Prime Minister Gaston Browne has strongly rejected opposition calls for a commission of inquiry into the Vehicle Gate scandal, arguing that such a move would carry no legal authority and serve only to “name and shame” individuals, many of whom may have been unknowingly involved.

Speaking extensively on his _Browne and Browne_ radio programme, Browne said a commission “cannot be used in a court of law” and would do nothing to recover the public funds lost through the improper granting of duty waivers. “It would simply be a name and shame exercise,” he said, emphasizing that his administration’s goal is restitution and reform, not political theatre.

Browne explained that the issue stemmed from dealers who, over the past two years, bypassed established procedures by obtaining approvals from an unauthorized official, identified as BADU, to grant illegal duty-free concessions. He noted that some beneficiaries—ranging from lawyers and doctors to ordinary citizens—were unaware that their exemptions were illegitimate.

“Some innocent people went to these dealers and were told they had an arrangement with the government,” Browne said. “They believed it to be true. Others paid $5,000 or $10,000 to get everything off. That is why restitution is the appropriate route—it targets those who profited unfairly, not those misled by others.”

The Prime Minister said the government had already intervened after the Customs Department discovered the irregularities and had ordered the return of excess vehicles, as well as the recovery of unpaid duties from the dealers. “Those who benefited will be required to make restitution. That’s the lawful and responsible approach,” Browne stated.

He dismissed the opposition’s push for an inquiry as “cheap politics” designed to mislead the public and smear senior government officials. “You go to a commission of inquiry, and you get back none,” he said. “All it would do is embarrass people, including those who are innocent. Restitution ensures accountability and protects the integrity of the process.”

Browne also defended himself and Minister Maria Browne against allegations of involvement, saying neither had any role in the duty waiver approvals. He reiterated that the vehicle procurement policy had been tightened under his administration, requiring Cabinet authorization for all government purchases.

“This administration stands on good governance,” Browne said. “We are acting within the law to recover what is owed to the state, not to grandstand or sensationalize. The commission they are calling for would be legally toothless and achieve nothing.”