by Brian Major
Last updated: 5:40 PM ET, Thu November 2, 2017
Antigua & Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne named new cabinet members following his removal of Asot Michael as the dual-island nation's tourism minister. Michael was arrested in Gatwick Airport on October 23 by London Metropolitan Police.
Michael had been the country's minister for tourism, economic development, investment and energy before being removed by Browne, who opted to assign Michael's diverse duties to several ministers according to local press reports.
Under the realignment, Henry Charles Fernandez, formerly the minister of foreign affairs, international trade and immigration assumes the post of minister of tourism, foreign affairs and immigration. Browne named an additional three ministers to various posts. On Thursday, a former attorney general said Michael's case should be investigated by Antigua's Integrity Commission.
According to a statement from Britain's National Crime Agency published in local reports, Michael was arrested "for questioning in relation to an investigation into bribes paid by a UK national for business contracts in the Caribbean." Since the arrest, Michael has denied any wrongdoing in press statements.
Antigua recorded a healthy 5.9 percent year-over-year increase in overnight visitor arrivals during 2016 according to Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) data, although cruise ship arrivals declined 5.6 percent during the same period.
Following Michael's removal from office, some Antigua politicians complained that visitor arrivals are trending downward. The country has struggled this year with airline service issues including labor troubles that negatively impacted Antigua-based regional carrier LIAT, causing flight delays and cancellations.
Yet, Antigua is also welcoming new hospitality projects, including the $40 million, 70-room Coconut Beach Resort by Marriott, which broke ground in December, and a $250 million luxury resort developed by Academy Award-winning actor Robert DeNiro and Australian businessman James Packer on the grounds of Barbuda's defunct K-Club resort.
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