Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer

Antigua Prime Minister Winston Baldwin Spencer who is presently embroiled in a war-of-words with American investor Sir Allen Stanford is no stranger to fighting tough battles.

As a trade union leader, the 58-year-old Spencer fought many battles on behalf of workers in his native country, but his ongoing battle with Sir Allen is presently his biggest public fight since assuming office as Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda on March 24, 2004.

Prime Minister Spencer strongly criticised the "haughty, arrogant and obnoxious behaviour" of the billionaire Sir Allen, saying he was tired of the "threats, innuendos and now, downright political interference in our nation's affairs" coming from the Texan, who is also Antigua and Barbuda's single largest investor.

But Sir Allen shot back calling for a public apology from the Prime Minister for what he termed his "un-statesmanlike" comments.

"Prime Minister Spencer, you owe every Stanford employee in Antigua and Barbuda, whom you have offended in such an insulting and degrading manner, an apology. These are honest, hardworking individuals who do not deserve the disrespect that the leader of our nation has shown them,” he said.

However, Spencer retorted saying that he was standing by his words.

"I do not really want to continue the war of words with Mr Stanford or anyone else, but I want to make it abundantly clear as to who is in charge of the affairs of Antigua and Barbuda, so if it is that an individual is seeking to usurp or take over the role that the people of Antigua and Barbuda have given to the government of the day then clearly that is totally unacceptable.

"I do not subscribe to the view that any person who feels that because he has a deep pocket and is a major investor can seek to run roughshod over the leaders who have been elected by the people of Antigua and Barbuda," Spencer added.

Spencer said his government always demonstrated a willingness to work with Sir Allen in the interest of the development of the country and sought to develop a good working relationship with the Stanford Group of Companies, but it was clear that the investor was not comfortable with any vision other than the one he had for the country.