Antigua Minority Opposition Party Questions Prime Minister’s “Haste” To Fire Tourism Minister

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Barbuda, October 25, 2017 (CMC) – The minority opposition, Democratic National Alliance (DNA), is questioning the “haste”, in which Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, removed his Investment and Tourism Minister, Asot Michael, from his cabinet, following his detention in Britain, on Monday.

In a statement, the DNA said that while, like the rest of the country, it will “follow this unprecedented development with keen interest”, it has taken note of the “rapid” move by the prime minister to revoke the appointment.

“It is a well-established legal principle that every accused is innocent until proven guilty. However the DNA finds it more than curious that Prime Minister Browne acted with rapid fire, in revoking Minister Michael’s appointment as a Cabinet Minister and relieving him of all portfolio responsibilities,” the DNA said in the statement.

The DNA added that the detention of Michael at the Gatwick Airport, on Monday, is “another blow” to the reputation of Antigua and Barbuda.