During a heated parliamentary debate on proposed firearms legislation this week, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne delivered a startling allegation: he claimed an unnamed sitting senator is currently in a romantic relationship with a convicted pedophile, using the local Antiguan colloquial phrase “deh wid” to describe the pairing. The explosive claim formed part of a broader argument from Browne centered on what he frames as growing societal tolerance for dangerous, repeat offenders in the twin-island nation.
Browne made the remarks Monday while contributing to debate on the 2026 Firearms Amendment Bill. Wading into a discussion of rising acceptance and even glorification of criminal activity across Antigua and Barbuda, Browne repeated his accusation for emphasis: “You have a senator in this Honourable House who deh wid a pedophile. Can you imagine? A senator in this Honourable House who deh wid a pedophile.”
The prime minister went on to question the ethical precedent the senator is setting for her own children, particularly her daughters. “That is how slack we have become in this country. What do you think will happen to her children? What example is she setting for her girl children?” Browne said. Notably, Browne did not name the senator at any point during his address, nor did he offer any concrete evidence or supporting details to back up the serious public allegation.
The claim was not an isolated comment, but part of a wider push from Browne for harsher sentencing and more punitive measures for people convicted of violent and sexual offenses in Antigua and Barbuda. Shortly before making the allegation about the senator, Browne had opened discussion on the treatment of convicted sex offenders, proposing that chemical castration — and in extreme cases, surgical castration — should be implemented for serial rapists.
Reaffirming his stance on systemic laxity around crime, Browne argued that Antigua and Barbuda has grown overly accepting of individuals linked to serious criminal activity, and called for the country to adopt a firm “zero tolerance” policy toward all crime and violent offending.