Prime Minister Gaston Browne says a second lawsuit has been filed in the United States following the collapse of earlier legal claims connected to the Alfa Nero matter, describing the new action as another attempt to defame him and his family.
Speaking on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne Show on Saturday, Browne said the latest case was filed in Florida after an earlier legal effort seeking disclosure of his and his family’s financial records failed to uncover evidence of wrongdoing.
“More recently there has been yet another case that was filed in Florida,” Browne said.
He said the new lawsuit advances fresh allegations, claiming that members of his family benefited indirectly from commissions through a third party — assertions he flatly rejected.
“They are claiming now that family members of mine got a commission indirectly through some third party,” Browne said. “Another lie.”
Browne said the earlier case produced no evidence, despite what he described as extensive claims.
“After coming up with 29 allegations of corruption, not a single scintilla of evidence has been provided,” he said.
The prime minister said he has instructed his attorneys to respond formally to the latest filing and to pursue further legal action.
“My attorneys will be writing to them… and advising them that we’ll be going to court and we’ll be seeking exemplary damages,” Browne said.
He said the lawsuits form part of what he described as a broader campaign to undermine him politically and damage Antigua and Barbuda’s international reputation.
“All this is designed to defame, to undermine, not only me, but the country,” Browne said.
