Lake Faces Further Scandal

ALP candidate for St John’s Rural South Eustace Lake has once again come under scrutiny in regard to financial debt while he lived in the US.

The Concerned Citizens of Antigua and Barbuda grouping has been circulating certified copies of a document from the Rochester City Court, which indicates that Lake has an outstanding judgment from his alma mater, St John Fisher University, in Rochester NY, in the amount of $9058.55.

The judgment dates back to 1991, when Lake failed to pay his tuition of $6422.12.

This new information followed earlier accusations about Lake’s financial history while living in the United States for over 20 years.

Lake left Antigua in 1988 to pursue studies in Economics at St John Fisher University, and says he graduated from the institution in 1992.

The Concerned Citizens, however, claim that substantial evidence provided by a university official indicate it is highly unlikely Lake could have graduated that year, given the outstanding bills and the rigorous legal action pursued to settle his account for unpaid tuition in 1991.

The candidate was already responding to allegations about outstanding warrants associated with child support payments, and IRS tax evasion.

However, a response sent out via email claims these latest allegations are pure nonsense.

The reply says Lake faced up to his responsibility, and has been paying off the loan. The balance is reported to be US$600 owed, it was said, and Lake has contested the IRS issue as is his right as an aggrieved person.

There are clauses in both the Antigua Labour Party and the United Progressive Party's codes of conduct that state that the men and women of the party would not commit or encourage any character assignation or mudslinging in the 2009 campaign.