Opposition party says it will use the court to push demands for a Commission of Inquiry

By Aabigayle McIntosh

The main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) is exploring new strategies,
including legal action, in hopes of pushing forward with their demands for Governor
General Sir Rodney Williams to call a commission of Inquiry into the Antigua Airways
refugee saga.

Attorney-at-law and former Political Leader Harold Lovell made that disclosure at rally
making the end of over 10 days of protest outside the Governor General’s Office for the
same effort.

The governor general and members of the government have stated on different
platforms that Sir Rodney Williams cannot act on his own as it relates to the setting up
of an inquiry, while the opposition party has stated others based on its own legal advice.

“Right now, we are looking at a strategy that will force, whether it be the Governor
General, the Prime Minister of the Cabinet, to use the courts and push them so that we
get this inquiry,” Lovell said.

He stressed that this is a serious matter noting that a number of migrants have
absconded to get to the United States as they were promised prior to their arrival in
Antigua and Barbuda.

This left to the tragic death of at least 17 people who were among of group of 32 on a
vessel with sank in Kittian waters.

“No more must die we cannot allow it to happen. Antigua and Barbuda must insist that
we have an inquiry to know what really took place, who made the money on this, where
the duping took place, who did it and for how much,” the former political leader said.

The noted attorney also stated that the party is deeply concerned about the country’s
image on the international stage based on the government’s involvement with Antigua
Airways which brought a number of what was thought to be a number of wealthy
Nigerians to our shores.

“Antigua is the center of all that. When they were held in St Kitts and Nevis and were
asked where they were coming from, they said Antigua, when they held them in Tortola,
they said they were coming from Antigua, even in Grenada and Trinidad where they
have a court case. We are saying their must be an inquiry into this”, Lovell said.

Public Relationships Officer for the party Damani Tabor said the rally was a success.
He said it was held to mark the end of the protest calling for the inquiry and also to
demonstrate the party’s frustration over several other issues including the water
shortage, high cost of living, uncollected garbage and unemployment.