Antigua PM Gaston Browne threatens $10M legal action over Alfa Nero allegations

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne has signaled his intention to pursue legal action following fresh allegations surrounding the sale of the luxury superyacht Alfa Nero, escalating the long-running controversy over the vessel.

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In a statement issued Tuesday night, Browne said his U.S. attorney plans to send a pre-action letter within 48 hours to American law firm Boies Schiller Flexner, led by attorney David Boies, seeking US$10 million in damages for alleged defamation. Browne also indicated that former political leader Harold Lovell could be the next target of legal proceedings.

The prime minister maintained that claims circulating internationally are false and vowed to defend his reputation against what he described as fabricated allegations. Further details on the specific legal filings are expected once the pre-action correspondence is formally issued.

The 267-foot superyacht Alfa Nero arrived in Falmouth Harbour in February 2022 and remained abandoned for over a year following international sanctions linked to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Antigua and Barbuda government later declared the vessel a hazard and moved to seize it under the Port Authority Act.

In March 2023, the government announced its intent to auction the yacht, citing escalating maintenance and security costs. After several delays and legal challenges over ownership, the vessel was sold at auction in June 2023 to U.S. billionaire Eric Schmidt for US $67.6 million.

The sale has since been mired in ongoing court disputes, with multiple parties — including the daughter of the yacht’s alleged owner — contesting the legality of the seizure and sale. Proceedings have unfolded in both U.S. and Antiguan courts, leaving the vessel in legal limbo.

Prime Minister Browne has consistently defended the government’s handling of the matter, asserting that Antigua and Barbuda acted within the law and in the public interest. He has also highlighted that ongoing legal delays have prevented the country from accessing proceeds from the sale.