The Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, GASTON BROWNE, who negotiated away his country's sovereign rights, in granting the Peoples' Republic of China an autonomous enclave, designated a Special Economic Zone, China's first foothold in the Caribbean. The one-sided agreement creating the SEZH, as it has been called, gives China absolute control over customs, immigration, passport issuance, import & export, and all the other attributes of an independent state. Most legal observers have been extremely critical of the details, asking whether the limited financial benefits Antigua has received are sufficient to justify what amounts to the absolute ceding of national territory to a foreign power, without limitation. They point out that there are no restrictions on the use of the SEZH by China for military purposes.
When American media questioned the wisdom of the arrangement, Browne vigorously responded, publicly claiming that China's intentions were solely benevolent, were not sinister or dangerous, and were in the bests interests of Antigua. He also stated that the United States had ceased, in recent years, to be "generous and helpful" in assisting in the economic development of its Caribbean neighbors, while China was making a large financial contribution, especially in the granting of loans. Those loans must be repaid, and given Antigua's poorly performing, even dysfunctional, economy, there are concerns that in eventual default, China will be able to exert undue influence upon Antigua, especially in its foreign policy.
Finally, given Antigua's abysmal record on official corruption since its independence in 1981, we question what illegal compensation, meaning bribes and kickbacks, were delivered to government officials to secure the agreement with a Chinese-owned entity that is suspected of being under PRC control. What illicit benefits did Browne, and other cabinet officials receive and derive from his approval of the special economic zone contract?
The rampant corruption that infect the country was painfully brought to the attention of Antiguans with the murder of Member of Parliament ASOT MICHAEL, formerly a close protege' of Browne, and who has been accused of corruption, going back many years. We cannot believe that the country's Prime Minister became a vocal proponent for the SEZH purely for the benefit of his constituents, and call for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the negotiation and execution of the agreement. There is something very wrong here, and the people of Antigua & Barbuda deserve the truth, no matter how painful it is to hear.
The Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, GASTON BROWNE, who negotiated away his country's sovereign rights, granted the Peoples' Republic of China an autonomous enclave, designated a Special Economic Zone, China's first foothold in the Caribbean. The one-sided agreement creating the SEZH, as it has been called, gives China absolute control over customs, immigration, passport issuance, import & export, and all the other attributes of an independent state. Most legal observers have been extremely critical of the details, asking whether the limited financial benefits Antigua has received are sufficient to justify what amounts to the absolute ceding of national territory to a foreign power, without limitation. They point out that there are no restrictions on the use of the SEZH by China for military purposes.
When American media questioned the wisdom of the arrangement, Browne vigorously responded, publicly claiming that China's intentions were solely benevolent, were not sinister or dangerous, and were in the bests interests of Antigua. He also stated that the United States had ceased, in recent years, to be "generous and helpful" in assisting in the economic development of its Caribbean neighbors, while China was making a large financial contribution, especially in the granting of loans. Those loans must be repaid, and given Antigua's poorly performing, even dysfunctional, economy, there are concerns that in eventual default, China will be able to exert undue influence upon Antigua, especially in its foreign policy.
Finally, given Antigua's abysmal record on official corruption since its independence in 1981, we question what illegal compensation, meaning bribes and kickbacks, were delivered to government officials to secure the agreement with a Chinese-owned entity that is suspected of being under PRC control. What illicit benefits did Browne, and other cabinet officials receive and derive from his approval of the special economic zone contract?
The rampant corruption that infect the country was painfully brought to the attention of Antiguans with the murder of Member of Parliament ASOT MICHAEL, formerly a close protege' of Browne, and who has been accused of corruption, going back many years. We cannot believe that the country's Prime Minister became a vocal proponent for the SEZH purely for the benefit of his constituents, and call for an immediate investigation into the circumstances surrounding the negotiation and execution of the agreement. There is something very wrong here, and the people of Antigua & Barbuda deserve the truth, no matter how painful it is to hear.
Surely, the election of Donald Trump will have consequences for China in the Caribbean and Latin America, regarding newly-focused American attention on the region.
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