The High Commission of Antigua and Barbuda. Tourism, travel, business, politics, finance and investments.

Prime Minister Lester Bird delivering a special presentation at the Opening Ceremony of the 36th Bi-annual summit of the Heads of Government of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

Prime Minister Lester Bird has called on the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to set up a commission to further the sub-regional integration process.

Speaking at the opening of the 21st anniversary of the OECS, Mr. Bird suggested the adoption of a proposal arising from the West Indian Commission's 'Time for Action' report.

"We should establish a three-man commission, to oversee the implementation of the decisions of the Authority [of the OECS] and to superintend the deepening of the process of economic integration and functional co-operation with the guidance of the Authority.

He explained that "If we can make this commission work, not only would it serve our needs, it might encourage Caricom to adopt it, in which case it would not be the first time that action by the OECS has influenced Caricom for the better."

Mr. Bird also stressed that on the 21st anniversary of the birth of the OECS, efforts should be made to further consolidate the organisation by advancing the Region's economic integration with renewed and purposeful vigour and commitment.

"The international economic environment and its impact upon our domestic economies demand an effective response.

"No longer do we enjoy the preferential access to markets for our primary commodities. Concessional development, financing and generous inflows of aid and technical assistance are things of the past. Globalisation threatens even local production within our own markets," he said during his pronouncement that the need for OECS unity was greater now than ever before.

Prime Minister Lester Bird recently received a delegation from the Dominican Republic headed by its Consul in St. Maarten, Mr. Faustino Florentino Mejia.

Mr. Mejia explained that he had orders from the President of the Dominican Republic to visit neighbouring countries and assess the situation of nationals of the Dominican Republic living there. He expressed his surprise at the number of Dominican Republic nationals living in Antigua and Barbuda, and promised to assist with consular services.

The Prime Minister emphasized that the Dominican community in Antigua and Barbuda played a meaningful role in the economy and society, and that many had become citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.

Prime Minister Lester Bird stated that the time had come to formalize the relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and the Dominican Republic and that the government would work closely with Consul Mejia to achieve this objective.

The delegation also visited the consular section of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where they gave advice to Dominican Republic nationals on visa and other consular matters.

The vision of Lester Bird for his country of Antigua and Barbuda, as well as for the Caribbean, has been catalogued in the pages of a book entitled, "Antigua Vision, Caribbean Reality."

The three hundred and twenty-three page volume reflects the perspectives of a Caribbean Prime Minister on major issues that confronted the region over the quarter of a century, from 1976 to 2001.

Mr Bird is the only Caribbean leader who has been in government consistently over this period. Consequently, he has been in the forefront of decision-making in the region as an entire generation of West Indians grew to maturity.

The statements made in the book cover a range of topics, each of them crucial to the Caribbean's economic, social and political development. They range from the region's continuing quest to build a single Caribbean nation, its cautious relationship with the United States, the right of intervention in the affairs of Caribbean States, the increasing struggle to maintain a place in international politics, and the importance of cricket to the West Indian psyche.

Importantly, a chapter of the book is dedicated to the issue of governance in the Caribbean. Mr Bird asserts that Caribbean political parties have pushed adversarial aspects of the two-party system much farther than it existed in Britain. There is, he says, "a winner take all" mentality that attends general elections in the Caribbean and, as a consequence, undermines the creation of true nationhood. Most Caribbean countries are nominally one nation, but two distinct societies based on political division.

In the book the statements are reproduced in full and each is given a brief introduction setting its context.

Few public statements by Prime Ministers have been made with the frankness that has always been the hallmark of Lester Bird's presentations. In this connection, "Antigua Vision: Caribbean Reality" will be a unique source of reference for scholars, researchers and those interested in Caribbean Affairs.

The book is introduced and edited by Sir Ronald Sanders who has authored several publications on the Caribbean and Small States in general.

The Government of has begun to plan a home for the performing arts. Cabinet has approved the setting up of a Building Committee to facilitate the financing and construction of a Performing Arts Centre in Antigua and Barbuda.

The Committee will investigate the selection and acquisition of a site, consult with stakeholders, commission architectural and engineering designs, and source the funding.

The Committee held its first meeting on May 9, 2002. High on its agenda was the selection of a suitable site to construct the Centre. Consequently, discussions have started with the Ministry of Agriculture to secure such a site.

The Committee has also begun to recruit technical expertise to assist in the project preparation and presentation to funding agencies such as UNESCO and the Organisation of American States (OAS).

The project will comprise several phases the first of which will include the main auditorium and rehearsal facilities. Later phases include classroom and dormitory facilities.

Planning Minister, Gaston Browne, has been given an additional portfolio. On 6th June 2002, Governor General, Sir James Carlisle appointed Browne as Minister of Trade in an effort to fill the post that was left vacant following the resignation of Hilroy Humphreys just over a month ago.

Minister Browne retains responsibility for Planning, Implementation and Civil Service Affairs.

Browne said he intends to hit the ground running and plans to meet early with the Private Sector, especially those in manufacturing, to come up with a consensus on the way forward. He said he is pleased with the confidence and trust that the Prime Minister has reposed in him as a young government minister and sees his new appointment as a challenge - one that he would endeavour to live up to.

Newly-appointed Trade Minister Gaston Browne has promised to lower prices in the country and to create a scheme to assist young entrepreneurs.

"Obviously, there are certain issues that will basically mitigate against low prices. But I believe that if perhaps we put better systems in place, better regulations and probably more stringent laws, we should be able to influence prices to some extent," Browne said.

He is also in favour of a ceiling for basic food commodities, with a review every six months.

Browne said he would consult with key stakeholders for more input on this matter.

With regard to the defunct Industrial Development Board, Browne proposed two options. He explained that "We either revive it or we create a new Trade and Investment Authority. In the event of the latter, the authority will be empowered with the necessary resources to attract foreign investment in the country. That is critical to our development. We need to be a little more aggressive in terms of getting investment dollars coming to Antigua and Barbuda."

Admitting that aid to Antigua and Barbuda had literally dried up, the Minister said that the Trade and Investment Authority would also deal with domestic issues and the development of an entrepreneurial development programme.

"If we are saying that there is a new dispensation and that we have to increase our trade, we need to have an entrepreneurial class that can support that level of trade. It means therefore, that we have to continue to put the necessary assistance in place, assist young entrepreneurs in acquiring capital, and the authority may itself be empowered so that it may have the resources to fund the investment," he said.

A delegation of re-insurers and brokers from India has congratulated Prime Minister Lester Bird and his government on the continued development of the country, particularly the construction of the new Mount St John's Hospital that is scheduled for opening next year.

A representative body from the J.B. Boda & Company Group paid a courtesy call to Mr. Bird recently. The group's Executive Director Mr Kishor Gohil presented the Prime Minister with a gift of a carved sandalwood elephant and congratulated him on the continuous development of the country.

"The new hospital is exceptional," the group's Chairman, Mr Dandra Kapadia told the Prime Minister. He added that he had visited Antigua and Barbuda on a number of occasions and noted the forward thrust in development on every visit.

Prime Minister Bird said he was delighted to have the group in Antigua and Barbuda and went on to point out his government's role in the continued development of the insurance industry such as the establishment of the State Insurance Corporation (SIC).

On the 24th June 2002 the Government of Antigua and Barbuda signed a loan agreement for US$40 million (approximately EC$108 million) with the Stanford Financial Group Company of the United States.

The Agreement was signed in London by Senator Asot Michael, Minister in the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Finance, and Mauricio Alvarado, General Counsel of the Stanford Group.

The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda authorised the loan on 28th May 2002 under the Antigua and Barbuda General Loans Act, which permits the Minister of Finance to borrow up to US$60 million in any one year.

The centrepiece of the loan is a fixed interest rate of 9.5% over fifteen years with no penalties for early repayment. The terms of the loan are similar to concessional financing from development banks.

Commenting on the loan, Mr Alvarado said, "This loan demonstrates the confidence that the Stanford Financial Group and its sole shareholder, Mr Allen Stanford, have in the future of Antigua and Barbuda and its economy."

Senator Michael, who negotiated the loan over a six-month period with financial and legal experts in the Stanford Financial Group, said "This loan will be utilised for the benefit of the people of Antigua and Barbuda in practical and meaningful ways."

Mr. Michael identified several projects for which the loan will be utilised. These include: tourism - specifically the Hotel Training School and the completion of the airport runway; education - including a science laboratory for the Antigua State College, repayment of the Caribbean Development Bank for its programme of education and training, settlement of debts to the University of the West Indies for higher education for Antigua and Barbuda nationals; repayment of debt to the European Investment Bank for the solid waste and airport radar projects; and payments of arrears owed to International and Regional Organisations such as the Commonwealth Secretariat, UNESCO and the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, all of which have funded development projects in Antigua and Barbuda.

Work on the parallel taxiway at the V.C. Bird International Airport should recommence within a month.

Director of Public Works B.T. Lewis announced that "It is hoped that work will restart in about a month's time. And we are expecting that once work restarts, the taxiway will be completed in about three months."

Concerns have been expressed that the parallel taxiway is being built too close to the main road and the runway. However, Aerodrome Superintendent, Errol George dismissed the criticisms as misleading.

The Director of Public Works further pointed out that the separation of the runway and the taxiway meets Federal Aviation Association standards.

On Saturday 15th June 2002, in the Birthday Honours list, Antigua and Barbuda's Chief Foreign Affairs Representative, Sir Ronald Sanders, was promoted by Her Majesty the Queen in the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George. He was made Knight Commander (KCMG). He had been a Companion of the Order (CMG), a distinction given by Her Majesty on 1st January 1997.

A second award was bestowed on 19th April 2002 when the Government of the Republic of France accorded him the honour of Commandeur dans l'Ordre De Palmes Academiques.

Sir Ronald has been a principal participant in the formulation and execution of Antigua and Barbuda's external relations predating the country's independence in November 1981. Over the years, he has also worked diligently to promote the interests of Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean in the international community. Most recently, he has been in the forefront of Caribbean representation on international financial issues. A report in the Jamaica Observer noted, "Sir Ronald is a familiar and vigorous participant at regional an international fora dealing with critical issues of importance to the Caribbean Community in general. He was a key player in what has now evolved as a regular and structured encounter at the levels of Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and officials in the Caribbean-United Kingdom Forum".

In January 2000, he was made Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of the Nation in the Antigua and Barbuda list for outstanding diplomatic service.

The draft proposal for a bill seeking the establishment of a Broadcast Commission for Antigua and Barbuda was presented to Cabinet for approval recently.

The matter was tabled by the Minister with responsibility for Information and Broadcasting, Senator Guy Yearwood.

Minister Yearwood had issued the call for the establishment of such a body to regulate media operations in the country.

The draft which is now being studied and revised prior to circulation, comes after careful examination of other such documents from Jamaica and several other Caribbean countries and has been handed to the Attorney General, Gertel Thom for review.

Thom explained that the document will get the scrutiny of the members of a legal team before it is taken to Parliament. The Broadcast Commission is intended to regulate and bring high standards to the operations of the media in the nation.

Prime Minister Lester Bird has ordered an investigation into reports of violations of the beach Protection Act at Pinchin Beach in the Five Islands area.

The investigation is a reaction to reports of large-scale removals of sand from the beach. "The beach has been seriously denuded of sand in such a way as to pose ecological and other problems for the immediate area and other coastal areas of Antigua," Mr. Bird said.

He has asked the Director of Public Works, B.T. Lewis, for a report on the situation.

"Only the director of Public Works can issue a licence authorising the removal of sand from beaches, and even then only in controlled circumstances and for specific purposes," Mr. Bird said. "Quite rightly, this is a matter of great concern to environmentalists and those concerned with protecting the natural heritage of Antigua and Barbuda."

Pinchin Beach is part of a privately owned property, but the Act does not allow for private owners to remove sand from the seashore.

In addition, the Beach Control Act vests the foreshore of Antigua and Barbuda in the Crown.

Member of Parliament for the constituency of All Saints West, Hilroy Humphreys, will be bowing out of active politics.

Humphreys told a constituency meeting on 18th June that he would not be contesting the upcoming general elections. He said that he would throw his support behind Attorney-at-Law Arthur Thomas whom he has endorsed to run on the ruling Antigua Labour Party's ticket.

Humphreys has held the seat for the All Saints West constituency for over 20 years.

Thomas was the campaign manager of the All Saints West Constituency Branch of the ALP during the 1999 elections.

Thomas lives on all Saints road and explained that he decided to run for the ALP because, "I have an obligation to the people. I've gotten this far as a result of the community and I just have to give something back.

"I don't think it is right for persons to be sitting on the fence and criticising the government of the day and not get involved in the process. I have the ability and desire to serve."

He is the chairman of the Carnival Development Committee and the Prison Visiting Committee; a member of the Public Service Commission, the Antigua Cricket Association, Rotary Club of St. John's, the Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Thomas also holds the position of Vice President of the Antigua and Barbuda Bar Association and is the Diocesan Registrar of the Anglican Diocese of the North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, Secretary of the Antigua Offshore Practitioners Association and commissioned officer (Captain) of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force.

On Thursday 20th June, Fu Quanyou, Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, held talks with Trevor Thomas, Commander of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force

Fu, a member of the Central Military Commission, said it was the first high-level visit to China from the military of Antigua and Barbuda since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1983. The visit demonstrates that the friendly relations between the two armed forces have entered a new stage.

He said that China is satisfied with the smooth development of bilateral cooperation in every field and it is ready to deepen its relationship with Antigua and Barbuda.

Antigua and Barbuda has adhered to the "one China" principle since it forged diplomatic ties with China in 1983, and will continue its adherence.

Fu expressed his Government's gratitude to Antigua and Barbuda for its support of the "one China" principle.

Thomas agreed with Fu and said that he hoped to further relations between the two nations.

On 24th June, Mr. Lazaro Cabezas, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, paid farewell calls on Prime Minister Lester B. Bird, Senior Officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Agriculture, Vere Bird Jnr.

The Ambassador ends his tour of duty after eight (8) years as non-resident Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda and other Eastern Caribbean countries with residence in Barbados. The Ambassador will be returning to Havana, Cuba.

Matters discussed at the meeting included the issue of Cuban scholarships. There are presently eighty-two (82) students studying in Cuba. The Cuban Medical Brigade was also discussed, as well as the negotiating of a new technical framework project presently been worked out with Ministry of Agriculture. Antigua and Barbuda established diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1994 and since that time cooperation between both countries has strengthened considerably.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Bird recalled conversations he had with Cuban President Fidel Castro in 1998 in which President Castro spoke highly of the efficient form of Government and courage of CARICOM leaders.

Ambassador Cabezas emphasized the strong role of CARICOM in having Cuba admitted to the ACP Group and the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO).

The Prime Minister pledged to return to Cuba in order to strengthen the relationship further.

Antigua and Barbuda's Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC) has announced appointments to its two top positions.

Leroy King has been appointed as Administrator and a member of the Board of Directors and Harold Russell has been appointed as Supervisor of Banks and Trusts.

Mr. King has had over twenty-five years experience in banking in the United States. He started his career at the National Bank of Westchester in New Rochelle and retired from the banking industry as Vice President of Bank of America in New York in charge of business development for Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Africa and Eastern USA. He holds an MBA degree in Finance from Iona College in New York and has several post-graduate qualifications. He is the recipient of several awards for banking including the Distinguished Performance Award that he received from the indigenous banks of the Caribbean.

Mr. Harold Russell is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers and has a strong background in commercial, development and offshore bank supervision and inspection, having worked for several regulatory bodies in the Caribbean including Antigua and Barbuda. He speaks three languages fluently and has written manuals on banking procedures for banks in Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and St. Kitts and Nevis. He has also supervised projects for the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Development Programme.

Chairman of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission Mr. Lebrecht Hesse said, "We are delighted that we have attracted persons of such high calibre to the task of regulating the financial services sector."

On April 29 this year, the International Business Corporation Act was amended to broaden the powers of the regulatory body to include non-banking financial institutions in the domestic sector as well as the offshore financial sector.

Consequently, the name of the regulatory body was changed from the "International Financial Sector Regulatory Authority" to the "Financial Services Regulatory Commission."

The Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS) is expanding its health care by financing a fluoride rinse programme in schools throughout Antigua and Barbuda.

The programme is a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Health and Education, and is part of a pilot study involving the Five Islands, Sea View Farm, Mary E. Pigott and Potters Primary Schools.

It involves students between the ages of six and 12, but the overall goal is to extend it to students over 12 years old, including those at the Antigua State College.

Chairman of the Oral Health Task Force Dr. Vernon Dickinson said, "It is very important that teeth are kept in healthy condition.

Eric Henry from the Ministry of Health added that, "At the end of the day, if permanent teeth are taken care of, it will eliminate the cavities."

Dental surgeon Gregson Williams is enthusiastic that the MBS, and the Ministries of Health and Education have seen the necessity of putting the programme in place. "Topical fluoride must be continuous in order to achieve proper protection of the number and arrangement of teeth in a child's mouth," Dr. Williams said.

Principal of the Five Islands School, Hyacinth Gonsalves-Barriero, was happy that her school was involved in the pilot programme. "We have noticed that a number of students especially the younger ones, have a lot of cavities. Most parents can't afford dental care and with this programme at the school, we should see some positive results," she said.

Government accedes to the Protocol to United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has signed and acceded to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Pornography.

The Instrument of Accession was deposited with the Treaties Section at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City by Dr Patrick Lewis, Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador to the United Nations.

The United Nations Special Session on children was held 8th - 10th May 2002 and was attended by seventy-two Heads of States and Governments.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colin Murdoch explained that "the signing of the Protocol by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda is particularly important and comes at a time when the welfare of children is at the forefront of the global agenda."

According to Mr Murdoch, national legislation must now be passed incorporating the provisions of this International Protocol.

Former chairman of the Barbuda Council, Arthur Nibbs, has chastised Parliamentary Representative, Hilbourne Frank, for not meeting the needs of the average Barbudan.

Nibbs, who is hoping to get the nod of Barbudans in the next general election, said that while he is "willing, able, capable and ready" he believes "that the current parliamentary representative seems to be very exhausted and lacks the ability to continue." In addition, Mr Nibbs claimed that Mr Frank " has failed to attract any form of investment in Barbuda that will create employment and at the same time generate much needed revenue for the Barbuda Council."

Nibbs said that Frank was not a team player, that he had failed to attend council meetings and that he had politicised the land situation in Barbuda. He explained "If I am elected, I will endeavor to bring together Barbudans on the question of Barbudan lands. Frank, on the other hand, has only been motivating supporters of the Barbuda's People Movement. This is definitely a mistake and I intend to correct that once I am elected. There needs to be a national consensus on the land question so that the people's voice can be heard."

Frank who is the current parliamentary representative said he will not quit politics, as he had not completed his mandate.

Another Barbudan, Norris Morris Harris, has also made known his intentions to run as an independent candidate in the upcoming general elections.

A Japanese team will be in Antigua in July to begin work on a US$13 million fishing project at the Point Wharf and in Codrington, Barbuda.

Non-resident Ambassador to Japan, Daven Joseph, made the disclosure upon his recent return from Japan where he attended a meeting of the International Whaling Commission. "We have strengthened our relationship with Japan and we have secured a proposal for the Point Wharf and Barbuda Fisheries Development Project," Joseph said. He added that the design team for the project will visit next month to begin detailed design work, and that he expected construction on the Point Wharf project to commence in September 2003.

He said that Phase 1 of the project, at Point Wharf, will change the landscape of the waterfront in the area and create significant opportunities for residents of Point/Villa as it (the project) will not only include a fisheries component, but will be an initiative that will provide tourism-related business opportunities.

Joseph said that every effort is being made to ensure that the project is implemented as quickly as possible, so that it can provide employment and business opportunities for the area.

"The Barbuda Fisheries Project and the Point Wharf project will create a natural marine linkage between Codrington and St. John's. In Codrington, we will be developing the waterfront area with the construction of a fisheries complex and a landing jetty. This will provide an opportunity for Barbudan fishermen to store their catch."

The Ambassador has already submitted the project proposal to the Barbuda Council and will be meeting shortly with Council members.

The Barbuda Fisheries Project should be completed by September 2004.

The Japanese government is financing similar fishing projects at Urlings and Parham.

LIONS Club assist government in bringing Information Technology to Primary School students

The Lions Club of Antigua and Barbuda has been hailed as a valuable partner to the Education System.

This commendation was made by Education Minister Dr. The Hon. Rodney Williams at the opening ceremony of a new Computer Lab at the Irene B. Williams Primary School at Swetes, on Friday, 21st June.

The Lions Club has supported Education in many areas including Agriculture Science, Career Guidance, Health and Family Life Education.

The Education Minister, in sharing his government's plan for technology, indicated that it was their intention to provide access to information technology to every student. Additionally, Dr. Williams stated all private and public secondary schools have been provided with Information Technology labs and this initiative is being extended to primary schools.

The minister further stated that training is ongoing for teachers at both secondary and primary levels to equip them with the requisite knowledge to integrate technology into their teaching methods and curriculum.

Scholarships are also being offered to teachers in information technology and the Cabinet has agreed to provide a Internet line to each school.

This project is an example of the Government's thrust not only to computerize all schools but also to reform education in partnership with the private sector, represented in this case by the Lions Club.

The Lab is a modified air-conditioned forty-foot container, which can accommodate up to fifteen students at a time.

The management team of the Antigua Port Authority (APA) came in for harsh criticism as Minister with responsibility for the Port, Senator Asot Michael, reprimanded them and told them to start managing the port.

In a no-nonsense mood, Senator Michael told the management that he would not be satisfied with a non-performing management. "Where improvement is needed and necessary it will have to be done in a timely way for outstanding work to be completed."

The Minister identified a number of problems plaguing the port that the management needed to deal with immediately. These include unfinished toilet facilities, lighting and cleaning, as well as an incomplete water filtering system and the need for a new garage.
Turning to worker issues, the Minister assured port employees that even though the government had received two proposals for privatisation of the port, it would not move to privatise as this would endanger the jobs of the workers.

The workers were also told that the negotiations between the union and management, adjudicated by the Labour Department, had been completed.

The Minister said it was important that management, the union and the Board of Commissioners have one determination, that the atmosphere at the port is conducive to the generation of peace and harmony.

On the 20th June, the regional air carrier LIAT revealed details of a new marketing and development plan.

This includes a new LIAT brand, the outsourcing of its traffic department and the offering of shares to members of the public.

Chairman of the LIAT Board of Directors Wilbur Harrigan made the disclosure at a media conference at the Royal Antiguan Resort. Describing the plan as a new journey, Harrigan said, "In order for us to become even more streamlined and create an efficient LIAT, we are presently negotiating with the unions."

LIAT will own 51 per cent of shares with the remaining 49 per cent held by shareholders.
Five interested parties - one from the United States, one from Britain and three from within the region - have indicated interest.

From 15 July the airline will begin Nevis to San Juan and Antigua to Santo Domingo services. In addition, the regional airline will have a new corporate image and Director of Corporate Development David Stuart revealed that LIAT aircraft will be named after each of its nine shareholder island territories.

He concluded that a special passenger survey will be launched to get a clear indication of their needs and concerns, and staff would undergo a series of customer service and motivational training based on the airline's new customer charter.

After a four-year absence, Air Jamaica Flight #94 landed at V.C Bird International Airport Thursday 20th June on its inaugural flight from New York to Antigua to a red carpet reception.

President of Air Jamaica, Bruce Noble along with other Air Jamaica and Caribbean Star officials arrived on the flight. They were greeted with the sounds of the Baxter Methodist Steel Orchestra and school children from Greenbay and Villa Primary schools bearing gifts of flowers.

Minister Joseph added that the return of Air Jamaica was very important in the strategy to increase the number of seats coming to Antigua.

He cautioned, however, "New beginnings usually pose a challenge for us and this beginning will only be good if we continue a high standard of service and excellence."

It's one thing to have seats, but we must have bodies to fill those seats," he said.

Speaking at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Richard Lue, Air Jamaica's manager of sales for Jamaica and the Caribbean, said he was very happy with the support the airline had received and expressed satisfaction with the new check-in facilities built by Caribbean Star Airlines.