Merchant Says Opposition Sees Maria Browne as “Future Prime Minister,” Fueling Attacks
Government Communications Director-General Maurice Merchant says recent political attacks on Works Minister Maria Browne stem from fears within the opposition that she could one day become Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda.
Speaking at last week’s post-Cabinet briefing, Merchant said opposition critics “see that the Honorable Maria Browne — if you remove the Honorable Gaston Browne from the equation at this time — there is no other individual… who could be the next Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda,” arguing that this perception has triggered “vicious” and unwarranted personal attacks.
Merchant defended Browne against calls for her resignation over the unauthorised procurement of government vehicles, describing the controversy as a “dead issue” because the cars were recovered and returned to dealers. He said the Cabinet views the matter as resolved and fully supports her handling of it.
He said Browne is being targeted “without any evidence of wrongdoing,” adding that her actions actually forced the government “to readjust some of its operational standards.”
Merchant framed the criticism of Browne as part of a broader pattern of attacking women in politics, asserting that the Cabinet “will utilize all of its political ability to defend the good name and hard work of the Honorable Maria Browne.”
During the briefing, Merchant devoted significant time to outlining what he described as Browne’s leadership qualities — including vision, strategic thinking, integrity, and strong communication — as well as her achievements in infrastructure, housing development, and road construction.
“No other minister in the history of Antigua and Barbuda has done more for the development of the housing stock,” he said, adding that contractors have also reported improvements in the ministry’s operations under her leadership.
According to Merchant, Browne’s lineage, political skill, and performance have made her a rising figure within the government. “Some persons may know of something that many of us don’t know,” he said, referring to her possible future as national leader.
He warned that attacks on her should be interpreted as attacks on the Cabinet itself. “The entire Cabinet will, as one unit, defend the integrity and character of the Honorable Maria Browne,” he said in closing.
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I listened to Mr. MERCHANT on the BROWNE and BROWNE show POINTE FM on Saturday. Mr. Merchant , you are the BEST COMMUNICATOR in Antigua. Your PRONUNCIATION and DICTATION are SUPERB. I FULLY endorsed you description of the Hon. Maria Browne. UPP is throwing mud on the wall to see what stick but They are fighting a losing battle.
Hon. Maria Browne the BEST PUBLIC WORKS and HOUSING MINISTER in the History of Antigua. This VEHICLE GATE is going nowhere.
They should Picket JAMALE PRINGLE ,(WADADLI ENTERTAINMENT) business who is UPFRONT and CENTRE in VEHICLE GATE.
I thought Faithful National #1 was the number one Ass Kisser in Antigua with how he used to pucker up for GB but Maurice you are another number one only this time it’s for Maria. GB has to keep his eyes on you. You have relegated all the other Cabinet members to mere YES MEN. Gaston and Maria are the best leaders the others are just followers and yes men
Don’t worry, her husband says he has no intentions of pushing her to become PM, and we all know how good his word is…
DEEEEEFLECTION #12
This is now coming over as an over dramatised soap opera, with the main characters as totally unbelievable. This is amazing!
The ABLP and their many kowtowing and lickspittling acolytes are now doing their utmost to avoid any independent investigation into the vehicle acquisitions procurement scandal.
To halt all the noise and kerfuffle Maria Bird-Browne and she husband has to do is announce to the – taxpaying – nation that an INDEPENDENT inquiry will be shortly forthcoming.
A real life soap opera of the Browne’s own making. Fact!
I’m going to sit back and settle down with a delicious bowl of my favourite bullfoot soup 🥣 and enjoy this erstwhile and engaging ABLP drama. I love it …
Who wants a boring stay at home house wife when u can have a wife who can learn the ropes and help steer the ship….She has no time for nothing other than family and being a politrickian I mean politician….
What leadership potential? Second-hand bird and her worthless phoenix degree can take a permanent vacation to the DR.
I hereby announce Merchant is an idiot, who doesn’t answer phone for people who needs their scholarship and other things I will not say here. People are acting in good faith, well those who are, when they want accountability about $15 million problems (fraud, theft, abuse of office, etcetera) that MP Maria Bird-Browne was in charge of. Nobody acting because of her potential to lead but acting because we as people should caring about what went wrong with over $15 million being practically stolen. It is a good-faith inquire but those inquiring in good-faith. She is a gorgeous woman and I always like gorgeous women but morality and legality comes first for me.
The appropriate thing for her to do if she was a good leader was to resign, to show she will always act honestly and in the interest of the public but run in the next election and let the people ratify her leadership quality, not have some idiot on TV or radio insulting people who believes in morality and legality by saying there is no reasonable basis to inquire on her work and requiring accountability.
Why does ABLP always want to be idiots when they don’t have to be. These are opportunities to show you are a great party by simply not saying dumb things. Where are your strategists idiots?
People should just say the PM say $15 million was misappropriated and the public should just say okay and forget about it (Italian accent)?
Hey Merchant we have a task for you Sir…Read this script in your Oxford Cambridge British Aristocratic voice and try to look like you actually believe what you’re reading…Thank You…..
@ So
If you believe that you would believe the sun rises in the west, anyhow I suspect that was tongue in cheek
WHAT THE HELL…! …OH LAWD! …CABINET SPOKESPERSON? …A BLOODY FOOL OR MULE?
EXCEPTION THAN RULE:
***
THERE IS NO OTHER NEWS PORTAL LIKE ‘ANR.’
LIKENED TO PASTORS ‘…PREACHING THE GOSPEL’ WHATEVER, MESSAGES, IT DELIVERS.
***
PASTOR CLIFFORD HAYNES:
He always urged: ‘…DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER.’
***
So much so, from the ‘…PASTOR.’
***
: …SO, ACCEPT THE DARN MESSAGE FROM ‘…CABINET MINUTES.’
***
By the way: ‘..Who is the SECRETARY?’
***
Clearly, some ‘…INTELLECTUAL FOOLS,’ really do not know that’…HOLDERS OF PUBLIC OFFICE:
(i) ‘…ARE NOT ABOVE REPROACH: and
(ii) …ARE NOT ABOVE LAW.’
***
WELL:
These news stories, have never been subjects that have ever prompted a comment.
***
Whomever, ‘…FEATHERS MUST BE RUFFLED,’ see this as rather: ‘…AN EXCEPTION’ than a ‘…RULE.’
***
NOW:
Given this news story purportedly authored by:
(a) ‘…HIGH INTELLECT, ‘…CABINET SPOKESPERSON, MAURICE MERCHANT: and
(b) …GIVING HIM THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT: that
(c) …MEMBERS OF CABINET COULD HAVE EXPENDED VALUABLE TIME: in
(d) …DISCUSSING MATTERS OF THE ENVIRONMENT: and
(e) …NOT MATTERS OF THE EXECUTIVE/CABINET:’ the author may have unwittingly positioned himself to be seen as:
(f) …INTENDING TO STIR UP DISSAFFECTION AMONG GROUP MEMBERSHIP.’
***
Moreove, it could make the ‘…ESTEEMED CABINETSPOKESPERSON’ LOOK VERY MUCH LIKE:
(a) …AN INTELLECTUAL IDIOT:
(b) …AN ENVIRONMENTAL STOOGE:
(c) …A PIGEON PERCHED ON A STOOL: or’
(d) …BEING MADE A ‘MULE’ OF A ‘FOOL’
***
WHAT THE HELL…!
***
Even so, he shall not be tagged as ‘…A FOOL: neither shall he:
Be ridden to hell as ‘…A MULE.’
***
By the time they all read the news story, by the ‘…CABINET SPOKESPERSON,’ every darn thing shall be cool.
***
Well well well! You people have some big ginormous balls or whatever! are you serious.. first of all mr gassy love to do personal attacks on people just the other day he posted a picture of peal quinn feet… how about that, am I leaving in the same antigua as these “clowns” but t, lickers leaving in, let’s put it this way I never saw Maria do anything bad … but let’s do an investigation into the cars … I do however believe she could be the next prime minister but so could Charlie Brown snoopy, tom but maybe not Jerry, could you imagine them competing with a Rat …
Well well well! You people have some big ginormous balls or whatever! are you serious.. first of all mr gassy love to do personal attacks on people just the other day he posted a picture of peal quinn feet… how about that, am I leaving in the same antigua as these “clowns” but t, lickers living in, let’s put it this way I never saw Maria do anything bad … but let’s do an investigation into the cars … I do however believe she could be the next prime minister but so could Charlie Brown snoopy, tom but maybe not Jerry, could you imagine them competing with a Rat …
Potential does not always translate into the desired end result desired.
Any Maria supporter from her husband to any other policy maker or supporter, would you take an attorney with potential who gave just aced the bar exams and immediately place them on the Privy Council, CCJ or the Supreme Court or even become a partner in a law firm?
The short answer is no; and, by the way Jamal Pringle is in a similar position.
No one takes a private with basic training and elevate them to Admiral over night.
Investigate the CORRUPTION from all angles and let the chips fall where they may.
Jumbee Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg 🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
They have to try a thing to convince us that she’s leadership material because the ALFA NERO talks have resurfaced and it looks like this is going to be very different from the first. Maybe they know something that we don’t.
When someone becomes arrogant of their own proclamations, this is what it looks and sound like folks.
GB and his wife has become masters of their own ceremony.
That’s all I have to say on this topic
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