“Creative enrichment scheme” leveraging his father and stepmother, “lack of transparency” in buying from or leasing to the Antigua government, and more questions describe Gaston Browne III’s business operations with his politically powerful family.
We asked Grok, the AI feature of X, the same question we asked Perplexity.ai: “What kind of corrupt or questionable business activity, or potential conflicts of interests, has Gaston A. Browne, son of Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, been implicated with?”
Grok summarized, “Gaston A. Browne III appears to benefit financially from government-related dealings, leveraging his father’s position as Prime Minister. The lack of transparency in these transactions, combined with the family’s direct involvement in government business, has fueled allegations of corruption and nepotism, though no formal charges have been reported as of the available information.”
Grok’s entire reply, reproduced verbatim, follows, Try it yourself at https://x.com/i/grok.
Grok’s answer to the question
Gaston A. Browne, son of Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, has been implicated in several instances of questionable business activities and potential conflicts of interest, primarily related to his business dealings and the use of his family connections. Here are the key points:
- Property Leasing to Government Entities: Gaston A. Browne III, through his company Investment Facilitation Antigua Limited (IF Antigua Ltd.), owns a property on Friars Hill Road that houses government offices, including the Development Control Authority, the Ministry of Lands and Housing, and the Land Office. The Prime Minister initially claimed the property was owned by an investment group in which his son had “some interest” and provided rent-free services to the government. However, checks at the Office of Intellectual Property confirmed that Gaston A. Browne III is the sole owner and director of IF Antigua Inc., raising concerns about transparency and potential self-enrichment. Critics, including Hon. Richard Lewis, have demanded full disclosure of the lease agreement details, questioning whether this arrangement represents value for taxpayers and alleging it could be a “creative enrichment scheme” for the Browne family, especially amidst economic challenges for ordinary citizens.
- Leasing Additional Property to an Investor: Gaston A. Browne III has also been linked to leasing a second property in the Villa/Dredge Bay area to Victor Singh, an investor behind the Western Imperial Special Economic Zone (SEZ). This property, which includes at least two villas and a restaurant, was leased through Metropolitan University College of Medicine for two years. This deal has raised concerns because it coincides with Singh’s SEZ agreement with the government, led by Gaston Browne Sr. The opposition has accused the Prime Minister of benefiting from private deals with Singh, claiming the timeline of the lease preceded the SEZ agreement, suggesting a possible conflict of interest where family business dealings may intersect with government decisions.
- Allegations of Nepotism and “Wealth Dissimulation”: Public sentiment, as reflected in comments on news articles, has labeled these arrangements as nepotism and corruption. Critics argue that Gaston A. Browne III’s role in IF Antigua Inc., which facilitates investor introductions to the government, creates an appearance of impropriety. Questions have been raised about how Gaston A. Browne III acquired these properties, with some alleging that the sale of the Friars Hill Road property by West Indies Oil Company (WIOC) may not have been transparently communicated to the public, further fueling suspicions of favoritism and lack of accountability.
- Public and Political Criticism: The involvement of Gaston A. Browne III in these deals has drawn sharp criticism from political figures and citizens alike. Hon. Richard Lewis has called for greater transparency, while public comments have accused the Browne family of using their positions for self-enrichment, with some labeling the Prime Minister as the “Trump of the Caribbean” for his perceived lack of transparency. There are also broader concerns about the integrity of governance in Antigua and Barbuda, with accusations that the political system allows such conflicts of interest to persist without adequate scrutiny.
These activities highlight potential conflicts of interest, as Gaston A. Browne III appears to benefit financially from government-related dealings, leveraging his father’s position as Prime Minister. The lack of transparency in these transactions, combined with the family’s direct involvement in government business, has fueled allegations of corruption and nepotism, though no formal charges have been reported as of the available information.
