you.
If the head is going into parliament to circumvent laws so he can steal someone’s boat, what else you think the rest of the body will do?
Fraud is a learned craft, and many Antiguan’s has learn from some of the best to ever do it. The likes of Allen Sanford who Gatson Browne learned his craft from, and many others who have grace the island running from their own government where they are coming from.
This is a criminal matter, because it’s not the first time this sticky finger police has done it.
But hey, accountability seems to be Antigua’s kryptonite.
Sounds like fraudulent conversation to me…
Islandman26, you sound bitter, hungry and broke.nothing you write hear make sence.you sound like a mad person. What does the PM And Stanford have to do with this case? I am quit sure.you a one A dem. dat YAM Stanford $$$. you just mad you got caught holding Da Bag. Bozoo!!
So, what is the story of the builder? This person might be blaming the builder for his own errors. Were proper estimates done? Was the owner trying to save money by giving the job to a part time builder???
How did you come across this contractor? Referral? The writer didn’t state whether or not he saw completed work or talked to others who had work done by this contractor.
When did you report the matter and have you gone to see a lawyer?
There is a lot of information missing here.
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