ISSUE NO.76 April 2003
Tax
Information Exchange Agreement between United States and Antigua
and Barbuda enters into force
On 8th April 2003 the Treasury Department announced that the United
States and Antigua and Barbuda had exchanged diplomatic notes to
bring into force the “Agreement for Exchange of Information with
Respect to Taxes” between the two countries that was signed in
Washington, DC, on December 6, 2001. The Agreement entered into
force on February 10, 2003, and is effective as of that date.
Antigua and Barbuda therefore is now considered part of the “North
American area” for purposes of determining whether U.S. taxpayers
may deduct expenses incurred in attending conventions, business
meetings and seminars there. Convention expenses incurred by U.S.
taxpayers for meetings in Antigua and Barbuda that otherwise are
deductible as ordinary and necessary business expenses will be
allowed without regard to the additional limitations applicable
to foreign convention deductions.
BACK TO TOP
Antigua
and Barbuda accepted into Membership of International Financial Intelligence
Units
Antigua and Barbuda has been accepted as a member of the prestigious
Egmont Group of international financial intelligence units.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Financial Intelligence Unit, which is located within
the Office of National Drug Control and Money Laundering Policy (ONDCP), received
the news from the Egmont Group and the Director of ONDCP Wrenford Ferrance,
made the announcement on 8th April.
Mr. Ferrance explained, “ONDCP applied for membership last year, and we are
very pleased to learn that the Group has decided to accept us. This is a mark
that the work we are doing in combating money laundering is well respected
by the international community.”
Antigua and Barbuda will be formally admitted to membership of Egmont Group
in Sydney, Australia later this year.
In 1995, Financial Intelligence Units of the large industrialised
nations established the Egmont Group which now has 58 members.
Antigua and Barbuda is only the third independent Commonwealth
Caribbean country to be accorded membership. The others are The
Bahamas and Barbados.
The purpose of the Group is to provide a forum for Financial Intelligence Units
to improve support for their respective anti-money laundering programmes. Mr.
Ferrance explained, “We in Antigua and Barbuda can expect to receive help in
training and the application of new technologies to our work.”
BACK TO TOP
PM
Bird receives Judge of International Criminal Court
 |
Prime Minister Lester Bird and
Ambassador Slade
|
On 7th April, Prime Minister Lester Bird, received HE Mr. Neroni
Slade, Ambassador of Samoa and Chairman of the Association of Small
Island States (AOSIS) at the United Nations.
The AOSIS is comprised of seventy countries from all regions
of the world, which have formed themselves into a loose association
at the UN.
Ambassador Slade, who is the permanent representative of Samoa at the United
Nations and a judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC), was at the time
attending an environmental conference in Antigua and Barbuda.
Prime Minister Bird, welcomed Ambassador Slade. He congratulated
him on his election to the Court, and noted that small island states
now had two of the eighteen judges of the Court in himself and
Mr. Karl Hudson-Phillips of Trinidad & Tobago. Antigua and
Barbuda was one of only four CARICOM countries eligible to vote
for the judges of the International Criminal Court.
Ambassador Slade congratulated the Prime Minister for the leadership
provided by Antigua and Barbuda in international environmental
matters, and stated that he found the role of Antigua and Barbuda
at the international level on environmental matters quite remarkable.
He urged the Prime Minister to continue to support the work of
AOSIS at the UN, because the political voice gives cohesion to
the grouping.
Ambassador Slade also took the opportunity to discuss with PM
Bird the work of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG)
on Zimbabwe, on which Samoa sits. He explained some of the difficulties
being experienced by the CMAG in reaching a consensus position
on Zimbabwe.
BACK TO TOP
Two Rwandans granted
Refugee Status in Antigua and Barbuda
 |
|
Antigua and Barbuda ad hoc Refugee
Eligibility Committee
|
The Antigua and Barbuda ad hoc Refugee Eligibility Committee met
on 15 April in resumed session to determine the status of two Rwandans
who had applied to be declared refugees under the United Nations
1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.
Antigua and Barbuda is party to this Convention, in which claims
for refugee status are required to be formally assessed using guidelines
set by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The Committee chaired by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Colin Murdoch, included representatives
from Immigration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry
of Legal Affairs, the UNHCR and the Antigua Christian Council.
The Committee had originally met in mid-February to consider the
applications which had been submitted on behalf of the two applicants
by their legal guardian, Ms. Andra Stevens.
Both applicants are female and were born in Rwanda. They fled
Rwanda during the civil war and genocide in 1994 and were in UNHCR
refugee camps in Zimbabwe and Kenya. One of the applicants is only
eleven years old; while the other is nineteen. In February they
made statements and answered questions before the Committee.
Ms. Stevens, a national of Antigua and Barbuda, came into contact
with the family while working with the UN in Zimbabwe and Kenya.
She became legal guardian of the children in 1996.
Ambassador Murdoch explained that under the UNHCR’s guidelines
for refugee children, the basic guiding principle should be the
best interests of the child and the preservation of family unity.
Murdoch said that the Committee had decided to grant the children
refugee status and added that he was glad that Antigua and Barbuda
was able to fulfil its obligations under the UN Convention, and
to make a humanitarian gesture. They are both lovely children and
we wish the family all the best.
BACK TO TOP
Yearwood’s
Canadian citizenship officially renounced
 |
Senator Guy Yearwood
|
Senator Guy Yearwood is no longer a citizen of Canada.
Senator Yearwood, who became a citizen of Canada in December
1984, has formally completed the process to renounce his Canadian
citizenship.
In a letter to Yearwood, the Canadian authorities informed him
that he is no longer a citizen of Canada and his application to
renounce his Canadian citizenship was approved. He was issued with
a certificate of renunciation of Canadian citizenship number 4274,
a copy of which has been sent to the Canadian Citizenship registry
branch, Sydney, Nova Scotia.
In a related story, Prime Minister Lester Bird has threatened
to write to Governor-General Sir James Carlisle requesting the
revocation of appointments of all senators who hold dual nationality.
In a letter to Parliamentary Representative for Barbuda Hilbourne
Frank and Chairman of the Barbuda Council Fabian Jones, Bird made
specific reference of Senator Lynton Thomas, who is a naturalised
citizen of the United States and Antigua and Barbuda.
Senator Thomas sits on the Barbuda Council and is the Council’s
representative in the Senate.
PM Bird told the men he had been advised by the Attorney-General
that the Constitution does not allow dual citizens to sit in the
Senate and therefore such persons cannot legally sit on the Barbuda
Local Council.
If the PM makes the request of the Governor-General, he explained
that “As soon as the Governor-General revokes the appointment,
he, [Thomas] will be stopped from sitting in the Local Council.”
When contacted Frank said he can only wait on the Prime Minister to carry out
his threat. He made it clear that as far as he is aware, Senator Thomas has
already renounced his US citizenship in the Antigua Courts.
During the swearing in ceremony of the new Barbuda Council, Senator
Thomas was served with an injunction by Senator Rueben James preventing
him from sitting on the Council.
BACK TO TOP
IKOBO signs Global Bank
of Commerce as International Bank partner
iKobo, a global online financial services company
focused on international money transfer and payments, recently
announced it has signed two new bank partners in the Caribbean:
Global Bank of Commerce Ltd based in Antigua and Barbuda and Intercommercial
Bank Ltd. of Trinidad and Tobago.
According to terms of the license agreements, financial details
of which remain undisclosed, iKobo’s local in-country bank partners
will market and support distribution of iKobo’s i-Kard, a prepaid,
reloadable debit card used for domestic and international money
transfer. The agreements mark the first time senders and recipients
in these countries will be able to choose a single service that
uses either local or US currency for both domestic and international
money transfer transactions.
Global Bank of Commerce will service i-Kard customers in Antigua and Barbuda
and within the other eight member countries of the Organization of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS).
i-Kard users in these countries will benefit from more flexibility
and choice as they may now send money to family, friends and business
partners in Eastern Caribbean dollars, TT dollars or US dollars
from their debit card, credit card, or individual bank accounts.
They also benefit from 40-60% lower transaction fees for domestic
or OECS regional money transfers. i-Kard recipients in these regions
will also be able to collect i-Kards from bank partners upon presentation
of a government-issued form of identity. Additionally, the bank
partners and their authorized representatives will also provide
first level customer service support to i-Kard customers and facilitate
remittances from local to overseas markets.
“With the i-Kard we’re now able to extend financial services around the clock
as funds can be transferred and received in a matter of minutes. Also, with its
ability to store and reload value the i-Kard financially empowers a whole new,
wide cross-section of the community which up till now was not able to possess
debit cards. The i-Kard gives customers new financial status and encourages them
to save, create wealth and increase their buying power, all to the benefit of
the local economy,” said Brian Stuart Young, chief executive officer, Global
Bank of Commerce Ltd.
“We’re focused on our 2003 market expansion plans which specifically target Latin
American and Caribbean markets,” said Marvin Johnson, Chief Executive Officer
of iKobo, Inc. “Our ability to attract and sign solid local bank partners is
part and parcel of our business model and validates the global market opportunity
for our innovative i-Kard service. In-country bank partners allow us to introduce
i-Kards specifically customized for a particular market and thus further enhance
the quality of service provided by iKobo.”
i-Kards will be issued directly by the local bank partners to
their service areas by mid-July 2003.
BACK TO TOP
Government
resuscitates its Debt Co-ordinating Committee
The government has moved to resuscitate its Debt Co-ordinating
Committee.
Making this announcement, Junior Finance Minister Senator Asot
Michael said that the main purpose for the resuscitation is to
ensure that government’s financing requirements and payment obligations
are consistent with prudential international standards and guidelines.
The mandate of the committee is to manage all contracted debt
and optimise the flows related thereto.
In the 2003 Budget the Prime Minister announced that public debt
servicing represents 17.6% of recurrent expenditure. This is a
relatively large burden and warrants the implementation of innovative
management strategies that would correct the country’s macro-economic
and fiscal imbalances. According to Senator Michael, government’s
attempts to improve the management of its debt portfolio have already
reaped dividends.
Last year, the government repaid $5.8 million in loans thereby
reducing the 2003 budgeted allocation for debt servicing. Michael
further disclosed that government will re-negotiate the debts which
were contracted at a time of high interest rates. “We shall seek
to reduce the interest to today’s market rates in order to save
millions of dollars in interest payments,” he said.
Government has already serviced some of its commitments. Senator
Michael said that government was also able to renegotiate its loan
with Finance and Development Company Ltd., ABI Group and Bank of
Nova Scotia.
BACK TO TOP
LIAT gets local and
regional assistance
 |
|
LIAT – on the runway at V C Bird
International Airport
|
On 8th April Prime Minister Lester Bird, along with Junior Minister
of Finance, Senator Asot Michael, successfully negotiated a EC$3M
loan with Antigua and Barbuda Investment Bank Ltd., (ABIB), Antigua
Commercial Bank Ltd., (ACB) and the National Commercial Bank of
Dominica (NCBD), to help save cash-strapped airline, L.I.A.T.
Through this loan, LIAT enjoyed a degree of reprieve from its dire working
capital position, and was able to meet some of its obligations.
Upon signing the loan agreement, Prime Minister Lester Bird stressed that all
should be done to save LIAT, which he regards as one of the institutions that
has played a pivotal role in facilitating Caribbean integration. PM Bird said
that Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to the company could be seen in the approximately
EC$30 million in prior loans and guarantees, secured by the Government on behalf
of LIAT.
The airline will also get help from other countries in the region.
At a meeting in Barbados on April 13, 2003 the Heads of Government of St Vincent
and The Grenadines, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and Deputy Prime Minister
of Antigua and Barbuda discussed proposals for financing LIAT (1974) Ltd.,
to ensure that it continued to provide service to the region.
Central to the decisions taken was the agreement that there will
be one carrier operating within the south and eastern Caribbean
region. A technical team will be constituted to determine the appropriate
structure for such a single carrier and the most appropriate strategy
for achieving it. The Heads agreed further that a plan for achieving
this should be finalized by end of June 2003.
In the interim the Heads agreed to provide the immediate funds
needed to keep the airline afloat. These funds will come from Antigua
and Barbuda (EC$4.8 million); Barbados (EC$3 million); Grenada
(EC$0.3 million); St Vincent and the Grenadines (EC$2.5 million)
and a loan facility for EC$12.5 million from Trinidad and Tobago.
LIAT will also have to continue its cost cutting measures to
ensure its viability.
The Heads also agreed that technical work should proceed immediately
on evaluating how a single carrier airline for the region might
be developed between LIAT and BWIA. In addition a joint approach
will be made to the Export Development Corporation of Canada to
negotiate debt relief for LIAT.
BACK TO TOP
Half
Moon Bay workers to receive severance pay
Over 100 former employees of Half Moon Bay Hotel will soon receive
their outstanding severance pay.
The Prime Minister made the announcement saying that the government
will be taking to Parliament the Half Moon Bay Hotel Severance
Pay Act, which was to have been tabled last year, but was stalled
by the Antigua Workers’ Union
During his budget debate presentation Opposition Leader Baldwin
Spencer had criticised the government over its failure to pay the
workers. But Prime Minister Lester Bird explained that the Antigua
Workers’ Union is directly responsible for the delay in the passage
of the legislation that would facilitate the payments.
“They must bear the blame. We announced our intention to pay
the Half Moon Bay workers, and I have a letter here from Keithlyn
Smith, former general secretary of the AWU, who insisted that they
would not go along with that,” PM Bird said.
He made it clear that government had no obligation to pay the workers since
the owners of Half Moon Bay received insurance money after Hurricane Luis destroyed
the property eight years ago.
The Antigua Workers’ Union opposed the severance payment fund
proposed by the government, saying that it should be extended to
all hotel workers, not just to those of Half Moon Bay.
The Prime Minister said, “In the circumstances I am asking the Attorney-General
Gertel Thom to ignore the AWU’s proposal and prepare the necessary legislation
immediately and bring it before this Honourable House for passage, so government
can meet the payment to Half Moon Bay workers.”
Spencer described the sale of the Half Moon Bay as “huckstering” which was
also echoed by Charlesworth Samuel, MP for All Saints East and St. Luke’s but
Mr Bird noted “our objective is to make the property productive.
“We want to provide employment, pay taxes and enhance our tourism
product,” he said.
He explained that the property will be sold to an investor who
has the proven resources to develop high quality properties.
BACK TO TOP
Antigua
and St. Vincent agree to NO WORK PERMITS
The governments of Antigua and Barbuda and St. Vincent & The
Grenadines have entered into a special bilateral arrangement, where
certain nationals of both countries can work in either country
without the requirement for a work permit.
This agreement was reached between Prime Minister Lester Bird
of Antigua and Barbuda and Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister
of St. Vincent & The Grenadines at the recently concluded 37th
Meeting of the OECS Authority in St. John’s.
Service providers, such as carpenters and masons, from Antigua
and Barbuda and St. Vincent & The Grenadines can now work in
either country without a work permit.
This new arrangement is an OECS initiative involving the three
countries – Antigua and Barbuda, St. Vincent & The Grenadines
and Montserrat.
Montserrat’s Chief Minister John Osborne said that Antigua and
Barbuda is already ahead of OECS countries with regard to an initiative
to eventually allow free movement of nationals within the OECS
region.
He added that other countries in the OECS will soon have to follow
suit, “The others have to come along. We have not had any commitment
yet from St. Lucia and Grenada, but St. Vincent & The Grenadines
has committed itself. Very shortly the other two islands (St. Lucia
and Grenada) will have no choice but to come on board.”
A specific category of professionals including media workers,
sports professionals, musicians and artists who have to be accredited
by a regional university, are eligible for employment in OECS member-states
without the requirement of a work permit.
BACK TO TOP
OECS
residents will soon have common passport
Member-states of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS) are one step closer to a common OECS passport and the implementation
of the OECS Economic Union, bringing all OECS countries into one
bloc.
This is one of the key decisions coming out of the recently concluded
OECS Heads of Government meeting. Newly appointed OECS Chairman,
Chief Minister of Montserrat John Osborne, in speaking to the press
at the conclusion of the 37th meeting of OECS Authority said “It
has been agreed that there will be further work undertaken on the
development of criteria for the issuance of a common OECS passport,
which can form the basis for a common Citizen Act in the OECS to
be presented to the next meeting of the authority, so the actual
issuance of these passports can begin shortly thereafter.”
“On the matter of OECS Economic Union, Osborne, on behalf of
the OECS, accepted a proposal from Antigua and Barbuda that all
work towards the Economic Union should be completed by 2005.
With regard to Dominica’s difficult economic situation, Osborne
said “the OECS heads have pledged to continue giving all possible
support to Dominica in the context of Dominica being a member of
the Eastern Caribbean Currency Authority.”
The next meeting of the OECS Authority is slated for November.
BACK TO TOP
Prime
Minister gives Ministry of Agriculture 30-day deadline
The Ministry of Agriculture has been given a 30-day deadline
to restart a number of land projects and if this is not done the
Office of the Prime Minister will assume control of these projects.
In the 2002 Throne Speech government promised to set aside 100 acres of land
for purchase by public servants including police, nurses, teachers, firemen
and prison warders who wish to build a home. During the budget debate in Parliament,
Opposition Leader, Baldwin Spencer, criticized the government for not keeping
this promise.
Prime Minister Bird said, however, that this will be accomplished
this year. “In this House now, Madame Speaker, I am now giving
the Minister of Agriculture 30 days in which to begin to implement
this programme and 90 days in which to have it operational.
“If within 30 days time I do not receive a report of its implementation
of this programme including the hiring of private surveyors to
survey the land, I will overtake the control of this project in
my ministry and oversee it myself,” the Prime Minister said.
The same he says also applies to the land for youth project where
100 acres of land has been identified for this programme and the
residential tourism project.
The Prime Minister also admitted that 400 acres of lands were earmarked for
sale in the 2002 Throne Speech but this has not been realised.
“Had this been done we would have realised $90 million in revenue
to the Treasury and that sum of money would not only clear the
deficit of $63 million but provide us with a surplus of $25 million,” he
said.
(For the full text of the PM’s concluding remarks on the Budget Debate, please click
here)
BACK TO TOP
MBS to take ownership
of new medical centre
 |
|
Mount St John Hospital
|
Once the Mount St. John’s Medical Centre is complete its ownership
will be handed over to the Medical Benefits Scheme (MBS).
Word of this has come from Prime Minister and Minister of Finance
Lester Bird while concluding his debate on the 2003 budget on 11th
April.
“We are committed to vesting the ownership of the new hospital
into MBS and will do so once the hospital is completed and operational,” he
said.
He also disclosed that the MBS Board had hired distinguished
jurist Karl Hudson Philip to revive the MBS legislations that is
now being studied by the Board and the Government.
“It is our intention to present the revised legislation to Parliament
and to provide with it the vesting of the ownership of MBS,” Bird
said.
With regards to the $50 million in grant allocation to the government
for health care from the MBS, Bird in setting the record straight
said, “the $50 million allocated from MBS is a paper transaction,
not a cash transaction,” he said.
“It is a preliminary reconciliation of the accounts between government
and the MBS that has been conducted by the experts.” He explained
that the MBS owes the government more than $50 million and that
the government has to pay MBS approximately $25 million per annum
in contributions. “We have undertaken that we will keep the payments
current, therefore, we propose to have an exchange of cheques with
MBS for the years 2003 and 2002,” he said. He added that “The exchange
of cheques therefore is merely a set off of $50 million until the
final reconciliation of all accounts is completed.”
He said contrary to the idea that government would bankrupt MBS, his government “will
continue to pay the costs of health care this year from the Treasury and we
will reduce the liability of the MBS by $60 million making its balance sheet
look much more attractive than it does today.
“Further when we vest the ownership of mount St. John Medical
Centre in the MBS, it will have gained a very considerable and
valuable asset.
“So with the reduced debts and increased assets, the MBS will
be in a very advantageous position to raise funding on the commercial
market for expansion and improvement of the health care facilities
under its control,” he added.
“Indeed the MBS will become one of the biggest single financial
entities in Antigua and Barbuda, and it will be owned by the people
of this country and controlled by them, through the broad cross
section of representatives who now sit on the board and will continue
to do so in the future,” he said.
(For the full text of the PM’s concluding remarks on the Budget
Debate, please click here)
BACK TO TOP
Prime
Minister Lester Bird instructs his lawyers to proceed with case
to answer Kim Barua’s allegation
Prime Minister Lester Bird announced that he has instructed his
lawyers to proceed immediately to answer the suit for damages made
against him by Monique Kim Barua. While Monique Kim Barua had filed
this suit against the PMi in relation to allegations made on a
now infamous videotape, the PM had filed a suit for defamation
against the owners of the Observer Group and leading members of
the UPP in relation to the making and distribution of the videotape.
On 16th April, High Court Judge Rita Joseph-Olivetti ruled that
the two suits could not be consolidated into one and that a substantial
duplication of evidence could lead to a complex trial and to errors.
In the circumstances, the Judge ruled that Miss Barua's suit be heard first.
In making this ruling the Judge observed that the case should be put on a “fast
track”, and she noted that “the court is required to play a pivotal role in
ensuring timely resolution of disputes.”
After the ruling lawyers for Mr. Bird, initially indicated that they would
appeal it. However, Mr. Bird said, “I am not for appealing the ruling of the
learned Judge. I know that the suit for damages by Miss Barua is false, groundless
and baseless, and I am keen to have this proven in Court. Therefore, I have
instructed my lawyers not to appeal the ruling and to proceed to answer the
suit for damages entered in the name of Miss Barua.”
The Prime Minister added, “I have taken careful note of the learned
Judge's observation that the case can be “fast tracked,” in other
words that it can be heard expeditiously. That is what I am interested
in, I want the falsehoods of these allegations to be exposed, and
justice done. Therefore, the sooner it gets into the Court the
better.”
BACK TO TOP
Floating Price System
for gasoline takes effect in Antigua and Barbuda
 |
|
Senator Michael and Technical Team
meeting with Service Station Dealers
|
Junior Minister of Finance Senator Asot A. Michael, aided by a
Technical Team from the Ministry of Finance, has successfully negotiated
a new agreement with Service Station Dealers.
Service Station Dealers, sought and received an audience with Minister Michael
to discuss their price margins following the implementation of a floating system
of pricing for gasoline instituted by government last month.
The Dealers, who recently received a 13 cent increase on their margin, believed
that the new floating system and their current margin would affect their ability
to operate.
Deputy Financial Secretary Hendron Parker said that the dealers will now receive
75 cents on every gallon of gasoline sold in comparison to the 55 cents they
were previously receiving.
With the implementation of the floating system, the price of
gasoline at the pumps also increased from $6.98 to $7.89 per gallon.
Mr. Parker outlined that even though the world market price of
gasoline seems to be falling, the present price of gasoline reflects
the cost that the West Indies Oil Company bought the bulk fuel
for three to four weeks ago.
Mr. Parker was very optimistic that present world trend in the
oil markets, the price of gasoline should decrease with the next
shipment of fuel.
BACK TO TOP
Group of Chinese workers
barred from entering Antigua amid fears about SARS
A group of Chinese construction workers were barred from entering
Antigua and Barbuda, amid increased efforts by the authorities
to prevent an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)
on the island.
Public Safety Minister Steadroy Benjamin said the government decision not to
grant entry to the 14 Chinese nationals, who were due to carry work on local
projects, was taken in the best interest of the country. It was taken in light
of World Health Organisation (WHO) advisories relating to SARS.
WHO is now recommending, as a measure of precaution, that persons
planning to travel to these destinations consider postponing all
but essential travel.
The local company, Complant, which had offered employment to
the Chinese workers, said it supported the decision not to allow
them into Antigua given the health and safety risk that could be
posed to the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
BACK TO TOP
SARS preparedness
Meanwhile, Cabinet convened a special meeting to receive an
update from the Ministry of Health on the status of the country’s
readiness to address the threat of SARS.
The Cabinet received a comprehensive report from the Medical
Officer of
Health Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas and members of a task force established to
address the issue.
Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas briefed the Cabinet on the steps being taken to detect
and control any cases in Antigua and Barbuda, including enhanced surveillance
at ports of entry.
A response has been established for Holberton Hospital in the event that a
probable or suspected case of SARS is imported into the country.
This plan includes the identification of a potential ward at the Hospital;
the identification of human resources for case management and contact management;
laboratory preparedness; the acquisition of control items such as masks and
protective gowns.
The Ministry of Health is in the process of establishing a Health Desk at the
V.C. Bird International Airport to deal with suspected cases, and discussions
have been the Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association (AHTA) on the role of
hotels in the early detection of SARS cases.
Medical personnel have received information on the WHO recommended
case definition of SARS. In addition, an advisory has been issued
to all registered medical practitioners on the island informing
them of the Ministry’s surveillance activities for SARS and that
all suspected cases should be reported to the Chief Medical Officer
or the Medical Officer of Health.
In addition, the Ministry of Health continues to liaise with
the WHO, the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and the Caribbean
Epidemiology Centre (CAREC)
The Cabinet expressed satisfaction in the work being done by
the Office of the Medical Officer of Health and the Special Task
Force in addressing the matter and urged them to keep the Cabinet
and the public informed as to the issues relating to SARS.
BACK TO TOP
Government
freezes rental fees for vendors
Minister Responsible for the St. John’s Development Corporation
Senator Asot A. Michael has responded to a call from Shop Tenants
and Vendors in the Public and Craft Market Complex to be granted
a freeze on the increase in rental fees.
Upon hearing of a protest action being mounted by the vendors and tenants of
the market outside the Parliament building, Senator Michael accompanied by
Agriculture Minister Vere Bird Jr. and Executive Director of the St. John’s
Development Corporation Mr. David Jardine, left the Parliament building and
listened to the complaints and grievances of the vendors.
After hearing of the concerns of the vendors, chief among which
was reverting to the original cost of rental following the expiration
on March 31, of a 50% reduction in rent; Senator Michael and the
Minister Vere Bird Jr granted a freeze on the increase in rent
for a year and announced that the 50% reduction cost will remain
in effect.
Senator Michael noted that even though government will be taking on a further
burden of responsibility to continue subsidising the market, he and Minister
Vere Bird Jr. believe that it is the right decision to freeze the rental costs
for a year and review the decision within a year in the interest of assisting
the vendors.
He also said that the government will do everything possible to ensure that
the vendors ply their trade in the best possible environment. Plans will be
put in place to promote the market and generate more business.
BACK TO TOP
BPMC
and ALP capture council seats in Barbuda
The newly-formed Barbuda People’s Movement for Change (BPMC)
and its accommodation partner the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) have
each captured two of the four seats that were up for grabs in island
council elections on 3rd April.
Arthur Nibbs, the former Barbuda Council chairman who broke away from the Barbuda
People’s Movement (BPM) last year and formed the BPMC, received the highest
number of 479 votes, while his running mate, Dave De Souza, got 421 votes.
A total of 837 persons cast ballots in the election in which 1,195 persons
were eligible to vote.
The two ALP candidates - George Burton and Everette Thomas - won their seats
with 460 and 402 votes respectively.
The four BPM members were unsuccessful.
The Barbuda Council, which looks after the administrative affairs of the tiny
sister island of Antigua, comprises a total of 10 members. However, elections
were only due for four seats on the Council this year.
With the outcome of the election, there is now a two-way split on the Council
between BPM and the BPMC-ALP accommodation.
BACK TO TOP
Barbuda
victory a resurgence for ALP
Prime Minister Lester Bird has described the victory at the
polls in Barbuda for the two Antigua Labour Party candidates as
a resurgence of the ruling Antigua Labour Party.
He indicated that Barbuda is now going to move rapidly forward.
“I am happy that two Labour Party candidates have been able to
win their seats. It shows the resurgence of the Labour Party not
only in Barbuda but obviously in the whole country. It is indicative
of what is going to happen in the general elections,” Bird said.
“We have a strategic alliance with Nibbs. I think you can put that in the column
for the Labour Party. We are starting off with one obviously and we are absolutely
sure we will get the necessary numbers to form the government once again,” he
added.
Bird said he has big plans for the sister island especially seeing
that it appeared the Barbuda Council would be working with the
ALP. “We are going to revise that housing project that was destroyed.
We are going to get the arrow plant working and operational. We
are going to revisit the question of the electricity to see whether
or not it is viable and if not the government will continue to
subsidise Barbuda’s electricity. We will move towards seeing how
we can expand eco-tourism for Barbuda,” Bird said.
The Prime Minister added that government would be laying down
a definite plan for Barbuda now that the composure of the Council
had changed.
BACK TO TOP
OND
opens headquarters
The Organisation for National Development (OND), one of the new
political parties in Antigua and Barbuda now has its own headquarters
on Upper St. Mary’s Street.
Interim Chairman Glentis Goodwin said the opening of the party’s
headquarters is part of the OND’s timetable to have its own home.
He told the audience “we are here for the long haul, we are serious.”
OND’s Director of Strategy, Planning and Political Action, Melford
Nicholas, said OND is all about revolutionary thinking and accountability
and he reiterated that OND was here to stay. “The opening of our
secretariat is that symbol of permanence. It is that symbol of
our early maturity, it is that symbol that we are not a frivolous
organisation; that we are not just going to be here today; that
we are not just going to contest the general elections merely to
create a split as some people have contended,” he said.
Nicholas added that the OND was in existence “to make our impact
felt, we are here to engender that social revolution and that social
revolution must first and foremost start with the concept of good
governance,” he added.
Secretary-General Valerie Samuel explained that the secretariat will be a place
where all members and prospective members can sign up membership, a place of
social gathering where a library will also be housed.
The OND is finalising plans to hold its convention in June and
to identify its candidates for forthcoming general elections.
BACK TO TOP
Antigua and Barbuda
signs contract with Jamaica Electoral Office
Another important step has been made regarding the election
machinery as the contractual arrangements between Antigua and Barbuda
and the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) have been finalised.
Participating in the signing of the contract between Antigua and
Barbuda and Jamaica were Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral
Commission McClin Matthias and Danville Walker of the Electoral
Office of Jamaica.The completion of the signing of the contractual
arrangements now means that the re-registration exercise will shortly
commence in order to comply with the requirements of the Representation
of the People (Amendment) Act.
The act calls for the re-registration exercise to be completed
no later than 30 Sept. Chairman Matthias assures the public that
the stipulated deadline will be met.
The Electoral Commission has received sharp criticism from the
political directorate for not doing an effective job but Matthias
is silencing his critics by stating “we are going to satisfy the
requirements under the law.”
Head of EOJ Danville Walker noted that the new arrangement will
not only enhance the integrity of a clean electoral list, but that
it will mark the implementation of new mechanisms to ensure a free
and fair electoral process as has been recommended by the Commonwealth
Observer Group.
Deputy Chairman Bruce Goodwin concurred with the views of both
Chairman Matthias and Walker.
Goodwin said that the Jamaica system is cost effective and efficient
and this system will now be shared with Antigua and Barbuda.
“We recognised that what Jamaica has achieved was at the highest
rank of what can be achieved in terms of elections management in
the Caribbean region,” he added, while also noting that the collaboration
effort was an example of the potential for co-operation among Caribbean
States.
BACK TO TOP
Senator
Michael defends charges of over spending
 |
|
Senator Asot Michael
|
Senator Asot Michael has defended charges that he was excessive
in the money allocated to the Ministry of Public Works.
Michael also claimed that the charges were a personal vendetta
being waged against him in his capacity as junior finance minister. “The
only crime that I can be accused of is trying to assist poor people
in this country,” he said.
His comments came as a result of accusations made against him
during debate on the 2003 Budget in the Lower House, by former
Trade Minister Hilroy Humphreys and government backbencher Sherfield
Bowen. Both men accused Michael of overspending government’s resources
in the Ministry of Public Works.
Senator Michael, in refuting the charge, said “The truth is,
that this Ministry is the executing agency for many of the other
Ministries.”
“Hence, much of the spending that will be undertaken by Public
Works will be with respect to the rehabilitation of sports centres
and fields, and the construction, reconstruction and improvement
of government buildings,” he added. He recommended any allocation
made to the Ministry of Public Works, for programmes to be executed
in respect of another Ministry, be reflected under the said Ministry.
Turning his attention to allegations of impropriety at the Ministry
of Public Works, he said the only beneficiaries were the 700-800
employees that were hired by the small contractors. “I did not
benefit one cent,” he said.
The Ministry of Finance has been allocated $58.5 million in the
2003 budgetary estimates.
(For the full text of Senator Michael’s Statement, please please click
here)
BACK TO TOP
High
Commissioner and Attorney-General represent Antigua and Barbuda
in a series of successful negotiations and meetings in the UK
Attorney General, Mrs Gertel Thom, visited London from 13th -
22nd April to undertake a series of legal meeting organised by
High Commissioner Sir Ronald Sanders.
During her 10 days in London, the Attorney General participated
in the conclusion of negotiations on a Prisoner Transfer Agreement,
held discussions with representatives of the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office, paid a call on the Lord Chancellor, and met several legal
experts to talk about various issues pertaining to Antigua and
Barbuda.
 |
 |
H.E. Sir Ronald Sanders KCMG KCN, Chief Foreign Affairs
Representative with
Ministerial Rank and High Commissioner |
Attorney-General, Mrs Gertel Thom
|
BACK TO TOP
Prisoner Transfer agreement
On 15th April, Sir Ronald and the Attorney General successfully
concluded negotiations on a Prisoner Transfer Agreement in London.
The UK team was headed by Graham Wilkinson of the Prison Service
and included representatives of the Home office and the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office.
The negotiations were conducted at the Chancery of the Antigua
and Barbuda High Commission.
Under the agreement, British nationals, who have been sentenced to jail in
Antigua and Barbuda, may be returned in certain circumstances to the UK to
serve their sentences.
Sir Ronald said, “This arrangement will be beneficial to Antigua
and Barbuda in relation both to dangerous offenders, and in terms
of easing pressure on our limited resources. Unless the Government
chooses to keep a particular prisoner in Antigua for some reason,
we can send all UK prisoners to Britain to serve their terms at
the UK’s expense”
The Attorney-General also revealed that ”to facilitate this agreement
with the UK and other countries, my Government will introduce a
Transfer of Prisoners Act during the next sitting of Parliament
setting-out the procedures under which such transfers might take
place”.
Several other Caribbean countries have already negotiated similar
agreements with the UK, and some have extended the agreements to
the entire European Union.
The agreement will be signed formally in May this year.
BACK TO TOP
Legal and Prison Training
While in London the Attorney General, with High Commissioner Sanders,
also met Syd Madicott, the Head of the Caribbean Department of
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Ms Anesta Weeks, Chairperson
of the British Caribbean Jurist Group.
The Attorney-General and Ms Weeks have agreed that the British Caribbean Jurist
group would send experts to Antigua to assist in the establishment of a Legal
Aid Clinic that would provide legal assistance to persons who lack the means
to pay lawyers. Mrs Thom explained that the Antigua and Barbuda government
would provide the building and the services of two lawyers in the first instance.
Ms Weeks agreed that the British Caribbean Jurist Group would provide experts
to establish systems in the office as well as training. Both Ms Weeks and the
Attorney-General underscored the importance of all lawyers in Antigua and Barbuda
agreeing to volunteer some of their time on a rotating basis to help provide
justice for persons who cannot afford to retain lawyers.
In a separate meeting, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office representative,
Syd Maddicott, explained that one of the senior prison officers from the Antigua
prison would be attending a training course for trainers within the next few
weeks funded by the UK government. It is expected that, in turn, he will train
other officers to train prison warders.
Mrs Thom stressed the importance of broadening training including by exposing
prison officers to the operations of modern prison services. It was agreed
that Sir Ronald would take up wider training in the context of the UK-Caribbean
Forum which is a permanent mechanism for co-operation between the UK and Caribbean
governments.
BACK TO TOP
The
Lord Chancellor
On 22nd April Mrs Thom met Britain’s Lord Chancellor, Lord
Irvine at the House of Lords to review a number of matters of bilateral
interest to the two countries. Among the issues they discussed
were the proposed Caribbean Court of Justice as a court of original
jurisdiction for trade disputes among countries of CARICOM, and
the Privy Council as the final appellate Court for civil and criminal
matters.
BACK TO TOP
WTO-related
meetings
Later that day, the Attorney-General then met US and European
lawyers representing the government of Antigua and Barbuda in its
claim that the United states has violated World Trade Organisation
rules and commitments under the General Agreement on Trade in Services
over Internet Gaming. The meeting was held at the Antigua and Barbuda
High Commission in London.
Consultations between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States
began on 30th April in Geneva when Antigua and Barbuda’s Chief
Foreign Affairs Representative Sir Ronald Sanders met the US Ambassador
to the WTO, Ms Linnet F Deily.
BACK TO TOP
Maritime Law
Attorney-General Thom’s final discussions in London were with
Colingwood Ingram, a legal expert on maritime law, who has been
retained to review Antigua and Barbuda’s maritime laws and its
laws on Merchant Shipping to bring them in line with new requirements
by the International Maritime Organisation. Antigua and Barbuda
is a flag-ship State with over 800 ships registered under its flag.
Antigua and Barbuda has consistently been “white-listed” by the
IMO as fully compliant with international requirements. Mrs Thom
said, “We want to maintain Antigua and Barbuda’s high reputation
with the IMO and the international shipping community. Therefore,
it is important that our laws and regulations governing shipping
meets all the necessary standards”
The Attorney-General returned to Antigua and Barbuda on 23rd
April.
BACK TO TOP
Antigua’s
Dickenson Bay named among four best beaches in the world
The Evening Standard and The Times of London have reported
that Dickenson Bay in Antigua has been named as one of the four
best beaches in the world.
Twenty of the world’s best beaches were selected by thousands
of people who cast votes on the travel website: www.expedia.co.uk.
Expedia then picked computer science and marketing graduate Peter
Shannon of England from among 1,000 persons who applied to the
website to visit the 20 beaches and rate them.
Shannon travelled thousands of miles and considered all 20 beaches
before making his judgement. He judged the beaches against 12 criteria
including sand, temperature, cleanliness, sea transparency, noise
and cost. Each criterion was marked out of five and the total scores
determined the final league table.
Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner in London, Sir Ronald
Sanders, said, “We are delighted that Dickenson Bay has been chosen
as one of the top four beaches in the world, and we are using this
as part of a marketing campaign in the UK by showing more of our
remarkable 365 beaches under the banner, “...and they say this
is not our best beach!”
BACK TO TOP |
