Antigua PM Says Ex-envoy’s Arrest Casts ‘Pall Of Gloom’ Over Twin Island State

JOHN’S, Antigua, Oct. 11, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne says last week’s arrest of former United Nations Ambassador Dr. John Ashe, on corruption charges has cast a “pall of gloom” over the twin-island state and neighbouring Caribbean countries.

Ashe was arrested by agents from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI), and charged by the US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, in an alleged corruption scheme involving a Chinese billionaire real estate developer, while he was president of the 68th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Former Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, who was prime minister at the time, was also named in the alleged scheme, but, was not arrested nor charged.

In a nation-wide radio and television address on Sunday, Browne said the implication of members of the former United Progressive Party (UPP) government, including Spencer, in the alleged bribery, money laundering and other corruption scheme has also caused the nation “great alarm.”

“We have all been deeply troubled that our country’s name has become embroiled in allegations of bribery and money laundering, in connection with the most important organisation in the world, the United Nations,” Browne said. “It is reprehensible that anyone would violate the sanctity of the United Nations for illicit purposes.”

In this regard, Browne said his administration “gives the undertaking that – as we began to do from the moment we came in to office in June of last year – we will continue to strengthen the structures and machinery of good governance in our country.”

Over the last 15 months, Browne said his Antigua Labor Party (ALP) administration has “encountered a residue of corrupt practices from the UPP regime, involving the abuse of public office and organized misappropriation of state resources.”

He said his government has “put an end to those practices, and we are continuing to do so wherever they emerge,” adding that his administration intends “to have the best and most transparent governance structure in the Caribbean and beyond.”

While doing so, Brown said his administration will not be popular but is “determined not only to uphold the principles of good governance, but to implement them firmly.”

He said changes will also be made in the country’s Foreign Service, stating that his administration will no longer permit Antiguans and Barbudans who are permanent residents of the host country to serve as diplomats.

In addition, the prime minister said the ALP government will begin a process of rotation of “our Foreign Service officers, with none of them exceeding a period of more than five years in any posting.”

Browne said while financial audits have been done on a yearly basis by the Auditor-General, routine independent forensic audits of all overseas missions will now be pursued.

He said “One of the first actions he undertook when I became prime minister in June last year, was to instruct that Ashe be removed as Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.”

At the time, Browne said he was “lobbied by several persons to retain him since, it was argued, he was at the peak of his career.”

But, he said, he held the view that Ashe “did not fit into the framework of good governance and representation that I envisioned.”

“Today, I can report that all those who lobbied me to retain him, have come to admit that my assessment was correct,” Browne said. “Nevertheless, I take no satisfaction from the validation of my position. I would very much have preferred that this week’s (last week’s) events had not occurred.

“It has harmed the efforts that my government and you – the people of Antigua and Barbuda – have so valiantly made, to rebuild our country’s economy and to uplift its standing in the international community over the last 15 months,” he said, adding that “the damage is neither permanent nor irreversible.”

Browne said that there will be persons, motivated by rivalry or malice, who will attempt to stain the entire country and this government, for the alleged corrupt actions of the former UPP Government officials.

But he noted that, in other countries of the world, officials have been involved in wrongdoing, and their economies “did not collapse and the governments did not cease to function, ”stating that “history is replete with such incidents in countries, large and small.”

The Antigua leader told the nation that nationals and residents “have done nothing wrong,” nor has his administration,” pointing out that “the persons, who are responsible and liable have been named in the complaint” brought by the FBI.

He said his government will cooperate with United Nations and United States authorities in the matter, “as a responsible member of the international community”.

“That is our obligation, and it is an obligation we will fulfill,” the prime minister affirmed.

Browne said, should the law enforcement agencies, in their own independent determination, make a decision to take some form of action against Ashe and others involved in the alleged scheme, “that is their prerogative.”

“I make it clear now, that should they do so, it will be no political witch hunt by my government or the political party that I lead,” he said. “We did not create this troubling situation. We simply deeply regret that it has involved our innocent people and has slowed our nation’s steady stride since June of last year, to build a better and more prosperous Antigua and Barbuda.”

Browne said his administration has “an admirable and enviable record to show in just 15 months,” stating that “no Caribbean country has been the recipient of more foreign direct investment per capita, than Antigua and Barbuda in 2015.”

He said the Antiguan economy has returned to sustainable growth, and is projected to become the “fastest growing economy in this hemisphere, according to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean.

“So, let no person in this country – except those who are involved – hang their head in shame, or beat their chest with assumed blame,” Browne said. “Antigua and Barbuda will not be found wanting or uncooperative in meeting its international obligations.”

Domestically, he said law enforcement agencies “will determine, in their own deliberate judgement, what actions they might take” against local former officials allegedly involved in the scheme.

Spencer said on Saturday, that while he was “deeply saddened by the circumstances in which Dr. Ashe now finds himself, based on the court document, he gravely misrepresented the United Progressive Party (UPP) government, by implying that bribe money was necessary to gain an audience with me or my colleague ministers.

“That was never the case during the 10 years of our administration,” said Spencer in a statement.

“Dr. Ashe was asked for assistance in raising funds among persons and organizations of goodwill and, as such, I did not hesitate to accept, through him, donations for the exclusive benefit of the United Progressive Party,” the former Antigua and Barbuda prime minister added.

“I have never had reason to doubt Dr. Ashe’s integrity.

“As a senior, seasoned, and highly respected diplomat of more than 20 years’ good standing, Dr. Ashe served the Government of Antigua & Barbuda – both the ALP [Antigua Labor Party] and the UPP administrations – with distinction,” he continued. “During his tenure, this country benefited from a number of initiatives and alliances with friendly governments and organizations, and he never, at any time, gave me reason to look askance at him or the contributions he spearheaded.”

On Thursday, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon disclosed that he wants an audit of the interaction between the UN and the Global Sustainability Foundation, and the Sun Kian Ip Group, and the use of any funds received from these entities.

“The Secretary-General is concerned about the serious nature of the allegations, which go to the heart of the work of the United Nations and its Member States,” according to a statement issued by Ban’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.

“The Secretary-General reaffirms that there will be no tolerance for any corruption at the United Nations, or in the name of the United Nations,” the statement added. “He is committed to ensuring that funds received from such private entities were handled properly according to relevant UN rules and regulations.”

Other top UN officials said they were “shocked” and “deeply troubled” to learn about the “very serious allegations” announced by United States’ federal prosecutors against Ashe.

US federal prosecutors said that Ashe and a Chinese billionaire real estate developer, from the territory of Macau were arrested and accused of engaging in a broad corruption scheme.

Ashe was one of six people identified in a criminal complaint, outlining a bribery scheme that involved more than US$1 million in payments from sources in China, for assistance in real estate deals and other business interests.

Prior to his appointment as leader of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly, Ashe was Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the UN.