Antigua St John's - The revenue being obtained from operating The Sticky Wicket, Antigua Athletic Club, and other R Allen Stanford affiliated businesses is a moral issue as much as a legal one, according to Attorney General Justin Simon.
Caribarena.com contacted the AG on Tuesday to check into concerns about whether such proceeds should be going to the investors who are seeking to recoup their losses.
The AG declined to comment on the subject directly, except to note, “To me, it’s a moral issue. Despite the matter of it being a legal issue, it is also a moral one.”
On the other hand, Finance Minister Harold Lovell said there is nothing the government can do, as Stanford’s assets are either in the hands of Stanford himself, or the receivers.
“The government has no control over anything to do with Stanford except to do with the Bank of Antigua,” the minister said, referencing the bank's transformation into the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB).
Meanwhile, Hugh Marshall, attorney representing the Stanford assets, questioned the AG suggestion of a moral dilemma.
"None of Stanford's other assets (outside of what was publicly announced from the onset) are in any way on the receivership for liquidation," he said. "So I don't understand what is the issue."
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52 Comments In This Article
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
Hank Reardon
@smart one
I say take the money, there's no more negotiation or appeal available.
pellucid
Judging by the US or Antiguan standard
Exactly. Judged by the standard "Each embezzlin', All a teevin'", Sir Alan is an Antiguan National Hero!
good job bob
IMO2
wadadlichild
Judging by the US or Antiguan standard part 4
Smart One
Judging by the US or Antiguan standard part 3
Smart One
Judging by the US or Antiguan standard part 2
Smart One
Judging by the US or Antiguan standard part 1
Smart One
IMO
@pete I’m with ya. Sounds like you saw the ESPN documentary the two Escobars. Antiguans need to read more and gossip less..
wadadlichild
@businessman
business
Double Standards
businessman
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
It's clear that the South and Central American investors' belief is the information he holds is probably more valuable than the visceral satisfaction of taking him out. It will be interesting to see what King says once in US custody.
pellucid
@Reality
If the suits filed in the US don't succeed in getting their investment out of Antigua, they may (to quote the Bird people's view regarding the Vesco affair back in the '80's) "get the smart boys in, take a knife and open up and put the liver on the plate." (Coram: Caribbean Time Bomb p.189)
good job bob
@professor
You seem to be one of the first Antiguans to understand the gravity of the situation. US citizens lost a little money, and their litigious nature has sent them running to the courts. (US) Americans are too used to others fighting their battles for them.
South Americans lost MUCH MORE, and their nature is not litigious. Antiguans seem to have interpreted the silence from the south as apathy. What I'm picking up from the Spanish language press is rapidly dwindling patience.
Reality
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
The US government now stands accused of ignoring a ponzi scheme created by an Antiguan Bank, owned by an Antiguan Knight, Audited by Charlesworth Hewlett (RIP) regulated by Antigua's FSRC because they actually investigated and reported every little omission and misjudgement.
What of Antigua?
good job bob
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
There is an old expression about "the tail wagging the dog", but those who maintain that King acted alone seem to believe in a flea, wagging the tail, wagging the dog! Me, I don't believe it for a second.
good job bob
Cool Ruler
..
tenman
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
Cool Ruler
@ TenMan
According to her colleagues at the bank where she worked, the girl was struggling to keep up with her entry level position. It was inconceivable to them that she could manage a management level position at a specialized entity like the FSRC.
It is alleged that workers at the FSRC who were more qualified for the position were forced to spoonfeed her, and up to this day they are still doing her work.
Professor
@professor
..
tenman
LEROY what you gonna do when big poppa come for you
I interpreted that to mean that we may see some south american style justice in Antigua if these south american millionaires are not satisfied with the justice dispensed from the US court.
Professor
@Cool Ruler
Dig It
@good job bob
Dig It
in agreement
pete
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
Cool Ruler
@dig it
good job bob
@dig it
good job bob
@good job bob
Dig It
@dig it
As far as "immunity", if you're speaking of official, acknowledged immunity, you're right. But you yourself just stated that the process will take an ADDITIONAL 3-5 years (on top of the already elapsed 2 years), so this is clearly a case where "justice delayed is justice denied". Mr. King will be partying it up with Charlesworth Hewlett before he gets to "sing" for the international community.
good job bob
What will she wear
JP Farnsworth
@ Cool Ruler
..
tenman
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
? So the AG said its a legal and moral issue, is he wrong for saying so? The question to be ask is this, if Standards operations should be in liquidation how is it that snippets, of his operations allowed to operate? And on woes orders.
Cool Ruler
@professor
..
tenman
@good job bob
Leroy King is duel-citizen of Antigua and the U.S., so I believe you meant extradition and not deportation. And the issue of King extradition in the High Court, and could take three to five years (depends if he appeals) before the U.S. could get him! According to lawyer, there is "No truth to King immunity!" Let me advise you, do not even mention immunity for your sake because you could not hear the last of it from my fellow bloggers! Before I get myself in any trouble with them, I am out of here!
Dig It
Info
Antiguan Observer
Strategic Intelligence
Facts are forever and available. Analysis and processing require good cognitive skills. Caribbean Education is deficient in this. It is too entrenched in "Rote Learning". Skyewill, The horse has already bolted. Revisit the Good Doctor of Education's response to the failure rate. These issues are before the courts in the appropriate jurisdictions and no amount of irrationality will aid or change the logical outcomes. All should learn from Ms. Streete. Even the good teacher and healer advised "Don't cast Pearls before Swine". Where Ignorance is Bliss it is Folly to be Wise.
John French Jnr.
@Morris
"All is well!". My uncle always say "If two or more people coming after you, take out the weakest ones first then work your way up!" Clearly, our repution has been smeared in the eyeys of the international community with this Standford debacle, and our Chief Servant sits and idle on the matter, allowing his lieutenants to do more damage than good!
Dig It
WHO AUTHORIZED THE OPERATION OF THE ASSETS
The assets in question are neither in Stanford's hands nor in the hands of the lawful receivers, they are represented by an Antiguan lawyer (Marshall), that makes Lovell incorrect on that point. Lovell's statement that the government has no control over anything to do with Stanford except to do with the Bank of Antigua is also incorrect in the context of the totality of the circumstances.
TenMan, you tell me then, if the lawyer (Marshall) really is in charge and calling the shots, why is he calling on the government and the Attorney General for help? The government is knee-deep in this unlawful conversion and misappropriatio n of Stanford's assets, regardless of all the manouvres they did to try and cover their hides.
Professor
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
I think that's just great. I'm going to stake out a nice lot on Guiana Island and start building my new house this afternoon!
Reality
WADADLICHILD MORALS?
I am of the view that, was he able to do his investments and not given the red light, green light from the UPP Government, he would have had something tangible, to show his investors. Can you tell me, is Antigua better off now that Stanford is gone? And if you notice we have now replaced him with the IMF, how do you feel about this?
1 ken
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
Where is the morality in suppressing the FSRC report, or delaying (going on TWO YEARS) the deportation of Leroy King?? The US has already had a written report AND televised hearings, and their SEC was only responsible for the brokers that sold the phony CDs. They were manufactured in an Antiguan chartered and regulated bank by an Antiguan Knight who was "blood brothers" with the Antiguan "regulator", yet this "moral issue" is not deserving of any open inquiry?
The only "moral" principle applied here is: Each Embezzlin', all 'a Thevin'
good job bob
@ Professor
“The government has no control over anything to do with Stanford except to do with the Bank of Antigua,” the minister said, referencing the bank's transformation into the Eastern Caribbean Amalgamated Bank (ECAB).
Meanwhile, Hugh Marshall, attorney representing the Stanford assets, questioned the AG suggestion of a moral dilemma.
"None of Stanford's other assets (outside of what was publicly announced from the onset) are in any way on the receivership for liquidation," he said. "So I don't understand what is the issue."
..
tenman
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
business
IT IS INDEED A MORAL ISSUE ... the lack of MORALS is the issue
(1) The government is making money from the operation of the seized assets of R A Stanford. Is this lawful? Where does the money go?
(2) The AG, who is the cheif legal advisor to the government will not comment on whether the revenues from Stanford's assets should go to the people that Stanford defrauded to build them, except to say it is also a moral issue. Even if the AG is unqualified to deal with the moral issue, he should be able to address the legal question that was posed. Why are these assets not in receivership?
(3) Hugh Marshall & Co. has been making a small fortune in these unfortunate circumstances, so naturally, Hugh's good morals does not permit him to understand why he cannot continue to feed at the expense of the defrauded clients.
Professor
Hog Wash
Close BA and lock THEM UP, ALL of THEM, EVERY LAST THIEVING ONE. now theirs a moral issue.
Really
@ Dr. Winston Watson PT2
SKYEWILL
@ Dr. Winston Watson
SKYEWILL
What is the solution Mr AG?
AG needs strategic intelligence to guide him and more practical statements to bolster his legacy of being an out-dated professional.
Dr. Winston Watson
The Aphrodisiac of Power - For Whom The Bell Tolls
John French Jnr.
RE: Revenue from Stanford Businesses A Moral Issue - AG
FYI Mr. Lovell, there is much that the government could have and should have done. First of all, they should have sought the legal advice of the AG to ensure that they are doing things legally and morally. Again here we are receiving some cock-a-mame story from our leaders. So whose hands were/are the other assets (Sticky Wickets, Antigua Athletics Club, etc) in, and who authorized their lease and operations? Whose hands are the revenues from these establishments going into? Also, if the AG thought/thinks that the issue has both moral and legal implications, what has he done or plans to do about it? What type of advice, if any, did he give to the leadership to prevent them from venturing too far into dangerous territory? It seems that our leaders delight in addressing issues after the damage is done. The sad thing is that their inaction only cause the citizens and the nations' reputation to suffer.
Morris
morals?
wadadlichild
xoxoxoxo
Anthony Simon
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