Latinnews Archive
Caribbean & Central America - 23 August 1985
POLITICS: Government wins corruption case;HECTOR PUT AWAY FOR SIX MONTHS
The difficulties faced by far-left political groups in the Eastern Caribbean in the period since the invasion of Grenada continue to multiply. The latest setback has come in Antigua with the jailing of Tim Hector, leader of the small, militantly left-wing Antigua-Caribbean Liberation Movement (ACLM).
A good deal of distortion has surrounded the case, which arose out of an article published by Hector in the weekly Outlet, the organ and political mouthpiece of the ACLM, back in August 1984. Hector alleged that a member of the Antiguan cabinet had been arrested in Miami with a suitcase filled with US$2m in cash.
Outlet has long been a fierce critic of the Antiguan government and often leads with allegations of corruption and wrongdoing by officials and ministers. This particluar charge seemed, however, to strike a chord. Hector was charged with libel and the entire 15-man Antiguan cabinet appeared in court to disclaim involvement in the incident. The US government also denied the story.
The case was heard from February to June this year by senior Barbadian-born magistrate Colvin Sobers, who promised a ruling in early July. But the day the ruling was due to be announced Hector left the country. He was convicted in absentia and a warrant was issued for his arrest,
When Hector returned three days later -- and was promptly arrested -- the ACLM distributed T-shirts in the capital, St Johns, bearing the slogan, 'Free Tim Hector'. The Antiguan government says Hector's departure and the use of the T-shirts were a conceded attempt to create a political incident to mobilise anti-government opinion.
For the moment, the ACLM has been out-manoeuvered. On passing sentence Sobers said the article in question was deliberate libel and merited a punishment more severe than just a fine. He sentenced Hector to six months imprisonment with hard labour.
An observer of Caribbean affairs says, 'Tim will be back, more determined than ever both to expose and prove corruption in the Antiguan administration.' Once freed, an embittered Hector may well unleash a fresh scandal which could trigger a major political crisis.
With the only other real opposition force in the island, the recently-formed business-led National Democratic Party (NDP), yet to make an impact, Vere Bird's labour government dominates the Antiguan political scene. Its main handicap is the prime minister's age. His eldest son and present deputy prime minister, Lester Bird, is a likely successor.
His accession to the leadership could lead to greater internal conflicts in the government, provoked by Bird's other son, Vere junior, the current aviation minister.
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