PM warns police will act if unrest breaks out in Old Road
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has warned that police will intervene if unrest or lawlessness emerges in Old Road, saying the government will not allow disorder to take hold under the cover of political protest.
Speaking on his Browne and Browne radio programme on Pointe FM, Mr Browne said that while residents are entitled to express their views, there are clear limits when actions threaten public order or national infrastructure.
“We cannot allow people to become lawless and to destroy our country,” the prime minister said, warning that acts of obstruction, vandalism or violence would prompt a response from law enforcement.
Mr Browne linked his comments to what he described as a growing pattern of incitement, arguing that political rhetoric can create conditions that embolden individuals to commit criminal acts.
“When you incite people and encourage confrontation, you create an environment in which lawlessness can flourish,” he said, adding that such behaviour puts communities and public assets at risk.
The prime minister stressed that his warning was not aimed at residents acting peacefully or lawfully, but at those who might seek to exploit tensions for political gain. He said the police would act “accordingly” if public safety is threatened.
He also rejected claims that recent enforcement actions in the Old Road and Morris Bay areas were politically motivated, insisting that planning and regulatory laws apply equally to everyone.
“No one is above the law,” Mr Browne said, adding that elected officials and ordinary citizens alike are required to comply with development and public-order regulations.
The comments come amid heightened political debate following enforcement action at Morris Bay and the recent fire that destroyed fibre-optic materials belonging to the Antigua Public Utilities Authority.
While stopping short of assigning blame for the fire, Mr Browne warned that incitement carries consequences.
“People must understand that words matter,” he said. “You cannot encourage disorder and then pretend you bear no responsibility for what follows.”
Mr Browne said the government’s priority is to maintain calm, protect national infrastructure and ensure that disputes are resolved through lawful and democratic means, rather than confrontation on the streets.
