U-turn from PM over gun factory in Antigua and Barbuda

The prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda has made a dramatic U-turn over plans to a allow a gun manufacturer to open a factory in the country.

Just hours after Gaston Browne defended the proposed gun assembly plant – sparking public criticism – he released a statement admitting his reservations.

He also stated that the decision was never ratified by his cabinet.

Browne’s remarkable change of heart has led the opposition United Progressive Party (UUP) to question the prime minister’s involvement in the deal.

For then against?

Reports about a possible facility being opened emerged on Saturday, when a letter was leaked to local radio station Observer Radio.

The letter is alleged to have been a possible investor to a minister, seeking assistance with legislation for the plant.

The prime minister then called the show, seeking to clarify the information.

He did not deny the plans, instead reassured listeners that the gun manufacturers would be operating within the ‘special economic zone’ and would therefore be prohibited from distributing or selling handguns on the domestic market.

“These guns will be strictly for exportation and will be governed by regulations which will be taken to parliament. So I just want to make that abundantly clear,” he said.

“There will be proper systems in place and it will be governed by legal regulations, and administrative practices [will be] put in place so they are not offered for sale in the domestic market.”

‘Dead issue’

Immediately after his radio appearance many callers rang the show to criticise Browne.

This prompted the PM to release a statement on what had so far been discussed with Italian handgun manufacturers – and maintained he had always been against the proposals.

“I was told at the time that the guns would have been manufactured based on international standards and for exportation only, and that they would have not been eligible for sale in the domestic market,” he said.

“At the time, I maintained for various reasons that we should not proceed with the proposed investment.

“I thought it was a dead issue until yesterday, when it was brought to my attention that a letter was sent to a minister to expedite the passage of the necessary laws and regulations to expedite the investment. This request was made despite the fact that the matter never came before the cabinet for ratification.

“Having heard the public sentiments, which were in keeping with my own concerns, I directed [the attorney general] to cease any further negotiations or discussions on this proposed investment.

“A firm policy decision will be taken at the next cbinet meeting and communicated to the public… ultimately, I am confident that the correct decision was taken.”

But UPP leader Harold Lovell believes that the letter leaked Observer Radio suggested that the plan was more advanced than Browne suggested.

“How is it you enter into these talks to the point where you are being asked to expedite and you’re being asked to move forward with the matter, and you’re quite happy to do so when there’s no leak on the radio waves so you have no concern, and then once the leak takes place you are prepared now to, I would say, breach the understanding that you would have had with the persons you had been speaking with?” Lovell asked