He's no longer Sir Allen

ST JOHN'S - It's no longer "Sir" Allen Stanford.

The panel awards that approves candidates for knighthood in Antigua and Barbuda has voted to rescind the honour granted to Texas financier R. Allen Stanford in 2006.

The chairwoman of the National Honours Committee says the panel voted unanimously to revoke Stanford's title.

Jacqui Quinn-Leandro said yesterday the panel took the action because of the embarrassment Stanford caused the country with the alleged Ponzi scheme he ran from his Antigua-based offshore bank.

The vote needs the signature of the governor general but that is considered a formality.

The country has never before revoked such an award. (AP)