ISSUE NO.56 August 2001
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This splendid costume was one of many displayed at Carnival City for Antigua
Carnival 2001
 US
Chargé d'Affaires commends PM Bird
The Chargé d'Affaires at the United States Embassy in Barbados,
Mr. Roland W. Bullen, has written to Prime Minister, Lester Bird
commending him on a proposal for the establishment of a well-trained,
well-equipped Rapid Response Unit to deal with drug related and
other serious crimes throughout the Caribbean Community.
Mr. Bird made the proposal at the Fourth Joint Meeting ofethe Inter - Governmental
Task Force on Drugs and Ministers Responsible for National Security on June
13.
Mr. Bullen's letter reads:
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
I refer to your visionary Speech to the Fourth Joint Meeting of the Inter-Governmental
Task Force on Drugs and Ministers Responsible for National Security on June
13. At that time, you called for the creation of a well-trained, well-equipped
rapid response unit to deal with drug-related and other serious crimes throughout
the Eastern Caribbean Community.
Mr. Prime Minister, we believe that your proposal came at a propitious time.
Further, it is my pleasure to inform you that the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), working with the regional drug commanders and the ACCP, have long advocated
the establishment of the type of unit you have called for - widely known as
Sensitive Investigative Unit (SIU) - in the Eastern Caribbean. In fact, at
the urging of Caribbean drug commanders and the ACCP, we have successfully
lobbied the US Congress to secure the funds necessary to expand the SIU program
to include such a unit in the Eastern Caribbean. Currently there are SIU's
in numerous South American countries and Mexico. These SIU's have played a
key role interdicting and disrupting narcotics shipments, and in identifying
and dismantling national and international trafficking organisations. We look
forward to supporting your call for the establishment of this excellent program
in the region.
With your approval, I will direct Drug Enforcement Administration Country Attaché James
Agee Jr. to give you a detailed briefing on the conception, strategy, operation
and staffing of the proposed Eastern Caribbean SIU at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for your urgent attention to this matter".
(end of Mr. Bullen's letter)
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PM
Bird deprecates resolution of Venezuelan Congress on La Isla de Aves
Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Lester Bird says that he deprecates
the recent resolution by a group of Venezuelan Congressmen calling
for the annexation of La Isla de Aves or Bird Rock.
Mr Bird recalled the decision of CARICOM Heads of Government
at their summit in The Bahamas in early July when they stressed
that "any future discussion on this issue must be conducted
in accordance with applicable principles of international law."
The Prime Minister said, "This resolution by a group of
Venezuelan Congressmen is unnecessarily aggressive at a time when
CARICOM countries are trying to ensure that conflicting claims
over Bird Rock is settled according to international law."
Mr Bird added, "A call for the seizure of the rock is not
in keeping with good neighbourliness or the peaceful settlement
of disputes."
The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister had placed the matter
of Venezuela's claim to Bird Rock on the agenda of the CARICOM
Heads Conference. At the time he had pointed out that the rock
is closer to many OECS countries, particularly Dominica, than it
is to Venezuela and that it is less than eight acres in size and
supports no habitation or economic use.
Mr Bird pointed out that if Venezuela's claim that Bird Rock
is an Island over which it has sovereignty is forcibly asserted,
then 8 acres of land would give Venezuela control of 10,000 n.miles
of the Caribbean waters depriving several OECS countries of a considerable
segment of their Exclusive Economic zone under the Law of the Sea
Convention.
"I hope the Venezuelan government will reject this aggressive
call for annexation of Bird Rock, and instead, seek a resolution
of the issue within the Law of the Sea Convention", Mr Bird
concluded.
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US$1.6
million loan agreement signed
The Antigua and Barbuda government has signed a US$1.6 million
loan agreement with China to help finance a number of construction
projects.
A Foreign Ministry statement on 14th August said that the agreement
was signed between the two governments during a visit to Antigua
on 13th August by China's Vice Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic
Cooperation, Sun Guangxiang, and China's Resident Ambassador, Yang
Shxiang.
Some of the funds will go towards continued technical co-operation
for the state-run water, telephone and electricity company, the
Antigua Public Utilities Authority covering shortfalls in the construction
fund for the highway improvement project at Darkwood; and upgrading
of the multi-purpose exhibition centre.
Another project that is expected to be financed from the loan
is the fencing of the new Antigua National Cemetery at Tomlinson's
where the remains of this country's first Prime Minister Sir Vere
Bird Snr have been interred.
In the past, the government of the People's Republic of China
has provided funding for the construction of a drain in the depressed
community of Grays Farm and technical assistance for the utilities
company.
China has also provided hurricane relief and training of staff
at the Foreign Ministry as well as equipment and training to the
state-run Antigua Broadcasting Service.
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 PM
Bird paints house for Habitat for Humanity
To mark their 25th Anniversary Year Celebration, Habitat for Humanity
International sponsored The World Leaders Build, which took place
from August 5 - 11, 2001. This is a Worldwide building event during
which houses are constructed in various locations throughout the
75 nations working with Habitat for Humanity. Thousands of volunteers
were involved and the leaders of these countries were invited to
participate.
Prime Minister Lester B. Bird joined members of Habitat for Humanity International
in the construction activities of a house which is being built for Mr Telbert
James and family in New Winthropes.
Prime Minister Bird said "This organisation is an out reach organisation
dedicated to service and we all know that serving mankind is the greatest of
all services. I am here today to do my part as I join other leaders from around
the world in demonstrating our commitment to the serving of our people."
Habitat for Humanity is a Christian Organisation whose mission
is to eliminate poverty housing by working in partnership with
people in need. The organisation also strives to build community
spirit by bringing together men and women, from all walks of life,
who believe that all human beings deserve a simple, decent place
in which to live.
 The
organisation was first introduced to Antigua in 1995 by the Governor-General,
Sir James Carlisle, following Hurricane Luis. The Governor-General
now serves as its patron, along with the Most Reverend Donald
J Reece of the Catholic Church, and The Most Reverend Orland
Lindsay of the Anglican Church.
This year, Habitat for Humanity International is celebrating its 25th Anniversary.
To date, the organisation has built over 100,000 houses in 78 countries with
the goal for the next five years of building 200,000 houses in 100 countries.
In September 2000, Habitat for Humanity constructed its first
house in Bolans.
This year, the 5th Anniversary of Habitat for Humanity, the organisation will
be completing the construction of two 2-bedroom houses, one in Pigotts and
the other in New Winthropes. Two more families will rejoice at living in their
own simple, decent and affordable homes.
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PM
Bird says 'No' to abolition of work permits
Prime Minister Lester Bird has told other OECS Heads of Government
that Antigua and Barbuda cannot abolish work permit requirements
for OECS nationals by 1st January 2002.
The OECS Authority, at its 34th meeting in Roseau in late July,
had proposed a 1st January 2002 deadline for the "introduction
of mechanisms to facilitate the movement of OECS nationals within
the OECS region leading to the abolition of work permits."
In a letter to his colleagues, Prime Minister Bird explained
that Antigua and Barbuda already had a very high rate of immigration
from OECS and other Caribbean member states, and that these persons
enjoyed the full benefits of the country's social infrastructure.
Mr Bird noted that Antigua and Barbuda had done more than any
other OECS country in accepting Caribbean nationals, and the country
had reached its optimum level.
The Prime Minister quoted Labour department statistics showing
29% of Caribbean nationals in the Antigua and Barbuda labour force.
ILO statistics also reveal that Antigua and Barbuda issued more
work permits than almost any other CARICOM member state.
In his letter, Mr Bird also questioned the prudence of proposals
to introduce an OECS passport. He pointed out that, in the context
of the CARICOM single Market and Economy, there is already an initiative
to have a CARICOM passport. He felt that duplication should be
avoided and efforts should be concentrated on advancing the CARICOM
passport to reality.
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 New
British High Commissioner
The new High Commissioner of the United Kingdom
to Antigua and Barbuda, Mr. John Waite, presented his letter of
introduction to Prime Minister, Lester Bird on 24th August.
Mr. Bird welcomed Mr Waite and discussed a number of matters
including the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Conference
in Australia slated for October, the situation in Zimbabwe and
the economic situation in the Caribbean especially the Banana crisis.
Prime Minister Bird also spoke of future plans for the continuation
of the cordial relations that both countries enjoy.
High Commissioner Waite expressed delight in being in Antigua
and commended the Lester Bird Administration for its strong fight,
especially in the areas of money laundering and narcotics trafficking.
He said he is looking forward to working with Prime Minister
Bird and his other regional counterparts in modernizing a sound
relationship that is relevant and right for the 21st century.
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 PM
responds to Leader of Opposition's letter to him on Electoral
Reform
Prime Minister Lester Bird has dismissed the Opposition Leader
Baldwin Spencer's letter to him, in which he queried the steps
being taken on the electoral reform issue, as political rhetoric.
"I can understand your desire to justify your existence as
leader of the United Progressive Party," said the Prime Minister. "However,
these churlish letters full of accusations and threats do nothing
to enhance your already weak position in the eyes of the electorate
and your party," the PM wrote.
In a letter, the Prime Minister said the Opposition Leader is
hell bent on disrupting the democratic traditions of the country
and the peace and tranquillity that the nation has enjoyed.
"Neither the people of Antigua and Barbuda nor the International
community will stomach any attempt by you to harm the economic
and social well-being of this country through the use of undemocratic
means," he said.
Addressing the steps in the electoral reform process, the Prime
Minister pointed out that the service of a legal expert from the
Commonwealth Secretariat had been secured.
"I am very keen that he should be here as early as possible
and I have stressed this to the Secretariat. I cannot bring him
here anymore quickly than he can come," the PM declared.
The Prime Minister said that electoral reform was a high priority
on the Government's agenda, and that information had already been
gathered from interested persons and groups across the country.
"This information, along with the recommendations of the
Supervisor of Elections and the Commonwealth, will help the work
of the legal expert," he explained. "When he gets here
and the enabling legislation is drafted, it will be taken to Parliament
immediately to allow the consequential machinery to be put in place
as quickly as possible," he concluded.
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 United
States lifts financial advisory on Antigua
The United States Government has lifted its financial advisory
imposed on Antigua and Barbuda in April 1999.
The US Treasury Department informed Antigua and Barbuda's Senior
Ambassador, Sir Ronald Sanders, by letter that the Advisory was
lifted on 21st August.
Sanders praised the "vision and courage" of Antigua
and Barbuda's Prime Minister, Lester Bird for "spearheading
the Government's resolve to ensure that Antigua and Barbuda's anti-money
laundering regime meets the highest international standards".
"Prime Minister Bird's determination to give Antigua and
Barbuda a clean reputation in the international community has paid-off",
Sir Ronald said.
He pointed out that this is "a triple achievement for Mr
Bird's efforts. Antigua and Barbuda was recognised by the Financial
Action Task Force as a fully co-operative jurisdiction against
money laundering, the United Kingdom Government lifted its financial
advisory on 16th July and now the United States has recognised
the considerable reforms that the Antigua and Barbuda government
has made."
At the Prime Minister's request, Sanders, who is Antigua and
Barbuda's lead negotiator on international financial service, led
a three-man delegation to Washington recently to discuss the lifting
of the Advisory with Treasury officials. His delegation included
Wrenford Ferrance, the Director of the Office of National Drug
Control and Money Laundering Police and Mr Lebrecht Hesse, the
Chairman of the International Financial Sector Authority.
The delegation met a six-man US Government team including Deputy
Treasury Secretary Kenneth Dam and General Consul David Aufhauser.
In its notice to banks and other financial institutions in the
United States advising them the advisory is lifted, the FinCEN
said:
"Because of the enactment of new laws and the beginning
of effective implementation, enhanced scrutiny with respect to
transactions involving Antigua and Barbuda is no longer necessary.....
The advisory regarding Antigua and Barbuda is hereby withdrawn".
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Sir
Ronald talks with OECD
Antigua and Barbuda's Chief Foreign Affairs Representative with
Ministerial Rank, Sir Ronald Sanders, held discussions on Thursday
30th August in Paris with officials of the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD) on the latest position with
its "Harmful Tax Competition Initiative".
Sir Ronald met the Head of OECD's Fiscal Affairs Department,
Jeffrey Owens and members of his staff as well as Australian Ambassador
to the OECD, Tony Hinton.
Ambassador Hinton was the Co-Chair along with Barbados Prime
Minister Owen Arthur of a Joint Working Group of OECD and non-OECD
country representatives of which Sir Ronald was a member.
The Joint Working Group had two meetings in London and Paris
in February and March this year. Since then the work of the Group
in trying to narrow differences between them over the OECD's "harmful
tax competition initiative" had been stalemated while the
OECD countries attempted to agree to proposals put to them by the
non-OECD countries.
In late July, Ambassador Hinton wrote to Prime Minister Arthur
and other members of the working group setting out the OECD's latest
position which is expected to be ratified by its Council of Ministers
in September. Amongst the new proposals is that the OECD would
delay the date for naming countries that would not accede to its
demands. The new date is being proposed as 30th November. In addition,
the OECD has removed "ring fencing" as one of the criteria
for determining whether or not a jurisdiction is a tax haven and
should therefore attract sanctions by OECD members. A ring-fenced
company was defined as one that had no substantial business activity
in a jurisdiction and enjoyed a tax regime that was more beneficial
to itself than other companies.
Sir Ronald said "The purpose of my meeting was to get a
better understanding of the OECD's new proposals which have still
not been made public because of internal wrangling between OECD
members, not over the terms of their new proposals but over questions
raised by Spain about Britain and Gibraltar".
Ambassador Sanders concluded that "the OECD has made significant
changes to their original concept, but the new proposals require
deeper study before a decision could be made as to whether they
have gone far enough for Antigua and Barbuda to agree to cooperate
with them".
Sir Ronald will be reporting on his discussions to Prime Minister
Lester Bird.
| Sir Ronald Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda's Senior Ambassador,
visited the United Nations office in Vienna and met with senior
officials to discuss matters related to his country's participation
in the fight against drug trafficking, money laundering and
other crime-related issues. In the picture Sir Ronald is seen
talking with Mr Steinar Bjornsson, Director of Administrative
and Common Services. |
 |
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New
location proposed for dredged material
The Antigua and Barbuda government is considering a suggestion
from some fishermen that 1.6 million cubic metres of dredged material
from the harbour be dumped in the sea between Antigua and Montserrat,
Planning and Implementation Minister Gaston Browne said on 9th
August.
Government's decision to look at this new dump site followed a
meeting on 8th August between fishermen and a panel that included
the Minister, Chief Environmental, Officer Diann Black-Layne and
a representative of the Holland-based dredging company.
The fishermen argued that dumping the dredged material 1,500 feet
to 1,800 feet deep off the continental shelf about 17 miles from
the capital, St John's, would affect one of their prime fishing
grounds.
Browne said the alternative location was between the southern
shore of Antigua and neighbouring Montserrat based on the suggestion
by a fisherman that the "area is about 2,000 feet deep and
is already adversely affected by volcanic action."
He said he has already asked that technical experts, including
a marine biologist, give an opinion on this site.
Experts have given the assurance that the dredged material would
be mostly lumps of clay and only one to three per cent will remain
suspended in the water for about one hour.
The Chief Environmental Officer explained that Antigua and Barbuda
did not have the expensive equipment that is required for the treatment
of the waste to ensure safe disposal on land.
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 PM
Bird tours new vegetable market
Prime Minister, Lester Bird, and other Ministers of Government
were taken on a guided tour of the brand new Vegetable Market in
St. John's on 3rd August.
The structure was built with financial assistance from the Government of Japan
and has given the lower-end of Market Street a new look.
Speaking to the GIS News during the tour, Prime Minister  Bird
said the new structure is part of the overall plan of modernizing
Antigua and Barbuda in ways that includes lower income groups.
"This is an excellent facility. I don't think you can go anywhere in the
Caribbean and find anything better and that is part of our programme to make
sure that the small man and women in this society are able to operate and function
in an environment which is excellent and will help them to sell their produce." Mr
Bird said.
 The
complex is completely covered, protecting the vendors and patrons
from the elements. The Prime Minister said he expected the people
to cherish and care for the new facility as it is their market.
The ground floor houses the vegetable market while the top floor
houses several boutiques.
The complex also has a small park for relaxation.
The official opening ceremony will take place later this year.
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Youths
on shooting and robbery charge
Five of the six youths, detained by the Police in connection
with the shooting to death of Police Inspector, Almour Robbins,
and armed robbery and shooting of taxi driver David Titus, have
been charged.
Timothy Henry, 21, and Dwayne Samuel, 17, of Cashew Hill, along with Jamal
Browne, 17, of Brownes Avenue, have all been charged with the murder of Inspector
Robin in a Martin's Village variety store.
Samuel was additionally charged with shooting James Meade, 61, of Martin's
Village with intent to murder. Meade is the proprietor of the retail shop in
which Robbins was killed.
In addition, Henry and Mickey Bowen, 16, have been charged with aggravated
robbery on Titus.
The Police are still questioning the sixth detainee, who is an unnamed 14-year-old.
Two guns were recovered which police believe were used in committing both crimes.
At the time of the fatal shooting, Inspector Robbins was in the shop watching
the weather report on television, when a masked man appeared at the door and
announced a hold-up.
In what has been described as a robbery attempt, Inspector Robbins was shot
in the lower abdomen. The bullet exited through his shoulder. A post-mortem
examination conducted by pathologist Dr. Lester Simon this week confirmed that
the bullet pierced Robbins' heart. He died almost instantly.
In the second incident, Titus, a taxi driver from Swetes, was lured off the
road shortly after midnight on the 23rd August by a 14-year-old. The youth
claimed his pregnant mother was in labour and wanted a taxi to go to the Holberton
Hospital.
The youngster directed the taxi-man to an area behind the Antigua State College,
close to a pond, where two masked gunmen pounced on him and robbed him of $740
and US$25 and then shot him in both legs.
The gunmen fled the scene. Titus was able to drive his car to the West Bus
Station where he got assistance to get to Holberton Hospital.
Meanwhile, the Police Department's Public Relations Officer, Rolston Pompey,
has expressed satisfaction with the level of assistance afforded the Police
by the residents of the Cashew Hill and Browne's Avenue communities.
"It is only with the assistance of people that the Police can fight crime
successfully, and the efforts put in by these two communities has been exemplary," said
Pompey.
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Prime Minister announced
tough measures on crime
Prime Minister Lester Bird has announced a tough stance by his
government against crime.
Speaking at the opening of the new Headquarters of the Office
for National Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy (ONDCP) on
24th August, Mr Bird pledged that his government "will devote
more resources to improving the capacity of our Police Force to
deal with crime in our society"
Recalling that on 17th August Police Inspector Almour Robbins
was fatally shot during an attempted robbery of a shop, the Prime
Minister declared, "This nation will not stand idly-by while
any of our Citizens are cut down by a handful of criminals in our
society. We will not abide this callous disregard for the life
of even one of our people. We will not tolerate murder and crime
within our society".
Mr Bird stated, "The time has come to implement strong methods
to stop the smuggling of weapons into our country. The time has
come for us to introduce measures to stamp out murder from our
community. The time has come for violent criminals to be vigilantly
pursued and vigorously brought to justice".
The Prime Minister revealed that the Government we will focus
on better training in information-gathering and detection, better
equipment and the creation of a special crack team on violent crime
within our Police Force.
He said, "Our society should not live in terror of some
thug to whom crime is a craze and murder part of its craziness".
Inspector Almour Robbins was 49 years old. Off-duty at the time
of his death, he was a customer in a shop when a gunman shot and
killed him. The shop owner Mr James Meade was also wounded.
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Antigua's
new ONDCP Facility - A centre for fighting drugs and moneylaundering
The new Headquarters of Antigua and Barbuda's Office of National
Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy (ONDCP) at Camp Blizzard,
is equipped for 'round-the-clock, sending and receiving information
on drug trafficking and money laundering matters by land, sea and
air with other law enforcement agencies.
The equipment will be used by the country's a Joint National
Headquarters comprising its Financial Intelligence Unit, Office
for Narcotics Control, the Police, the Coast Guard and Customs.
The law enforcement agencies will be able to collate and analyse
information at a national level by pooling their resources and
using information jointly received.
They will also have access to information from foreign law enforcement
agencies and be able to share locally generated information with
them in the context of information exchange agreements.
At the formal ceremony at which the facility was launched, Prime
Minister Bird paid special attention to the international dimension
of the facility's work, describing it as "critically important".
He said, "Drug trafficking and money laundering are international
activities. The perpetrators reside in one country and do their
deeds in several others. Their deals cross borders, ignore territorial
jurisdictions and flaunt local laws. Only international cooperation,
systematically constructed and observed, offers any hope of corralling
them and terminating their transactions".
Mr Bird said that his Government has devoted very scarce financial resources
to the construction of the building because "we wanted no doubt, no uncertainty,
no ambiguity on where we stand in relation to fighting drug trafficking and
money laundering. We stand on the front line, and we will not retreat nor will
we retire".
| Office for National Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy
at Camp Blizzard, the base of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence
Force |
 |
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Antigua offered as
a base for a Rapid Response Force to combat drug related crime
Last July the Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda presented
a "concept paper" to the Conference of Heads of Government
of the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) in The Bahamas
on the creation of a single rapid response force to deal with drug
related crime in the region.
The Prime Minister's paper was described as "visionary" by
United States Government officials, including the Charge D'affaires,
Mr Roland W Bullen, in the US Embassy in Barbados.
In the concept paper, the Antigua and Barbuda government argued
that the majority of crimes committed in the region are drugs related.
It said that Police are confronted with organised criminals who
have access to weapons and financial resources that, in some cases,
are greater than theirs. It also contended that drug abuse and
addiction in Caribbean communities, especially among our young
is spreading. "Instead of leading productive lives that benefit
our social and economic development, these young people are contributing
to crime and increasing the financial burden on the State",
the paper stated.
Mr Bird had told his colleague Heads of Government, "The
days are over when we could glibly say that the drug problem is
one for the demand countries in North America and Europe. The fact
is that the increase in drug related crime and drug abuse and addiction
in our own countries makes the problem ours as well".
Since Mr Bird's statement, the US Government has allocated US$250,000
in seed money to get the rapid response force off the ground and
funds are being sought from the US congress to make the project
a reality if CARICOM governments are seriously interested.
Responding to this news delivered by the US Charge d'affaires,
Mr Roland W Bullen, The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister pledged
to work with any donor government or group of governments and any
Caribbean government or group of governments that is willing to
make a start with the creation of a rapid response unit.
He said, "I offer Antigua and Barbuda as a base and a training ground
for such a unit, and I undertake to place whatever resources we can muster
at the disposal of such a base. Let us get drugs, before drugs get us
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Antigua: No haven for
money launderers and drug traffickers
Prime Minister Lester Bird told the international community
that Antigua and Barbuda is no haven for drug traffickers and money
launderers.
Speaking before an audience that included the High Commissioners
and Ambassadors of the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada,
China and Venezuela at the opening of the new Headquarters of the
Office of National Drug Control and Money laundering Policy (ONDCP),
Mr Bird declared, "If our country has been used for these
purposes in the past, it is not because we wished it so. It is
because we were too untrained to detect it, and too unversed to
handle it.
Then he stated, "Those days are over.
Pointing to the fact that the Financial Action task Force (FATF)
on curbing money laundering found Antigua and Barbuda to be a fully
cooperative jurisdiction because of its strong anti money laundering
regime and machinery, Mr Bird said, " We now have the experience,
we have the training, and we are building the capacity".
The Prime Minister said that Antigua and Barbuda will stand up
against money laundering because it is in the country's interest
to do so. He said, "Our national reputation is far more important
to us than the greed of a few who would abuse our jurisdiction
to launder money. The ability of Antiguans and Barbudans to travel
the world with their heads held high is of far greater importance
to us than the enrichment of a few through ill-gotten gains".
And, Mr Bird let it be known that the Government would not compromise
itself. " No one person or groups of persons must ever be
allowed to compromise the principle we hold dear of government
elected by the people and accountable to the people", he said.
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Antigua and Barbuda
to grow its financial services sector
In the wake of the governments of the United Kingdom and the
United States withdrawing financial advisories that they had imposed
on Antigua and Barbuda in April 1999, Prime Minister Lester Bird
has announced his government's intention to grow the financial
services sector.
We now plan to grow the financial services sector - and the offshore
gaming sector - of our economy on the principles of sound regulation
and international approval", Mr Bird said.
The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister made this statement on
24th August at the formal opening of the new Headquarters of the
Office of National Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy (ONDCP).
"Our jurisdiction can now market itself in the international
community to attract new, sound and solid businesses that will
stay in Antigua and Barbuda for the long-term bringing employment
to our people and revenue to our economy in a predictable way",
the Prime Minister stated.
"We will compete against the biggest and the best in the
world on the basis that we are a clean, well regulated jurisdiction
with one of the lowest tax and licensing regimes in the world.
Our costs will be less, and our performance just as good, if not
better, than the most sophisticated jurisdictions anywhere".
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 Antigua
and Barbuda offers to help other Caribbean countries counter
drug trafficking and money laundering
On the heels of its success at securing the withdrawal of the
financial advisories imposed against it by the Governments of the
United States and the United Kingdom in April 1999, the Antigua
and Barbuda Government has offered to help other Caribbean governments
establish machinery and implement regimes to counter drug trafficking
and money laundering.
The UK Government withdrew its financial advisory on 16th July
and the US government lifted its advisory on 21st August following
negotiations with a team headed by Antigua and Barbuda's Chief
Foreign Affairs Representative Sir Ronald Sanders.
Prime Minister Lester Bird appointed Sir Ronald to head the team
in March 2000 to prepare the Government to meet 25 criteria laid
down by the Financial Action task Force (FATF) to counter money
laundering. As a consequence of the team's advice on amendments
to country's money laundering legislation, strengthening of its
regulatory machinery and implementation of enforcement measures,
Antigua and Barbuda was found by the FATF to be a fully cooperative
jurisdiction against money laundering in June 2000 when the FATF
published its report.
Since then, Sir Ronald's team which included Wrenford Ferrance,
Director of the Office of National Drug Control and Money Laundering
Policy and Lebrecht Hesse, Chairman of the International Financial
Sector Regulatory Authority, began direct discussions with the
US and UK governments leading to the lifting of the two advisories.
Prime Minister Bird said on 24th August that his government "will
do all in our power to help other jurisdictions to improve their
money laundering regimes so that they are either not included or
are taken-off the FATF black list and the lists of the US, the
UK, Canada and many other countries in Europe."
He announced that Antigua and Barbuda will play an active role
in the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (the CFATF) in sharing
its experiences and providing help and advice where it is needed.
Mr Bird pointed out that within ONDCP's new Headquarters in Antigua,
there is the capacity to provide a central Financial Intelligence
Unit for all the OECS countries.
"With the assistance of the United States Government, this
facility has computer and other equipment that could serve as a
central location for information gathering and sharing for the
entire sub-region. Its use for that purpose would benefit not only
the OECS countries, but the international community as a whole
whose law enforcement agencies could share information on the basis
of negotiated information-exchange agreements."
The Prime Minister said, "I offer today to make this facility
available to the OECS should its Governments be interested in a
central location for gathering and sharing information".
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 Medical
Benefits inquiry to cost $5 million
The Commission of Inquiry into the Medical Benefits Scheme
is to cost just under $5 million. Salaries for the Commissioners,
a Secretary and two lawyers amount to $3.3 million.
Prime Minister Lester Bird was presented with the bill by the
Commissioners in mid-August. Mr Bird has now written to the various
organisations that demanded the Inquiry instead of sending the
allegations of wrong doing to the Police and the Director of Public
Prosecutions.
In his letter, Mr Bird has asked for suggestions about how the
monies should be raised to pay for an Inquiry which he had warned
would be very expensive. The Prime Minister said that the actual
costs are greater than anyone expected. Following is the text of
the letter written to the organisations that called for the Inquiry.
"You will recall that prior to the setting-up of the Commission
of Inquiry into the Medical Benefits Scheme, I had three times
publicly stated that I was most reluctant to set up such an Inquiry,
not because my Government had anything to hide nor because I wanted
to cover-up any possible wrong-doing, but because of the cost.
I stressed on each occasion that a better and more effective
way of dealing with the allegations surrounding the Scheme was
to refer the matter to the Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions
and to strengthen their capacities for investigation and prosecution
by securing help from agencies such as Scotland Yard. I made the
further point that whatever a Commission of Inquiry would find,
any matters for prosecution would still have to be sent to the
Police and the Director of Public Prosecutions who would have to
initiate their own inquiries, since no Court would accept the finding
of a Commission of Inquiry; it would want to hear evidence and
examine documents according to its own rules.
Despite my reservations, purely on the basis of cost, I agreed
that the Government would hold a Commission of Inquiry on the terms
of reference and with the Legal Counsel and Commissioners as agreed
by a group of non-governmental organisations and His Excellency
The Governor-General. In taking this decision, I was mindful of
the need to preserve public confidence in the Medical Benefits
Scheme which has been of such great use to the society as a whole.
However, we are now faced with the costs of the Commission, the
extent of which no one had envisaged. A preliminary bill of $4,949,972.11
has been presented for the Commission's work between July of this
year and May next year which is how long the Commission proposes
to carry on.
You are well aware of the tight fiscal situation of the Government,
occasioned by the fact that a very significant portion of Government
revenues is dedicated to paying wages, salaries, pensions and gratuities
of public servants (established and non-established).
The Government cannot be contemplating retrenchment of workers
in the public service and reducing wages and salaries while it
pays out approximately $5 million in eleven months to cover the
costs of a Commission.
The salaries of the three Commissioners, their two Lawyers and
Secretary is alone is $3,317,490.00. With this money, we could
pay the salaries of 138 workers for a year.
In any event, the Government simply does not have the money.
I want to make it absolutely clear that I do not wish to stop the Inquiry.
Your organisation was one of those that insisted on the Inquiry and my Government
wishes you to be fully satisfied.
The question now arises as to how to pay these very significant
costs.
The Commissioners themselves have proposed a formula by which
the Medical Benefits Scheme would finance the costs by buying Government
Bonds or Treasury bills equivalent to the Principal and Interest
costs of borrowing the sum required over a five year period. This
proposal will increase Government's debt and deprive the Medical
Benefits Scheme of $5 million over the next eleven months that
it could be spending on health care of the community.
Other proposals put to the Government are as follows:
- Government could levy a special Commission of Inquiry tax on
the entire work force designed to raise $5 million between September
2001 and May 2002;
- Government could introduce a Bill into Parliament that would
authorise the Medical Benefits Scheme to pay the costs of the
Commission from its existing resources or by borrowing on its
own recognisance from the banks.
Since your organisation was an interested party in the establishment
of the Commission of Inquiry, I wanted to consult it on what it
considers to be the most appropriate ways in which to raise the
monies to pay for the Commission of Inquiry.
This matter is now of the greatest urgency, and I would be pleased
to receive a response from you within the shortest possible time.
I know that, given the national importance to which you attached
your call for an Inquiry, you will lose no time in responding to
me.
I would be happy to discuss your written proposals with a small
delegation representing your organisation."
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 Miss
St Kitts is Jaycees Caribbean Queen 2001
A 21-year-old professional dancer from St. Kitts, walked away
with the title of Miss Jaycees Caribbean Queen 2001 at the Antigua
Recreation Grounds.
The show, which is now in its 40th year, featured eight Caribbean
beauties with a guest appearance by Miss Venezuela.
From the onset of the programme, Nicole Gumbs from St. Kitts was
a favourite with the crowd. The petite Kittitian beauty also won
best swimwear.
The first runner-up position went to Deborah Allan of Antigua, followed by
Kimane Felicite of Dominica in the second runner-up position and Essi Anya
Gaston of St. Croix took the third runner-up position.
The show also saw the return of 'King Short Shirt' to the calypso
stage. Known in calypso circles as "Monarch", Short Shirt
had given up calypso to preach the gospel.
Also appearing on the show were the Spice Dancers from St. Martin, El - A -
Kru, and Tyrone Mason who gave a musical rendition on the Saxophone.
This is the second time that St. Kitts has won the Jaycees Caribbean Queen
title. In 1984 Ethlyn Archibald won the title with a thrilling musical performance
on the trumpet.
Nicole's prizes included a fully loaded computer donated by Antigua Computer
Technology (ACT) and a trip to London with the compliments of British Airways,
plus many other gifts and prizes.
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ANTIGUA'S
2001 CARNIVAL PARADE IN PICTURES
The streets of St. John's, came alive in dazzling colour and pageantry
as the 2001 Carnival Parade moved on from the National Cultural
Centre at Perry Bay.
Thousands lined the parade route to catch a glimpse of the various
costumed troupes as they went prancing and dancing to the music
of the many steel bands, iron bands, Hi Fi's, Brass Bands and Jam
Bands such as the Burning Flames, Vision Band, L.A. Crew and others.
Some scenes of the Carnival
Parade
The pictures were taken by
Norman "Gus" Thomas,
Press Attaché
to the Prime Minister
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