Despite opposition from the United Progressive Party (UPP), the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda is standing firmly behind his government’s selection for the Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC).

The UPP had expressed concerns last week about the appointment’s timing as well as the suitability of the chosen candidate, noted Attorney Thomas.

The UPP’s objections centered around Thomas’s alleged connections to former FTX executive Sam Bankman Fried and his resignation from positions at the Caribbean Union Bank (CUB) and the Eastern Caribbean Securities Regulatory Commission.

However, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has defended Thomas, emphasized his integrity, and pointed to his decision to step down from his roles as evidence of his commitment to preserving the organizations’ reputations.Top of Form

“The man is clean as a whistle. No one can argue with his competence what they are trying to do was spin this thing with FTX to suggest that because he stepped down from the bank he lacked integrity, but that is not the case,” Browne said.

According to Browne, after examining all the prospects, Thomas was found to be the most suitable candidate for the position.

Browne further stated that his administration thoroughly evaluated all the potential candidates before making the decision. It is worth mentioning that Thomas succeeded former Chair John Jarvis, who passed away on January 15th.