ISSUE NO.60 December 2001
BACK TO TOP
Cheer Leaders participating
at the Carnival Launch 2002 on New Year's Day
 New
Year's Day 2002 Address by Hon. Lester B. Bird Prime Minister
Fellow Citizens
The dominant memory of the year 2001 is the horrible image of
two passenger planes being deliberately smashed into the World
Trade
Centre in New York killing thousands of innocent people on September
11th.
That image, burnt into our minds, will live with us for all our
lives.
It made the year 2001 an extraordinary one for the world, and
brought, in its wake, great suffering to millions of people world-wide.
In the United States and across the industrialised countries,
millions of people lost their jobs or were compelled to accept
fewer working days and reduced wages. Unemployment soared everywhere
and economic growth declined as companies either closed their doors
or downsized their operations.
In the developing countries, the impact was even greater. Not
only did unemployment increase and growth decline, but new investment
dried-up and social and economic projects halted. The number of
the poor and desperate swelled and the capacity to provide for
them diminished.
Even before the horrible atrocities of September 11th, economic
recession had set in. Every country in the world had begun to feel
its effects, and none more so than those that are reliant on tourism
to keep the engine of their economies constantly turning over.
We, in Antigua and Barbuda, did not escape the effects of the
recession or the impact of September 11th. We have had to revise
our growth projections for this year, and while, like every other
country in the world, our growth will decline, we will nonetheless
record growth in the economy this year.
We also did not avoid the loss of jobs, particularly in the hotel
sector, but because of government intervention our people suffered
much less than others elsewhere in the world.
The Government supported the hotel sector by absorbing 15% of
their electricity costs, and by giving them the bed night taxes
that should have been paid to the Treasury. We did so to make sure
that they would not close their doors and would continue to maintain
the jobs of the Citizens of this country.
In addition, the Government waived landing fees for aircraft
to encourage them to continue flying here, and we increased spending
on tourism promotion.
But more than anything else, Government took the position that
it would not proceed with a plan to retrench workers from the public
service beginning November 15th.
To have done so would have been to contribute to the hardship
of the working people of this country, many of whom were being
laid off in the private sector.
The Antigua Labour Party, born as it is of the struggle of the
working men and women of Antigua and Barbuda, could not make such
a decision at this time.
The consequence of this decisive Government intervention was
to cushion the adverse impact of both the recession and September
11th upon the country as a whole. The private sector benefited
greatly from the continued spending power of the majority of the
work force, and the significant circulation of money in the economy.
All this, however, has come at a price.
The price is the Government's inability to balance its budget.
Government's income is being reduced by more and more demands
for assistance to the private sector, while, unlike the private
sector, Government's expenditure increases by the maintenance of
a large work force and by continued spending on economic and social
projects.
This year Government fulfilled its promise to build a Vendor's
Mall. The Mall is now operational and is being used by hundreds
of vendors and small business people to make a solid living. We
also opened the Heritage Market at the West Bus station. It is
one of the finest facilities in the Caribbean, that has created
opportunites for even more vendors of agricultural produce and
small business people.
We dredged the Harbour to accommodate the new generation of massive
cruise ships. We did this to ensure that our people would have
a share of this increasing business generated by the thousands
of passengers who alight from these ships to shop on our shores.
We also built and opened the new Institute of Information Technology.
This Institute has already shown remarkable success in making hundreds
of people computer literate. It is now ensuring that many hundreds
more can compete globally in a word dominated by computers, fibre
optic cable, satellites and the Internet. It is giving our young
people particularly a fighting chance in the world.
Recruitment has already begun for the first call centre in Antigua
which will employ hundreds of people. It is expected that it will
open early in the new year. This call centre, and others like it,
will utilise the computer skills of our young people propelling
our country into full participation in the information age and
ensuring that employment remains as high as possible.
Undoubtedly, the year 2001 was particularly marred for us, as
a nation, by events surrounding the Medical Benefits Scheme.
The Scheme is a vital institution of our country. Its beginnings
resided in the firm belief by the Antigua Labour Party that everyone
in the country should get good medical attention, and that no one
should suffer or die because he or she could not pay for medical
care.
I recall a Cabinet meeting in the early 1980's when a so-called
expert told us that our attempt to provide medical attention for
all would be expensive and that, as a small country, we could not
afford it.
"What is the alternative?", we asked the expert.
His answer was, "You must let people die".
We did not accept the expert's view then, and we do not accept
it now. We will not simply let our people die, not as long as we
can do something about it.
That is why the institution of the Medical Benefits Scheme must
be preserved. It is also why we must build and complete the new
Mount St John's Hospital.
We must never accept that our people must die for the want of
money. If they are to die of illnesses, this should happen only
after we have done all in our power to save them.
Already from the Inquiry into the Medical Benefits Scheme, it
is clear that changes will have to made to safeguard the Scheme
in the interest of the people of this country. These changes will
be made, some of them ahead of the conclusions of the Inquiry and
others when the Commissioners have reported their findings fully.
As we look ahead to the year 2002, changes will also be required
in other areas.
The Government will continue to strengthen the Inland Revenue
Department and the Customs Department in order to collect taxes
and duties legitimately owed, and to stop tax evasion and non-payment
of duties.
It is unfair to the people of this country, that a handful of
unscrupulous persons should deprive the country of millions of
dollars that could be used for the social and economic improvement
of the nation.
Government will also have to stop giving duty-free concessions
and wavers to organisations, businesses and individuals who are
not involved in the productive sector of the economy.
The Government simply cannot be expected to give away the shop
while still providing jobs for such a large work force, and continuing
to deliver goods and services to the community as a whole.
The new year, therefore, will be one of adjustment to the realities
of survival. This means cutting waste, reducing expenditure, stopping
give-a-ways and concentrating on the productive sectors of the
economy and social programmes such as health and poverty alleviation.
Neither the country nor its population need suffer in this new
year of adjustment, for there is plenty in our country for all
to get a fair share.
We need only to resolve to make a contribution to our country's
development, and to live up to it.
As a people, we have faced adversity before and overcome it.
I know we can turn away from the trials of this past year and make
the coming one a year of triumph and success. I urge you to join
me in making it so.
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 Baroness
Amos visits Antigua and Barbuda
The British Foreign Office Minister for the Caribbean, Baroness
Valerie Amos, arrived in Antigua and Barbuda on the evening of
Thursday 20th December. Baroness Amos spent two days in the country
before travelling to the British Dependency of Montserrat on the
22nd December.
Baroness Valerie Amos, held talks with Antigua and Barbuda government
officials on Friday 21st on a range of issues including the impact
of the events of 11th September on the economy, British-UK relations
and Montserrat.
"We are mindful that if something happens on Montserrat
again, we won't be able to absorb people as readily as we did the
last time," Sir Ronald Sanders, the Antigua and Barbuda High
Commissioner to London said.
He said it was therefore agreed during talks between Prime Minister Lester
Bird and the Baroness that a plan drawn up by the British should be reviewed
and updated.
"We are hoping that it won't happen but we want the plan to ensure that
we are not faced with a situation in which we have got to absorb thousands of
people overnight again," the Antiguan diplomat added.
 Antigua
and Barbuda became home to over 4,000 Montserratians who fled the
island following the deadly eruptions of the Soufriere Hills Volcano
which roared back to life in 1995, killing a number of people in
the process.
Prime Minister Bird also used the opportunity of the Baroness' visit to call
for Britain's support in advancing his country's cause when seeking assistance
from various international institutions noting that, "our two governments
have also worked very closely in the effort to institutionalise the relationship
between the UK and the Caribbean".
In discussing matters pertaining to the Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD), it was agreed that the differences
in opinion on the matter will not stand in the way of the good
relationship of both countries and the Prime Minister noted that
Antigua and Barbuda has been working vigorously with the UK in
combating drug trafficking and money laundering.
"Indeed, the record of cooperation between the UK and Antigua
and Barbuda on these matters is a worth example for others to follow," Mr
Bird said.
The Prime Minister hosted a luncheon at the historic English
Harbour Inn in honour of Baroness Amos' visit.
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 Antigua
and Barbuda and the United States sign tax agreement
The Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the United States on
6th December signed a Treaty that allows for sharing tax information
and securing tax-free allowances from the US Government for American
companies holding conventions in Antigua.
The Agreement, which was negotiated by a team led by Antigua and
Barbuda's Senior Ambassador, Sir Ronald Sanders, was signed at
the US Treasury Department in Washington by Antigua and Barbuda's
Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Lester Bird and US Treasury
Secretary, Paul O'Neil.
Other members of Sir Ronald's team included Commissioner of Inland
Revenue, William Schouten and Solicitor-General Lebrecht Hesse.
After the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Bird said, "Antigua
and Barbuda is in the forefront of the fight to curb financial
crime. We already have a successful mutual legal assistance treaty
with the US which allows for exchange of information on criminal
matters. This new agreement extends our cooperation with the US
to cover tax evasion."
The Prime Minister observed, "In joining other Caribbean
jurisdictions such as Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Barbados, Bermuda
and The Cayman Islands in exchanging tax evasion information with
the US, Antigua and Barbuda is strengthening its status in the
international community as a jurisdiction for reputable financial
services."
In June 2000, when the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued its analysis
of over 35 jurisdictions in the Caribbean, the Pacific and Europe, Antigua
and Barbuda was judged to be fully cooperative in the fight against money laundering.
The Agreement also allows American companies to claim tax concessions from
the US Treasury for conventions held in Antigua and Barbuda.
Mr Bird said, "This concession will allow Antigua to attract US convention
business for the first time and will be a fillip to our tourism industry at
a time when the US public and companies need every encouragement and incentive
to travel."
"We intend to begin promoting this in the US market immediately," the
Prime Minister said.
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 Sir
Ronald Sanders begins OECD Consultations
Antigua and Barbuda's United Kingdom Ambassador and one of the
region's top experts on matters involving the Organisation of Economic
Cooperation and Development (OECD), held a series of consultations
in Antigua to chart the country's reaction to the OECD's "harmful
tax competition initiative".
The OECD announced recently that it will be naming and shaming
countries it considers as tax havens on February 28, 2002.
On the 18th December Sir Ronald met with Opposition Leader Baldwin
Spencer and high-ranking members of the United Progressive Party
(UPP).
The UK High Commissioner also met with top officials in the Ministry
of Finance, Inland Revenue Department and the International Financial
Services Regulatory Authority (IFSRA).
Sir Ronald noted that his meeting with the Opposition Leader
and members of the UPP was important, because the matter of how
Antigua and Barbuda proceeds with Financial Services is not a matter
for party political activity - it is a national issue. "We
must have a consensus on how we ought to deal with it as a nation
and take that decision into the region and then beyond the region
into the International community," Sir. Ronald added.
Sir Ronald, while in Antigua, also met with members of financial
institutions including banks to solicit their views on the OECD's
scheme.
The national consultations carried out by Sir Ronald will help
to advise the government's position when a bilateral meeting is
held with representatives of the OECD in January 2002.
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 Government,
ECCB and CDB to create adjustment programme for Antigua and Barbuda
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the Caribbean Development
Bank and the Government will implement an adjustment programme
to help Antigua and Barbuda cope with the economic difficulties
caused by the effects of the aftermath of September 11th.
Agreement to design and implement an adjustment programme was
reached during a discussion in St. John's on 4th December by teams
led by Prime Minister Lester Bird for the Government, Compton Bourne,
the President of the CDB and Sir Dwight Venner, Governor of the
ECCB.
The delegations noted that Antigua and Barbuda had been hit hard by the effects
of September 11th. Among the effects on the country were a decline in tourism
from the United States, an increase in costs of transportation for imports,
higher insurance costs and a consequential reduction in Government revenues
from customs duties and tourism taxes.
The three delegations took account of the fact that the hotel sector had either
dismissed employees or reduced their work week and wages placing a greater
burden on the Government to maintain employment in the public sector. At the
same time, the Government has had to give financial support to the hotel sector
through a reduction in the cost of utilities and a waiver of the payment of
certain taxes.
Prime Minister Bird said the Government had taken these steps to preserve jobs
in the hotel industry.
It was agreed that the adjustment programme would focus on four main elements.
These are: strengthening government's fiscal situation by reducing expenditure
and increasing revenues particularly through the diligent collection of all
taxes; stopping discretionary duty-free and tax concessions; stimulating the
tourism and financial services sectors; and containing inflation especially
in relation to wages and prices of essential commodities.
Mr. Bird indicated that early in the New Year, he would institutionalise
a forum for consultation between the Government, the business community
and trade unions so that all parties are aware of the effects on
the economy of the aftermath of September 11th. He said that, at
the initial meeting, he would invite institutions such as the CDB
and ECCB as well as other experts to present papers that would
inform the work of the forum.
Central Bank Governor, Sir Dwight Venner, observed that the current
cycle of economic downturn was not unique to Antigua and Barbuda.
He said that all member countries of the Eastern Caribbean currency
union were feeling similar effects. However, all the delegations
noted that Antigua and Barbuda's performance was vital to the survival
of the members of the common Eastern Caribbean Currency area.
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Prime Minister Lester
Bird condemns nuclear shipment
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Lester
Bird, has joined his fellow CARICOM heads of government in condemning
the transshipment of nuclear waste through Caribbean waters via
the Panama Canal.
Prime Minister Bird said that his government is
very concerned that at a time when security issues are foremost
among the preoccupations of the entire international community,
the Caribbean is being exposed to the risk of having the hazardous
material transshipped through its waters.
"I wish to reiterate on behalf of the government
of Antigua and Barbuda our deep concern about the transshipment
of nuclear waste through Caribbean waters," Prime Minister
Bird stated.
"We have expressed our implacable opposition
to this practice where the United Kingdom Government ships this
nuclear waste through our waters to Japan", Mr Bird said.The
Antigua and Barbuda leader also called on all involved to desist
from perpetrating what he termed as the repeated threat to the
lives of the people of the Caribbean region.
Recently at a CARICOM meeting in the Bahamas in
December, the Heads met regional and international stakeholders
in the tourism industry and discussed the matter. They expressed
their displeasure at the practice.
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Relevance
of membership of World Bank for certain Caribbean countries questioned
A Government delegation, led by Minister of State in the Ministry
of Finance, Senator Asot Michael, has questioned the relevance
of membership of the World Bank for certain Caribbean countries.
At a meeting with senior officials at the World Bank on 7th December, the Antigua
and Barbuda delegation, which included Senior Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders
and Financial Secretary, Alphonse Derrick, drew attention to the fact that
certain Caribbean countries were excluded from financing from the Bank because
they were classified as "upper middle income countries."
Minister Michael said, "The exclusion of certain Caribbean countries from
the Bank's lending arrangements raises serious questions about the relevance
of membership of an organisation which excludes its members from benefits."
The Antigua and Barbuda Government requested the meeting to explore with the
Bank emergency financing to cope with UN and other requirements for increased
security arrangements at Airports and other facilities in the aftermath of
the September 11th events in the United States. Financial Secretary, Alphonse
Derrick, detailed the case for emergency assistance to Antigua and Barbuda
given the increased costs being faced by the country for security and other
arrangements, government financial support to the hotel sector, a decline in
tourism resulting from a fear of flying, and the consequent reduction in government
revenues.
However, bank officials claimed that Antigua and Barbuda would not be eligible
for assistance principally because of its classification as an upper middle-income
country.
Sir Ronald Sanders commented "It seems that economies must be impoverished
and people put on the bread line before the Bank will respond to need. Some
bank officials seem not to understand that if they do not assist small and
vulnerable Caribbean economies in a timely fashion, these countries will all
be reduced to poverty. We are in extraordinary times requiring extraordinary
response, not the usual prescriptions."
The Antigua and Barbuda government intends to continue to fight
its case at the highest level of the World Bank.
Minister Michael observed, "It is troubling that while the
Bank and other multilateral institutions insist that countries,
such as ours, should not borrow on commercial terms, they give
us no access to the concessionary financing for which they were
established."
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 Child
Pornography and Prostitution Task Force Set Up
In November of 2001, the Prime Minister announced that he would be setting
up a task force through the Ministry of Health and Social Improvement to look
into allegations of Child Pornography and Prostitution, for the purpose analyzing
the root problem.
Minister of Health and Social Improvement, John St. Luce, recently
announced that the full task force has now been set up. The members
are Dr. Ermina Osoba and Dr. Knolly Hill - chairpersons, Ms. Sheila
Roseau, Mrs. Maurine Lewis, Mrs. Joan Gomes, Mrs. Faustina Jarvis,
Mrs. Patricia Bird, Dr. Jimmy King, Father Arnold Francis and Major
Joycelyn Maxam.
Minister St. Luce noted that persons, groups or Non-Governmental
Organisations who wish to submit comments on those matters should
do so through the department of Social Improvement in the Ministry
of Health and Social Improvement in the Cecil Charles Building
on Cross Street.
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High
Court Rules in Favour of Government in a case with Texaco
In the first tax case ever heard by the High Court in Antigua,
judgement was handed down in favour of the Government of Antigua
and Barbuda and against Texaco West Indies Limited (TEXACO).
At issue was whether or not fees paid to an offshore affiliated
company, Texaco Eastern Caribbean Limited, should have been subject
to withholding tax. Texaco was of the view that such fees should
not attract the 25% withholding tax as stipulated in the Income
Tax Act. The company was assessed by the Commissioner of Inland
Revenue for the taxes, Texaco appealed to the Income Tax Appeal
Board. The Board ruled in favour of the Commissioner of Inland
Revenue, prompting Texaco to seek recourse through the High Court,
which on Friday 11th January, 2002 ruled in favour of the Government.
Senator the Hon. Asot A. Michael, Minister of State with responsibility for
Finance, said that he regarded the outcome of the case as "a warning" to
companies that continually evade paying their fair share of taxes.
According to Senator Michael, the Government will actively pursue tax evaders,
all the way to the High Court if necessary and will not be deterred in its
efforts to collect outstanding taxes.
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Antigua
Sun story on retrenchment is nonsense
Prime Minister, Lester Bird has dubbed as "nonsense" a
front-page story in the Antigua Sun Newspaper of 28th December
claiming that a technical team had presented a report to Cabinet
recommending large-scale retrenchment and was now awaiting a Cabinet
response.
Mr Bird said that the technical team had been appointed prior
to his announcement on 1st November 2001 that Government would
not proceed with large-scale retrenchment in the wake of the events
of September 11th.
"The story itself is ridiculous", Mr Bird said. He
continued, "The newspaper claims that the Government would
save $85.2 million over 16 years if the recommendations of the
report are implemented. But, this would amount to just over $5
million a year and would result in no more than 200 people being
dismissed."
"If the reporter and Editor had done a simple calculation,
they should have been able to recognise that their own story made
no sense; the savings certainly do not translate into retrenchment",
Mr Bird declared.
He repeated, "This technical team was appointed prior to my November1st
statement to the nation when I made it pellucid that in the aftermath of 11th
September, Government would not indulge in large scale retrenchment. I have
also made this clear to the CDB, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and the
IMF".
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Caribbean
diplomat laments closure of Caribbean Media Corporation: Calls
for urgent action
Antigua and Barbuda's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom,
Sir Ronald Sanders, has lamented the announcement of 3rd January
that the Caribbean Media Corporation is being closed, and has called
for urgent action by regional media and governments.
Sir Ronald served on the first Board of Directors in 1975/76 that
set up the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) that was CMC's predecessor
organisation. He was also a former President of the Caribbean Broadcasting
Union (CBU) which merged with CANA to form CMC seventeen months
ago.
"The closure of CMC for an undisclosed period of time is
a grievous blow to the flow of information between Caribbean States
and takes us back to the conditions of a quarter of a century ago
when the Caribbean had to rely on news about itself from news agencies
in London, Paris and Washington", Sir Ronald said.
"Over the last 26 years, the regional integration process
in the Caribbean Community and understanding between Caribbean
states has benefited immeasurably from the CANA, the CBU and recently
their successor organisation CMC. Failure to provide regional news,
information and analysis on a daily basis will deal a sad blow
to our area at a time when we need it most", the veteran diplomat
said.
The High Commissioner continued, "There is an urgent need
for Caribbean governments to learn more about the closure of CMC
and to take steps to ensure that it is reopened in an appropriate
way as quickly as possible. Ministers responsible for Information
in CARICOM and the CARICOM Secretariat should give urgent consideration
to convening a meeting with the Board of Directors. CMC, like the
University of the West Indies and West Indian cricket, has become
an institution too vital to the region for us to allow it to fall
by the wayside. Caribbean integration and the Caribbean people
would be worse off if we let this happen. I propose to raise this
matter with my own Prime Minister, Lester Bird, to explore any
initiative that Antigua and Barbuda might be able to take with
other governments".
Sir Ronald also expressed concern about the fifty members of
staff who have been laid off with no indication about severance
pay or other entitlements. "Some of these people are among
the region's best journalists, we should do all we can to keep
them in their trade."
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Prime
Minister Bird calls for Caricom meeting on CMC: Offers Antigua
as venue for the meeting
Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister Lester Bird has written
to the Secretary General of CARICOM, Mr. Edwin Carrington proposing
that the closure of the Caribbean Media Corporation be placed on
the agenda of the meeting of the CARICOM Bureau which is scheduled
to meet on 11th January.
The Bureau comprises three Heads of Government and the Secretary
General. The current members of the Bureau are Prime Minister Hubert
Ingraham of the Bahamas, Prime Minister Said Musa of Belize and
President Bharrat Jagdeo of Guyana.
In his letter to the Secretary-General, which was copied to all
CARICOM Heads of Government, Mr. Bird said, "As we are moving
toward the solidifying of the single market and economy (SME) in
CARICOM, it is unsatisfactory that the region should lose the means
of informing each member state about developments in the other.
The SME would suffer considerably from this loss, as indeed would
the entire process of regional integration which has benefited
immeasurably from the daily flow of information provided by CANA,
the CBI and then the merged CMC."
The Prime Minister said, "I endorse a call for an urgent
meeting be convened of Ministers of Information of CARICOM and/or
representatives of Heads of Government where Heads are also Information
Ministers, to consider appropriate measures either to resuscitate
CMC or to replace it with an institution that provides information
and analysis about events in the region." He asked that the
Bureau of Heads of Government endorse his proposal, and he offered
Antigua and Barbuda as a venue for the proposed meeting of Information
Ministers with the CANA Board and other interested parties.
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 Enhanced
phone service for 2002
The government has embarked upon another important project for
the year 2002 as plans are being made to 'put a phone in every
house in Antigua and Barbuda'.
The Minister with responsibility for the Antigua Public Utilities
Authority (APUA), Robin Yearwood said that the government will
be paying special attention to those areas where it is difficult
to install "land-lines," adding that, APUA will provide
residents in such areas with cellular phones at "land-line" rates.
"If one is living in an isolated area where there is no
land-line service, we will provide a Personal Communication System
(PCS) which is really a cellular phone, at land-line rates but
coverage will be restricted to the house just like an ordinary
phone", Mr Yearwood specified. He added that, "we are
making sure that there is complete connectivity especially in times
of emergency such as illness when an ambulance or doctor is needed".
Minister Yearwood also said that APUA has taken the lead in capitalising
on the new opportunities provided by advanced informatics and will
be programming the cell phones to suit the various needs of the
consumers, adding that, APUA has been receiving positive comments
from the public regarding its introduction of the PCS. He said
fishermen especially have been high in their praise. "Recently
a group of fishermen whose vessel developed engine trouble off
Barbuda, was able to contact the Coast Guard and others by using
their cellular phone to get help".
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 US
AIRWAYS begins service to Antigua and Barbuda
Prime Minister Lester Bird, the Director General of Tourism,
Ms. Shirlene Nibbs and Mr. David Fernandez, Head of Antigua and
Barbuda's Tourism Department in New York, were among the 80 passengers
on board the inaugural US Airways flight #1537 which landed at
the Vere Cornwall Bird International Airport (VCBIA) at 2:49p.m.
on 9th December from Philadelphia, USA.
The Prime Minister who was in Washington for the signing of The
Tax Exchange Information Agreement (TEIA) with Secretary of the
Treasury, Mr. Paul O'Neil, flew down to Philadelphia, where he
joined Ms. Nibbs on the AirBus 320 (A320) for the four (4) hour
flight to Antigua.
 Speaking
upon arrival at the VCBIA, Prime Minister Bird said the US Airways
weekly service, which will be bringing visitors from Washington,
Philadelphia and surrounding areas, is a clear indication of his
government's desire to make Antigua and Barbuda a major tourist
destination.
The commencement of US Airways weekly service is being seen by
many in the hospitality industry as a major boost as the country
continues to grapple with the after effects of September the 11th
in the USA which has affected tourism the world over.
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 4
SHIPS, 9000 CRUISE VISITORS ON NEW YEAR'S DAY
The arrival of four cruise ships in the St. John's Harbour on
New Year's Day has greatly boosted the spirit of tourism officials
and others in the hospitality industry as well as store-owners
and vendors.
 The four cruise ships which spent New Year's Day in Antigua bringing
over 9,000 passengers are, the Nordic Empress and Carnival Destiny
with over 5,000. They docked at the Heritage Quay Port. The Aida
and Sunbird berthed at the Deep Water Port with another 4,000 passengers.
On
their New Year's Day visit, the visitors were given a sneak preview
of Antigua's Carnival as officials in the Ministry of Culture launched
the 2002 Carnival on New Year's Day this year, in a renewed effort
to enhance the summer festival and to bring greater awareness and
improved marketing. A spokesman for the Tourism Ministry expressed
delight in having four ships in port at once.
The Government spent over EC$20 million on the dredging of the
Heritage Quay Port to allow for the berthing of the larger cruise
ships known as "Mega Class" ships.
 |
 |
Carnival 2002 was launched
on New Year's Day with the revival of the Ole Mas'..
Thousands
gathered in the streets of St John's to witness the event |
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