St. John's 27°C Overcast

Antigua News
Live
Top News Antigua and Barbuda

PM Browne Accuses Bar Association of Giving Comfort to Criminals

By

Published
Prime Minister Gaston Browne

The Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association has condemned Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s statement, which criticized the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court judges and magistrates for their approach to granting bail and sentencing in gun-related cases.

In a statement to the media on Friday, the Bar Association said that the courts are bulwarks of the Constitution and laws, and public officials must be careful not to undermine public trust in the judiciary.

They said fear of personal attacks, public backlash, and potential enforcement failures of decisions or judgments are consequences of public distrust and should not occur as public officials are responsible for promoting respect for the courts and judicial decisions.

According to the Bar Association, the principle of the separation of powers — that is, the separation of the Legislative (which makes the law), Executive (which enforces the law), and Judicial (which interprets the law and applies it to individual cases before the courts) branches of government — must always be observed as it aims to prevent abuses of power and autocracy.

whatsapp-group-names-for-family-friends (1)

The Bar Association emphasized that it is plainly desirable that members of the public and public officials also fact-check and be armed with all relevant information in order to have a true comprehension of the issues at hand before making statements that seek to criticize and undermine the judiciary.

The Association cautioned members of the public and public officials to understand and respect the role of our courts and to refrain from making uninformed, improper, and unthoughtful criticisms of our judges, magistrates, and the judicial system.

But in a swift response, Browne said Antigua and Barbuda is facing one of its most significant national security challenges and instead of joining the fight by encouraging stricter sentences and the ending of routine bail for gun crimes; these “weak knee, apologetics are seeking to score skewed intellectual legal points at the expense of the safety and security of our people”.

“They are literally giving comfort to criminals. If you want respect from the people, institute stricter sentencing and work with law enforcement to deny bail, when these criminals represent a threat to the society”, he said

According to the prime minister, “the ugly truth offends, but I will always stand on the truth in defense of our nation and its people. A responsibility from which I shall not shirnk, irrespective of the consequences.  I took a parliamentary oath to speak without fear or favor.

This is not autocratic leadership, it’s fearless leadership, playing my part in soliciting the full support and commitment of all stakeholders against crime and violence.

Sentencing guidelines must be realigned to deal with crime and violence which is now a public health epidemic. I said what I said.  Come for me !”, he added

This story was first published by Antigua News on August 23, 2024: antigua.news/2024/08/23/pm-browne-accuses-bar-association-of-giving-comfort-to-criminals. © 2024 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

Step 1

Add Antigua.news to your Home Screen

✕ antigua.news ⋯ Open in Safari Copy link Share…

First, open this page in Safari

You are reading inside another app (Instagram, Facebook…). Tap ⋯ at the top right and choose Open in Safari (or Open in browser).

No such option? Copy the link, open Safari and paste it in the address bar.

⚙️ Settings General › Software Update

Update your iPhone first

Alerts need iOS 16.4 or newer. Open Settings → General → Software Update and install the update. You can still add the icon now: tap Next.

‹ antigua.news ⋯

Tap the ⋯ button

It is at the bottom right of Safari, next to the address bar. Don't see the bar? Scroll up a little.

Share Add Bookmark New Tab Find on Page

Tap Share

It is the first option of the menu, with a square-and-arrow icon.

antigua.news ‹ › ▢ ⧉

Tap the Share button

The square with an arrow pointing up, in the middle of the bar at the bottom (on iPad: at the top right).

antigua.news

Tap the Share button

The square with an arrow, at the right of the address bar at the top. (Firefox: tap ☰ at the bottom, then Share.)

Copy Add to Reading List Add to Home Screen

Tap Add to Home Screen

Scroll down the list to find it (icon: a square with a +). Not there? Tap Edit Actions or View More at the bottom.

Cancel Add to Home Screen Add Antigua.news Open as Web App

Keep Open as Web App on, then tap Add

The switch must be green — without it, alerts can't work. Then tap Add at the top right.

Cancel Add to Home Screen Add Antigua.news An icon will be added to your Home Screen so you can quickly access this website.

Tap Add

At the top right. If you see an Open as Web App switch, leave it on (green).

Antigua.news

Close the browser and open Antigua.news from its new icon

Go to your Home Screen: the Antigua.news icon is there now (swipe left if you don't see it). Alerts only work when you open us from this icon.

“Antigua.news” Would Like to Send You Notifications Notifications may include alerts, sounds and icon badges. Don’t Allow Allow

Tap 🔔 Turn on alerts, then Allow

In the app you will see a red box asking to turn on alerts: choose your sections, tap the button, then tap Allow. That's it — breaking news will reach you even with the phone locked.
Editorial Staff

About the author

The Editorial Staff refers to all reporters employed by Antigua.news. When an article is not an original creation of Antigua.news—such as when it is based on a press release, other media articles, letters to the editor, or court decisions—one of our staff members is responsible for overseeing its publication.

Read our editorial standards and corrections policy. Spotted an error? Contact the newsroom.

Comments (9)

  • Faithful national August 23, 2024, 9:13 AM

    For whom do you work, Antugua News, with your inflammatory headline designed, it seems to detract and distract the public from the serious issues at hand. What the PM said, whether we like him or not, is a perception shared by every single fair minded national, publicly stated and often openly discussed. Many have even resorted to the media to openly condemn the judiciary for the appearance of its incompetent, partisan dispensation of justice. How many times have we heard the plaintive cries for justice from the public as we witness seemingly skewed judgments being handed down regularly. Have members of the judiciary taken a single initiative to offer any advice to governments on ways to reduce crime and violence in Antigua and Barbuda. They sit in their lofty chambers behind their black curtains and emerge only they perceive that their competence, livelihood and relevance are brought into the limelight by someone whose WILL BE HEARD! So wheel and don’t even bother to come again Mr. Compromised journalist!
    Reply

    • Susan August 23, 2024, 11:24 AM

      Some of you are really shameful and need to calm down. Why are you asking the site “who do you work for”? What are you insinuating? So, what? Everything you do not agree with is political and agenda driven? Are you serious? The PM is using the judiciary as a scapegoat. He is trying to tell us that the reason we have criminals out on the street is because of bail and lenient sentencing. 1. What is the penal system doing to curb reoffending and recidivism? Unless everyone gets life sentences, they have to come out sometime. The PM and his Ministers are responsible for that but he isn’t saying much. 2. The f***ing prison is overcrowding you fools. He says there are 474 people out who are repeat offenders. Even if the courts sentenced all of them to prison tomorrow, where they hell would they go????? The PM and his ministers are responsible for that. But he isn’t saying anything. He expects judges to fill up an overcrowded prison with 100s more people? 3. Police investigations and prosecutions are taking too long to come to trial and to court. The same criminals on bail that he speaks of should be brought to face trial swiftly. Instead, their cases take forever while they roam. Is that the judiciarys fault? The police need the resources for swifter investigation and forensic investigation. And we need more justices on the bench as well to speed up the processing of criminal cases. The DPP needs to be involved as well. Yall allow yall Prime Minister to spoon feed you a narrative which makes him blameless and the judiciary totally at fault, and yall swallow it and regurgitate it at will. Use your brains please.
      Reply

    • No BS please August 23, 2024, 6:20 PM

      Great words. I agree 100%
      Reply

    • TAKE THAT August 23, 2024, 6:22 PM

      Simply ridiculous 🤣
      Reply

    • Faithful national August 24, 2024, 4:28 PM

      Was that photo taken as the PM was making his statement re the lame-duck, impotent judiciary? That photo I am sure was carefully selected in order to play on the psyche of a partisan pu⁸blic. My question to the Editor is therefore as relevant as your blah, blah, blah response! What was said by the PM, most people know, is accurate – criticisms that have been aired years before this PM dared to publicly repeat the obvious. So why focus on the PM and his bold utterances on the root causes of increased crime in the state. Stiffer penalties of extended stays in an uncomfortable environment is as important as parenting education, rehabilitation if possible of criminal elements, effective border control are steps that must be taken to arrest the surge in criminal activity. Remove the spotlight from the messenger and just acknowledge and accept the message. Leave the not so subtle political gimmicks out if the equation.
      Reply

    • Uncovered August 24, 2024, 4:35 PM

      So ridiculous..,
      Reply

  • anna August 23, 2024, 10:14 AM

    people antigua has been begging for justice especially for our young girls do whatever it take PM
    Reply

  • Donna August 23, 2024, 10:36 AM

    There should be a more stiffer penalties for anyone committed the criminal act of rape, robbery, found with guns and ammunitions, attempted murder, and murder. Our prison is filled with more marijuana and other drug’s charges—where these type of crime could be more a community punishment in hard labor—cutting the bushes from the nation roadsides and cleaning the all the gutter drains—dressed in orange jumpsuits.
    Reply

    • Simple mind August 24, 2024, 2:08 PM

      Why orange jumpsuits?
      Reply

Submit a comment

More from Antigua and Barbuda

View section

By clicking "Accept", you consent to our website's use of cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits.

Cookie Settings

Privacy Summary

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best possible user experience. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our site or helping our team understand which parts of the site you find most interesting and useful.

More information in Privacy Policy