Browne Jokes Antiguans Should Call Him ‘Gassy Dread’ Instead of ‘The Right Honourable’
Prime Minister Gaston Browne responded with humour Saturday to his newly acquired title of “The Right Honourable,” telling Antiguans and Barbudans they could continue calling him “Gassy Dread” instead.
Browne made the remarks during his weekly Pointe FM programme after the hosts discussed a recent Vice-Regal Warrant establishing new rules governing the use of honorific titles in Antigua and Barbuda.
The hosts noted that under the new rules, prime ministers become eligible to use the title “The Right Honourable” upon assuming a fourth term in office, whether those terms are consecutive or non-consecutive. Browne, who is serving his fourth term as prime minister, now qualifies for the lifetime honorific.
After one of the presenters congratulated him on receiving the title, Browne brushed aside the formal designation.
“I say to the people of Antigua and Barbuda, when you all see me, call me Gassy Dread,” he said.
The remark prompted laughter in the studio, with one presenter responding, “The Right Honourable,” before another jokingly suggested, “The Right Honourable Gassy Dread.”
Browne replied, “Honourable Gassy Dread,” before the programme broke for commercials.
The “Gassy Dread” nickname has become closely associated with the prime minister in recent years. Browne has embraced the moniker publicly, previously joking that he intended to change his middle name from Alfonso to “Gassy Dread” and noting that diplomats and government officials abroad have also begun referring to him by the nickname.
The new rules on honorific titles were announced this week by the government after Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams, acting under constitutional authority, issued a Vice-Regal Warrant establishing a formal framework for the use of appellations and styles in Antigua and Barbuda.
Under the warrant, the title “The Right Honourable” is granted for life to governors-general, former governors-general, prime ministers upon the commencement of their fourth term in office, former prime ministers who served at least four terms, and members of His Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.
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