Opposition Stages Early Morning Protest Over Alleged Government Corruption

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.