Possible legal action could be taken against regional media house

Regional media house, the St. Kitts and Nevis Times could find themselves in a legal battle against Prime Minister Gaston Browne over a recent article linked to the sale of the super yacht, the Alfa Nero.

The paper released a story last week questioning where the monies collected from the sale of the boat is and what they were used for.

PM Browne is however now hitting back and responded via Facebook about the article, mentioning that he could possibly take the matter to the courts.

“I have asked my attorneys to determine if this article is defamatory.   If so, St. Kitts Nevis Times and others, regionally and internationally, will get their opportunity in court to prove that millions are missing from the Alfa Nero sale and precisely who benefited,” PM Browne posted.

In addition, the government of Antigua and Barbuda is involved in several litigations on the matter in the High Court and the Court of Appeal on the sale of the Alpha Nero with judgements expected at any time.

The matter of the monies collected from the boat has been a major topic of discussion for the past week after it was revealed that a lawsuit has been filed in a United States Federal Court in Puerto Rico regarding the purchase amount of the Alfa Nero yacht.

An article was published in the Associated Press online news portal referencing this lawsuit. The article, which heavily cites opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) officials, alleges that the lawsuit aims to investigate whether any undisclosed dealings for personal gain occurred.

Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst referred to the entire matter as “malicious” and “unnecessary piece of litigation”.

Cabinet has spoken on the matter as well, joining with the PM in criticizing opposition members referring to it as a “politically motivated attempt to malign the Prime Minister and his family”.

Cabinet also stated, that “the lawsuit, along with the article, falsely implicates Prime Minister Gaston Browne, his wife, his son, the Accountant General, and the Port Manager.

In this week’s Cabinet notes, details on where the monies were allocated and spent were shared.

“The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda is aware of affidavits and evidentiary exhibits filed in the High Court of Justice by Ministry of Finance officials as proof of expenditure from the sale of the Alpa Nero”.

“Documents confirm that the proceeds from the Alfa Nero’s sale—amounting to US$40 million—were allocated to cover expenses related to the yacht’s maintenance, services, and supplies and payments of the commission to the agency that facilitated the sale of the super yacht.  Additionally, approximately US$29 million of the proceeds were used to address critical fiscal obligations of the Government, including payments to domestic and external creditors such asthe Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank, Software One Inc. and Judgment debts and land compensation awards”.

Cabinet “unequivocally” denounced claims that the Prime Minister along with his family or any public official benefitted from the sale of the boat.