ST JOHN, Antigua, Jun 23 2015 – In a move described as “political intimidation” Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP) D Gisele Isaac and popular radio host, Algernon ‘Serpent’ Watts, on Monday, had their homes searched by police and a number of items confiscated.
The duo were invited to police precincts for questioning in relation to a probe into the Board of Education (BOE) initiated by Education Minister Michael Browne, in August last year.
Several items, including laptops, cell phones and documents were taken from both homes, after the two reported to the police station as requested.
Isaac said she was contacted by the police last Wednesday and invited to be questioned on the probe. She agreed to come in on Monday with her lawyer.
“After waiting to be interviewed, they said that things had changed and instead they were going to come and search my home for documents and computers and computer software and telephones relating to fraud at the BoE,” Isaac said.
“I was brought to my house and they took away my laptop and that of my daughter’s and they took my cell phone. That is all that has happened, and I understand now I will have to go in another day for an interview,” she added.
Isaac said she was threatened with arrest if she did not accompany the officers to her house. Further, she said, she was asked to go to her house without her lawyer to which she agreed but added, “I was not held against my will.”
In a quick-fire response to the detention, Political Leader of the Opposition UPP, Harold Lovell decried the move as political victimisation.
“This is nothing but plain harassment. It is intimidation and it is intended to send a signal that people must be frightened of the Antigua Labour Party,” Lovell declared.
“I want to send a message to the ALP we are not afraid of Gaston Browne!” he added.
Isaac, who was appointed Speaker of the House under the UPP administration, is being investigated in relation to her former role as executive secretary of the BoE from 2001-2014, while Watts is involved through his short lived role as a debt collector. Browne has said a probe he initiated in August 2014 and carried out by McCaw Financial Consulting showed up several irregularities including that Isaac approved several salary increases for herself and presided over several missed cheques, while Watts was allegedly paid a higher than normal rate as debt collector or bailiff. Browne later said the DPP had reviewed the file and suggested there was just cause for a criminal probe.
