Prime Minister Gaston Browne has rejected a pledge by opposition leader Jamale Pringle and the United Progressive Party (UPP) to investigate the government's $100 million road programme, calling the proposal misguided and politically motivated.
According to Antigua News Room, Browne addressed the issue in a social media post on Monday, characterising the road bond as "undrawn" and questioning the logic of investigating funds he contends have not been fully utilised.
"UPP pledged to investigate corruption involving the undrawn $100M road bond," Browne wrote. He followed the statement with a pointed rebuke of the opposition leadership: "If idiocy was wealth creation; Pringle & the UPP hierarchy would be wealthier than Elon Musk."
The prime minister's remarks were made in direct response to Pringle's announcement at the UPP's campaign launch, where the opposition leader stated that a future UPP administration would conduct a "full, transparent review" of the road loan, including scrutiny of contracts and spending tied to the programme.
The exchange highlights a sharpening war of words between the two parties over infrastructure spending and public accountability, as campaigning ahead of the April 30 general election intensifies.
The $100 million road initiative has become a focal point of political debate. The opposition has framed its proposed review as a transparency measure, while the government has defended its handling of the financing arrangement and rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing.
Browne's comments signal the administration's intent to aggressively counter the opposition's narrative on corruption and public spending, setting the stage for further clashes over economic management and governance in the lead-up to polling day.
