Browne says government has not done business with Venezuela apart from WIOC shareholding
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has not engaged in business with Venezuela, rejecting claims of financial or commercial ties and stressing that the only connection has been Venezuela’s historical shareholding in the West Indies Oil Company (WIOC).
Speaking on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne Show on Saturday, Browne said neither the government nor members of his family have conducted trade or financial dealings with Venezuela.
“I don’t have any family members who trade directly or indirectly with Venezuela in gold, oil, in nothing,” Browne said. “Totally untrue.”
He said allegations suggesting otherwise were false and misleading, and that the only relationship cited repeatedly relates to Venezuela’s 25 percent ownership stake in WIOC, which he said was acquired before U.S. sanctions were imposed.
“Out of the 25 percent of the shares in West Indies Oil Company, those shares were sold to Venezuela when there were no sanctions,” Browne said.
The prime minister stressed that once sanctions were enacted, WIOC remained compliant and that Venezuela received no financial benefit.
“Not even a dividend payment has been made to Venezuela since the sanctions have been enacted,” he said.
Browne said claims of sanction-busting or illicit business were unfounded.
“There has been absolutely no violation whatsoever,” he said.
He added that efforts to portray the WIOC shareholding as evidence of broader government dealings with Venezuela were inaccurate and ignored the timing and legal context of the investment.
Browne said his remarks were intended to clearly distinguish between lawful, historical shareholding arrangements and allegations of ongoing business ties, which he said do not exist.
