Antigua and Barbuda continues gain attention in both houses of the United States Congress as 10 US Representatives recently introduced a Congressional Resolution also calling for sanctions to be levied against the eastern Caribbean territory.
This December 23 resolution follows the one introduced December 8 in the Senate, which called for “provision of all further direct or indirect aid or assistance, including assistance derived from Federal funds, by the United States Government to the Government of Antigua & Barbuda should be suspended until the Government of Antigua & Barbuda provides complete redress of the issues…”
These issues relate to the Allen Stanford ponzi scheme that was based in Antigua, and Half Moon Bay land acquisition by the Antiguan government, both scandals which the US Congressmen piloting the two resolutions say disenfranchised US investors.
The House Resolution 507, led by Representative Mike Coffman of Colorado, states that the “Government of Antigua and Barbuda has committed numerous acts against the interests of United States citizens and operated the financial sector and judicial system of Antigua and Barbuda in a manner that is manifestly contrary to the public policy of the United States.”
The resolution is also backed by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, Representatives John Culberson and Pete Sessions, all of Texas; Representatives Jeff Boustany and Bill Cassidy, both of Louisiana; Representative Jo Bonner of Alabama; Representative John Duncan of Tennessee; Representative Greg Harper of Mississippi; and Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer of Missouri.
Similarly to the previous Senate Resolution, it calls for “provision of all further direct or indirect aid or assistance, including assistance derived from Federal funds, by the United States Government to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda should be suspended until the Government of Antigua and Barbuda provides complete redress of the issues described”, including the return of all expropriated lands, full co-operation with all investigations and court matters related to the Stanford fraud, and a sizeable donation of funds to the receivership to benefit victims of the fraud.
In addition, the resolution echoes the Senate request that, “the Secretary of the Treasury should direct the United States Executive Directors of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Development Association (commonly known as the ‘‘World Bank’’) and the International Monetary Fund to use the voice and vote of the United States to ensure that any future loan made by the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund to the Government of Antigua and Barbuda is conditioned on providing complete redress of the matters, and satisfaction of the requirements.”
This move in both seats of Congress is receiving strong backing from the Stanford Victims Coalition.
Director and Founder Angela Shaw, in commenting on the Congressional resolutions, suggested that these actions would force the hand of the Antigua and Barbuda government, which she alleged had not been acting in the interest of Stanford’s victims from more than 65 countries in the almost three years since the scandal broke.
The resolution has been referred to the US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs for a formal vote. The earlier Senate Resolution is now pending a vote by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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