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Asot Michael

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The Honourable
Asot Michael
Minister of Tourism, Economic Development Investment and Energy
In office
12 June 2014 – 23 October 2017
Governor GeneralRodney Williams
Prime MinisterGaston Browne
ConstituencySaint Peter
Member of Parliament
In office
23 March 2004 – 4 November 2024
ConstituencySaint Peter
Minister of Investment and Trade
In office
2 March 2018 – May 2020
Governor GeneralRodney Williams
Prime MinisterGaston Browne
ConstituencySaint Peter
Personal details
Born(1969-12-21)21 December 1969
Guadeloupe, France
DiedNovember 2024(2024-11-00) (aged 54)
Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda
Political partyIndependent
Other political
affiliations		Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (expelled)

Asot Michael (21 December 1969 – November 2024) was an Antiguan politician who was a member of the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda, elected from Saint Peter Constituency. He was also the Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy[1] under Prime Minister Gaston Browne. He had previously been a member of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party.[2]

Early life and education

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Asot Michael was born in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, on 21 December 1969,[3] in an Antiguan family. His grandfather Asot A. Michael and his father Patrick Michael were business people supporting the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party. He attended St. Joseph's Academy in Antigua from 1982 to 1986 for his secondary education. Michael obtained a BS in business administration from Barry University (Miami Shores, Florida) in 1989, and an MBA from the University of Miami in 1991.[4]

After completing his studies, Michael returned to Antigua to work at Asot's Arcade, a family business named for his late grandfather.[5]

Political career

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In 1995, Michael began his first job in government as the Special Administrative Assistant to then-Prime Minister Lester Bird, and was eventually appointed Bird's Chief of Staff in 1997. After that, Michael was appointed a Government Senator in 1999 as well as Minister of State in the office of the Prime Minister, overseeing responsibilities for Public Works, Communications, Insurance, Energy and St. John's Development Corporation. He continued in the role until 2001, when he became a full minister responsible for these portfolios until 2003. He was also appointed Junior Minister of Finance in 2001, and served in the position until 2003. From 1999 to 2003, Michael served as Leader of Government Business in the Senate.[5]

Michael was first elected to the House of Representatives for the constituency of Saint Peter in 2004. He belonged to the Antigua Labour Party during his elections of 2004 and 2009, until the party transitioned to the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party when he was re-elected in 2014 and 2018.[5]

In 2016, the Caribbean Journal awarded Michael the Best Tourism Minister Award for the entire Caribbean.[6]

On 23 October 2017, he was detained at Heathrow Airport while in transit to a citizenship by investment conference in France, being accused of having requested bribes from a British investor in 2016.[7] While being interviewed by U.K. authorities, Prime Minister Gaston Browne removed him as Minister of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy despite Michael denying any wrongdoing.[8]

Michael was reelected in March 2018 garnering 78 percent of votes and assigned the portfolio of Investment and Trade by Prime Minister Gaston Browne.[9]

In 2018, Michael was accused by British investor Peter Virdee of involvement in a bribery scheme. Michael denied soliciting bribes, and stated the original detention was for the purpose of an interview with the police. Following the resignation, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said, "Unfortunately, [Michael] has a legal issue he has to dispense [with], and as soon as he is able to do so, we look forward to his return to the government to make his contribution." Michael resigned from his position on 15 May 2018.[7]

Michael returned as an MP in 2018,[7] and served in his role as Minister of Investment and Trade.[5] In 2019, Prime Minister Gaston Browne stated, "Michael was not only a great asset to the government and the Antigua Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP), but he also made tremendous contributions to Antigua and Barbuda."[7]

Death

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Michael was found dead at his home in Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda on 4 November 2024, aged 54. His death was treated as a possible homicide,[10][11] with injuries indicating that he had been stabbed. Authorities requested assistance from the United Kingdom in resolving the circumstances of his death and ordered a state funeral for him.[12] A 26-year-old man was charged with his murder on 9 November 2024.[13]

References

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  1. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda Name Asot Michael New Minister of Tourism | Travel Agent Central". www.travelagentcentral.com. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014.
  2. ^ Johnson, Martina (25 June 2011). "MP Asot Michael trashes Procurement Bill". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
  3. ^ "Asot A. Michael Manifesto" (PDF).
  4. ^ "Asot Michael's biography". Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d "Asot Michael Biography". caribbeanelections.com.
  6. ^ "ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA WIN MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS IN 2016 CARIBBEAN TRAVEL AWARDS". caricom.org.
  7. ^ a b c d "PM promises to reinstate Asot Michael". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
  8. ^ Loan, Joyce (24 October 2017). "Asot Michael speaks out after London arrest". WIC News. Retrieved 26 October 2017.
  9. ^ "Asot Anthony Michael Biography". caribbeanelections.com.
  10. ^ "Suspected homicide of politician shocks Antigua and Barbuda". The Guardian. 5 November 2025.
  11. ^ Henry, Robertson S. (6 November 2024). "Antigua lawmaker stabbed to death at home, police say". Reuters. Retrieved 6 November 2024.
  12. ^ Kentish, Anita (8 November 2024). "A tiny island in the Caribbean seeks help from London after a politician is slain". Associated Press. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  13. ^ Kentish, Anita (10 November 2024). "Police in Antigua charge a man with murder in the stabbing death of a politician". Associated Press. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
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