Dr Jacqui Quinn
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has responded robustly to recent remarks made by Dr. Jacqui Quinn, a talk show host, regarding the presence of political posters along the route to the United Nations Small Island Developing States (SIDS) conference at the American University of Antigua (AUA).
Dr. Quinn had expressed her dismay and anger over the sight of Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Next Level posters on the light poles, calling it inappropriate for an apolitical international event.
This is how the prime minister responded: (Video of Dr Quinn’s Comments Also Included).
Here are the remarks by Dr. Jacqui Quinn:
Prime Minister Browne refuted Dr. Quinn’s claims, asserting that neither he nor the cabinet had issued any directives to put up these posters.
He expressed disbelief at the allegations, noting that he had not seen any such posters during his attendance at the event.
“This just came to my knowledge this afternoon,” PM Browne began. “I was there yesterday; I didn’t see any such posters. She says she’s furious. All I’ll say to Jackie is that she has become furiously ugly, internally and externally.”
Prime Minister Browne continued by drawing a comparison to a recent ALBA conference he attended in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, where promotional posters were used to celebrate the significance of the event.
He emphasized that for the SIDS conference, which is possibly the largest conference ever hosted in the Caribbean, there were no posters of himself welcoming attendees, underscoring the non-political nature of the event.
“There’s no decision of me personally or of the cabinet to do any form of personal or political promotion,” Browne stated.
“What’s notable is that she sees the poster but doesn’t see the SIDS conference. You don’t hear them congratulating or using it as a springboard to other benefits.”
Dr. Quinn, in her comments, had urged the Prime Minister to ensure the removal of these posters before the conference began, labeling the situation as “totally inappropriate” and “reprehensible.”
She called on conscientious citizens and relevant authorities to take action if the Prime Minister did not.
PM Browne questioned the motive behind Dr. Quinn’s statements, suggesting that she was nitpicking and failing to recognize the significance of the SIDS conference.
He indicated that if there were any political posters, they were likely put up long before the conference and not as a deliberate act tied to the event.
“Our community is very liberal, and people like Jackie should be ashamed of their baseless accusations,” Browne concluded.
“Years ago, based on the moral integrity of this nation, people like her wouldn’t even be able to speak out in this way.”
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