Hon. Asot A. Michael

PRESS STATEMENT

ABLP Chairman Lies to Cover Up
Gaston’s Threat of Criminal Assault

St John’s, December 31,2022- The Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), E.
Paul “Chet” Greene, has resorted a package of lies, deception and propaganda to defend the
indefensible conduct of ABLP leader Gaston Browne threatening criminal assault of 4 term
Member of Parliament Asot Michael.
Mr. Browne made the unprovoked threats at a voter’s residence in Pares Village Friday night.
Mr. Michaele arrived at the residence totally unaware that the ABLP leader was there and
seemingly engaged in a door mouth conversation. Mr. Michael never entered the house. He
remained on the verandah. He did not position next to anyone nor did he restrict the Prime
Minister or anyone else from speaking freely. He did not provoke anyone.
According to the resident, Mr. Michael only greeted her and said he did not know Mr. Browne
was visiting. At no point did Mr. Michael obstruct anyone or refuse to honor the request of
anyone that he/she should not be obstructed. Contrary to the calculated misrepresentation of
Mr. Green, there was no need for any caution from the police because Mr. Michael’s presence
caused absolutely no disruption of the peace nor did it compromise anyone’s freedom to
campaign.
To suggest that this is “completely contrary to the culture of political campaigning in Antigua
and Barbuda” is ludicrous in the extreme. Indeed, what is anathema to the culture of political
campaigning in this country is the vile, savage threat of violence from Mr. Browne to “tomp”
Mr. Michael in his face. Rather than manufacture excuses for it, the Chairman of the ABLP
should forcefully condemn without reservation this dangerous criminal conduct of an insecure,
unhinged politician.
Mr. Greene’s statement that ABLP campaign team was deliberately trailed by Mr. Michael for 2
hours on December 29 th , 2022, is a lie. That simply never happened. In fact, over the past week
it is the ABLP campaigners who have been following Mr. Michael’s campaign team throughout
the constituency.

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It is the gospel truth that masked police officers from the Special Security Unit (SSU) armed with
machine guns and travelling in two vehicles followed Mr. Michael and his team until the end of
their campaign activities on December 30 th , 2022. Quite obviously, the law enforcement officers
were deployed to stage show of force intended to intimidate Mr. Michael and his campaign
team.
Mr. Michael is running a campaign of love promoting peace and togetherness in the St Peter
community and the Antigua and Barbuda family.
In this regard, and especially for the attention of ABLP Chairman Greene and his team, the
picture (attached) of Mr. Michael with Angelique Roberts, the campaign manager of the ABLP
candidate Rawdon Turner, tells its thousand words of truth.

-ENDS-

Hon. Asot Michael with Raudon Turner’s campaign team