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UPP Bus Trio 'Not Guilty', But Are They Innocent?
Three former United Progressive Party (UPP) ministers who were accused of corruption and tried for conversion and embezzlement over the allegation that they appropriated government owned buses, have been declared not guilty by a judge who found the evidence in the case was too weak. In this episode, we ask: What lead to the ‘no case’ verdict? Was the investigation merely “a political witch hunt” as one of the acquitted, former Education minister Dr. Jacqui Quinn said? And were ethical wrongs committed, despite the not guilty verdict?
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
More about this episode:
The case was always controversial. It was a criminal action brought against former UPP officials after the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) won the government in 2014. So, it was billed as a witch hunt by the UPP. It was thrown out once, before trial, for lack of evidence. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed. It was reinstated, then sent to trial. Now, after the trial, it has been dismissed, again, for lack of evidence, again. But still, that doesn't tell a complete story. This trial has provided the most detailed look yet at what evidence there was against the trio of Quinn, Lovell and Daniel.
As a former prosecutor who joined this panel noted, it appears that the prosecution's case simply fell apart. Many things seemed to have gone wrong with this prosecution. A key witness who is now deceased was never interviewed. The DPP Anthony Armstrong recused himself at the last moment and handed the case over to the DPP from Montserrat to prosecute instead. The charges on the case were amended just before the trial. And a key prosecution witness pretty much exonerated the former ministers.
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on November 28th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.
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By The Big Issues Production TeamThree former United Progressive Party (UPP) ministers who were accused of corruption and tried for conversion and embezzlement over the allegation that they appropriated government owned buses, have been declared not guilty by a judge who found the evidence in the case was too weak. In this episode, we ask: What lead to the ‘no case’ verdict? Was the investigation merely “a political witch hunt” as one of the acquitted, former Education minister Dr. Jacqui Quinn said? And were ethical wrongs committed, despite the not guilty verdict?
The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:
More about this episode:
The case was always controversial. It was a criminal action brought against former UPP officials after the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) won the government in 2014. So, it was billed as a witch hunt by the UPP. It was thrown out once, before trial, for lack of evidence. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed. It was reinstated, then sent to trial. Now, after the trial, it has been dismissed, again, for lack of evidence, again. But still, that doesn't tell a complete story. This trial has provided the most detailed look yet at what evidence there was against the trio of Quinn, Lovell and Daniel.
As a former prosecutor who joined this panel noted, it appears that the prosecution's case simply fell apart. Many things seemed to have gone wrong with this prosecution. A key witness who is now deceased was never interviewed. The DPP Anthony Armstrong recused himself at the last moment and handed the case over to the DPP from Montserrat to prosecute instead. The charges on the case were amended just before the trial. And a key prosecution witness pretty much exonerated the former ministers.
This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on November 28th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.