In the wake of Antigua and Barbuda’s 44th independence celebrations, opposition members and concerned citizens assembled outside the Ministry of Works and Housing on Tuesday morning to protest what they describe as widespread corruption within the government.
The demonstration, which commenced at 7:30 AM, focused primarily on allegations of improper vehicle procurement totaling more than $15 million, but protesters say their concerns extend far beyond a single scandal.
Activist Ashworth Azille drew attention to the timing of the protest, noting the irony of celebrating independence while confronting allegations of government misconduct.
“44 years of independence should stand for something. It should speak to our efforts to become a mature democracy, but what we have seen over the years is a repeated attempt by Labour Party administrations to circumvent processes, to facilitate corruption in public office,” Azille said.
He accused the government of showing no interest in public accountability and criticized the Prime Minister for attacking local car dealers rather than addressing systemic issues within his own administration.
“For him to be out here attacking our businessmen who engage in legitimate business – what he’s not attacking is the situation that gave rise to his ministry and the Ministry of Public Works facilitating this massive corruption,” Azille stated.
Senator Pearl Quinn-Williams offered a scathing assessment of the current administration, taking direct aim at this year’s independence theme.
“I, for one, do not believe that the theme of independence represents anything positive. And I honestly believe we have solid nepotism, stable cover-ups, and soaring corruption,” Quinn-Williams said, reading from her protest placard.
The Senator dismissed government attempts to characterize the allegations as anything other than corruption, insisting that technical terminology cannot mask wrongdoing.
“You’re not going to talk to me about willful negligence and all sorts of things. It is corruption through and through. And I remember one time I said, corruption on steroids, and I was sued by the prime minister. The matter is still in court,” she revealed.
Beyond the vehicle procurement controversy, protesters raised additional concerns about alleged irregularities in the importation and distribution of construction aggregates by the Ministry of Works.
Azille questioned whether aggregates imported by the ministry were ending up in private hands and whether funds from any sales were properly returning to the public purse.
“We want to know whether the Ministry of Works has been benefiting from this and as it really should if it is importing and if it is selling, then those funds should go back to the public purse,” he said.
Leader of the opposition, MP Jamale Pringle, highlighted contradictions in the Prime Minister’s explanations of recent ministerial changes, which were first presented as routine rotations before being attributed to corruption concerns.
“All the allegations that we have heard so far came from the Prime Minister himself. But we cannot trust the words of the Prime Minister,” Pringle said, adding that he himself had been unexpectedly named in connection with the scandal without explanation.
The protesters united behind a call for a comprehensive, independent forensic investigation into the Ministry of Works, with demonstrators insisting that internal government reviews would be insufficient.
“We will not be satisfied with anything less than a full independent investigation,” Azille declared. “We cannot have them investigating themselves.”
The group also demanded that the Minister of Works step aside during any investigation, arguing that her position as the Prime Minister’s wife creates an insurmountable conflict of interest.
😂 So now that the government has put an end too the corruption and call out all the perpetrators they still complaining and it all started in upp time when they changed the entire fleet for new ones..
This protest was a Big Flop! Before asking the public to come protest, make sure the UPP Parliamentarians who getting big salary actually plan to show up to the protest as well. Serpent never fail to collect his salary and he always missing in action on the frontline of protest. Dat you fu study Pringle.
Jamal Pringle need to focus on being an effective Opposition Leader, not just leading pickets. People want policies, not protests
Continue the fight. Dont give up
It is their right to protest
The early morning protest signals growing public frustration. Allegations of corruption are serious, and citizens clearly want accountability, peaceful demonstrations like this are a vital way to keep government actions under scrutiny.
I watching this whole thing and wondering if anyone going to jail. Every scandal just pass like breeze and we move on. Enough is enough
“The devil cannot correct sin”, “darkness cannot overcome darkness”… The most corrupted ones of all wants to the ones correcting everything? Hmmm. If I should begging to talk about the money stolen by them for years!!!
Azille hit the nail on the head. Independence without integrity is just a holiday. People fed up of the same excuses and cover-ups. We need real accountability now!
Let’s be honest corruption didn’t start today. It’s been going on for years, but now it reach boiling point. The youth watching, and they not going to tolerate this foolishness
UPP always quick to protest but slow to produce solutions. Every time there’s a headline, they running out with placards like that’s going fix the country
Finally! Somebody standing up and saying what most of us thinking. Every year we talk about independence, but how independent are we really if corruption running things
Azille and Pearl just love the cameras. They’ve been shouting corruption for years but never bring real evidence. It’s all politics and showmanship