Last Updated on June 3, 2022, 7:13 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Antigua and Barbuda: The government of Antigua and Barbuda is well known for its administration under the regime of current Prime Minister, Gaston Browne. Where the government successfully managed to uphold national revenues during the period of the pandemic, PM Browne also provided significant relief to the citizens. The tourism sector is booming in the country and attracts more tourists every year than any other island in the region. The opposition party in the country is now left with no political agenda for the upcoming general elections, and they are yearning to raise pseudo issues to persuade the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
Weeks after Dominica removed illegal entry charges against Indian fugitive Mehul Choksi, a report compiled by Antigua and Barbuda Royal Police Force took over the headlines. The opposition also took this as an opportunity to attack the government for its alleged role in a plot related to Indian diamantaire. Local residents expressed that there is a rumour that Choksi might again attempt to escape the country.
Anthony Davis, who owns a restaurant in Antigua, said that there are huge rumours of Mehul Choksi to make another attempt to escape the country. However, he did not provide many details but added that many officials are also concerned that there would be another attempt which led the government to increase surveillance of Choksi.
A local taxi driver, Glenda Antoni said that opposition should not derail the government from its path of development. “We do not have funds to waste on international criminals, PM should not support such demands of the opposition. It is very strange that the leader of the opposition is shaking hands with criminals for election funds or any other assistance, which is against our community and values. If the opposition wants an inquiry favouring a criminal, I demand that the government should look into local and international financial accounts of opposition as well as its political leaders.”
Another resident of Antigua alleged that the report is not available to anyone, but some news outlets in India, which clearly shows that team of influential lawyers that is working for Mr Choksi, facilitated the report to the media as it did not have any leg to stand in the court. “It is obvious that any report which is credible and is able to make a stand in the court is always kept secret as it might be aware the opponent of forthcomings. But, lawyers of Mr Mehul Choksi chose to disseminate this report to news outlets in India to change the narrative in favour of their client among people,” said Claudia Mark.
“Why should the government waste taxpayer’s money on a criminal’s application? If Mr Choksi wants to investigate the matter, I suggest him to go back to India and start the processing of his complaint from there. Thereby, he will be able to press charges and face his own at the same time,” said a local elementary teacher, Joachim Richardson.
Most of the people of Antigua and Barbuda have a clear vision related to the Mehul Choksi saga that government shall not support any criminal regardless of the circumstances. They expressed that many people in India have committed suicide or are facing severe conditions due to the wrongdoings of Mehul Choksi as he looted the people of India with over US $2 billion.
A young resident of Jolly Harbour expressed, “I suggest that government must focus on developments in different sectors of the country. Opposition is at fault at this time as they should not make the matter political as there is noting political into it.”
It is detrimental that political individuals of the country are now supporting a criminal; people suspected that reason behind this could be the promise of election funding to the opposition.
An official exclusively revealed that the Commonwealth of Dominica might re-open the illegal entry case against Choksi for providing false information. According to unofficial sources, the Dominican police have acquired new evidence against Choksi, which will help the police re-open the case.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
