US threatens to withhold military assistance to Antigua over unpaid debt
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June 05, 2020
Gaston Browne
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, says a high-ranking United States diplomat in the region has reportedly threatened to withhold assistance to the Antigua Barbuda Defence Force over an unpaid loan.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Browne recalled a telephone conversation he said he had with US Ambassador to Antigua Linda Taglialatela, in which she reportedly demanded EC$25 million owned for a port loan several years ago.
“Up to last week, I had a call from the US Ambassador telling me that we owe them for the port loan and they want their money.
“In fact, she reckons the arrears is about US$9 million-plus or 25 million…so I asked the distinguished ambassador how do you expect us to pay that 25 million dollar debt, in terms of the arrears, at a time when we cannot even pay salaries and wages…and I said it not because we just don’t want to pay but we don’t have the resources.
“In fact, what they have done, during this time of COVID, the ambassador said to me the US will withdraw all the military support they give to the Antigua Barbuda Defence Force,” Browne continued.