LETTER: Transparency and Accountability in Politics

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The recent exchange between Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Kelvin “Shuggy” Simon has raised important questions about transparency and accountability in politics.
Resent revealed information has cast a shadow on the integrity of Kelvin “Shuggy” Simon the prominent United Progressive Party “UPP” MP.

Gaston Browne statement that UPP is not broke, but rather, the representatives hold on to campaign contributions for personal gain.
When confronted by the Prime Minister, Simon refused to answer the question

whether he had purchased a boat using campaign money. His silence spoke volume implying that the matter was none of his business and that the money was his personal monies.
However a closer examination of Simon action reveals a disturbing pattern of deception.

During a public discussion, Prime Minister Browne highlighted the importance of transparency in campaign financing. He emphasized that campaign donations should be used for their intended purpose – supporting the party’s activities and promoting the democratic process.

Simon, however, seemed reluctant to discuss his own handling of campaign contributions. When asked about his purchase of a boat, he refused to provide

clear answers, citing it as “personal money.”

This exchange has sparked concerns about the lack of transparency in campaign financing and the potential for misuse of funds, in the UPP.

Very strangely though, the host of the show who has regularly called on a certain UPP MP to return a gifted BMW from dirty money given to the party.

The duplicitous host was very passive in broadcasting the seriousness of accusing a Shuggy Simon, a member of parliament in using campaign funds to purchase a personal boat, all the time pretending to be morally upstanding.

Is it that these fake pretending host are politicians that just want their party in power and not the labor party or

certain factions of their party in power.

It is essential for politicians to maintain the trust of their constituents by being open and honest about their financial dealings.

And the radio host also have a responsibility to be honest about holding both parties feet to the fire and not just the Antigua Labour Party.

As the public demands greater transparency and accountability from their leaders, it is crucial for politicians to prioritize ethical behavior and ensure that campaign contributions are used responsibly.

By promoting transparency and accountability, we can strengthen our

democratic institutions and ensure that politics serves the public interest.

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15 COMMENTS

  1. So what of all these people fronting for the politicans from ABLP and even cases where they establish companies to siphon off state resources.

  2. TRANSPARENCY IN POLITICS…? …WHAT THE HELL…?

    As far as was widely known, people:

    (i) ‘…DO NOT SHOW POLITICS:

    (ii) …THEY TALK POLITICS: and may

    (iii) …DO SOME DARN THING TO CONVINCE LISTENERS/FOLLOWERS/SUPPORTERS: that

    (iv) …THEY REALLY MEANT WHAT THEY HAVE SAID….’ WHAT THE HELL? ‘…PROMISED TO DO/DELIVER.’

    ***

    WOULD NOT:

    (i) ‘…SEE NO DARN ‘…MANNA’ FALLING FROM ‘…HEAVENS.’ THOUGH.

    ***

    MAY QUICKER ‘…SEE’ A DARN ‘…GREEN DONKEY.’

    ***
    NAH DIG NUTTEN, NEIDER’ (Vernacular).

    ***
    LAUGHTER.
    ***

  3. Trevor Walker BPM Barbuda Council shelled out $50,000 for some so-called “human resources audit” by some kinda “Patriot”

    WHERE IS THIS REPORT????

  4. What about the millions of dollars donated to the Varbudans to help rebuild after Irma?
    What about the millions given for a cemetery?
    What about the building supplies donated to Barbuda?

  5. This letter raises a crucial point—without transparency and accountability, democracy suffers. Public officials should always be held to high ethical standards, and the people deserve to know how decisions are made and funds are spent. That being said, accountability is a two-way street. While we expect leaders to be transparent, citizens must also stay engaged, demand answers, and use their voices beyond election season. Real change requires continuous public pressure, not just discussion.

  6. Without proper enforcement mechanisms and consequences for misconduct, calls for transparency risk becoming just another political talking point.

  7. Whoever this fake author is has got to be joking talking about transparency and accountability in politics making references to MP Shuggy Simon, and Radio Host Knight neither of whom hold keys to the Treasury Dept, Social Security, Medical Benefits, and State Insurance to name a few. If this author is a true national of Antigua he/she ought to be much more concerned about the ruling ALP lack of transparency and accountability where every institution of the Government is mismanaged, and the Antigua & Barbuda we claim we love are sinking under the weight of unscrupulous, greedy and unethical leadership. Both Mr. Simon and Mr. Knight poses no danger to the country. Look into the ALP mirror. Do you really like what you’re seeing? I grew up into adulthood looking into that mirror. This is not my father’s ALP.

  8. JOHN ASHE EXOOSED THE UPP FOR ALL TO SEE!!

    They liked to behave as flawless and perfectly upright, but he showed Antigua people UPP’s true colours

  9. OBSERVER…? …VERY SMART THINKING: …CORRUPTION…?

    READ: ‘…TRINIDAD POLICE COMMISSIONER REPORTEDLY NABBED: …SHEER CORRUPTION

    ***

    VARIOUS FORMS OF CORRUPTION

    WELL:

    (i) ‘…From professional knowledge, there are ‘…VARIOUS FORMS OF CORRUPTION.’

    (ii) …Enforcement in some ‘…SMALL-SLAND STATE JURISDICTIONS’ it would take an independent-thinking, brave ‘…COMMISSIONER OF POLICE’ to take action.

    ***
    SOME HAVE NEITHER:

    (a) ‘…INDEPENDENCE: nor

    (b) …TESTICULAR FORTITUDE.’

    ***

    COMING SOON:

    ‘…ANTHONY SMITH’S MINISTERIAL ENTANGLEMENT.’

    ***

    …LOOKED AT FROM THE: “…PREVENTION OF CORRUPTION ACT”

    LAW: ‘…SECTION 2 (b)’

    ‘…NO: 21 OF 2004.’

  10. TRANSPARENCY:

    WHERE IS SHUGY WIFE??
    HE STUDIED THEOLOGY IN T&T?
    NAZARENE AND WESLEYAN CLAIM HE?
    IMMIGRATION MARRIAGE IN 🇨🇦 4 SISTER??
    WHERE THE PRIMISED INVESTORS?
    LEARN TO SAY “PRESERVATION” YET???

  11. Lawd! A coo yah! A coo pan ar’you acting righteous, an till a be like bottom frenzy feeding Fish; cought trapped in a sitting pot-trying to catch spratts escaping from top feeding barracuda. The trow-back retention of the British Colonial mindset lend not itself to the rendering of consciousness; that is not too far removed from Massa Plantation days not too far gone: such as to view even with tepid imagination; the representation of the Capitol Enclaves called St. John’s: with it’s rusted galvanized fencing fitted for privacy; of the rat breeding teniment designed for housings, devoid of potable water infrastructure. Haphazard buggy-cart streets with fetid uncovered stagnated drains-which should be meant for sidewalks, in a Capital City; we could proudly adore. Here! Where we settle for mediocrity as our crowned glory and
    making elites of Coon Buffoons-to keep us down in the wallows as respectable inheritance of England’s Bastard Deeds visited on our Ancestors-with pain, malice and capricious avarice. We: The Victor’s Of The Spoil. Marooned and Abandoned like wondering sentinels unbound to eck out our survival, while waiting for Britannia to return; and arrive with staid majestic sentiments for African children. Vintage! born to be lost icons from our land. We relent, and retreat in slumbering refrain of-dog eat dog, and all dog is dog!? While giving glory to the one who holds the key to the people’s partrimony! Lawd: A coo yah! A coo dey! Thy mercy on your people. Lord: I beseech and pray for transparency and accountability to not vanish like the haze from the daylight into night. A purging of conscience need to be: so as to set, and see the enslaved mentality set free; from being like bottom feeding Fish: caged, trapped! in a pot: at the bottom of the sea. Some say its dog eating dog. Ya’all. A coo yah! A coo dey! ALP@UPP. IS IN NEED OF INTROSPECTION. BUT FOR CORRUPTION. GREED & INSULATION WOULD BE DAMMED.

  12. The author of this article should have written his name. He is disingenuous. At no time was it mentioned during the discourse that Shuggy used any party contributions to purchase a boat. He was asked if he owned a boat and he refused to answer.
    Did you hear Gaston say during the same discourse the amount of the peoples lands he and wife and family own in Barbuda on which they want to build a hotel? I question whether it is Gaston who penned this letter, because if not, the writer is showing how stupid some Antiguans are by being caught up with a boat that was not purchased with taxpayers money. While at the same time, the PM can talk about all the peoples lands he and family acquired in Barbuda. This should be of major concern to you, how only this family and other politicians are getting rich from the country’s assets. And you wonder why St. John’s looks the way it is. The people allow Gaston to think he is powerful and mighty and fears no one in Antigua and can do whatever he wants and get away with it.

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