Astaphan Backs Use of Public Funds for PM’s Legal Fees in Alfa Nero Case

Astaphan Backs Use of Public Funds for PM’s Legal Fees in Alfa Nero Case

Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan has defended the Antigua and Barbuda Cabinet’s decision to cover Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s legal fees in the Alfa Nero court battle, insisting the matter stems from official government business.

Astaphan argued that the Prime Minister was targeted specifically in his capacity as head of government, and therefore, public funds should be used to defend the state’s actions. “An attack on him is an attack on the country,” he said.

However, the move has sparked public concern over the mounting legal costs, with critics questioning whether taxpayers should shoulder the burden of a lawsuit involving powerful foreign interests. “How are we going to afford this problem brought by people who have more money than our national budget?” a caller asked on a local radio programme.

Astaphan maintains that the government has acted appropriately, stating, “Had he not been Prime Minister, this would never have happened.”

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