By Azara Lavia

As the nation grapples with the tragic and untimely death of former Member of Parliament for St Peter, Asot Michael, a wave of grief and sorrow has swept over the nation and beyond, extending even to those who knew him regionally and internationally.

To many people, Michael was more than a politician; he was a compassionate figure whose love for his community and country knew no bounds. His mantra, “Asot Cares” is testament to a man whose legacy was marked by generosity, selflessness, and a profound commitment to his constituents.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who is shaken by the news, issued a heartfelt statement, saying, “It is with deep shock and sadness that I learned earlier today of the untimely passing of Asot Michael, member of Parliament for St Peter. The death of Asot Michael is a profound loss to his family, friends, and constituents.”

 With sombre words, Browne extended his sympathies to Michael’s loved ones: his son, Nigel; his sisters, Teresa-Anne and Soraya; and his extended family, who now bear the weight of a grief shared by an entire nation.

He also assured the nation that the government would allocate the necessary resources to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda to pursue justice in what he described as a sorrowful chapter for Antigua and Barbuda.

Observer visited the mournful scene on Tuesday, where tearful onlookers gathered and expressed their shock and disbelief.

“Well, I didn’t know exactly what happened. When I got the news this morning from my sister, she said to me, Belinda, what happened to Mr Michael? I said to my sister, what? What happened to Mr Michael? She said to me, Mr Michael, passed. I said, passed? And I started to scream. I said, not my dad. and I tried to call Mr Michael on his phone and it just rang out, it went to the voicemail and that’s not the norm and I texted him and he did not reply. I started to scream and I said, I have to see if this is true and made my way here”.

Another person remarked: “The loss has left a profound impact on the people of Antigua and Barbuda, particularly those who were touched by Michael’s warmth, and generosity, Michael’s legacy is one of compassion and tireless public service, he has helped many across Antigua and Barbuda.”

A close friend of Michael said, “Well, I was at my desk at work when I got a call from my boss and she asked me if it’s true. So I said, what? Then she said, something happened to Mr Michael. I sort of said, no. Then I made a call to Guzu and Guzu said yes. I couldn’t eat anymore. He called me his sister. Mr. Michael, he has a good heart. Some people don’t understand him.

“Sometimes, he gets aggressive, but it doesn’t mean anything. I campaigned with him and I remember when I had an issue, when I was working somewhere else in a private sector, I got into an issue with a then minister and they didn’t renew my contract and when he went to cabinet, he was still in cabinet at the time and he said, I’m going to take her and he brought me to tourism with him. He said, I would never leave you out because you’re a soldier.”

A young man employed at the Ministry of tourism who had a professional relationship with Michael said: “Trust me, I thought it was a joke when we heard the news. Somebody came and told us that. Assot, passed. So when I heard it on the radio, it’s like a shock and everybody knows Asot is a lively person. At tourism, He’s the minister that get things done. I can tell you that. Assot, he’s going to be missed. And if this is a murder, it’s bad on Antigua’s behalf. Assot is a good man. He’s everybody person. You can go to Assot for anything and everything”.

Another shared, “He was known for reaching out to his constituents not only as their representative but also as a friend and a mentor. They recalled the countless times he went beyond the call of duty, showing kindness and empathy to those in need, regardless of the time or circumstance”.
As news of his passing spread, social media became a place of tribute, filled with messages honouring Michael’s life and work. Politicians, Friends and strangers alike shared stories of his kindness, and of moments when he stepped in with a helping hand.