Vindicated by the Verdict? Michael Browne's Political Future Debated

The Big Issues

Former Education Minister, and sitting Labour MP Michael Browne has survived a scandal after being found not guilty at trial over a serious criminal allegation. And Prime Minister Gaston Browne seems eager to put him back in the Cabinet. We ask: What ought to become of Michael Browne’s political career in the wake of the verdict?

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

1. Mr. Akaash Maharaj, an Ambassador-at-Large for the Global Organisation of Parliamentarians Against Corruption known also as GOPAC. GOPAC is an International nongovernmental organization made up of parliamentarians from across the world, working together to combat corruption, strengthen good government, and uphold the rule of law.
2. Dr. Isaac Newton, a political analyst, campaign manager, and a public policy advisor. He is currently President of the firm, Paramount Communications. In Antigua and Barbuda, he has advised both ABLP and UPP governments.
3. Mr. Peter Wickham, Director of the polling and research firm: Caribbean Development Research Services. He has done numerous electoral polls in Antigua and Barbuda, and elsewhere in the region. He is a commentator on Caribbean political and social affairs. He is frequently retained by the ABLP.

More on this episode:

Labour MP Michael Browne was arrested and charged with a serious offence back in November of 2020. He was sacked immediately from Cabinet. His trial was recent, happening between November and December of 2021. He was found not guilty on the criminal charge, which due to its nature, cannot be disclosed according to statutory prohibitions.

In the end, the scales of justice tilted in the favour of the Member of Parliament for All Saints West because, according to the judge, the Crown did not prove beyond all reasonable doubt that Browne was guilty. Browne maintained that he was completely innocent.

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on December 19th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.