A full accounting of hurricane-relief donations to Barbuda is long overdue, UPP tells Browne Administration

The United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling for a full accounting of
all the monies the Gaston Browne Administration has spent out of
funds received on behalf of Barbuda following the passage of
Hurricane Irma over six years ago.

The UPP wants Prime Minister Browne to submit all the financial
reports, since it believes that too many donations and government
expenditures are unaccounted for.

Referencing the recent revelations about the millions in relief funds
that were sent to the Government, with the expectation that the
money would be forwarded to Barbuda – but which the Barbuda
Council did not receive, the UPP says the people must demand
accountability.

According to the Party, it is awaiting the submission of all the
government agencies’ audited accounts and management letters,
which Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has requested be sent to
the Public Accounts Committee.

The UPP is adamant that all citizens and residents must know, and
will know, “how this wasteful Gaston-led Government has handled
donations, tax revenues and borrowings.”

Meanwhile, the UPP caretaker for St. John’s City West, Alister
Thomas, is calling for accountability and transparency on other
monies earmarked for Barbuda,  but which, also, might not have
been received.

Specifically, Thomas is inquiring about a cheque for US$1 million
that was handed over to PM Browne by His Excellency Jorge Arreaza
Montserrat, Venezuela’s Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda – on
September 16, 2017 – for Hurricane Irma disaster relief in Barbuda. 
However, more than six years later, Thomas notes, there have been
no audited accounts and no official authenticated report on the
donations and contributions received internationally, regionally, or
nationally.

And he wants to know what has happened to the money.
As other examples of the Browne Administration’s failure to
account, the UPP points to the over $500 million reportedly spent by
National Housing and the fiscal black hole that is known as the
National Asset Management Company (NAMCO).