From Throne Speech: During these past near-seven years, my Government has been very forthcoming with the press—both local and international.
During 2020, interviews of the Head of Government by CNN, Al Jazeera, CBS, BBC, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe, the Huffington Post, and other international media, reflect the openness and transparency practiced by my Government.
In fact, the Prime Minister has been appointed Chairman of the Commonwealth Ministers of Finance—a great honour for Antigua and Barbuda.
Each Thursday morning, on the day following Cabinet meetings, the articulate and well-informed Minister of Information, provides a review of the most important decisions taken by the Cabinet, and answers the probing questions of the assembled journalists.
This exercise is a remarkable example of the openness and transparency which characterize my Government from its very beginning.
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I take that one with a pinch of salt.
You need to take it with a salt pond !
The salt pond is no more. Guess which Administration destroyed it. A Labor Party Administration. That is not about politics. It is a fact.
Wow! it is the first time that I can say I agree with Prime Minister Gaston Browne. His government is very, very open and transparent. The problem is the government is only open and transparent with what it wants us to hear. A few simple examples will support my point. Several moths ago the Comptroller of Customs said that he completed his investigation into the Customs fraud. What is the status of that investigation? Can anyone tell me? We have been told that the FBI and Scotland Yard were assisting with the investigation into the gruesome murder of the Customs Officer Nigel Christian. With respect to this matter, we are not asking to be given evidentiary information on the investigation. All we asked for is information (correspondence) that the FBI and Scotland Yard are really assisting. In passing, there is no need to mention the forging of the Prime Minister’s signature or the Odebrecht international scandal. Do we need information on these matters? Absolutely. However, the open and transparent government do not think so. Mr. Prime Minister so much for your open and transparent government. Even the routine audits of governments agencies such as NAMCO and the National Housing Development & Urban Renewal Company are top secrets. Not to mention the publication of the Article 4 consultation with the IMF. Mr. Prime Minister after you have address these issues, you can then come to the nation and talk about the openness and transparency of your government.
Mr Tabor well articulated a good read with FACTS . Oh oh here comes the trolls with no facts .
Government open and transparent? So tell me Gaston Browne.As the Prime Minister of all of Antigua and Barbuda.Who is the person that you said “Forged”your signature.I always thought Forgery was a crime.I was so wrong.It is not a crime for the upper classes of persons inna Antigua and Barbuda.If that so called forger of your signature. Originated from the poorer section of the society. He/She would be tarred and feathered. That forger in my opinion stole from all of us.It should have been a Police matter.It must have been a Comrade.Who did the forging of your signature for personal gains.
How come we never heard the names of the individuals who benefited from the forgeries and why have they and the brokers not been arrested? These people have to be backers and friends of some politicians. Gaston was on Point Fm on Saturday deflecting from the questions by saying that as Finance minister he has the power to issue waivers. I sometimes listen to this radio station to hear the PM talk about his vision for the country but all he talks about every week is Harold’s age.
The same supporters call in every week To talk nonsense and lies. Gaston recognizes the lies and don’t correct them, but says nothing with a smile.
Transparent means to see right through. How could anyone see right through your Government.When so many obstacles are in the way.Like sweeping things under the carpet.Pulling wool over our eyes.And you have the guts to talk about Transparency. That moustache needs to go now.Are you so lie.That if lie see are you,it would swim away to Redonda.
LOL!
Is the PM throwing shade at Melford or just taking the piss?
He is neither of those adjectives and has too much egg on his face to be taken seriously.
OK Mr. PM we hear you!
Now, since your government is “open and transparent,” it would hurt your Government to introduce legislation, that would allow for an independent auditing firm to audit #ALL government agencies every three(3) years, regardless of which political party is the Ruling Arm of the Government.
The monies saved from stopping bribery, malfeasance, corruption in government will more than pay for such audits.
Then, and only then will the public at large believe you when you state, that your government is “open and transparent!”
Them people in government have mastered the art of thieving without taking money from the treasury directly. Have you heard of padding invoices, kickbacks and paying commissions For high price purchases? Of course it helps to involve a foreign person or offshore company.
If them so transparent, how come all of them so rich.
@We Blind…commitment to the cause, without fear or favor is a very powerful weapon.
All systems have weaknesses and non moreso, than those built on human trust/faith. Someone is always willing to talk and make deals.
Speaking of #Deals, there needs to be policies in place to protect #WhistleBlowers.
These are things which MUST be written into the INDEPENDENT AUDITING ACT.
You see the damn hat on his face . Look closely he nose a grow .
He said what ? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha sorry guys I can’t stop laughing when I’m done i will come back and write something worthwhile
@Ras Smood:It is open.Transparent is another matter.Your idea is a good one.Do not hold your breath.That would not happen.Because persons in higher positions of Governance could be arrested and be imprisoned.
@BSC Young Boys of Bern…Poor people are the ones who are suffering, have suffered and will continue to suffer because the elected officials will make all these glorious/hallelujah speeches and promises(write the wrongs right), yet fail miserably to ‘walk the talk.’
Until many in Government whether in high or low positions are not only held accountable to the State( the People) for their #WhiteCollar #QwertyBoard crimes, and punished for them there’ll be no real progress to help those that need it the most.
Prisons were built to house all criminals not just a selected few.
All UPP Guys FULL of horse manure. Hon. Gaston Browne Government is the most TRANSPARENT Government Antigua has ever seen. I cannot comprehend what I am reading. UPP CANNOT Manage Themselves much less to Manage Government. Whenever I take a look at the Candidates running for the UPP in the next election, I laugh. None of the UPP Candidates running for election could never hold a cabinet post. This bunch of Candidates are full of UNDESIREABLES ( DUNCE CANDIDATES). All UPP Blue Koolaid drinkers are bunch of NOISE MAKERS. NO SUBSTANCE.
J.B.RENO if Maria Brown who came out of no where with no background in anything can hold a Cabinet post, I cannot see how newcomers to the UPP ticket such as Pearl Quinn-Williams, Dr. Cleon Athill, Franz DeFreitas, Algernon Watts, Alister Thomas, Alex Browne, Sean Bird, Gladys Potter, Trevaughn Harriette and Anthony Smith who are all head and shoulders above Maria Browne could not.
You think Maria Brown makes any decisions? Her husband gave her capital post for him to control Antigua people‘s lands. Isn’t it great that we have the prime minister and his wife in government collecting two large paycheques when so many Antiguans who are not millionaires, and qualified to be in government ? Them people only there to enrich themselves and family.
@ CHARLES TABOR
What the hell is the matter with You Tabor. As a Lawyer you know that investigation takes time . Tabor STOP encourage / leading People down the wrong path when you should know better. Tabor and UPP are trying to use Nigel Christian and the Pandemic to propel UPP to the next election in 2023. TABOR that would never work.
M.j.BRIGHTEN my comment was not about the time investigations are taking. My comment was about the transparency of those investigations. Again, the Comptroller of Customs said that his investigation into the Customs fraud was complete months ago and to date no word from him or the spokesperson for everything Prime Minister Gaston Browne. And by the way if you do not know, the Comptroller of Customs had no authority to be investigating a major crime committed at Customs. That is a matter for the Police. If you think I am incorrect, please look at the Customs (Control and Management)(Amendment) Act 2013. The Comptroller of Customs is only given the authority to investigate minor offences committed at Customs. Fraud and Forgery are not minor offences. You can be sent to prison for life for Fraud.
Passport scandal involve with a police officer
$3million customs fraud
The murder of Nigel Christian
And we talk about transparency ?
Alot of people eyes are open its just a matter of time, self destruction awaits the wolves in sheep clothing who pretends to be perfect in this sinful world
Investigation takes time so does sweeping under the carpet
Warning! this page consist of blind kool aid drinkers who are paid to be dishonest having their conscience seared with a hot iron
“Each Thursday morning, on the day following Cabinet meetings, the articulate and well-informed Minister of Information, provides a review of the most important decisions taken by the Cabinet, and answers the probing questions of the assembled journalists.”
Is the above statement true or false?
I guess unless you want to spread and believe in a lie you would say false.
Which previous government and or other regional government provide such openness to their citizens? Not even Trump.
With regards to specific issues that some would like to get more answers to. That to me has nothing to do with the fact that they are transparent and open.
Anyone could call in on the Browne and Browne radio show on Saturday and ask any question they want from the Prime Minister. I have not once heard any of these people here asking these questions.
Our reporters meet every Thursday with the Minister of Information. The duty of a journalist is to ask the questions from the authorities on our behalf.
In Parliament the Opposition has the opportunity to ask questions from the minister. The questions they have asked todate have all been answered or referred to the person that the answer should be put to.
Tabor as an officer from the court knows that a police investigation is not the purvue of the government, yet he turns to the government for answers. We have three branches of government and they are seperated.
How did we find out about a forgery of the PM signature on a warrant? Because the PM told us. It was not hidden and brought to light by someone else. Should he now go the extra miles and give us the names of the persons. I think if he did so he would be violating confidentiality agreements and could be sued.
As a head of state he gets brieved by the security services ONDCP and others regularly. He has to be very careful what information he disseminates and what not. When he revealed information of his meeting with Ralph and Mia he was castigted to be very undiplomatic. But is he way of being transparent with the people’s business. You guys do not like to look back, but the UPP never came to the public after Cabinet’s Meetings. Winston begged them to come on his radio show. But no they rather kept things hushed.
I have questioned you UPP guys why it is you guys have so much interest in the Nigel Christian murder but absolutely not interest in seeing justice been done to the children of Andrea Hughes that was run over by a car in New Winthropes. To date the driver has not seen his day in court. Is there no politcal mileage to be gotten from that. You guys cry for justice is therefore very selective and hypocritical. That is sickening me to the bone.
It should not be a political party to jump on the bandwagon of someones missery and pretend they have sympathy with the bereaved. Only to get political mileage. That is as low as it can get.
FROM THE SIDELINE I hate to have to respond to your comments so often but I do it just to dispel your usual misleading and erroneous positions. I therefore cannot leave them unchallenged. I am happy that you know that a police investigation is not the purview of the government. Despite that fact when the Prime Minster announced that his signature was forged he and Max Hurst immediately said to the nation that they were not interested in any prosecution, since they wanted was to get the money back. By the way, you should be sensible enough to know that that was not for them to say. Now FROM THE SIDELINE, we live in a very small society. How do you think the Comptroller of Customs would react after hearing that statement from the Prime Minister? Also, I have indicated elsewhere in this blog that the Comptroller of Customs had no legal authority to mount any such investigation into the fraud at Customs. It was a Police matter given the seriousness of the alleged crime committed. Finally, by the Prime Minister telling the nation that his signature was forged is not the be all and end all of transparency. TRANSPARENCY is to provide information on what happens going forward. FROM THE SIDELINE I consider myself a somewhat intelligent person and I must tell you honestly that invariable your long comments do not really address the issue under discussion and are sometimes pure nonsense.
“FROM THE SIDELINE I consider myself a somewhat intelligent person”
And I guess you say that with a straight face. I have ask you before to present your track record as a lawyer. Because even your response to my comments are so un-intelligent. I addressed the Headline and ask you the question, True or False.
“Each Thursday morning, on the day following Cabinet meetings, the articulate and well-informed Minister of Information, provides a review of the most important decisions taken by the Cabinet, and answers the probing questions of the assembled journalists.”
If this question is answered in the affirmative then clearly the government is ‘transparent’. I have further demonstrated that the Prime Minister makes himself availabe almost every Saturday on a radio call in program. Anyone can call in. If you do not feel like calling in, that is your problem. But the fact that he takes questions from the public is something not seen in the entire region or perhaps the world. And that is another example of transparancy.
You have issues that you wish that the PM addresses in public and I’m of the opinion that those issues are not to be discussed by him. That falls under the police and the PM is well advised not to obstruct a police investigation.
Then you claim that the comptroller of custom had no authority to investigte a fraud in his department. Well again I dissagree, he should first get the facts and then hand it over to the police. What I do agree with you is the PM’s shown of empathy with the culprits. But that is nothing new. I guess if the culprit was any close friend or family of you, you would probabaly be glad he is showing leniency gainst the culprit. If it was me those persons would be going straight to jail. When ALP won the election in 2014 there were many calls from the ABLP supporters to go after persons involved in the many scandals that has come to light. For example the fencing scandal and the bathroom at JASCO costing more than $600K. The person that was thrown under the bus from the UPP was Winston Williams. But the PM refused to go that route. And he even gave Winston Williams a job at CHAPA when he realized this guy had no job and was broke. That is the kind of person Gaston is. Despite people like you triying to castigate him and call him all sorts of names. Another example was when the hammer came down on John Ashe. When the money trail of that scandal lead straight to the former PM Baldwin and Mansoor, the PM refused to lift the diplomatic immunity of John Ashe. He could have used the opportunity to work with the USA and deliver all of them on a silver platter. But no he is not that kind of guy.
Then comes one that I totally disagreed with the PM. The ABI Bank debacle. Everyone called for a public inquiry cause it was clear that the directors had violated their fudiciary responsibility. And the prize that this has cost the taxpayers is a whapping $300Million and counting. But the PM said it would bring down the entire top of renowned fmilies in Antigua and that doesn’t look good for the country. So all these directors were let off the hook. Therefore eventhough I do not agree with him, he perhaps looked at the culprits and do not wish to see these young guys going to jail and ruin their entire live. He then simple says let them pay back the monies. That we can debate and agree to disagree on. But not whether or not the government is transparent, cause they make available to the public represented by the indepedent reporters notes of what has been discussed after every Cabinet Meeting.
By the way, Biden’s administration has just re-instated the White House Daily Breefings. You know it was cancelled by Trump.
And again the Nigel Christian investigation is not up to the government to comment. Go and harras the Chief of Police.
FROM THE SIDELINE I will not waste precious time to counter your usual nonsensical long comments. I will only address one issue and that relates to the power of the Comptroller of Customs to investigate serious criminal offences at Customs. I will direct you the Customs (Control and Management)(Amendment) Act, 2013. Section 24 of the Act reads “Amendment of section 137 – Power to impose administrative penalties”. (1) Where in the opinion of the Comptroller of Customs an offence committed under this Act or under any Customs law is not a serious criminal offence or does not attract a sentence of imprisonment he may proceed against the offender administratively rather than through the court.
Since you are so intelligent I will not bother to explain to you what that section means. After you have read and understand that section and the implication for the investigation of criminal offences committed at Customs, you can come back to have a discussion with me. Finally though to assist your understanding, the Comptroller of Customs has no legal authority to investigate any serious crime in Customs, that is for the POLICE. Laws and the application of laws in our country is turned on its head. It is as if we are a bunch of idiots in this country. The RULE OF LAW appears not to exist.
Charles I’m not a legal luminary but just the simple read of what it is you psoted doesn’t say anything investigations. It is about “Power to impose administrative penalties.
And speaking as a layman. Whenever something takes place in a workplace, management has to do an investigation and then determine whether or not to call lawinforment to take over the investigation. If someone complains that his wallet or purse is stolen you just do not bring police in to investigate, you first do some internal investigation and thereafter you call in the police. You may recal the case tht happened at the All Saints Secondary Shool. The Police was so wrong to have come in and started to arrest people. They all won their cases against the police.
In my view he Comproller has every right to investigate and thereafter hand over his findings to the police for further investigation. He has the books and records and he can quicker come to a conclusion whether or not there is crime being committed.
@sideline
There are laws for the rich and well connected in Antigua and laws for the poor. Most of people involved in the ABI Bank debacle are wealthy and should have been made to account. This is why only poor people fill up the prison. This also shows there is no independence between the government and the judiciary.
The government was correct not to lift the diplomatic immunity of John Ashe as what transpired was between him and the Antiguan government. There are diplomats who kill people in the US and were not persecuted and allowed to return to their country.
Gaston Browne May be hesitant to pursue malfeasance as a labour minister said, everybody a thief. The funny thing is that even though the minister stole the government’s money and committed fraud, he did not spend one day in jail and to the best of my knowledge, was never required to repay the money. Gaston Browne is not transparent as if he were he would pursue the crimes in high places.
As I said I agree with you that those involved in the ABI Bank debacle should have faced the court and plea their case. But I don’t agree that Gaston Browne should be the one to pursue crimes in high places. That is what we have the police for. And they are independent. Andrea Hughes killer still walks free and has not seen his day in court. Mommy and Daddy are very important people in high places. While Adrea is just a poor woman with no connection to people in high places
@Sideline
Do you think they screen the callers to the Brown and Brown show? How come only the same supporters’ calls are picked up every Saturday?
I dont know but the most i know is that Franz on VOP reads either texts that bash ALP or texts that are pro UPP.
*since all they wanted was to get the money back
FROM THE SIDELINE you made an admission there that is very serious and I know that it is not a slip since you appear to be close to the ALP and the Prime Minister in particular. You indicated that Gaston Browne is perhaps showing some empathy to the alleged culprit of the fraud committed at the Customs. If that is indeed the case then Gaston Browne is an accessory after the fact and is therefore also guilty of a crime. FROM THE SIDELINE you had better clear up that point in your comment. You are making your great leader and the brightest Prime Minister in the world look bad.
If that is how you interpret my words then so be it. Cause as I said he did so in John Ashe saga, he did so in the Winston Williams saga, he did so in the ABI Bank saga, and he continues this empathy towards people. And empathy that one can admire and at the same time perhaps shows a weakness of heart to make the hard decissions. I have little emphaty when it comes to certain things. But to tell you the truth, whenever I say the Lords Prayer in Church on Sundays I have to stop and think deeply of the words “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. And why didn’t Jesus condemn the women that was brought to him caught in the act of adultery. Yet he told those accusers “He without sin throw the first stone”.
You see you are really a very bad lawyer. Everytime you argue a legal point you are so far off.
FROM THE SIDELINE why don’t you show where I am far off with my legal points and stop just churning out empty words. Once a crime is committed in Customs that would involve a sentence of imprisonment if an alleged perpetrator is convicted, the Comptroller of Customs has no legal authority to investigate the matter. It is a matter for the police since it is a serious crime and not some simple administrative infraction that the Comptroller of Customs can investigate and punish. Just having to counteract your usual nonsense wearies me. By the way, crimes of fraud and forgery involve imprisonment if found guilty. In fact, one can be imprisoned for life for certain fraud.
Hard Head. In order to determine if a crime is committed that warrent the police to take it over you need to investigate. What is so hard for you to understand. The Comptroller cannot administrer any punishment. He has to hand it over to the police after he is convince that their is a crime committed by his officers. So do not say he cannot investigate. Is that so difficult to understand. And that goes with every workplace. If one of my staff accuses another staff member of stealing something from him or her I cannot just get up and call police. I first have to do an investigation and when satisfied that something did happpened I call the police.
If I run a shop and I believe someone has stolen something I must first make sure that my suspicions are right. if I call the police I must be right or I will be sued. If the Comptroller calls the police and it turns out to be false he can be sued by the officer(s). Please go ask back for your study money.
FROM THE SIDELINE it would seem that you are the one with a very HARD HEAD. The Prime Minister said that some one forged his signature on a Customs document. HARD HEAD, yes the Comptroller of Customs can do whatever investigation he wants to do personally since he is in charge of the Customs Department. However, given the seriousness of the crime HARD HEAD, it is for the Police to investigate the crime committed at Customs and not the Comptroller. Again, the law only gives the Comptroller of Customs the power to investigate and punish minor offenses committed at Customs. HARD HEAD forgery is not a minor offence. Please take a break and stop spouting your incessant rubbish. Both the Comptroller and the Police dropped the ball on this issue since neither appeared to know the requirement of the law. Perhaps it was all intentional. I can clearly recall when the Commissioner of Police said that they were only interested in the Cornel Benjamin shooting (that is before Nigel Christian was murdered) and had no interest in the Customs forgery. HARD HEAD the Commissioner of Police was dead wrong. Please talk to a lawyer or Mr. Pompey on this matter before responding to me with more of your usual nonsense.
FROM THE SIDELINE you really need to go back to whichever secondary or primary school you graduated from. So if the Comptroller of Customs or even you as a householder call the police about a possible crime and it turns out no crime was committed, the police will then turn around and sue you. This is a common occurrence. How many people do you hear this police suing. FROM THE SIDELINE your comments are becoming more idiotic.
That is the biggest lie Gaston has made to date.
Where are Nigel Brown’s murderers?
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