The West Indies Oil Company (WIOC) is facing legal fees of approximately US$200,000 following its involvement in a U.S. court matter linked to the controversial sale of the Alfa Nero superyacht.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne disclosed the figure during his weekly radio appearance on Pointe FM, criticising the Parliamentary Opposition for what he described as “irresponsible” conduct that has led to mounting legal costs. He said the case serves as a reminder of “how costly irresponsible opposition is to a country and its people.”

WIOC filed an unopposed request to intervene in the New York-based legal proceedings last month, after allegations involving the company surfaced in the matter. The claims relate to sanctioned Venezuelan oil, though no evidence has been presented to substantiate them.

The Antigua and Barbuda government has already paid around US$136,000 in related legal expenses, bringing the total legal costs in the case to over EC$900,000.

At the centre of the case is Russian national Yulia Guryeva Motlokhov, who asserts she held an ownership stake in the Alfa Nero, which was sold by the Antiguan government in July 2023 for US$40 million. She is seeking disclosure of confidential banking records linked to several Antiguan individuals and entities, including Prime Minister Browne.

Browne has accused the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) of collaborating with Guryeva Motlokhov, citing a declaration in the case that references discussions between UPP members and a private investigator known for making what the prime minister described as “a bevy of unsubstantiated allegations.”

U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman recently ruled that certain confidential financial documents may be disclosed on an “attorneys-eyes-only” basis as the case proceeds.