Source- REAL NEWS ANTIGUA: Residents are asking what excuse Prime Minister Gaston Browne will be offering this time around, as another sum of money
reportedly was donated to the Barbuda Council for hurricane relief but never delivered.
This was the revelation made by Barbuda MP Trevor Walker during his debate of the 2024 Appropriations Bill, in The People’s Parliament, on Thursday, January 18, at Freedom Hall.
Walker told a packed auditorium that he recently had been contacted by a government source, who informed him that US$550,000 had been donated by a diplomat to the Central
Government – for the Barbuda Council’s hurricane-relief efforts in
September 2017.
Walker says the funds reportedly came from Spain.
Speaking about other donations that were intended for the Barbuda Council, Walker recalled that, during the 2023 Budget Debate, it was discovered that two containers containing lumber and other equipment for Barbuda had been consigned to a
Government senator – but had never reached the sister-island.
Earlier this week, the Barbuda MP made a revelation about the US$1 million that had been donated by British philanthropist Steve Morgan of the Steve Morgan Foundation, but never
transferred to the Barbuda Council.
He gave the audience some background on how he found out about those monies:
Prime Minister Gaston Browne – while confirming Walker’s claim – has said the money was not sent to the sister-island due to “financial difficulties” the receiving bank was experiencing.
He claimed that his government never received the US$1M that was deposited in the Morgan Trust account with Global Bank of Commerce (GBC), the proceeds of which were intended to assist with the recovery in Barbuda.
Browne claims that this information was communicated to Morgan and his team, who were subsequently advised that arrangements would be made for the Government to transfer US$1M to Global
Bank to assist with its liquidity and settle the transfer to the Barbuda Luis Hill Housing Project.
According to the prime minister, the US$1M was remitted and credited to the Government’s account with GBC as agreed, but it was later disclosed that the bank could not effect the Morgan transfer.
Walker wants PM Browne to come completely clean on this transaction and any others that possibly have not yet come to light, because his explanation does not add up.
Rather, the Barbuda MP refers to it as a “bogus story.”
Walker says the Browne Administration lacks accountability, as it is now seeking to get the US$1 million to Barbuda.
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“Walker recalled that, during the 2023 Budget Debate, it was discovered that two containers containing lumber and other equipment for Barbuda had been consigned to a
Government senator – but had never reached the sister-island.”
Why didn’t this news forum ask the young senator of the whereabouts of said containers. Concerned citizens would like to know. As the consignee for the lumber and equipment, please ask her to speak up on the belongings of the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
She can simply handover the itemized copies of the shipping documents with the items, and point out where they are, or were used, and clear herself… or alternatively duplicates of said documents could be made available from the freight forwarder, government treasury, and the customs and excise division.
(Having administrative leverage, or family members working in either of these places does not help)
Everyone is innocent until proven guilty. However, any attempts made to cover-up will only lead the public to suspect misappropriation. Persons in public office brought under scrutiny due to the appearance of foul play should be very quick to “clear the air” and “clear their names”.
In an information age, where documents can easily electronically become available, persons in public office should be very careful to avoid certain situations, whether voluntarily or involuntarily.
A word to the wise is sufficient…
The question is here is, did it reached the state?.. once there proof that is has, then what’s the issue. If the funds were misused then that’s another question. Our people are caught up between politicians who have their own agenda to meet and goals to achieve.This kind of politics stagnate our country.
@Patrick…the stagnation in the Nation, in many ways is due to crime(s), and not just the #Street_Thugz(pawns/foot soldiers) but to the QWERTY_BOARD aka #White_Collar Thugz(the pee_wee Herman clones to the betty_boops on stilettos, those #who’re in the purported upper echelon).
According to ‘law…’
(I)…Regardless, of the crime(s) committed ALL are innocent, until proven guilty beyond, the shadow of a doubt.
(II)…crimes are categorised, perps are investigated, questioned , arrested, charged, tried, verdict. Somewhat like this but, a lot can appear & disappear, do, verdict’s to outcomes can be skewed, and or screwed.
Hail Patrick would you like for a crime, any crime committed against you or your family to end up being skewed by the system having you feeling skewered and screwed? Would anger, frustration, disbelief set in thus causing some “stagnation” in your life?
Now, to the allegation(s) being made by Walker(lest you forget, if Walker’s allegation(s) are untrue/false, and because they were made in public, the accused have a case of defamation, don’t you think? You know, politicians love to sue.
The allegation(s) made by Walker, speaks to crime(s), being committed, and crimes which do stagnates has no political affiliation, nor religious persuasion, and neither do I, and I quite sure many others as well, all we want is EQUALITY, FAIRNESS, JUSTICE whenever CRIMES are proven to have being committed.
Our Nation of Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA is in dire need, of reformed ‘laws,’ in particular, as they pertain to corruption, malfeasance, bribery, insider trading etc.
I have witnessed many in the purported upper echelons from Governors to Mayors to Judges to Congressmen etc go to prison for far less, than what Walker is alleging happened to funds, and goods garnered, on behalf of the State, allocated for ‘specific’ purposes, not do as you please with what is not yours.
Right here at my backyard/front door, in Baltimore(#Go_RAVENS) Ciry, a mayor who wrote books, misappropriated the proceeds which was designated for other uses, she wrote the books, yet she went to prison.
Another one, she got caught up in giving free gift cards which she got for free, to people they weren’t destined for. She had to leave office!
Presently, a former States Attorney is on trial in Federal Court for misappropriating and lying about her own money. Her phucking money.
Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA(CARICOM on a whole) need LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES, that just don’t bark and bite. They take #flesh with them, once they withdraw.
I must commend the Permanent Secretary and others in the Judiciary who stepped forward and were instrumental, in having a Magistrate who allegedly, is more involved, beyond what sent her into early retirement.
The god good Essence of Nature’s Ether knows our Nation requires better checks and balances, regardless, of their political affiliation. Speaking of All #WHO’RE charged with the management, of the People’s affairs.
#INVESTIGATE DEM BLURNCLATH!
#EBRIE Tut, Dawg, Mun, Buggah_Yeye!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
(III)…
Hopefully, the Barbudans continue to publish the seeming misappropriation of donations, either in cash or goods. ZZ has been speaking about the containers and the implicated senator for some time.
If this government ment anything good, they would have set up an account specifically for donations to Barbuda and simply forward all supplies there. Why would a senator be the consignee to charitable donations? Why deposit the 1 million US into the government’s account unless they had no intentions to send it?
While we’re at it, wasn’t there some controversy surrounding a newly constructed radio station and donations intended for Barbuda as well?
Most of these ALP government are just not honorable and that’s a simple fact.
Let’s not forget that ALP also has a history of destroying files.
@ Patrick
The State is Antigua and Barbuda.
There are many commentators who ask innocent questions. Others ask thoughtful questions. While others ask stupid questions. What category do you fall under?
Here is the answer to your stupid question.
The Leader of The State admitted to the fact the money was in the Bank.
Are you questioning if the money was received by Antigua and Barbuda? The Prime Minister has said that the money was in the Global Bank account of Antigua and Barbuda. The elephant in the room is: Why hasn’t the money been released to Barbuda. Gaston even gave the answer. The money can not be released for the Bank has liquidity problems.
The question is why is an off-shore bank which has liquidity problems still being allowed to have their doors open?
Why is the Prime Minister acting as if he is the majority shareholder of Global Bank?
Where is the Regulatory Commission on this?
Another major issue that is being overlooked is the Gaston is saying that the $1 million is for the Barbuda Luis Hill Housing Project.
Why’s is this important; and maybe it’s a good thing that the money is stuck in a failing Bank.
While The Performance Artist Politician from Barbuda focuses on the money has not being released; Gaston is saying that the money is for The Barbuda Luis Hill Housing Project.
The Luis Hill Housing Project is the Codrington relocation project. You All.
Remember why Gaston hastily moved all Barbudans off the island during Irma and Maria hurricanes; and he then claimed it was not healthy for them to return.
While this was being said and the gullible public accepted it. And of course some Barbudans liked it for beer is half the cost in Antigua.
Those who wanted to return home were refused getting onto the island at gun point. Why?
Gaston had surveying being done of Codrington Village and the Lagoon to turn them into another place like Dockyard and Falmouth Harbour. A marina for super yachts and a village for the super richest of the rich.
The Luis Housing Project is a Barbuda relocation project.
The Performance Artist Politician from Barbuda lives outside of Codrington so he would not be displaced.
In the mean time UNDP has been repairing and replacing roofs.
Recognizing his dilemma, Gaston has tried to tag onto the 14 ft x 14ft get out of the rain houses. Many Barbudans on the fringes of Codrington still don’t have permanent electricity. They only have well water supply, whose source is being contaminated by the Airport being built by PLH/BOC
So the issue is bigger than the $1 Million donation that the Performance Artist is squealing about, and Gaston is squirming about.
As Samantha K. Rodrigues wrote:
News and journalism in Antigua and Barbuda are trash
Kudos on facts and real talk.
Tired ah de dodged ball Conversations around here.
@Watching
You have hit the nail in the head.
I would only add in the Institutions: The Ecumenicals, The lawyers, the Business Community and The senior Civil Servants. They are enablers and protectors
Some have been complaining that value diverted in money, and relief material was approximately $350 million; so let’s get beyond the $1.5 million.
Brownie and the ABLP has a subscription to the philosophy: NEVER ALLOW A DISASTER GO TO WASTE
It’s called: “creative enrichment”
IT’S OFFICIAL, WE ARE WEAK AND WE DON’T WANT ANY TRANSPARENCY FROM THE ABLP OR GASTON BROWNE.
Oh, how I wish we had investigative journalists like the ones the have at ‘Rebel News’, these Canadian 🇨🇦 newshanks don’t play, and the elites and government officials avoid them like the plague.
CHECK THEM OUT – REAL JOURNALISM.
Gaston Browne would crumble and fold like an old crocus bag!
*they
That’s a lot of concerned citizens of our beloved twin island State. Anyway my peoples I am positive that the people must have sent it to a reputable institution in our twin island state with the appropriate instructions for our brothers and sisters in Barbuda. That’s why Barbuda build back so fast. By the way I was listening to our Antigua brothers and sisters and they were quarelling and talking about MP Walker saying that he was advocating that Barbuda land for Barbuda and Antigua land for Antigua land for Antiguans and Barbudans. They say he have property in Antigua and they know of many Barbudans that have big house and land in Antigua. MP Walker better fix that because that means that all the peoples of our gorgeous twin island state are upset with him. Lord have mercy on PM Browne who is trying to fix all these issues to make all of us one people.
You are a nonsensical sympathizer. I wish for you to one day, just make a little bit of sense and stop belittling yourself.
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