Antiguan politician Asot Michael has allegedly been murdered. He was the Parliamentary Representative for St. Peter and law enforcement is treating his death as a homicide.
This morning, his housekeepers discovered him deceased in his residence, reportedly in a pool of blood, with indications suggesting he may have been stabbed.
Authorities remain present at the location. Michael, a figure often surrounded by controversy, previously held the significant role of Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment, and Energy under Prime Minister Gaston Browne. His political journey began with the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. Born on December 21, 1969, in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, Michael hails from a family deeply involved in business and politics.
His academic background includes attending St. Joseph’s Academy in Antigua, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Barry University, and earning an MBA from the University of Miami. Following his education, he returned to Antigua to assist in his family’s business ventures. Michael’s government career commenced in 1995 when he served as a Special Administrative Assistant to then-Prime Minister Lester Bird, eventually advancing to the position of Chief of Staff.
His political ascent continued as he became a Government Senator and later a full minister responsible for various essential portfolios. In 2004, he was first elected to the House of Representatives, successfully securing his position in subsequent elections. His contributions to tourism were acknowledged in 2016 when he received the Best Tourism Minister Award, from Caribbean Journal.
However, his career encountered difficulties in 2017 when he was detained at Heathrow Airport in connection with allegations involving a British investor. Despite his denial of any wrongdoing, he was temporarily suspended from his ministerial responsibilities.
A country gets the government it deserves. Just recently, despite the conspicuous evidence to the contrary, the Attorney General of Antigua and Barbuda, was crowing to the top of his lungs, thumping his chest, that his country was the safest place in the Caribbean. This was said inspire of the rising murder count, the unprecedented number of shootings, the break-ins, the high number of missing people, the physical assaults, the rapes, the steadily increasing number of juvenile pregnancies.
Unfortunately now, it has taken this high-profile suspected murder to bring the chicken home to roost.
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. To be forewarned is to be fore-armed.
Pump your brakes a bit.
I don’t not believe this is a random killing or some burglary gone bad.
I believe Asot knew the assailant.
It will all come out in the wash(investigation).
Most profound condolences to the family of the deceased on his unnatural, untimely and tragic death. May his many good and selfless deeds keep your spirits buoyant.
Crime is devastating this one time tranquil region. We are yet to witness a robust and comprehensive countermeasures to sharply abate this scourge. The governments only give lip-service about solutions to this most murderous problem when it is polo ally expedient to do so.
The heads of government and the national security chiefs and advisers should meet periodically to devise thorough and practical solutions to reduce this phenomenon to negligible levels.