Prime Minister Gaston Browne has delivered a firm directive to residents of Old Road, cautioning that law enforcement will swiftly intervene should any form of civil unrest or unlawful behavior emerge in the community. The Prime Minister emphasized that while peaceful protest remains a protected democratic right, his administration will not tolerate actions that jeopardize public order or critical national infrastructure.
During his appearance on the Browne and Browne radio program broadcast by Pointe FM, the leader articulated a clear distinction between lawful expression and dangerous incitement. “We cannot allow people to become lawless and to destroy our country,” Browne stated, specifying that acts of obstruction, vandalism, or violence would elicit immediate police response.
The Prime Minister contextualized his warnings within what he described as an escalating pattern of political provocation. He contended that inflammatory rhetoric creates conditions that embolden criminal behavior, noting that “when you incite people and encourage confrontation, you create an environment in which lawlessness can flourish.” Browne stressed that such instigation places both communities and public assets at significant risk.
Addressing recent enforcement operations in the Old Road and Morris Bay regions, the Prime Minister dismissed allegations of political motivation behind these actions. He asserted that planning and regulatory statutes apply uniformly to all citizens, regardless of political affiliation. “No one is above the law,” Browne declared, emphasizing that both elected officials and ordinary citizens must adhere to development and public-order regulations.
These statements arrive amid heightened political tensions following regulatory actions at Morris Bay and the suspicious fire that destroyed fiber-optic materials belonging to the Antigua Public Utilities Authority. While not directly attributing blame for the fire, Browne warned that incitement carries consequential accountability. “People must understand that words matter,” he remarked. “You cannot encourage disorder and then pretend you bear no responsibility for what follows.”
The government’s foremost priorities, according to Browne, include maintaining public calm, safeguarding national infrastructure, and ensuring that disputes are resolved through lawful democratic channels rather than street confrontations.