Prime Minister Gaston Browne has drawn parallels between the United States government’s planned sale of the seized superyacht Amadea and Antigua and Barbuda’s controversial disposal of the Alfa Nero.
Browne, writing on social media, questioned whether the two situations were fundamentally different, suggesting that Antigua may have set an example. “Don’t underestimate the power of a Black man; those of you who continue to seek validation from the caucasians,” he added.
The 348-foot Amadea, complete with an infinity pool, helipad, cinema and marble-clad salon, was seized in Fiji in 2022 by the US Justice Department’s KleptoCapture task force. Authorities allege it belongs to Russian billionaire Suleiman Kerimov, who is under sanctions.
After a protracted legal battle, a New York judge awarded the yacht to the US government earlier this year, ruling that rival claimants were “straw owners”. It is now being auctioned by sealed bids, with a minimum deposit of $10 million.
The vessel was once valued at $350m but experts say ongoing litigation and market conditions mean it could fetch between $80m and $120m. The US Marshals Service has already spent $32m maintaining it since its seizure.
The dispute mirrors controversies surrounding Antigua’s handling of the Alfa Nero, another high-value yacht seized under complex ownership claims and sold by the government amid international scrutiny.
