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Prime Minister Gaston Browne has defended his government’s record on integrity and good governance, insisting that key legislation such as the Integrity in Public Life Act, Prevention of Corruption Act, and Freedom of Information Act are all active and functioning, despite administrative delays.
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Browne made the comments in Parliament on Thursday in response to questions from the Opposition about whether his administration had done enough to operationalize the country’s transparency and accountability mechanisms.
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The Prime Minister rejected claims that the laws exist only on paper, pointing out that they were first enacted under the previous United Progressive Party (UPP) administration but were not effectively implemented until his government took office.
“Unlike under the UPP, these are not dangling pieces of legislation,” Browne told the House. “They were actually passed in 2004 under the UPP administration, and the then administration did not give any effect to the operationalization of those acts in any effective or material way.”
He said the Integrity Commission is now functional and that the government has recently strengthened its operations. “I’ll be speaking to the Chairman of the Integrity Commission to ensure that the necessary declarations are sent to all, because he had some issues with office as well. I think that is now resolved. In fact, just yesterday, we appointed a secretary—a senior person—to assist with the operation of the secretariat,” Browne said.
The Prime Minister acknowledged that there had been “a gap” in the filing of declarations by some public officials but denied that the government was deliberately undermining the legislation. “I accept that there has been a gap there,” he said, “but there’s no deliberate policy of my government for those pieces of legislation not to function.”
Browne also reaffirmed that the Freedom of Information Act is active and being used. “Information has been given under the Freedom of Information Act,” he told Parliament. “They are functional—it’s just that they have not been utilized.”
He maintained that the government continues to support the country’s integrity and anti-corruption framework and said his administration remains committed to strengthening transparency across all institutions.
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The previous administration THIS, the previous administration THAT! When oh when is Gaston Browne and this CURRENT administration going to take responsibility for their inactions and inactivity?
You’d think that the ABLP have never reneged on anything warranted. 11 years of governing this country and they are still grouching on about the previous incumbents who were last in power way back in 2013???
One thing you have to give Browne & co, is that they’ve got the country mentally subservient so that they don’t question or scrutinise anything they say or do; and in addition, the lack of critical thinkers is troubling.
They control the narrative, they control the media airwaves, and just as destructive is the lack of financial and economic transparency to the Antiguan public.
Are we the most ductile, docile and deferential (and I include myself in this as well) people in the Caribbean region.
Dear Lord please take the wheel and reveal what’s hidden in the “political” dark in Antigua, and bring to Your everlasting light 🙏🏾
WE SICK OF THE DEVIOUSNESS …
If the Integrity Legislation is being followed, how come there is no investigation into how Ministers and government officials on civil service salaries are building million dollar homes and apartment buildings? There is one transferred PS now working at Coolidge who is on his second apartment building. There is another one who built a whole building in town with public works material. He was promoted and transferred. There is an Ambassador who was bouncing cheques 10 years ago who now has 2 apartment buildings in Blue Waters. None of this is a secret. What is the role of the ONDCP and the CID in all of this? What about the Public Accounts committee and the Integrity Commission headed by Radford Hill? Someone should explain the legislation to the public. But I expect no accountability. We have no opposition and they are no better anyway. All wanting to just get rich at any cost.
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