ISSUE NO.62 February 2002
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| The new Government
Complex |
Sir Ronald sends condolences
on death of Her Royal Highness Princess Margaret
High Commissioner Sir Ronald M. Sanders, sent the following message
of condolence to Her Majesty The Queen on the death of Her Royal
Highness The Princess Margaret.
"On behalf of the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda,
I extend to Her Majesty The Queen, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth
The Queen Mother and the Royal family our deepest and sincerest
sympathy at the passing of The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Margaret was very special to us.
She spent part of her honeymoon on Antigua and she was Her Majesty
The Queen's personal representative at the Independence of Antigua
and Barbuda, delivering our instruments of sovereignty. She was
always ready to be helpful to our country and was an enthusiastic
Patron of our attempts to raise funds to maintain (Admiral Lord
Horatio) Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour.
Her willingness to be associated with the welfare of Commonwealth
Caribbean countries and the pleasure she so obviously had from
her links to our region made us think fondly of her as our "Calypso
Princess".
We remember her with great affection and admiration."
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Antigua
and Barbuda will not be on OECD un-cooperative list
 Following
two days of discussions in Antigua between teams representing Antigua
and Barbuda and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) on 17th and 18th January, Antigua and Barbuda will not appear
on the OECD's list of un-cooperative tax havens and the country
will not be subject to any framework of coordinated defensive measures
by OECD member states.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has committed to work with
the OECD on the principles of effective exchange of information
and transparency and the OECD has agreed that Antigua and Barbuda
will participate fully in the Global Forum to discuss the design
of standards for the implementation of these commitments. The commitment
was contained in a letter written on 20th February by Prime Minister,
Lester Bird to the OECD Secretary-General, Donald Johnston.
In June 2000, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) found Antigua
and Barbuda to be fully cooperative in the fight against money
laundering.
 Prime
Minister Lester Bird said, "The OECD has considerably modified
its original harmful tax competition initiative which had caused
us great concern. The modifications, taken with the agreement that
Antigua and Barbuda will participate as an equal partner with OECD
countries in the Global Forum so that we can protect our interests
and ensure a level playing field in financial services, are important
developments for us".
The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister disclosed that Antigua
and Barbuda had shared the position it negotiated with the OECD
with its partners in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.
Mr Bird added, "Both the targeted jurisdictions and the
OECD can claim a victory for genuine international cooperation.
We now look forward to growing our financial services industry
without any shadows hanging over it".
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Opposition
Members stage another walkout of Parliament over the Half Moon
Bay issue
 The
Opposition representatives of the Lower House of Parliament, led
by the Leader, Baldwin Spencer, staged a walkout on Tuesday 12th
February during the debate on the Half Moon Bay Acquisition Resolution.
Before walking out of the proceedings, Baldwin Spencer urged
the Speaker of the House not to allow the debate to continue as
the House, by discussing a matter twice in one session, was in
breach of the Rules of Parliament.
"Our contention is that parcel numbers 55, 56 and 57 are
one and the same as parcels 34 and 38. So on the face of it Madam
Speaker, because it's the same block number and if it is substantially
the same, it cannot be addressed in the same sitting of parliament
and nobody in here could argue that we are not dealing with one
and the same matter. It is the acquisition of the lands at Half
Moon Bay. That is it, and it is the same thing we are doing here.
Whether it comes by parcel, 56, 57, 58 or 34 and 38 we are dealing
with the same thing. It is identical and we will not be a party
to any illegality," the Opposition leader commented.
Prime Minister Bird explained that while the Government had moved
and passed a resolution in the House to acquire the land originally
registered as parcel 38, it had recently discovered that the registration
numbers of the land had changed. Mrs Natalia Querard, the property
owner, had sub-divided the land and re-registered it as parcels
55, 56 and 57. Therefore the acquisition of parcel 38 by the House
was useless. Minister Bird also made it clear that "the Opposition
can jump high and jump low and no matter how long it takes, the
government will acquire the property.
The Speaker outlined that the resolution being debated in the
House on the 12th February was not the same resolution debated
in the House on the 10th of January 2002. It was at that point
that the Opposition Leader took objection and stormed out of the
Parliament followed by members of his party along with the representative
for Barbuda.
During the last debate in the Upper House on the Half Moon Bay
matter the Opposition Senators also staged a walkout. They claimed
that the government was making a mistake in trying to acquire the
property.
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Lester Bird considers that the
acquisition is in the interest of the public. It plans to create
a fresh environment for investment in the defunct hotel business
at Half Moon Bay in order to facilitate the revival of the tourist
industry and provide jobs for the inhabitants of the surrounding
villages.
The government revealed that despite numerous attempts to have
the property reopened (by offering concessions to the owners of
the hotel) the hotel remained closed since the passage of Hurricane
Luis in 1995.
In spite of the Opposition walkout the resolution was moved and
carried.
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Legislation OK
"There's nothing un-Parliamentary about
legislation now before the House of Representatives to compulsorily
acquire Half Moon Bay Hotel, " said Tourism Minister, Molwyn
Joseph, in response to the walkout by the UPP on Tuesday 12th when
the resolution came up for debate in the Lower House of Parliament.
"The relevant portion of Erskine May (the 'bible' of Parliamentary
practice and procedure) that deals with the matters of debate in
the House, on motions, questions and decisions, is chapter 17,
and I have the Erskine May Parliamentary Practice - 21st Edition",
said the Minister.
In explaining the walk-out, Opposition Leader Spencer had referred
to page 329 of the 20th edition of the ErskineMay. He said then
that even though there had been a change in the parcel number under
which Half Moon Bay Hotel was registered, the resolution to acquire
the property should not be brought to the House, having already
been debated in the same session.
The Tourism Minister said "There is another section in the
Erskine May that dealt specifically with motions relating to resolutions
in the House, that can be found on page 363, which I think is more
relevant to what happened during the last debate, and I would like
to read it. It states: 'A motion modifying a resolution of the
same session by omitting or altering subsidiary portions of it
is in order, so long as no attempt is made to reverse the substance
of the motion. A motion reversing the effect of a previous decision
on the grounds of its inapplicability to changed circumstances
has been allowed'.
The Minister explained "What this really means is that you
can go to Parliament with a resolution but if circumstances arise
later which make the resolution inapplicable or unenforceable,
the procedure allows Parliament to consider that resolution again
as long as you are not seeking to change the decision of Parliament.
If it was a 'yea' at the time the resolution was brought to Parliament
initially, you couldn't bring it back to get a 'nay'. "
"What happened in our case, was that when we went to Parliament
and passed the resolution, the House was unaware that the specific
description of the land that it was acquiring had changed. The
House made a resolution acquiring something that did not exist
- so the decision of the House was inapplicable or un-implementable.
So we had to go back to the House for basically the same decision,
but with a description or identification of the land that is applicable," the
Tourism Minister said.
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Minister
concerned over frequency of traffic accidents
 Minister
of Public Safety, Steadroy "Cutie" Benjamin, has registered
his concern about the frequency of traffic accidents on the country's
roads.
"It is noted," he said, "that most of the accidents involve young
people who have recently acquired driver's licences. In this regard, I shall
be asking the Transport Board, which has the conduct and responsibility for these
tests, to ensure that applicant's are properly prepared and are competent to
be driving on the roads."
The Minister said that he plans to recommend that the tests are
more stringent and that the level of competency be raised.
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Antigua to ban the use
of cell phones while driving
Traffic officials in Antigua and Barbuda are
seriously considering banning the use of cellular phones by motorists.
An official from the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board (A&BTB)
said there were reports that the use of cell phones while driving
causes a number of accidents and near-misses. Police in Antigua
have confirmed that cell phones play a major role in traffic accidents.
"We are looking at this matter very seriously. One of the
alternatives that we are going to suggest to drivers is the use
of a hands-free device which allows the driver to converse while
driving," the official said.
Antigua and Barbuda has approximately 37,000 cell phone users
with 47% of those using pre-paid cards.
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APUA
loses $250,000 as a result of operation of illegal by-pass system
The Manager of APUA Telephones, Mr Malcolm Green, has written
to Telecommunications Officer, Mr Campbell Matthew seeking his
assistance in correcting what is termed as the illegal operation
of a Telephone By-Pass System by Mr Winston Derrick of the Observer
Group of Companies.
Mr Green in his letter noted that Mr Derrick continues to send
low quality "Data Calls" to APUA's network and outlined
that the VSAT system operated by an associate company of the Derricks
- Venture Capital, is still transmitting from Mr Derrick's home
in Hodges Bay despite the assurance it would stop.
Mr Green said that apart from the loss of prestige and creditability,
APUA is losing approximately $250,000 per month. He said that APUA
also finds itself fighting a court battle with Mr Derrick in his
alternate guise as Observer Radio as he attempts to set up a duplicate
system to replace the VSAT in the event that it closes.
The Telephones Manager said that the Derricks' current project
involves using an international frame relay Internet service supplied
by a company known as Quantum International. The company has undertaken
a contract to supply service to Venture Capital in Venture Capital's
capacity as an authorized Internet Service Provider. Mr Green pointed
out that the frame relay service is being invoiced directly to
Observer Radio indicating that Venture Capital is just a front
for a dubious Observer Group/Winston Derrick scam.
Mr Green's letter to the Telecommunications Officer also expressed
the APUA's concern over Mr Derrick's claim that the radio service
requires 46 local telephone lines to disseminate Internet service
internationally.
APUA urged the Telecommunications Officer to obtain operational details from
Mr Winston Derrick in his capacity as Telecommunications Regulator, as Mr Derrick
refuses to divulge information to APUA.
Mr Green concluded his letter by requesting advice on what he
termed the continued and persistent masquerade of the Observer
Group, whereby it operates and trades under different company names.
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Prime Minister tours
Call Centre Antigua
Lester Bird, received a sustained applause and warm welcome when
he paid a visit to the new Call Centres Antigua Limited (CCAL)
located at Coolidge Industrial Site.
 Call
Centres Antigua Limited, features approximately four hundred
work stations equipped with networked computers. At full capacity,
850 persons operating in shifts will staff the Centre.
The Centre is equipped with computer systems provided by Antigua Computer Technology
ACT.
Mr. Bird said that he was amazed at the layout and joked that
he could not remember seeing so many computers in one room anywhere
in the Caribbean. During his visit some 280 trainees were going
through a simulation exercise in preparation for the official start-up-date
on February 21, 2002.
Training at the centre covered a number of areas including Customer Relations,
Telephone Sales, Computer Skills, Time Management, Industry Practices and Self
Motivation.
 The
Prime Minister said that he was extremely happy to have the Call
Centre operations in Antigua. He noted that the centre will not
only provide employment for hundreds of nationals, but will also
allow them to use their computer skills.
In November of 2001, the Government opened the Antigua and Barbuda
International Institute of Technology (ABIIT) which allows for
advanced studies in Computer Technology.
Mr. Bird noted that several nationals who were trained through
the Government's computer programme found gainful employment in
the Call Centres. He added that this is a clear indication of his
government's aim to prepare nationals for the challenges of the
Informatics Industry in the 21st Century.
According to an official of Call Centres Antigua, over 800 persons will be
employed by October and that figure is expected to reach 2000 in 2003.
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Ministry
of Education introduces Spanish in Primary Schools
 The
Ministry of Education in Antigua and Barbuda launched its 'Spanish
in Primary Schools' Pilot Project on Friday, 1st February 2002.
According to the Project Coordinator, Curriculum Development
Officer, Miss Ekua Richards, teachers from the Villa, Greenbay,
Liberta and Potters Primary Schools have been involved in special
training for the last few weeks as part of its efforts to begin
the project.
Education Minister, Dr. Rodney Williams, who opened the project
at the Greenbay Primary School, said that for years he had recognized
the need to introduce a foreign language at the primary level.
The Minister went on to elaborate on the advantages of beginning
foreign language instruction at a young age. These include:
a. The easier assimilation of new languages by young children.
b. The improved preparation of students for the foreign language
programme in the secondary school system.
c. The provision of a competitive advantage to our students
when they enter both the job market and apply for entry to colleges
and universities.
d. The improved ability for residents to communicate with Spanish-speaking
visitors.
e. The strengthening of communication and trade links between
Antigua and Barbuda and the Spanish-speaking Caribbean countries.
f. An increased appreciation of cultural diversity.
Dr. Williams also added that the Ministry of Education intends
to expand the programme to all primary schools in the very near
future.
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AIDS
in the work place Workshop
 A
workshop for Employers, Managers and Supervisors on "AIDS
in the Work Place" opened at the Jolly Beach Resort on Wednesday,
13th February, 2002.
According to Mrs. Felicity Aymer, the AIDS Programme Co-ordinator
in Antigua and Barbuda, the workshop is designed to sensitise managers,
supervisors, and others in senior positions in the workplace, to
the reality of AIDS and how it affects the worker, and productivity.
The workshop will run for two days per week until the end of
March with a short break at the end of February.
A number of resource persons will address the workshop, including
doctors, victims, lawyers and other professionals and workers in
the fight against AIDS.
The AIDS Secretariat in Antigua and Barbuda has stepped up its campaign on
AIDS with a number of programmes and workshops in an increased effort to fight
AIDS and sensitise people to the danger of the dreaded disease.
At a special AIDS Symposium held in 2001, Prime Minister, Lester
Bird said his Government was committed to assisting the Secretariat
in its fight against AIDS in the country.
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PAHO
mission completes assessment of Bendals community and facilities
 The
fact-finding mission, invited by the Government of Antigua and
Barbuda, to assess the Bendals community quarry and asphalt plant
has completed its work and presented its recommendations.
The four-member team evaluated the proposed retrofitting and other
mitigation action being currently implemented, evaluated the main
potential risks for the Bendals community and the workers, assessed
the medical procedures and action taken to date and determined
the need for, and the details of an environmental monitoring plan,
a medical surveillance plan and a communication plan for the future.
Field visits were made to the Bendals Quarry and Hot Mix facility, the Bendals
Agricultural Field Station, the Primary School, Health Centre and seven households
in the village.
Interviews were conducted with the Health Information Division, nurses, personnel
at the Holberton Hospital and private physicians.
The residents of the community were concerned about dust pollution,
an unpleasant odour, health effects of past and future exposures,
the effects on the physical environment and future health and environmental
monitoring. The residents also requested that they be included
in addressing the problems.
The PAHO team found that while no major plume of dust over the facility and
community was observed, there is still a level of emission of suspended particle
matter. In addition, it was discovered that the use of protective clothing
and equipment for the workers was not consistent. Several reports of eye, chest
and skin complaints were received from the staff and students of the school
which is located downwind of the plant.
The dust reported in the village was as a result of unpaved roads
and there was no evidence of dead or dying vegetation near the
quarry or the village. The report further outlined that the village
gives the appearance of a rapidly growing and of an upwardly mobile
community.
The PAHO Team made a five-point list of recommendations to the Government as
it continues to address the problem.
1. Characterise hazards relating to the plant operations.
2. Continue with dust abatement activities: wetting and paving of roads.
3. Implement Industrial Safety and Hygiene as recommended in the Rodabaugh
Report.
4. Review of the existing health data and other requested reports, and consultations
with technical specialists and literature review, and specify further studies
to be conducted.
5. Complete evaluation of Public Health Reponse and National Health Information
system and make recommendations for strengthening capacity and quality assurance.
The team's final report, which will include guidelines for implementation,
will be presented to the Government by the end of March.
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No
agreement on Right to Work in CARICOM
The Ministry of Foreign affairs issued a statement on 11th
February concerning an alleged CARICOM "agreement" on
the free movement of journalists and skilled workers.
The Ministry statement reads:
"First, there is no CARICOM "agreement" on the
free movement of journalists and skilled workers. Article 46 of
the revised CARICOM Treaty gives university graduates, media workers,
sportspersons, artistes and musicians from CARICOM countries the
right "to seek employment" in member states. It also
allows member states to establish appropriate legislative, administrative
and procedural arrangements to facilitate CARICOM nationals seeking
employment.
In the case of Antigua and Barbuda, a Caribbean Community Skilled
Nationals Act was passed by Parliament in 1997 allowing university
graduates to seek employment from CARICOM countries that have entered
a reciprocal arrangement with Antigua and Barbuda.
Only four countries have enacted legislation allowing for movement
of media workers, sportspersons, artistes and musicians. These
countries are Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and St Vincent and The Grenadines.
However, in each case local laws have to be respected including,
if the law requires, the necessity for a work permit.
Therefore, the suggestion that the removal of Barbadian journalist
Julius Gittens from Antigua and Barbuda by the Commissioner of
Labour was a violation of a CARICOM agreement on the free movement
of journalists, either in spirit or letter, is false. There is
no such agreement. In any event, Mr Gittens was not removed because
he was a journalist; he was removed because he breached the laws
of Antigua and Barbuda and, in addition, treated public officials
of the Ministry of Labour and the Immigration Department with contempt.
The circumstances of the removal of Mr Gittens involved much more
than the payment of a EC$10.00 fee and was of such a nature as
to be unacceptable in any country.
Second, contrary to the claim that Protocol II to the CARICOM
Treaty caters for the free movement of people, the reality is that
it provides for the establishment of businesses, the provision
of certain financial services and the movement of capital. Those
who claim that it caters for the free movement of people are ill-informed.
Third, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has gone far beyond
any other CARICOM country in issuing work permits to CARICOM nationals
whether they are skilled or not. By administrative procedures in
the year 2001 alone 4,216 work permits were issued to CARICOM nationals
constituting more than 8% of the total Antigua and Barbuda population
and approximately 30% of the entire work force. Of that number,
38 are from Barbados.
No other country in CARICOM has issued as many work permits to
CARICOM nationals either in volume terms or as a percentage of
the total population. Therefore, the people of Antigua and Barbuda
would be justified in strongly objecting to any suggestion that
the country has breached the "spirit" of Protocol II
or the revised CARICOM Treaty. Indeed, quite the contrary is true:
Antigua and Barbuda's actions should be an example to others."
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Montserrat/Antigua
Protocol fully enforced
The Immigration and Labour Policies governing the rights of Montserratians
to live and work in Antigua and Barbuda have not changed.
That assurance came from the Labour and Immigration Departments on Friday 8th
February, following allegations that the Antigua and Barbuda/Montserrat Protocol
governing nationals of Montserrat in Antigua is being ignored.
Deputy Labour Commissioner, Hesketh Williams, said that the attempt to distort
the smooth functioning of the Protocol is mischievous, as Montserratians have
no problems with the Labour Department as long as they follow the process and
apply for Work Permits.
"The difference between Montserratians and nationals of other countries
is that Montserratians although they apply for their work permits and they pay
the ten dollar application fee, they do not pay the work permit fee, hence they
are exempted as per the protocol between Antigua and Montserrat," Williams
said.
"In 2001, when the Chief Minister of Montserrat was in Antigua there was
some discussion on the issue and in my view the matter was clarified at that
point. Nothing has changed as to the status of Montserratians as they are treated
by the Labour Department in the same way since the Protocol, which allows them
to travel in and out of Antigua and Barbuda freely, and allows them to work.
They do not have a problem in acquiring a work permit as they only need to follow
through with the formality of applying and they will always receive a permit
to work in the state," Mr. Williams outlined.
In addition, the Immigration Department outlined that there are no fees attached
to services provided to Montserratians, however there is still the need for
them to regularize their status in Antigua and Barbuda at the Immigration Department.
Public Relations Officer within the Immigration Department Mrs. Garilyn Reis
says that this policy has been in place for a number of years and continues
to be the policy of the Department.
"As regards Montserratians in Antigua, in the case of students it is policy
that a letter is required from the school that the students are attending and
this will be documented in their passport. This says that the child attends school
here in Antigua and Barbuda. There is no charge for Montserratian nationals in
any capacity getting extensions from Immigration, but it should be documented.
One of the main reasons for doing this is that at the point of application for
citizenship, should an individual not be able to prove the continuous period
of residency, they will have problems dealing with that. There is absolutely
no charge where Montserratians are concerned," Mrs. Reis pointed out.
The issue of the status of Montserratians in Antigua and Barbuda was clarified
in 2000 and again last year when the Chief Minister of Montserrat John Osborne
visited Antigua. In 1995 with the eruption of the Soufriere Hills Volcano,
the government of Antigua and Barbuda opened its doors fully to Montserratians
to live and work in the state.
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Julian
Rogers faces deportation
 Antigua
and Barbuda's Chief Immigration Officer, Colonel Clyde Walker has
served notice to the Manager of Observer Radio, Mr. Julian Rogers,
indicating that Immigration Officials are considering whether or
not Rogers will be allowed to remain in the country after his work
permit expires on April 19th.
In a letter to Rogers, Colonel Walker noted that it was only on February 1st
this year that Rogers sought to have his work permit status regularised.
On January 25th, a letter was sent to the Director of Observer
Radio, Winston Derrick seeking to have the work status of both
Mr Rogers and Mr Gittens (who was subsequently deported) regularised
in order to prevent any mis-understanding or embarrassment.
Immigration officials revealed that it was only when the Gittens matter came
up that Rogers sought to regularise his work status.
According to the Immigration Chief, Rogers made the assertion that "no
one will ever handle his passport." He is reported to have viciously abused
the Antigua and Barbuda immigration officials for carrying out their duties
as required by law in the Julius Gittens affair.
Colonel Walker noted that this general behaviour by a non-national
who was allowed to live, work and enjoy the same freedoms as a
citizen was unacceptable.
A few years ago, Rogers was thrown out of Trinidad and Tobago
by the Government of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday.
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Hamby violates bail:
Family property to be auctioned
The St. John's High Court on 19th February forfeited the remainder
of the bail from the sureties of Sybil Hamby, her mother Violet
Dowe and sister Terry Walter, amounting to $350,000. Hamby was
charged with defrauding several would-be homeowners in a housing
scheme that never materialised. The Court will now auction the
family property at Five Islands.
Justice Ephraim Georges stated that there were many angry people
awaiting restitution. A number of the individuals, he said, had
filed civil suits and the money would go towards settling the suits.
Director of Public Prosecutions, Cosbert Cumberbatch, explained
that the court has given the defendant and sureties sufficient
time. They have been given an opportunity to show cause why the
balance of the bail should not be forfeited. The court has no alternative
but to make an order to sell the property or for the balance of
the recognizance to be realised in cash.
Hamby was allowed to travel to England for medical attention,
with the provision she returned to Antigua in time for her court
case, present the court registrar with a contact number, a report
on her medical situation, and the date of her return. She has violated
all the conditions.
Her attorney, Dexter Wason, told the court that he had previously
sought an adjournment in order to find another attorney to lead
the defence, but was unable to come up with one.
Wason said he was unable to advise the court as to the date Hamby
would return, and asked the court to have him withdrawn from the
matter, however, Justice Georges denied his request.
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Errol Cort loses case
against Government: Judge Georges says submissions are "Constitutional
Heresy"
 Justice
Ephraim Georges on 20th February dismissed the case brought by
former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and Legal Affairs,
Dr Errol Cort against the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, the
Attorney-General, the Prime Minister and the findings of the Allen
Joseph forensic audit report into the Medical Benefits Scheme.
The Allen Joseph report claimed that Dr Cort had been paid over
a million dollars by the medical benefits scheme without following
due procedures.
In an hour-long judgement, in the High Court Justice Georges
agreed that some of the submissions made on behalf of Dr Cort were "constitutional
heresy".
The learned Judge said that the proceedings brought by Dr Cort
were inappropriate in law, without merit and could not continue.
He also noted that the proceedings were brought under rules of
the High Court which no longer exist.
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New political party
launched in Antigua and Barbuda
 Sporting "The
People's Progress" as their mission, organizers announced
the name of what is to become Antigua and Barbuda's third Political
Party - the National Movement for Change (NMC).
Making the announcement were two of the party's organizers, former ACLM and
UPP member Alister Thomas and Jameson "Kublai" Mannix, the leader
of last year's Old Road Village protest action involving the Carlisle Bay Development.
Mannix said that there is the need for change in the country and the Opposition
UPP does not seem to possess the ability to bring about that change. He said
that the NMC has the capability.
Refusing to divulge if the NMC has other members, Alister Thomas
said that the party plans to break away from the traditional way
of governance. A working committee has been formed to go into the
various communities and get the public's advice on the structure
of the party.
Alister Thomas is a former member of the defunct Antigua Caribbean
Liberation Movement ACLM and was defeated at the polls with a wide
margin by the ALP's Henderson Simon in St. John's City West Constituency
in the 1989 General Elections. He is also the former Public Relations
Officer for the United Progressive Party UPP headed by Opposition
Leader Baldwin Spencer.
Jameson Kublai Mannix is a former calypso writer and was one of the leaders
in the Old Road protest over the re-development of a multi-million dollar tourism
project at Carlisle Bay on several occasions. The protest action involved the
setting up of blockades, damage to vehicles, confrontation with the police
and the firebombing of the hotel.
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Antigua
and Barbuda to host the 17th Annual Tradewinds Exercise in April
 |
| Members of tradewinds
2002 organising team Tradewinds 2002 was officially launched
on Tuesday 19th February at the Headquarters of the Antigua
and Barbuda Defence Force at Camp Blizzard. |
Commander of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) Colonel
Trevor Thomas outlined that the activities will be held in Antigua,
Barbuda and St. Kitts, in an effort to ascertain the effectiveness
of various service organizations to respond to emergencies.
"My intent with this year's exercise is to integrate the
land and maritime elements to achieve joint operations which characterize
most RSS (Regional Security System) member states mission. A joint
task force headquarters will be set up to exercise command and
control over the land and maritime forces in order to realize this
concept. Troops will be required to respond to counter narcotics
and counter insurgency incidents on the islands of Antigua, Barbuda
and St. Kitts," outlined Colonel Thomas.
He noted that Tradewinds 2002 will culminate with a final training
exercise on Antigua where the Caribbean land and maritime forces
and the National Office of Disaster Preparedness Services (NODS)
will with all its supporting organizations, be expected to respond
simultaneously to security and disaster related incidents.
Regional Security Coordinator, Brigadier Rudyard E.C. Lewis, noted
that the exercises, which started in 1986 are set up to improve
the ability of islands to coordinate themselves and improve the
ability to assist a member state where there is some sort of difficulty.
Co-Director of Exercise Tradewinds, Lieutenant Colonel Edward
Croft, of the ABDF noted that the Scenario for this year's exercise
will include the deployment of Forces from various countries in
the RSS to address the situation of a drug cartel terrorizing Antigua,
Barbuda and St. Kitts.
This is the second time the country is hosting the event, the
last time being in 1994. Some 1000 military and law enforcement
officers from the Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic,
Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda, among others, will take part in
the event.
The event will take place from April 1 - 30 and is sponsored by
the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) with the support
of the Regional Security System (RSS).
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Ministry
of Tourism and AH&TA team begins 2002 Secondary Schools Tourism
education programme
 At
the request of the Principal of Christ the King High School, the
Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Antigua Hotels and
Tourist Association presented a dynamic and digitally animated
presentation to over 300 pupils and staff at the school's auditorium
on Wednesday, January 16, 2002. The presentation was titled "Careers
in Tourism - The Eight Key Sectors".
The presentation team was led by Miss Shirlene Nibbs, Director
General of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda. She shared the platform
with Mrs. Cynthia Simon, Executive Director of the Antigua Hotels
and Tourism Association and Miss Sasha Mercer, Director of Tourism
for Latin America and Caribbean in the Ministry of Tourism and
Environment.
The team presented a combined overview of precisely how the key
sectors of the Tourism industry are inter-related. They covered
eight sectors: Accommodation, Food & Beverage, Adventure Tourism,
Transportation, Attractions, Travel Trade, Events & Conferences
and Tourism Sectors.
During a 30 minute break between sessions the team answered many
direct and probing questions from the students
Both the Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua Hotels & Tourist
Association believe strongly in the continued and on-going exposure
of students and young persons to the possibility of sustainable
careers in the Tourism industry.
It is planned that a travelling "road show" version
of the presentation be developed so that all secondary schools
can benefit from career persons in the Tourism Industry.
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Cable & Wireless
introduces unlimited $27 call
Cable & Wireless has introduced a $27 call, no matter
how long the conversation, in a new promotion that allows residential
customers in Antigua and Barbuda to call other Caribbean countries
from any fixed telephone line at any time of the day or night.
Calls costing less than $27 would be billed at the regular rate.
Customers will only be able to take advantage of the offer if
they dial 10-10-269 before dialling the number they wish to reach
overseas. Customers who have registered numbers as part of the
existing Talkaway discount programmes, and who use the prefix 1010
will receive an additional discount.
"Cable & Wireless is making good on the commitment we
gave to our customers back in October 2001 to reduce our prices," said
Head of Customer Service Sales Colin James.
"Across the region, so far, we have reduced our international
direct dial rates. We've introduced dial Internet rates. We've
lowered the cost of direct connect to the Internet for business,
and we've continued to offer several discount programmes such as
this," he stated.
Mr James said that it was a tangible example of demonstrating
that Cable & Wireless had heard their customers and were responding
to their needs.
The new programme runs from 15 February to 15 May, 2002, and
applies to calls made to Antigua, Anguilla, Barbados, Bermuda,
BVI, Cayman, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis,
St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago and
the Turks and Caicos.
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