The Assassination of Nigel Christian: Where is Justice?

By Kwame Nkosi Romeo 

"We revolt simply because, for many reasons, we can no longer breathe."

—Franz Fanon

The kidnapping and murder of Antigua and Barbuda Customs Supervisor Nigel Christian on Friday, July 10, 2020, is yet to be solved. Christian investigated corruption-related tax evasion at the Deepwater Harbour Port in St. Johns, Antigua.

Christian's assignment as Customs Supervisor of the Risk Assessment Unit encompasses the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) of imports and exports of the ASYCUDA WORLD DOCUMENTATION and the Single Administrative Document (SAD). Christian's life was at risk because of the corruption discovered.

Perhaps this is another cold case, like countless unsolved murders in Antigua and Barbuda. Soon, evidence may be corrupted, the murder timeline blurred, suspects gone, the investigation lost to time, and the case closed.

Is the government seriously interested in the truth?

Probably not! Before the assassination of Christian, deadly force was used against customs officer Cornell Benjamin on Sunday, October 13, 2019, to stop the corruption probe. Benjamin was shot seven times, with five bullets severely wounding him, but survived the shoot-to-kill aggression. 

In those 313 days (up to August 20) following Benjamin's shooting, there is still no conclusion, only excuses and mounting public distrust after the slaughter of Christian!

Currently, the center of public discourse is about Antigua and Barbuda's government hindering skilled forensic investigators' services to unravel the shooting episodes. This practice of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) nonaction is in stark contrast to their swift activity during the so-called terrorism threat. 

Now, a substantial danger exists, and elected voices are hushed. Still, the version of events on Tuesday, August 13, 2019, by lawless Attorney General (AG) Steadroy "Hogzilla" Benjamin highlights the ALP's old-time mockery: "It would be foolhardy of me and the law-enforcement agencies to treat this matter lightly, given the shootings and killings by extremists that have taken place in several parts of the world" ("Public Safety Minister Says Recent Threats By Overseas Antiguan To Be Taken Seriously," Pointe Xpress, August 13, 2019).

Why is money-grabbing AG Benjamin dealing with the attempted murder of Cornel Benjamin and Nigel Christian's assassination with such callous disregard?

AG Benjamin was reckless with his statement on August 13, 2019, but today, those words apply to the ineffective law enforcement agencies and him.

This improper handling of the critical criminal incident, misleading statements, and AG Benjamin's claiming Scotland Yard's lack of interest in investigating the crime are due to the death penalty's existence.  

How can this be? 

The last person hanged for murder was Tyrone Nicholas on February 21, 1991. Scotland Yard has since investigated and assisted the government with forensic science in solving three high-profile murders between January 1993 and July 2008. The urgent resignation of AG Benjamin is inescapable (Capital Punishment in the British Commonwealth)!

Against this backdrop, significant versions and disclosures implicate people in the power structure configuration protecting others. Their robe of disservice is used as an influence to obstruct the investigation while covering up serious misconduct. 

Furthermore, AG Benjamin and Foreign Affairs Minister Paul Chet Greene's ambiguous language is a disinformation scheme. For example, Greene suggested letters were sent to two foreign agencies, the FBI and Scotland Yard, requesting assistance. 

These lies compelled ALP MP Asot Michael to call for the services of the FBI and Scotland Yard since he had no trust in the RPFAB: 

"I'm strongly urging both the Prime Minister and the Attorney General of the country to stop wasting any more time and immediately bring in Scotland Yard or The FBI to solve this crime," Michael said.

Additionally, conceding, Cabinet reported on Thursday that the FBI had offered assistance, but the government did not state definitively that it accepted. A request is also expected for Scotland Yard investigators to be on the ground in Antigua. (Asot Michael Says Bring in Scotland Yard or the FBI Now – July 17, 2020)

Among other things, the RPFAB Commissioner of Police, Atlee Rodney, made a disingenuous statement one day before the Concerned Citizens picket of RPFAB Headquarters at American Road:

"Significant progress has been made in the investigation" (Police confirm collab with FBI re Nigel Christian's murder investigation – Antigua Observer August 5, 2020).

Subsequently, RPFAB questioned a Person of Interest (POI) to boost the public spirit. What applies in this instance may be a smokescreen to calm public animosity. A performance straight out of the scene of the Naked City movie always concludes with the following observance: "There are eight million stories in the Naked City, and this has been one of them."

Could this person be a scapegoat to distract from the main suspect? 

Today, some revealing truth exposed magnificent sums of money disappearing from the public treasury and into the pockets of cronies. This open sore is the basis of ALPs' chronic economic corruption and wasteful leadership under PM Gaston Browne.

Browne disclosed that the Customs and Excise Division collected EC$371.1 million (m) in 2017 and $389 (m) in 2018 and predicted that in 2019, revenue could reach $400 (m). 

But these collections are unfavorable to imports from 2017, 2018, and 2019, which reached EC$1,433,257,200, $1,536,715,800, and $1,483,072,200 billion (b), respectively, totaling EC$4,453,045,200 (b). 

The collected import duties were EC$229,842,552 in 2017, $58,313,199 in 2018, and $261,910,285 (m) in 2019. Undoubtedly, the minor duty collected against imports was 3.79% in 2018, so the tax collection burden was on the consumer's back while political affiliates generated creative wealth. Altogether, duties collected represent 12.35% of imports, but expect the figure to be much lower next year, with Antigua Barbuda Recurrent and Development's account.

Antigua and Barbuda Recurrent and Development 2020 reported a loss of EC$141,257,448 (m) when compared to Browne's figures of EC$371.1 million (m) in 2017. This loss is in addition to a plunderous loss of $330,686,801(m) in 2018. $330,686,801 million benefited affluent businesses to the disadvantage of the lowest-income and low-income individuals who are mercilessly taxed. 

In addition to the overgenerous bailouts of comrades valuing multi-million dollars, Deluxe Cinema $8 million. Leewind Paints (1980) Ltd $3 million, Caribbean Union Bank (CUB) $30 million. (Antigua and Barbuda Budget, Thursday, January 17, 2019, "Building a More Resilient Economy").

Additionally, Browne's estimates of EC$400 (m) in 2019 fall short by about 34.5%, or $138,089,715 (m). Browne now accuses Corporate Antigua of theft, pointing out that his signature is part of the defrauding of millions: "We've seen forgeries in which they prepare warrants as duty-free warrants, forging signatures including my signature." 

As well as pointing out the verifiable evidence: 

"One particular broker is responsible for over $3 million in losses. That is what we have uncovered so far." (Corporate Antigua accused of defrauding Customs, Antigua Observer, October 15, 2019).

Imagine Raju Boddu qualified as a Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and could not tackle Prime Minister Gaston Browne's pressing problems substantiated by a falsified signature.

Why do the people of Antigua and Barbuda still employ Boddu and Browne? 

In contrast, the regime's abuse of power, unlawful discriminatory practices, and arbitrary arrest of United Progressive Party (UPP) Chairman D. Gisele Isaac and famous radio announcer Algernon 'Serpent' Watts were the genesis of trumped-up charges and ALP's vicious plan. 

ALP followed up with United Progressive Party (UPP) Senator Damani Tabor's arrest concerning remarks about $500,000 missing from the Citizen by Investment Unit (CIU). Tabor was bound on hands and feet with a heavy iron chain connected to an iron ball on this account. 

Soon after, this political intimidation began again with the refiling of spurious charges following the dismissal of the corresponding bus probe involving three ex-UPP MPs: Political Leader Harold Lovell, Dr. Jacqui Quinn, and Wilmoth Daniel. (Charges refiled against former MPs bus probe - Antigua Observer October 10, 2019)

Where is justice?

We celebrate Emancipation Day under an unjust political and economic system of Gaston Browne's so-called Corporate Governance. The Browne plan is transparent, empowers politicians profiteering, and disempowers people of land ownership. Likewise, the government is selling Antigua and Barbuda people into colonization, while quasi-government organizers of reparation pay no heed to the sell-out. In the same way, their silence exalts a new era of domination. 

Can people not wage war against ALP's unfair practices?

The absence of resistance gives rise to dictatorial rule on the populace; still, we remain silent and bear witness to the grabby-grab all of the betrayal controlling the outcome!

"The unpreparedness of the educated classes, the lack of practical links between them and the mass of the people, their laziness, and, let it be said, their cowardice at the decisive moment of the struggle will give rise to tragic mishaps."

― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth