Second-highest bidder reportedly walks away from Alfa Nero bid after Cabinet rejects his claim for almost US$6m in damages

The Alfa Nero reportedly will remain the property of the
Government of Antigua and Barbuda for a while longer, as the
second-highest bidder on the disputed yacht has withdrawn,
informed sources allege.

Word among from the legal fraternity – although not officially
confirmed – is that the Cabinet’s recent refusal to honour the
approximately US$6 million claim for damages, filed by Warren
Halle, is behind his decision to walk away from the purchase.

REAL News reported, weeks ago, that the attorney representing the
second-highest bidder – now identified as Damien Benjamin, son of
Attorney-General Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin – had sued the
Government.

In short, the suit claimed that the Port Authority had breached its
own agreement to sell the vessel to the second-highest bidder if the

bid winner failed to pay the money into the Treasury within seven
days.

The Cabinet, however, had agreed to wait for Eric Schmidt, whose
lawyers reportedly had advised him not to make the payment until
the legal challenges to the yacht’s ownership had been settled.
The Executive then attempted to persuade Schmidt to pay with the
promise that the Government would indemnify him against further
legal claims.

Meanwhile, court papers went into wide circulation last night,
September 5, detailing the suit filed by Damien Benjamin against the
Port Authority on Halle’s behalf.

The document shows that Halle is claiming for various expenses he
incurred in pursuit of acquiring the yacht, as well as losses he
sustained when the Government failed to award it to him.
The full details of the document are published on the REAL News
social-media sites.

In the meantime, the Alfa Nero will remain moored in Falmouth
Harbour, sources say – and weather the storm or hurricane that
could pass through the area this weekend. And its payroll and other
expenses will continue to be borne by the taxpayers of Antigua and
Barbuda.

The third-highest bid on the yacht reportedly was an unacceptable
US$25 million, which was far below the hoped-for sale price and the
vessel’s market value.

Sources allege that a consortium of resident expatriates had
submitted this bid; but this has not been confirmed.

To offload the controversial vessel, once reportedly owned by a
sanctioned Russian oligarch, it is speculated that another auction
may have to be held. But sources say that interest in the sale will be

low because of the legal challenges in which the yacht remains
mired.

Pundits tell REAL News they are worried that this turn of events will
put the health of the economy in further jeopardy, since the Browne
Administration was counting on the sale to service external debt.
Already, it is rumoured that the Antigua Public Utilities Authority
(APUA) was drained last week in order to service the Port Authority
loan with the China EXIM Bank.

That has not been confirmed. However, APUA staff who were
expecting to be paid last Friday were not paid – as was the case with
many non-established government workers.

The Authority was allegedly hacked and the Billing Department was
compromised, earlier reports said.