Prime Minister Gaston Browne has issued a stern warning that law enforcement will be deployed to restore order if residents of Old Road continue disorderly conduct following the demolition of Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle’s tent at Morris Bay.
Speaking on his radio program, Browne directly blamed Pringle for a fire that destroyed thousands of dollars worth of APUA telecommunications equipment, suggesting the opposition leader either set the fire himself or incited others to do so.
The Prime Minister expressed surprise that Pringle has not been called in for questioning by police regarding the incident.
“Now, based on the threats that were made by Pringle, the fact that there was a fire subsequently, Pringle ought to take responsibility for that. If he did not burn those things himself or cause them to be burnt, he would have incited others to do so,” Browne stated.
He cautioned Old Road residents against following what he called “fools” seeking political relevance saying ” they’re not fighting any battle for anyone. They’re fighting for themselves. They’re looking for political relevance.”
He warned that if residents throw bottles and stones at law enforcement officers, police would have a responsibility to protect themselves. “And whoever gets hurt, it would have been as a result of their doing,” he added.
The Prime Minister made clear he would not hesitate to take strong action. “If there’s one man that will stand tall and to make the decision to maintain public order in this country is Gaston Browne,” he declared.
Earlier this week, the Development Control Authority (DCA) demolished Pringle’s US $65,000 tent structure at Morris Bay, which had been used by Old Road residents to raise funds for beach maintenance.
The demolition came after the DCA ordered Pringle to remove the structure, giving him notice to comply. However, Pringle maintains the authority had agreed to delay action pending consultations.
Browne defended the government’s actions, arguing that Pringle had cemented the tent poles into the ground, making it a permanent rather than temporary structure, and accused the MP of deliberately creating chaos by refusing to cooperate with authorities.
“Pringle is a lawmaker; you can’t be a lawmaker and a lawbreaker at the same time. And you have to understand, he is actually held to a higher level of probity than the average person,” Browne stated.
The Prime Minister said the dispute escalated when Pringle repeatedly challenged the DCA in Parliament to remove the tent.
According to Browne, DCA moved out all of Pringle’s furnishings and equipment, packing them aside neatly and giving him time to remove the tent voluntarily. When he refused and instead brought supporters who began cursing at officials, authorities moved quickly to remove the structure.
“If there’s any damage, is because of his own doing and his refusal to cooperate,” Browne said.
Following the tent’s removal, the Antigua Public Utilities Authority’s Telecoms Business Unit reported that work on a subsea cable landing at Morris Bay was halted after crews discovered conduits and other materials had been deliberately set on fire on December 12.
Preliminary assessments put the damage at several thousand dollars. APUA strongly condemned the destruction, stating it would not tolerate actions that endanger workers or damage national infrastructure.
Browne questioned what justice residents were seeking by supporting illegal occupation of Crown land, asking how a handful of people could monopolize a public beach and deprive other users of access.
“You’re telling me that a handful of people can just go and have a big spread on a public space and deprive other users of that space? And they can just go and just ghettorize our beaches as a country that we’re trying to beautify for the benefit of ourselves and the tourists who come here?” he asked.
The Prime Minister framed his stance as defending law and order rather than pursuing a personal vendetta, arguing that chaos and confusion undermine economic growth and development.
He called the burning of APUA materials “ignorance, dunceness, moronic behavior,” noting that residents had destroyed equipment meant to bring broadband services to their own community.
