ISSUE NO.43 JULY 2000
High Commissioner Sanders defends Antigua's Laws
and Practices
Antigua and Barbuda's High Commissioner in London, Sir Ronald
Sanders KCN, CMG, has written to one of the largest weekend newspapers
in the United Kingdom defending Antigua and Barbuda's laws and
practices on money laundering and tax evasion.
 The
High Commissioner wrote to the Sunday Observer on 26th July after
the newspaper carried an article on 23rd July in which the owners
and operators of an Internet website provided false information
about Antigua and Barbuda's laws on offshore corporations. They
claimed it was easy to hold secret numbered bank accounts and to
transfer assets to hide the connection between a corporation and
its owners.
Caption: High Commissioner Sir Ronald Sanders KCN, CMG, Antigua
and Barbuda High Commission London
The owners and operators of Rhino Corporation also claimed that
Antigua and Barbuda would not assist other countries in the prosecution
of tax evasion cases.
The website was also linked to a number of pornographic websites
accessible world wide.
In his letter to the Sunday Observer, High Commissioner Sanders
pointed out that the owners and operators of Rhino Corporation "are
now painfully aware of the inaccuracy of their information. The
studio of the company was raided and all the computers seized under
our publication of obscenity laws."
Mr Sanders said, "the owners and operators of Rhino Corporation
had been under surveillance over the last two months by our Financial
Intelligence Unit, and the Sunday Observer article precipitated
earlier action against them than our officers would have preferred." He
revealed that the "operators of the website were detained on Tuesday
25th July and are now helping our police with their enquiries."
High Commissioner Sanders also pointed out that "contrary to the
claim in the article, Antigua and Barbuda has not been "an offshore
tax haven since 1992. The country established a financial services
and international business sector in 1982, long before money laundering
and the internet were heard of. With the advent of these two phenomena,
we overhauled our laws and regulation and enforcement machinery.
Indeed, we have made it law that shareholders, directors and officers
of financial institutions must provide information on bank accounts
in the event of charges of money laundering or other financial
crime."
The Antigua and Barbuda diplomat went on to stress that "it is
not possible to hold a "secret numbered bank account" in Antigua
and Barbuda. Under our strict prevention of money laundering laws,
every bank is required by law to verify the beneficial owners of
bank accounts and that information is readily available to our
regulators for prosecution in the event of a criminal offence perpetrated
anywhere in the world."
Mr Sanders also emphasized that "owners of offshore corporations
cannot "mask their identities" and are not "immune from prosecution." Both
our International Business Corporation Act and our Money laundering
(prevention) Act require the beneficial owners of corporations
to be verified and records of their identity maintained. Successful
prosecutions have been carried out on several offshore corporations
that have been involved in fraud and there has been full co-operation
with the UK, the USA, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada in bringing
criminals to justice."
He said, "Tax evasion is a crime in Antigua and Barbuda, and recently
we have co-operated with UK authorities in two tax frauds ending
in prosecution."
The High Commissioner also pointed out that "only last month the
Financial Action Task Force (FATF), established by the G7 countries
vigorously evaluated 35 jurisdictions around the world to determine
whether or not they are co-operative in the international effort
to curb money laundering. Antigua and Barbuda was judged to be
fully co-operative and was not listed by the FATF as a country
with whom financial institutions in G7 countries should act cautiously."
He called on the Sunday Observer to publish his letter "to clarify
the mistaken impression created by Rhino Corporation's claims and
any damage that may have been done to Antigua and Barbuda."
The writer of the article Stuart Millar and the Editor have agreed
to publish the High Commissioner's letter.
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Concern
over oil movements
 Officials
in Antigua are once again expressing concern over the enormous
amount of oil being transshipped through the Caribbean Sea on a
daily basis.
A special report reveals that 4.2 billion barrels of crude oil
is transshipped through the Region's waterways on a daily basis. "This
situation causes much concern," said Mr. Philmore Mullin, Deputy
Director of the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS).
Port Manager Mr. Raphael Benjamin, said "We need to get the Coast
Guard, Natural Office of Disaster Services, West Indies Oil, the
Fire Service and the GIS together and look at this whole question
of dealing with an oil spill."
Operations Manager at the St. John's Port, Mr. Hugh Mack said, "as
it stands, the West Indies Oil Company has a unit, along with dispersants
and is equipped to deal with a small spill but nothing to really
deal with a major spill from a large tanker."
Another point of concern is the desalination Plant at Crabbs.
Health officials are concerned that untold problems could arise
if a spill occurred in that area, seeing that Antigua gets its
main water supply from the sea.
Caption: Operations manager at Antigua Port Aurthority Mr Hugh
Mack
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Antigua and Barbuda to benefit
from USAID
Antigua and Barbuda along with two other OECS member countries
is to benefit from a USAID $15M grant.
A Press Release issued by the U.S. Embassy in Barbados said, Charge
d'Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown Mr Roland Bullen and
Ambassador Mosina Jordan signed a Memorandum of Co-operation with
OECS Secretary, Mr Swinburne Lestrade in St Lucia on 21st July.
The money is to assist the countries in their recovery after being
damage by Hurricane Lenny in November 1999.
The funds are to be used for the reconstruction of key sea defence
systems and selected coastal roads, as well as the training of
personnel.
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Prime Minister congratulates
Mexican President elect
Prime Minister Lester Bird has congratulated the Mexican President
- Elect Mr. Vincent Fox on his recent victory in that country's
general election.
Prime Minister Bird said he looked forward to working with President
- Elect Fox, both bilaterally and in the Association of Caribbean
States (ACS) and other fora to strengthen the existing relationship
between Antigua and Barbuda and Mexico for the mutual benefit of
the people of both nations.
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Slight delay but plans for
reform moving ahead
Antigua and Barbuda's constitutional reform process is slightly
behind schedule but Chairman of the Constitutional Review Commission,
Sir Fred Phillips, said he did not believe the timetable would
be severely affected.
The delay is attributed to the printing of explanatory booklets
for the general public about proposed constitutional changes.
Six of the eighteen months allocated for the review process have
already passed but, according to Sir Fred, the commission "did
not expect it to take this long to have it printed." The order
was dispatched to the printers about six weeks ago.
"We had to prepare it first and then having prepared it, we had
to send it to the printers," he said.
The Commission Chairman believed that the 1,000 copies of booklets
simplifying the constitution for the general public was enough
for a start.
Following the distribution of the explanatory booklets, the 10-member
commission is expected to start public hearings across the country.
Upon completion of the hearings a report of findings and recommendations
would be submitted to Governor General Sir James Carlisle.
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Gas prices to go up in August
 Motorists
in Antigua and Barbuda will be paying more for petrol from August
when government reintroduces a 30 cents per gallon surcharge to
offset a loss of revenue due to the recent spiral in world oil
prices.
Trade Minister, Hilroy Humphreys said that there was no reason
for public transportation operators to hike fares as a result of
the decision to reintroduce the 30 cents surcharge taken off a
few months ago.
"When we took off the 30 cents we had not asked them to reduce
the cost of transportation so if we reintroduce the 30 cents, it
means that the operating costs have not increased," Humphreys said.
Acknowledging that the cost of lubricating oil and spare parts
have increased, he said that "sooner or later" government would
have to examine the possibility of an increase in public transportation
fares.
Already becoming disgruntled about the impending reintroduction
of the fuel surcharge, ground transportation operators plan a meeting
to take a position.
Vice President of the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce,
Roy Bento, agreed that government could not necessarily avoid the
impact of international price movements but coupled with a 2% turn
over tax on gross income, the reintroduction of the surcharge would "obviously
impact on cost of living and the business sector."
At the moment, the treasury is losing at least EC$400,000 each
month, close to EC$5M per year, and even when the 30 cents is added
on, the coffers will continue to lose about EC$375,000 as government
continues to cushion the effects of the increase in world oil prices.
Caption: Hon. Hilroy Humphreys Minister of Commerce, Industry
and Business Development
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AGRICULTURE
Prime Minister tours new vegetable market
 Prime
MInister Lester Bird toured the new vegetable market and its surrounding
areas to get a first hand view of the progress being made on the
work there.
Mr Bird expressed satisfaction with the work done so far and commended
the workers for giving their best to the project.
Mr Bird said, government wanted to do away with the notion by
some, that the vendors were left in mud when it rains, without
proper facilities.
The new market can be best described as a modern state of the
art facility boasting better stalls, larger vending space, is user
friendly to the disabled and has very good ventilation among other
features.
The Prime Minister is asking nationals to demonstrate a deep sense
of care for the work that the government and the workers have done
on the new market.
Caption: Mr Lazaro Cabezas Cuba's Ambassador to the Carribean
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Tobacco cultivation soon to
start in Antigua and Barbuda
Commercial cultivation of Tobacco will begin in Antigua and Barbuda
in August 2000. Mr Lazaro Cabezas, Cuba's Ambassador to the Caribbean
made the disclosure at the 21st CARICOM Heads of Government conference
on the Grenadine island of Canouan.
Mr Cabezas explained that the Cuban Government will be assisting
the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to establish commercial production
of tobacco.
The Cuban official said that apart from signing of the Trade Agreement
between Cuba and CARICOM, the Spanish-speaking country has signed
bilateral agreements with independent English-speaking Caribbean
states.
Through these agreements, Cuba has been providing assistance in
health and education.
Currently there are a contingent of Cuban nurses and doctors attached
to the local health Ministry in Antigua and Barbuda while there
are over 60 Antigua and Barbuda Nationals studying in Cuban universities.
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Work progressing on new abattoir
 The
new abattoir at North Sound is progressing smoothly.
"I am indeed satisfied with what I see happening here," Agriculture
Minister Vere Bird Jr. said on a recent visit to the abattoir.
According to Minister Bird, the new structure is in keeping with
Government's 'master plan' to improve standards and services in
Antigua and Barbuda.
"We will be adhering to international health standards in every
facet of work at the abattoir, the way animals are slaughtered
will also be changed and meat vendors will now be able to have
their meat apportioned in a number of choice cuts at the abattoir," the
Minister said.
 A
new meat market is also under construction in St John's and is
expected to be completed in time to complement the opening of the
abattoir.
Caption (above right): Hon. Vere C Bird Jr. Minister of Agriculture,
Lands and Fisheries
Caption (above): New abattoir nearing completion at North Sound
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Government receiving help
from Argentina
Antigua and Barbuda will receive assistance from Argentina for
reforestation of sections of the country and a multimillion dollar
line of credit for the supply of agricultural equipment.
Junior Agriculture Minister, Rupert Sterling, revealed that initial
talks have been held between an Argentina delegation and top officials
of the government of Antigua in advance of a visit by Prime Minister,
Lester Bird, to that Spanish-speaking South American nation.
No date has been fixed for the visit.
When the assistance package is finalised, authorities hope to
embark on a large scale cultivation of the neem plant, which has
medicinal and pesticidal uses, to replace forests destroyed by
hurricanes or cut down to make way for the construction of buildings.
In the area of water conservation, the Argentinians are expected
to assist Antigua and Barbuda in mapping a watershed and constructing
small dams for domestic and agricultural purposes.
Under the line of credit, government hopes to secure light and
heavy duty agricultural equipment and machinery and construction
of produce.
Faced with an annual food import bill of US$22 million and the
need to protect this twin-island state from the dumping of sub-standard
products from other countries, Sterling said the project proposal
being formulated for tabling to the Argentina government is based
on priorities outlined in a two-year old study of the local agriculture
sector.
It was conducted by the Costa Rica-headquartered Inter-American
Institute for Cooperation in Agriculture (IICA).
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HEALTH
Refurbished Clinic for Liberta
 The
Clinic in Liberta has taken on a brand new look. A team from the
Humanitarian Unit of the United States Navy is currently engaged
in refurbishing work.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Health, told the GIS that, Liberta
is just one of several communities where clinics will experience
refurbishing or acquire new facilities over the next few months.
The others are Johnson's Point, Pigotts, Clare Hall, All Saints
and Brownes Avenue.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Barbara Belle,
appealed to the Liberta Community to exercise a great sense of
pride and care for their Clinic.
Health Minister, Bernard Percival, expressed thanks to the U.S.
Navy team on behalf of the Government and invited them to return
to Antigua and Barbuda to enjoy some of "paradise."
Improving health care is a major part of the Lester Bird Administration's
plan for urban development and renewal in Antigua and Barbuda.
Caption: The refurbished Liberta Clinic
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Desalination plant saves
the day
 Residents
on Antigua have been experiencing a dry period which is causing
some concern, especially to those engaged in farming.
Though officials at the Meteorological Office, located at the
V.C. Bird International, are shying away from crying "drought," they
have been paying close attention to the "extremely dry" period.
However, as weathermen and farmers keep an eye on the clouds, the
residents of Antigua go about their daily lives enjoying the supply
of crystal water from the Desalination Plant at Crabbs.
Commissioned in the late 1970s, the plant has served the nation
well on a 24-hour basis.
Information Minister, George B. Walker observed that "it was an
excellent move by the ALP Government to build such a unit back
then, as today, in prolonged dry periods like this, we all can
still have a bountiful supply of water."
"Water is a precious commodity, and we must play our part as responsible
citizens to conserve it. It is true, we have the plant at Crabbs,
but that does not mean we must be abusive and wasteful," he said.
The output of the Desalination Plant is in the region of 2 million
imperial gallons of water per day.
The output of the Desalination Plant is in the region of 2 million
imperial gallons of water per day.
Caption: Rotating filters at the Desalination Plant at Crabbs
BACK TO TOP
Hadeed gets injunction against
APUA
 Senator
Aziz Hadeed, chairman of the Antigua Power Company, has applied
for an order of certiorari, which is a judicial review of the decision
taken by the Tenders Board on 7 June in respect of the Chinese
firm Complant, which has been awarded the contract to supply APUA
with electricity.
Justice Ephraim Georges, who is expected to make a decision on
the matter regarding the Antigua Public Utilities Authority and
the Tenders Board, has ordered APUA to desist from any further
negotiations with Complant until the hearing.
Justice Georges will listen to both sides of the argument to determine
the validity of the rejection of Hadeed's application.
He will also determine the validity of Hadeed's claim that the
award by the tenders Board to Complant is flawed, since certain
procedural requirements of the Tenders Board Act were not followed.
The crux of the matter is that Hadeed is claiming that his company
was never invited to submit a bid directly to the Tenders Board,
but rather to APUA, who then submitted the bid to the Board.
Under the Tenders Board Act, major contracts, whether for the
supply of goods and services, should go out to tenders. Three companies,
Antigua Power Company, Complant, and West Indies Oil Company applied.
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BARBUDA
Commonwealth Review Team on Barbuda arrives
 The
Commonwealth Team reviewing the operation of the arrangements between
the Central government and the Barbuda Council arrived in Antigua
on 17th July.
Caption: Mr. Pierre Bienvenu, Dr. Denis Benn and Lorna Maclaren
of the commonwealth Secretariat Review Team
The Commonwealth Review Team was established by the Commonwealth
Secretary General at the request of the Government of Antigua and
Barbuda, in accordance with the proposal contained in the Report
of the Antigua and Barbuda Constitutional Conference held at Lancaster
House in London in December 1980.
The Team compromises three persons: Mr. Pierre Bienvenu, Dr. Denis
Benn and Lorna MacLaren of the Commonwealth Secretariat.
The Central government does not support the notion of Barbuda's
separation from the State of Antigua and Barbuda, nor can it countenance
the idea of autonomous statehood for Barbuda in a federal arrangement
with Antigua.
The government's position has been outlined in a memorandum to
the Commonwealth team to review the operation of the arrangements
between the Central Government and the Barbuda Council, as agreed
at the 1980 Antigua Constitutional Conference at Lancaster House,
London.
The Barbuda Council wants the status of the Council to be upgraded
to a legislative assembly.
According to the government's memorandum, small states are already
marginalized in the global economy and are finding the costs of
participation in the international community extremely difficult.
"Barbuda on its own could not survive," the document stated.
It noted that with the advent of new forms of crimes such as drug
trafficking and money laundering, which demands a response in expertise
and resource allocation that the majority of small states find
it difficult to meet.
"The Barbuda Council cannot meet the responsibilities it now has
and any further responsibilities would overwhelm the Council to
the detriment of the Island's inhabitants. It would also have an
adverse effect on the security of neighbouring countries and the
Caribbean region as a whole. In any event, it is evident that the
Barbuda Council has neither the financial nor human resources to
manage the overall development of Barbuda," the document noted.
The document continued, "The central government remains ready
to continue to work the arrangements between itself and the Barbuda
Council as agreed at the Lancaster House Conference. The central
government will also continue to abide by the arrangements agreed
at Lancaster House and will continue to carry out its responsibility
to develop Barbuda socially and economically, and to work with
the Barbuda Council in the discharge of its duties."
Meantime the Barbuda Council has argued that "Barbuda was always
governed by separate laws because we are separate communities and
separate Islands."
The Barbuda Council went on: "We want all Antiguans to know that
we are not antagonistic towards them, but Antiguan fishermen have
been extremely destructive to the fisheries resources of Antigua
and they are now spreading to Barbuda. We cannot afford to have
our fisheries resources destroyed by Antiguan fishermen because
we are all one. We are one State yes, but separate islands, with
separate laws and regulations."
As this bulletin goes to Press, the Commonwealth Team is still
in Antigua and Barbuda having visited both islands and talked with
several organizations and individuals.
BACK TO TOP
No Secession Clause in 1980
conference report
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda says that a front page story
in the Daily Observer concerning Barbuda wrong and misleading.
The story was printed on 20th July.
In the story, The Daily Observer stated that the Barbuda Council
would be holding a Press Conference to address what was termed "the
Secession Clause contained in the 1980 Conference Report."
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda said it wanted to make it
clear that there is no secession clause in the Constitutional Report.
The Report of the Antigua Constitutional Conference records the
discussions that actually took place at Lancaster House in London
in 1980 and the points that were agreed.
The words that The Daily Observer cites as "the Secession Clause" are
contained solely in a Memorandum submitted to the London Conference
by the Barbuda delegation. The words were not agreed at the Conference
and did not form part of the arrangements between the Central Government
and the Barbuda Council arising from the Conference.
The discussion of this matter at the conference was recorded at
paragraph 63 of the Report. The paragraph reads as follows:
"The Barbuda delegation sought the inclusion of the provision
for redress in event of the review showing that the arrangements
were not working; they suggested an option to secede for either
Antigua or Barbuda. This was not accepted by the Antigua Government
delegation; they said that it must be a reasonable presumption
that the Central Government would act on the report and, in addition,
that the courts would provide a forum for dealing with grievances."
There is, therefore, no secession clause in the Report of the
Constitutional Conference. The suggestion of secession and the
words attributed by The Daily Observer to the Constitutional Report
actually come from paragraph 15 (d) of a Barbuda delegation memorandum
that was rejected by the Conference as a whole.
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EAG devises monitoring plan
for Codrington Lagoon
The Evironmental Awareness Group and the Barbuda Council have
formed a partnership, following the EAG's submission to the council
of a monitoring plan for the Codrington Lagoon.
The Barbuda Council has become increasingly mindful of the rapidly
increasing pressures on the lagoon from the lobster fisheries and
the tours to the Frigate Bird colony.
Responding to these concerns and addressing the capacity needs
of the Fisheries Department to undertake a monitoring exercise,
a plan has been designed to assist the Barbuda Council with the
lagoon's management programme.
Lianna Jarecki of the British Virgin Islands, consultant to the
EAG, developed the monitoring plan with field assistance from Barbudan
marine biologist John Mussington, members of the Barbuda fisheries
Department, and the EAG.
The proposed monitoring plan has three components for data collection.
It examines socio-economic uses of the lagoon such as fish catch,
number of tours, dumping, and cutting for charcoal.
The physical aspects and changes of the lagoon to be monitored
require aerial photography, rainfall patterns, and annual measurements
of the depth and width of the lagoon's opening.
The biological measurements include monitoring water chemistry,
bottom sediment composition, sea grass, fish numbers and diversity,
and bird diversity.
The Barbuda Fisheries Officers will undertake data collection,
and the results will be analyzed and utilized by the soon-to-be-established
Lagoon Management.
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SPORTS
Cuban to diagnose sports weaknesses
Cuban diagnostic expert Servando Roig Sola is in Antigua preparing
for a five-member Cuban team of sports specialists, who will be
attached to the Ministry of Education from 12th August.
The Cuban will spend the next two weeks talking to various sports
associations, while looking at what the country wants to accomplish
through a properly developed sporting programme.
They expect this to include a proper club structure and the erection
of a professional-standard sporting complex in each of the country's
six parishes.
The Cuban group will consist of a physiotherapist, two athletic
coaches, one boxing coach, and a physical education specialist.
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Antigua
and Barbuda at the CARICOM Summit
Antigua and Barbuda led discussions on the OECD "Harmful Tax" initiative
at the 21st Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean
Community and Common Market (CARICOM) in Canouan, St Vincent and
the Grenadines from 2nd to 5th July.
The delegation was led by Prime Minister, Lester Bird, and included
Chief Foreign Affairs representative with Ministerial rank, Sir
Ronald Sanders KCN, CMG, and Ambassadors Colin Murdoch and James
Thomas of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Antigua and Barbuda Government took the position that constructive
discussion should continue with the OECD which identified 35 jurisdictions
as "tax havens" last month and gave them a year to comply with
conditions unilaterally set by the OECD. Having suggested that
a legal opinion should be sought on the OECD's action of naming
countries as tax havens and, therefore, materially affecting their
economy, the Antigua and Barbuda position was that while legal
redress was being sought, there remains sound reasons to explore
the possibility of joint efforts with other affected jurisdictions
outside the Caribbean in negotiating with the OECD.
The Antigua and Barbuda delegation proposed that Commonwealth
Secretary-General Don McKinnon be asked to advise Commonwealth
members of the OECD of the response of Caribbean countries to its
action, and to seek a meeting between Commonwealth members of the
OECD and Commonwealth states affected by the OECD list of tax havens.
With regard to the work of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)
in evaluating countries for their cooperation in the prevention
of money laundering, Antigua and Barbuda which was found by the
FATF to be a fully cooperative jurisdiction, urged that all countries
upgrade their legislation, regulation and enforcement procedures
to the highest international standards to ensure that no country
in the region is branded as being cooperative with money laundering.
The proposals put forward by Antigua and Barbuda were all agreed
by the Conference.
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LIAT's new development plan
to see airline to profitability
A development plan, which is being touted as the mechanism that
will return LIAT to profitability, was unanimously approved by
the airline's Board of Directors on 14th July.
Successful implementation of the three-year plan, "which targets
improvements in both unit cost and unit revenues, will return LIAT
to profitability," stated a release signed by company secretary,
attorney Justin Simon.
Although no details of the plan were disclosed, the release said, "the
document addresses the viability of LIAT within the context of
building strategic alliances with other air carriers, providing
a sustainable network of routes and rationalizing the company's
various operational departments and staff numbers to achieve maximum
efficiency and a cost effective service."
Asked whether this meant that there was a possibility of layoffs,
Simon said "yes," but added that there had already been some attrition,
since a number of people had left LIAT to go to soon-to fly Caribbean
Star Airlines.
The release also disclosed that the Plan places great focus on
the re-capitalization of the airline, as something which would
have to be addressed. Some movement is expected in this area when
the Plan is unveiled to the company's shareholders sometime in
the near future.
The Board was also brought up to date on the company's recent
favourable financial returns, and while according to Simon, this
does not mean that airline is in the black, things certainly do
not look as bleak as they had been before.
The Board also reiterated its commitment to maintaining an operating
schedule ("more places, more often") consistent with the ever changing
demands and expectations of its Caribbean customers who LIAT has
faithfully served over the past 40 years.
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Opposition party applies
for electronic media licence
The Opposition United Progressive Party, through its publishing
company Crusader Publications and Broadcasting Ltd., has applied
to government for a licence to install and operate a radio and
television station.
Its application to the government, as required by law, was addressed
to Telecommunications Officer in the Ministry of Public Works and
Communications, Campbell "Mickey" Matthew, and copied to Minister
of Public Works and Communications, Senator Asot Michael.
Crusader Publications and Broadcasting Ltd., is a public company,
and the shareholders are individuals within and outside the UPP.
In its desire to include the people of Antigua and Barbuda in
the ownership and control of Crusader Publications and Broadcasting
Ltd., 51% of the share are being allocated to the general public.
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Antigua and Barbuda on Commonwealth
Ministerial Group on Guyana/Venezuela dispute
Antigua and Barbuda has been asked to serve on the Commonwealth
Ministerial Group on the Guyana/Venezuela border problem.
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Don McKinnon, asked Antigua and
Barbuda's Prime Minister Lester Bird if the government would be
willing to serve on the Commonwealth group.
Prime Minister Bird accepted and nominated the country's Chief
Foreign Affairs Representative with Ministerial Rank, Sir Ronald
Sanders KCN, CMG to serve on the Ministerial team.
Mr Sanders is also High Commissioner to the UK and has worked
on several Commonwealth Committees in the past.
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African-Americans eye Caribbean
Investment
 Director
and shareholder of the Leeward Islands Lottery Holding Company
Inc. Robert "Bob" Johnson wants to invest further in Antigua and
Barbuda.
Johnson and famed African-American lawyer Johnnie Cochrane, with
a few of his business associates, were guests of honour of Prime
Minister Lester Bird at a luncheon at Sandals Resort and Spa on
25th July.
Caption: Johnnie Cochrane and Minister of Planning, Gaston
Browne
Johnson is the head of the Black Entertainment Television (BET),
while Cochrane is one of the directors of LILHC Inc.
Johnson believes that there is a need for greater collaboration
with the African-American community in identifying opportunities
in the Caribbean.
"We need to reinforce the identity of the Caribbean among African
Americans...who are looking for investment opportunities and to
partake of the islands' culture and entertainment," he said.
He continued, "It is a vast market. The tourism industry in the
Caribbean has done a great job of attracting Americans, but I don't
think we have done a good job of attracting African-Americans,
(and) there is tremendous opportunity in those dollars."
 Johnson
assured Prime Minister that "BET will do everything it can to take
the message of the Caribbean to the more than 60 million households
who receive BET, the millions of monthly subscribers who read our
publications, and the millions of visitors who visit our Website,
BET.com daily."
Caption: Prime Minister Lester Bird meets BET owner Robert
Johnson
He said that the Caribbean should approach the American government
on the idea of restructuring, to some extent, the tax arrangement
that exists in the Caribbean region.
"Right now, if an American invests in the Caribbean and repatriates
that from earnings they would make in the Caribbean, they are subjected
to a tax rate they would face if they were in the United States," he
explained.
He suggested an agreement or a treaty through which Caribbean-investment
repatriation might become tax-less.
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Canada warns against business
with non-cooperative countries for moneylaundering: Antigua and Barbuda
not on the list
The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions in
Canada has issued a warning to its financial institutions to give
special attention to businesses and transactions with persons,
companies and financial institutions in 15 countries including
5 from the Caribbean who are regarded as being non-cooperative
in the prevention of money laundering.
Antigua and Barbuda is not on the Canadian list which was issued
on 8th July by Julie Dickson, the Assistant Superintendent in the
Regulation Sector of the Canadian Office.
In June, Antigua and Barbuda passed the vigorous evaluation of
over 30 countries by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a
Paris-based body concerned with preventing money laundering and
other financial crime. The country was adjudged to have established
a legal, regulatory and enforcement framework that corresponds
to the highest international standards in the fight against money
laundering.
Prime Minister Lester Bird has welcomed the fact that Antigua
and Barbuda is not on the list issued by the US Government, the
Canadian government or any of the other member states of the FATF
as a result of the June evaluation. He said "this is a testimony
to Antigua and Barbuda's commitment to participate actively in
the international effort to curb money laundering. It shows that
our jurisdiction is now highly regarded in the international community,
and we intend to keep it that way by actively cooperating with
other jurisdictions and by constantly reviewing our laws and procedures."
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Taxes must be paid
 Prime
Minister Lester Bird's message remains consistent: "Corporations
and businesses must be willing to pay their fair share of taxes,
there are many who are willing to live off the fat of the land
without doing so."
He made the remarks at the official opening of the Mutual Financial
Centre on Factory Road on 17th July.
Caption: Prime Minister Lester Bird at the official opening
of the Barbados Mutual Financial Centre on Factory Road
Mr Bird has assured government-employees that his government has
no intention of sending home any of its 11,000 employees. "Working
is dignified and is a source of poverty alleviation," Mr Bird said.
 Prime
Minister Bird noted that the opening of the mutual building represents
beyond a doubt, a notable contribution by the company towards the
modernization of St John's and its progressive transformation into
a modern Centre of commerce, capable of responding advantageously
to the requirements of a global economy.
Caption: The new Barbados Mutual Financial Centre on Factory
Road
"The construction of this building represents a major act of great
corporate initiatives on the part of Mutual. It is an initiative
I would love to see other corporate firms emulate," the Prime Minister
said.
He continues, "this represents a solid investment in our country
and exemplifies a high degree of confidence by Mutual in the government's
capacity to create and maintain economic stability in this country."
The three-story green structure also features a vaulted ceiling
that creates both a sense of elegance and a welcoming ambience
for all that visit the building.
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Barbados company reports
good performance in Antigua
A leading Caribbean financial company, Barbados Mutual Life Assurance
Society has reported good performance in Antigua and Barbuda. It
consolidated its operations with the formal opening of a new EC$10m
(US$3.7m) complex.
"I am pleased to say that The Mutual has more than EC$55m (US$20.35m)
invested in your country apart from the usual investments in government
bonds, treasury bills, mortgages, equities, policy loans and commercial
bank deposits," said Chairman of The Mutual Group, Colin Goddard.
Speaking at the official opening of the building, designed to
accommodate the latest state of the art equipment and cutting edge
technology, Goddard reported that Antiguans and Barbudans held
3,044 individual life policies with sums assured of EC$414m (US$152.18m)
while in group life and health, there are 106 plans covering 4,137
persons.
During the past year, The Mutual paid out EC$7.3m (US$2.7m) to
policy holders and beneficiaries of which EC$5.2m (US$1.92m) represented
death and health claims.
The company has had a presence in Antigua since 1863 and became
a full operation in 1983.
In the area of pensions, the company has nine plans covering 176
active members with assets of EC$6.5m (US$2.4m); paying pensions
to seven persons.
"All pension contributions paid by client members across the Eastern
Caribbean have been placed in a deposit administration account
and invested with other monies of the society," Goddard said.
He, however, announced that The Mutual has been "working assiduously" with
the relevant authority in each territory of the sub-region to establish
a unit trust or segregated fund to manage the investment of all
East Caribbean dollar contributions "and we are hopeful that our
efforts will soon bear fruit."
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Escapee recaptured at work
site
Another prisoner who escaped from Her Majesty's prison two months
ago was recaptured on 19th July at a construction site not far
from a police outpost.
Superintendent Rawlston Pompey said that Jay Kirk Peters, aged
30, was nabbed while using a toilet at a construction site where
he was working.
The site is near the Longford's police outpost.
A detachment of police and soldiers swooped down on the work site
following a tip-off and nabbed the now well-groomed convict who
was dreadlocked when he broke out of jail.
Peters and four others escaped on May 17 by using an improvised
rope to hurl themselves over the eastern wall of the prison compound.
Peters was reportedly deported from the United States in 1996
where he has a wife and two children.
Three other prisoners who escaped on July 1 were returned to their
cells after one surrendered and the other two arrested following
a tip-off in early July.
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Positive values encouraged
in prison
 Prison
Farm Manager, Edward Dowdie, has said that tremendous amount of
work has been done on the 15 acres of land at Diamonds, to prepare
it for planting by prisoners.
Dowdie stressed that inmates without any experience in agriculture,
can now avail themselves of the opportunity to learn, thus giving
them a chance to restart their lives on a positive note upon leaving
prison.
Inmates are involved in Arts and Crafts. This programme began
some three years ago and according to officials there have been
positive results.
Meanwhile, Attorney General, Dr Errol Cort, reaffirmed that the
ultimate goal of the government is to transform the Prison into
a Correctional Centre.
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Car crash victim is 8th road
death
24-year-old Akemba "Kem" Thomas of Freemans Village died on 17th
July, the eighth person to have died by a traffic accident this
year.
Thomas was the lone occupant in his black Honda Civiv when he
apparently lost control of his vehicle in the vicinity of the Freemans
Village Methodist Church.
According to family members, Thomas was on his way home from watching
a football match in All Saints, after he dropped off a friend.
Police say Thomas was thrown from the vehicle and sustained severe
head injuries.
Thomas, before he became unconscious, told his family that an
oncoming vehicle's light blinded him as he tried to pull to his
side, his vehicle skidded and overturned, landing on its roof.
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TOURISM
Sandals renews interest in local farmers
 One
of Antigua's premier hotels is tapping into the local produce market
by purchasing a quantity of fruits and vegetables from the Island's
farmers.
Sandals Antigua Resort and Spa has taken the initiative and launched
its "Adopt the Farmer Programme."
Caption: Beautiful sunset at Shirley Heights
Under this programme, the hotel will purchase a significant quantity
of vegetables from small farmers, and it will also assist them
with seedlings.
The first beneficiary of this programme is Brian Benjamin of All
Saints.
General Manager, Randall Willkie, said the hotel likes to be involved
in the community, and the idea of adopting a farmer is one such
way.
Benjamin is very appreciative of Sandals Antigua for giving him
a chance to strengthen his agricultural base.
Although Benjamin himself has been selected by Sandals Antigua
for the programme. He will be relying on three other small farmers
- Rexie Rhodes, Kenford Jarvis, and Cliff Goodman - to help meet
his quota in an eventuality.
 Benjamin
will supply Sandals Antigua Resort and Spa with over 200lbs. of
squash, sweet peppers, cucumbers, melons and carrots weekly.
His farm is located at Burkes Estate.
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Minister of Tourism attacks
litter problem
 Tourism
Minister Molwyn Joseph has recommended a new approach to specifically
address the problem of littering.
Although the problem of littering is pervasive, it has been observed
that the main thoroughfares appear to be particularly vulnerable,
so Minister Joseph has targeted the highways as a priority.
Mr Joseph is greatly encouraged that this initiative, which involves
the efforts of several key ministries and is co-ordinated by the
Environment Division, will go a long way to arrest the problem
of littering and result in a clean, healthy, and beautiful environment.
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