PM Browne Announces Creation of People’s Restitution Fund to Channel Penalties from Customs Violations into Social Programs

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda will establish a People’s Restitution Fund, a new financial mechanism designed to collect and repurpose funds recovered from customs-related violations and penalties.

Browne said the fund will serve as a public accountability tool, ensuring that monies collected from fines, interest, and other charges imposed on importers for breaches of customs regulations are redirected to social development programs that benefit ordinary citizens.

“The People’s Restitution Fund will collect all penalties, interest, and other charges arising from customs violations, and the proceeds will go directly toward supporting social programs that uplift our people,” the Prime Minister explained.

The announcement comes amid the government’s sweeping efforts to restore integrity within the Customs Department following revelations of widespread irregularities tied to duty-free concessions, unauthorized vehicle imports, and tax evasion schemes; a scandal that has dominated national headlines for months.

According to Browne, the new fund will form part of a broader accountability framework being implemented across state agencies to strengthen oversight and ensure restitution for losses caused by corruption or mismanagement.