United Progressive Party caretaker for St. John’s Rural East, Ashworth Azille, says residents of his constituency are ready to launch a petition calling for an independent investigation into the alleged government vehicle scandal.
Speaking at the Vehicle Gate town hall meeting, Azille said public demand for accountability is growing and that citizens “will stop at nothing short of seeing the minister step aside” to allow a fair and transparent inquiry. He said the petition is meant to ensure independence, since public confidence in any investigation is undermined if the current minister remains in office.
“There are those who are saying to us, it is time to start the petition,” Azille said. “We are ready in Rural East to begin the petition to demand that there be an independent investigation into the action of the minister. We are not suggesting that she is guilty of something, but we cannot have any confidence in the independence of any inquiry if the person who is chiefly responsible for that ministry continues to sit at that desk with the powers to manipulate the facts surrounding this whole fiasco.”
Azille questioned what he described as “double standards” by Prime Minister Gaston Browne, recalling a past instance when a minister was required to step aside while under investigation by UK authorities. “It was not too long ago that we had another minister in Cabinet who was allegedly questioned by UK law authorities,” he said. “The Honourable Prime Minister demanded that that minister be removed from office… So what now? We have two different standards — one for our wife and another for those who may threaten our continued political survival.”
He argued that Antigua and Barbuda is a “country of laws” and said it is unacceptable for leaders to avoid accountability. “We must hold our leaders to a higher standard,” he said. “Public office and the people who hold those offices are required to act with integrity.”
Azille said Antigua and Barbuda’s laws governing public administration are strong but suffer from weak enforcement. He urged citizens to demand better from their leaders and reiterated that only a fully independent inquiry — free from political interference — will satisfy public expectations.
“If you are so confident that you have nothing to hide, then allow the investigation to happen,” Azille said. “Let the facts exonerate you. You cannot exonerate yourself. Nothing will settle this issue other than a full, independent public inquiry.”
