The Caribbean PM warning of repeat “atrocities” unless Britain pays reparations over slavery declared assets of over $11 million when he took office. Hmmm…
Antigua’s Gaston Browne, host of this week’s CHOGM, told ITV yesterday:
“I understand the politics in the UK, in which it may be a difficult proposition for him to agree to any form of reparations, but that just does not negate the need for reparations… If there’s no compensation, there’s likely to be a repeat of those atrocities sometime in the future, and you can see what is happening globally already.”
Browne, who spent time in banking after studying at City Banking College and the University of Manchester, declared assets of over EC$30 million (US$11.1 million) when he became PM in 2014. Including real estate, heavy equipment, and car hire businesses…
In 2016 local news reported: “He said he was now in the process of transferring most of his interests to his family members and since coming to office has acquired only one new property.”
In September this year Browne said his family could build luxury villas on land his son owns. The government is dumping sand from its own dredging works right next to the plot, building a brand new beach on the doorstep. Browne said: “I guarantee that my son can actually sell those at least maybe four million US apiece.” Uh huh…
Browne is also a self-declared republican who wants the King removed as head of state for Antigua and Barbuda.
Antigua and Barbuda left the OECD list of aid recipients on 1 January 2022 because it became too rich, with income per head of $21,150 in 2024. Browne also scrapped personal income tax entirely in April 2016, and the country sells passports instead…
Before it got too rich, Antigua was one of the first two countries to draw grants from Cameron’s £350 million UK Caribbean Infrastructure Fund. Any fresh “investment” cannot come from the aid budget, so it would be new taxpayer cash on top. This is what Burnham says he is open to…
Krishnan Guru-Murthy asked John Healey: “Just finally, I mean Andy Burnham has been very clear he wants Britain back in the European Union in his lifetime. Do you?”
The Chancellor replied: “I’m older than Andy Burnham. I don’t expect to see that.”