ST. JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC:
WITH PRESSURE mounting on the Lester Bird administration, Junior Minister of Finance and Public Works, Minister Asot Michael yesterday resigned his ministerial portfolio with immediate effect.
In making the announcement, Prime Minister Bird said "Senator Michael reached his decision after mature contemplation" and in the interest of the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party and the government "to which he remains committed".
Prime Minister Bird on Wednesday said he would dissolve Parliament "within the coming weeks" as his minority Government faced continued calls for fresh general elections under a new voters' list.
Bird's ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (A&BLP) administration was rocked on Tuesday night with the resignation of four members, including the disgruntled deputy Speaker Sherfield Bowen, who has filed a motion of no confidence against the government.
MANDATE
As a result of the resignation, Bird's A&BLP now commands eight of the 17 seats in the Parliament. Bird said it was his intention "to seek a mandate from the people at the earliest opportunity within the bounds of the constitution and laws of Antigua and Barbuda".
In a statement released by his office yesterday, the Prime Minister added he was grateful to Senator Michael for his "hard work and diligence on behalf of the government over the last few years", noting that the Senator "has worked particularly hard in the Ministry of Finance in very trying circumstances".
Bird said he expects to receive Senator Michael's formal letter of resignation later Thursday and he will make it public on Friday together with his own response.
Sources say Senator Michael's resignation followed threats made by Planning Minister Gaston Browne and Tourism Minister Molwyn Joseph to step down from the government unless Michael tendered his resignation by 7:00 p.m. Thursday.
The sources say the government MPs have been concerned that Bird has vested too much power in Michael, who is not an elected Member of Parliament.
However, the two could not be reached for comment on the matter, although their resignations could lead to the collapse of Bird's minority government, which earlier this week suffered the loss of four government MPs.
With the resignation of the four from the government, Bird's Labour Party has been left holding a slender majority in the House.
Meantime, former Cabinet minister Hilroy Humphreys, one of the four disgruntled MPs who have opted to sit as independents in the Parliament, was reportedly taken into lawful custody on Thursday in connection with allegations of wrongdoing arising out of a recent Medical Benefits Scheme inquiry in Antigua.
