In a candid admission, Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne has publicly acknowledged the pervasive corruption within his government, attributing it to mismanagement and deliberate neglect. Browne likened the corruption to a malignant cancer, spreading across all levels of the public service, with private sector influence deeply entrenched in government operations. This revelation, coming from the Minister of Finance and Corporate Governance, underscores the gravity of the situation, particularly as it highlights a decade-long embezzlement scheme under his administration.
Key infrastructure such as the Airport and Port are now under scrutiny, with calls for immediate independent audits. These sites have become hotspots for corruption, where customs controls are allegedly bypassed in favor of influential business operators. A recent incident at the airport involved the displacement of a long-standing local company to accommodate a prominent businessman seeking greater control over operations.
Antigua’s reputation for corruption is not new. The island has been internationally recognized for its high levels of corruption, with notable cases such as that of Allen Stanford, who exploited the airport’s secure zones to facilitate a global financial crime syndicate. Despite the exposure of these activities, the government has failed to address the violations of International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) rules for over two decades.
In a bid to rectify these issues, Antigua has enlisted the expertise of an international aviation specialist, tasked with overhauling the airport within three months. This initiative aims to restore the country’s Category 1 status with ICAO and implement necessary regulatory measures to secure the airport’s perimeter, ensuring compliance with international aviation standards.