Stop Covering Up the Gaston Browne III Rental Deal and Appoint the Information Commissioner Now
During the May 10th session of Parliament, the Prime Minister promised to bring a resolution to the next session of Parliament to confirm the appointment of Anthony Athill as Information Commissioner.
This has still not been done.
I call on Prime Minister Gaston Browne to explain why he failed to confirm the appointment of the Information Commissioner at the last session of Parliament, held on Thursday, July 18th, and to undertake this process with immediate effect.
Failure to confirm the appointment of the Information Commissioner, after nearly two years, directly prevents the people of Antigua and Barbuda from getting to the truth of Government Friar’s Hill Rental Deal with Gaston Browne III. This is because the Information Commissioner is legally responsible for ensuring Ministries and other bodies respond to Freedom of Information requests, in the manner that the law prescribes.
On April 2nd, I delivered letters under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), formally requesting answers and documentation from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing, Works, Lands and Urban Renewal, and the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC).
The information requested included records on the manner of WIOC’s sale of the property to Gaston Browne III, records of all rent payments, and expenditures to repair and upgrade the property, the re-negotiated lease terms (agreed to after the expiration of the initial 18-month term), the tendering process, and correspondence between the property owner, the ministries and WIOC.
The Freedom of Information Act requires that a response be provided within twenty (20) working days of receipt of a request. Today, over 90 days later, there has not been any compliance from any ministry. Our people are therefore still without answers on how much was spent to upgrade the Gaston Browne III property, how much was paid in rent after renegotiating the lease agreement, and other details of the questionable deal.
Gaston Browne’s failure to appoint the Information Commissioner is clearly covering up the truth, and fighting against the people’s right to information about the activities and expenditures of Government. I therefore call on the Prime Minister to take immediate steps to appoint the Information Commissioner, so that Ministries are made to comply with the FOIA request, and provide answers to the public.
I further advise the Prime Minister that if no action is taken to appoint the Information Commissioner, legal action will be taken to get to the bottom of this matter, in the public interest to ensure that the appointment is made.
Richard S. Lewis MP
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Well done MP Lewis. You were warned to drop this because of the nepotism and corruption that it will uncover. Man, this country is like the mob.
It is obvious that civil servants are involved in the corruption starting with the foreigner over WIOC.
The people are evil MP Lewis so be mindful of them and their operatives.
Who possession Richards coffee? He’s coming out guns blazing because The PM dared expose his underhanded deal with the PM. All of a sudden Goofy is now making demands that he knows has zero merit.
Poor Goofy Richard, all eyes on him for his party treason so he’s trying to stay relevant amongst his party and show his usefulness.
Richard dem nuh want you, dem nuh love you, Dem wish you did go Jamaica and get outt dem Craw.
Antiguans demand transparency in this important matter to see if anything untoward has taken place regarding Gaston Browne Jr. III alleged rental deals.
The Prime must under the Freedom of Information Act reveal to the public what really took place.
Gaston Browne cannot use his public office to dilly dally, obfuscate and hide he-self – the integrity of his HIGH position demands immediate accountability.
The Anthony Smith fiasco is just a convenient distraction; however – and praise to the Almighty -, that the intelligent and law abiding citizens of Antigua have awaken to the Prime Minister’s wiley and distractive behaviour.
IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO SAVE OUR COUNTRY
Good day, why have you stopped crediting MP Richard Lewis for the articles like this one that he is sending to you?
Does someone there not want his name in the headlines?
Just curious.
It is irritating to listen to persons talk about how strategic Gaston Browne is. He is like a lottery winner not accustomed to money who now has all that disposable money and just buy anything and everything. Money there so he is spending going outta style.
If he did not have the ready cash (which is THE PEOPLE’S MONEY), he would not be spending ALL THOSE MILLIONS to bankroll a loser traitor in St Mary’s South
and $6.5m to buy a Benedict Arnold from the UPP.
The Prime Minster is using the people’s money like monopoly money. THIS HAS TO STOP.
MP Lewis need not fall for the divide and conquer strategy. I thought initially The PM said he had contact with Lewis but now it’s 3 other MPs.
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