You can now listen to Antigua News articles!
Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan defends use of public funds for PM’s defense (file photo)
While there are many in the nation of Antigua and Barbuda that believe the Prime Minister and others involved in the Alfa Nero court case should be personally responsible for the corresponding legal fees, Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan fully supports the Cabinet’s decision to fund the PM’s defense.
In an interview with Antigua.News, Astaphan takes the position that the PM was specifically targeted because he was serving in his capacity as leader of government, and since the Alfa Nero transaction was conducted as government business, defending the business should come at the government’s expense.
“Mr Gaston Browne is Prime Minister”, Astaphan said. “An attack on him is an attack on the country, and I fully support the Cabinet’s decision to pay the legal fees for them.”
An opposing viewpoint comes from some stakeholders who believe the affair to be much more localized, especially considering the potentially negative economic implications for the country.
The lawsuit is expected to be a strain of millions of dollars on the public purse, and many citizens cite a concern that the government is in a court battle with parties that are infinitely more financially prepared for it.
“How are we going to afford this problem that was brought to us by people that have more money than our local budget”, comments a citizen on a local radio show.
Senior Counsel Astaphan believes the PM and the government has done the correct and justifiable thing.
“Had he not been Prime Minister, this would never have happened”, Astaphan opines to Antigua.News.
Whatever your viewpoint may be on this circumstance, it would be hard to argue that fact.
If the PM acted on behalf of the government, then fine, but we need transparency. Was this really government business or a personal overreach disguised as such? The people deserve to see the documents before footing the bill.
I am with you in this food4thought
Every time something big like this happens, it’s the poor man who ends up paying for the fallout. When will leadership start being financially accountable for their own decisions?
Only in Antigua and Barbuda can a Prime Minister saddle us with a luxury-yacht legal crisis and expect us to thank him for it. This government is bleeding public funds while citizens struggle with healthcare, housing, and jobs.
Whether the fees are justified or not, how did we end up in a lawsuit with people who can bury us financially? What safeguards does our government have in place before jumping into murky international waters?
It’s from the very beginning I said to leave the people with their boat, it’s not ours, it’s wrong to take advantage of people’s things. They were willing to pay all bills and compensate the government. But no, that was not enough for Gaston’s pocket. Now we the people have to suffer the consequences. This is wrong and Gaston will bear the blame and shame and he and his family shall suffer dearly. Revenge, karma is a bitch. Gaston Browne do the right thing. Repay every cent and go to church ask gods forgiveness and get delivered. It’s not too late.
But of course the PM is more than justified in using public funds to defend himself in the course of actions in his capacity of Prime Minister for and behalf of the State! Duh!?? Otherwise any jackass, like Pringle Isaac, for example could bray up a mouthful of asinine hee-haws during their idle moments, and we all know they have loads of that. What I can’t understand is why the PM’s well-earned financial stability is literally driving them bonkers???!!!!
Jealousy is indeed a green-eyed monster quite capable of destroyer its own procreator.