The first of four days of protests will be staged outside the Governor General’s office by the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) today.
The UPP is renewing calls for Sir Rodney Williams to commission an inquiry into Antigua Airways and other flights from West Africa late last year, which resulted in hundreds of Cameroonian refugees becoming stranded in Antigua.
The government has maintained its stance that the Governor General cannot call an inquiry without the advice of Cabinet, and has cited three legal opinions apparently received from King’s Counsels in support of its position.
The protests will run from Tuesday to Friday, from 8am-10.30am each day, with members of the general public invited to join.
“The United Progressive Party has decided that we must bring attention to and put public pressure on the Governor General to reconsider,” the UPP’s Franz DeFreitas said.
Following initial calls by the opposition for more information on Antigua Airways, which was hailed last year as providing a pioneering direct link between West Africa and the Caribbean, the government responded by saying that there is nothing else to know.
DeFreitas, however, is of the view that a probe into the airline and the Nigerian investors behind it is necessary to answer key questions.
“It is critical that the people of Antigua and Barbuda ask for an inquiry for the purpose of getting information,” he stated.
DeFreitas added that the international community is paying close attention to what Antigua and Barbuda will do next.
Former Attorney General Justin Simon KC and current Attorney General Steadroy Benjamin have differing views on whether or not the Governor General has the authority to call an inquiry on his own accord.
In a letter to Observer, Simon maintained that, by law, Sir Rodney does indeed have the power under the Commissions of Inquiry Act 1880 which states that it is lawful for the Governor General “whenever he shall deem it advisable” to issue a commission.
Benjamin and the government, however, claim the authority was shifted from the Governor General to the Cabinet in the 1990s.
Sir Rodney Williams himself has not commented publicly.
