Finance minister quotes lower figure for Barbuda hurricane relief, now saying that US$22 million was collected

The head of Government appears to have been caught in another
deception, this time about funds collected for the Barbuda
hurricane-relief effort.
 
Asked by Leader of the Opposition Jamale Pringle how much had
been collected in relief funds, Prime Minister Gaston Browne
categorically stated that some US$22 million had been collected, all
of which had been spent in assistance to the sister-island and
Barbudans.
 
He added that millions had also been spent by his administration in
counterpart funding of the relief effort.
 
In fact, the prime minister claims that the majority of the hurricane-
relief measures was covered by the State.

However, this declaration contradicts previous statements made by
PM Browne concerning funds collected for the Hurricane Irma-
stricken island.

In one account, he said that just about US$30 million had come in
for the post-hurricane recovery.
 
Meanwhile, PM Browne is denying that millions of dollars for
Barbuda relief are still “stuck” in the Global Bank of Commerce – in

addition to the US$1 million donated by the Steve Morgan
Foundation.
 
In addressing his question, Browne told Barbuda MP Trevor Walker
that if he wants to hold onto that lie and peddle it, he is free to do so.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne.