Symister asks whether Gov’t continues to pay docking and crew fees for Alfa Nero since ‘buyer’ has still not paid for vessel

“Is the Government of Antigua and Barbuda still paying
port/docking fees for the Alfa Nero?”  This is a question to which
Leon Chaku Symister, the United Progressive Party (UPP)
spokesperson on legal matters, is seeking an answer.

The superyacht was sold on June 16 to former Google CEO and
software engineer Eric Schmidt during an auction. 

The boat has been moored in Falmouth Harbour since February
2022, when the United States imposed sanctions on property owned
by Russian oligarchs.

In May 2023, the Browne Administration acquired the vessel, and,
since then, the country has been forking out US$28,000 on a weekly
basis, reportedly for expenses related to staff salaries and their
upkeep.

Since the sale has not been officially consummated – the purchaser
not yet having made a payment to the Treasury – Symister wants to
know whether the Government’s weekly payments have continued.

In addition, he is asking what other expenses are being incurred by
the Government, since, basically, it still has ownership of the vessel –
unless a clause was appended to the sales agreement stating
otherwise.