Friday night, July 10, hundreds wept to learn that a young civil servant, Nigel Christian, had been abducted and murdered after a brazen daylight home invasion. The United Progressive Party (UPP) mourns with them and extends condolences to his mother and the rest of the bereaved family.
This “assassination” of an officer of the Customs Department is the second violent attack on workers who were involved in the investigation of a multimillion-dollar fraud at the Port. The first was the ambush and shooting of Cornell Benjamin at his Cassada Gardens home.
Following that shocking incident, the UPP repeatedly called on the silent Gaston Browne Administration to launch a full-scale investigation into the attack and its likely connection to the fraud investigation at Customs – to no avail.
Going further, the UPP Leadership sought an audience with Sir Rodney Williams and implored him to use his constitutional authority to commission an inquiry into the matter. His legal advisers accused us of overreacting to what they saw as a routine police matter.
When no final answer was forthcoming from the Governor-General, we staged a picket at the beginning of this year and called for one. And, again, the Party’s request for an inquiry was rejected.
In addition to the above, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has refused to identify persons he has accused of involving him in the fraud by way of his signature being fraudulently applied to documents.
In fact, his Chief of Staff went as far as saying that the Administration is not interested in “naming and shaming” – only in recouping taxes stolen by the “rampant looting” by certain brokers and others the Prime Minister alleged were involved.
We therefore find it contradictory, hypocritical and downright dangerous that PM Browne would now offer a reward and encourage residents to cooperate with the Police in investigating this second and fatal attempt on an officer.
Unequivocally, we lay the responsibility for this young man’s death – and the terror visited upon his family – at the feet of the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, and the Comptroller of Customs, all of whom we wrote to since November 11, 2019, with all showing a chilling indifference in this matter.
Again, we call upon Commissioner of Police Atlee Rodney and remind him, as we did last year, that “a Customs officer enjoys the same powers, authorities and privileges as a police officer.” We implore him, again: “If … you need help … reach out to your regional counterparts” or to “the Canadian, British or American criminal investigation agencies also.”
To do less is to send the message that the criminal element runs Antigua & Barbuda, and that upstanding citizens must curb their moral outrage and live in fear of speaking out against wrong and of doing right.
Our way of life – of relative peace and security – has been shattered by these two egregious incidents; and we call on the Administration and law-enforcement to restore both.
We close by extending our sympathies, as well, to the co-workers of both Mr. Benjamin and the deceased Mr. Christian. No public servant should live in fear that, in the execution of his or her duties, he or she might face execution.
It is simply wrong.
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It would appear that this matter was not dealt with in any efficient manner from the very start. More apparently it would appear that there are “BIG FISH” in the corruption waters and somebody does not wish that any proper investigation to be conducted that would reveal their identities. More like a South American type cartel. This is really scary !
Our nation has gone to the dogs. Whoever let them out need themselves to be brought to justice also. Action; I mean immediate and drastic actions must be taken to get to the whole truth behind these dangerous and tragic episodes.
Are our misleaders so callous and wicked that they will refuse to even pretend to be doing something tangible to effect a solution to to crisis.
From the start when the prime minister revealed that persons had forged his signature, a full inquiry should have been set up to determine the complete extent of the scheme. Mr. governor general: use your head, man. Stop being a puppet. Your day of judgement will soon come also. Are you so foolish ?
It is too small a nation for these hideous acts to go unquestioned and allowed to persist.
Misleaders of Antigua & Barbuda, judgement time will come and where will you stand ? How will you account for what you have not done or should have done ? Do Not Be Fooled: You day will come !
All Antiguans involved in the shenanigans; I am warning you now. Take heed. Whatsoever a man sows; that shall he also reap. Open your eyes. Man may not see, but for your own sakes, ( and your children) you BETTER BELEIVE THAT THE ALMIGHTY SEES EVERYTHING.
It is time to take back our nation from the hands of the criminals.
WORLD “CRYSIS”: END SOON COME !
Really UPP how despreate are you for power? Instead of playing politics and blame game why don’t you use your platfrom to appeal to the public to help solve this most wicked act. Time and place there for everything.
This move stinks all over. Just look at the optics. I suspect the Customs officer had a lot of solid evidence of “creative enrichment” be carried out and the powers at be needed to take immediate action to prevent any and all information from being divulged.
The arrogant PM shows zero integrity all the time but the majority of voters will continue putting the PM back in office so they can blame no one but themselves for the deplorable situation of this island nation. Corruption is THE accepted way of life here.
In that picture above.Please be careful that button on your suit does not pop and hit someone in their eyes.That button is under a lot of stress.What has become of that matter at Customs.Where it was alleged a Customs Broker swindled the PEOPLE out of $3 million dollars.That a person and or persons forged the signatures of the Prime Minister.Both the Prime Minister and Max Hurst did say.They are asking those persons to repay the monies.They did not want to see any one charged in this matter.I had a concern.Because they do not have a say as to which directions any investigations should go.In my opinion they obstructed the laws of the land.No one said a damn thing in Antigua and Barbuda when it happened.Silence implies consent.
Desperation is obvious. Continue throwing your crap around hoping that something will stick. Be careful though, when you throw crap up in the air it’ll land plumb center in your face. I truly hope that a most thorough investigation is conducted and that ALL persons and parties that stand to “gain” in any way possible, even politically, from this young man’s sad demise. This time-line is most suspicious. A man is found dead on Friday last. By Monday morning picketers gathered outside the office of the Attorney General demanding this demanding that. No need to wonder who/what they represented. Why exploit this family’s grief for personal gain?
Why didn’t these portestors make noise for all the other unsloved murders? Cause them r*hole looking for personal gain from this. Them f*cking sicking.
I guess the UPP did their own investigation in the various killings and can tell you with certainty that they are all related to the very same investigation. I guess they should now give the police ll of the evidence so that the police can make the arrest. Or they are suggesting that the PM is somehow involved in this plot and prevent for a proper investigation. Or perhaps they suggest the PM should get involved and lead the investigation and not the police. Either way they are making all sorts of baseless and dangerous suggestions and want to make something political out of a criminal investigation. I guess they have not learned from their mistakes in office, that you cannot lock-up anyone when you sit in cabinet as an elected member. There are three independent arms of government. And the Police is one of them. Let them do their job. By the way the Comptroller of Customs has stated clearly that this officer was not part of the investigation in the fraud case. But we should surely watch this case closely. Cause things have a way of been swept under the carpet. Perhaps some of you still remember the death of Ms. Hughes from New Whintropes that was struck dead walking one night and the driver up to now has not seen the inside of a court to answer for her death. The woman left behind many children. Police officers who are trying to sweep this under the carpet should be disciplined. And the case should be taken away from them.
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