The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda has moved to address allegations circulating publicly that the country’s Ambassador to the African Union, Johann Hesse, received a US$450,000 introductory fee in connection with the sale of the Alfa Nero yacht.
Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister, Maurice Merchant, confirmed that Cabinet summoned Ambassador Hesse to clarify the matter amid growing public scrutiny.
According to Merchant, Hesse informed Cabinet that the fee in question was paid to a United Kingdom–registered company owned by his business partner. He stated that the taxes associated with the payment were declared in the United Kingdom.
Hesse further advised Cabinet that no Cabinet Member, Government official, or Prime Minister Gaston Browne benefited from the fee.
He indicated that affidavits have been provided to support those claims.
Cabinet, in its statement, reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, noting that it acted promptly to seek clarification on the allegations.
