ISSUE NO.77 May 2003
Antigua and Barbuda congratulates
first Black woman in British cabinet
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Sir Ronald and Baroness Amos
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Antigua and Barbuda's High Commissioner to London, Sir Ronald
Sanders, has hailed the appointment of Britain's first black female
cabinet minister as an outstanding example to disadvantaged persons.
In a letter to Baroness Amos who was 12th May 2003 appointed
as Britain's International Development Secretary, Sir Ronald said, “You
have overcome obstacles of race and birth to rise to the highest
heights of human endeavour. As such, you are an outstanding example
to disadvantaged individuals everywhere.”
Baroness Amos was born in Guyana and became a Baroness in 1997.
She served in the Department for International Development under
Clare Short in the first Blair Government in 1998. In 2001, she
was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Foreign
and Commonwealth Office.
Sir Ronald recalled that he and Baroness Amos have worked closely
over the last two years particularly in the organisation of the
UK-Caribbean Forum of Foreign Ministers and in creating new machinery
for strengthening relations between the UK and the Caribbean.
Recalling Baroness Amos' working career which started as Chief
Executive of the Equal Opportunities Commission in the UK, Sir
Ronald told her in his congratulatory letter, “No one could help
but admire your hard work, diligence and commitment, but Caribbean
people in particular will take great joy in your appointment.”
Baroness Amos replaces Clare Short who resigned as International
Development Secretary over differences with Prime Minister Tony
Blair concerning the handling of Iraq at the United Nations.
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Prime Minister Lester Bird
congratulates Arthur on victory
Prime Minister Lester Bird has congratulated his Barbadian counterpart,
Owen Arthur, on his recent victory and that of the Barbados Labour
Party (BLP) following general elections there on Wednesday, May
21.
Following is the text of that message:
“I write to convey to you the warm congratulations of the Government and people
of Antigua and Barbuda on the re-election last night of the Barbados Labour Party
under your leadership to a third consecutive term in office.
This historic victory at the polls is an emphatic mandate from the people of
Barbados, endorsing the goals and strategies put forward by your party and
Government. Great public faith reposes in you to take Barbados further along
the road to economic development and social progress.
Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda have always enjoyed excellent relations. I
look forward to working with you to improve and develop these relations, both
bilaterally and in the wider context of our Caribbean Community.
Our Caribbean region faces many complex challenges on several
fronts. As we work more closely together in economic and political
matters to confront and overcome these challenges, I pledge the
full support and cooperation of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
I take this opportunity, on my own behalf, to offer you my best wishes for
a successful term in office; and ask that you accept assurances of my highest
regard.”
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Antigua PM dismisses motion
of No Confidence being made by Backbencher
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Prime Minister Lester B. Bird
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Prime Minister Lester Bird has said that any legislator who supports
a motion of no confidence against his administration would be,
in effect, supporting allegations that government ministers in
Antigua and Barbuda are corrupt.
In a nationwide address on the 28th May, Mr Bird said that he
was aware that the motion by backbencher Sherfield Bowen had created
much discussion on the island.
Bowen, who was appointed Deputy Speaker by the Prime Minister
in March 1999, will table the motion at the next sitting of Parliament.
Mr Bird told the nation that Bowen, in his motion, was claiming, “the Prime
Minister has not done enough to combat corruption within his administration”
“What that statement says is that there is corruption within my administration.
It says that ministers and other members of my administration in the House of
Representatives and the Senate are corrupt. Consequently, anyone who supports
Mr. Bowen’s motion will be accepting his claim that ministers and other members
of my administration in the House and Senate are corrupt,” he said.
Mr Bird said that Bowen’s motion was “not simply a vote of no confidence in
the Prime Minister, it is an indictment of the members of my administration,
and an acceptance that his allegation is valid”.
Bird also dismissed suggestions that he had failed to debate the Prevention
of Corruption Bill and the Integrity of Public Life Bill, saying, “every schoolchild
knows that one man alone cannot debate and certainly in the House of Representatives
and the Senate, the Prime Minister alone cannot debate a Bill”.
“It takes all the members of the House and the Senate to debate any Bill, including
ministers of the Government,” he added.
“Mr. Bowen’s motion, therefore, is not simply a vote of no confidence in the
Prime Minister, it is an indictment of the members of Parliament, including government
ministers, who will be accepting the notion that they deliberately chose not
to debate two bills which might have an adverse affect on them personally.”
The Prime Minister explained that the two Bills were not debated
because the Attorney General had advised that the Organisation
of American States had engaged Justice Monica Joseph to prepare
draft legislation for the OECS Countries. A seminar to discuss
the legislation was held in St. Lucia and the OAS Legal Adviser
undertook to circulate copies of the legislation as amended by
Justice Joseph. At the time of prorogation of the Parliament in
March 2003, the amended draft had not been received. He went on
to say that “In March 2003, I tabled a Resolution which was approved
by the House of Representatives for ratification of the OAS Convention
against Corruption. Many of the clauses and ingredients in our
Bill are enshrined in the OAS Convention against Corruption which
we have ratified”.
Mr Bird also dismissed allegations that his administration had “recklessly
and wantonly spent in excess of EC$60 million (US$22.2 million dollars) during
the year 2002 without legal authority”.
But he said since 1973 “there has been spending by Public Works over and above
the budgeted allocation”.
“Indeed, in 1999 the over-expenditure was greater than it was in 2002. Why, therefore,
has the year 2002 been selected? The over-expenditure was not unusual, and was
certainly not the biggest for twenty years”.
Bird said that every legislator in his administration and previous
administrations was aware of the overspending for public works.
“In this connection, anyone who supports this motion of no confidence will be
supporting the denunciation of every member of this Government and all previous
governments going back to the PLM (Progressive Labour Movement) administration
which did the same thing in order to provide services to the public,” he added.
The Prime Minister described as “utter nonsense” allegations that he frustrated
efforts to investigate the sum of US$350,000 paid into the Government Forfeiture
Fund on July 18, 2001 but not reflected in the audited accounts of that year.
Bird told the nation that the money was part of proceedings laundered through
a bank in Antigua and that it had been “paid into the Government’s Forfeiture
Fund which is administered by the Office of National Drug Control and Money
Laundering Policy (ONDCP)”.
“The reason why the money is not reflected in the Government’s audited accounts
is that it was not paid into the Treasury and only Treasury Funds are accounted
for in the national accounts.”
“Under the laws of Antigua and Barbuda, forfeited funds have to be paid, not
into the Treasury but into the Forfeiture Fund administered by ONDCP. ONDCP has
publicly revealed that the cheque which Mr. Bowen wrote as forfeit of money laundering
funds was deposited to the Government Forfeiture Fund at the Bank of Nova Scotia,” he
said.
“The allegation in Mr. Bowen’s motion therefore shows both ignorance and malice,
and is unworthy of any support,” Bird said.
The Prime Minister’s entire statement can be read on the Internet
at website: www..antigua-barbuda.com under “Latest News”.
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Special committee to
present report on Perfecting Regional Integration
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CARICOM Heads of Government
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A Special Committee of five regional heads of Government will
present a report to the 24th Meeting of the Conference of Heads
of Government of the Caribbean Community in July on “perfecting
the regional integration process”.
The Special Committee is made up of Owen Arthur of Barbados,
Lester Bird of Antigua and Barbuda, Ralph Gonsalves of St. Vincent & the
Grenadines, Patrick Manning of Trinidad & Tobago and P.J. Patterson
of Jamaica.
At a special session of the CARICOM Heads in February 2003, Prime
Minister Lester Bird first proposed the establishment of a working
group, made up of political and technical experts, to produce recommendations
designed to perfect the regional integration process including
the structure of governance for deeper economic integration of
the Community.
The Committee met in Antigua in April where they considered two
papers, one prepared by Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Chairman of
the West Indian Commission and another by the Government of Antigua
and Barbuda.
The Heads of Government discussed the two papers for several
hours and agreed on a text that would be presented to the CARICOM
Conference. It is understood that they will propose the establishment
of a Caribbean Commission to help implement decision of the Heads.
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Non-Nationals
with temporary residence status granted exemption from having
work permits
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Labour Minister Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin
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Non-nationals granted Temporary Residence Status will be exempt
from having a work permit as of June 1.
Labour Minister Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin said that persons who
have resided in Antigua and Barbuda for three consecutive years
would have demonstrated that they intend to make Antigua and Barbuda
their home. The Cabinet has, therefore, decided that when these
people attain Temporary Residence Status, they should be afforded
the privilege of not requiring work permits.
He said that anyone who comes to Antigua and Barbuda and lives lawfully for
three or more years will no longer require a work permit to be employed in
the State. In addition, the Cabinet agreed that the amnesty granted to non-nationals
to regularise their status from April of 2002, be extended for a further period
of three months.
Minister Benjamin said that this Cabinet Decision took into consideration that
many non-nationals have not regularised their status in the country because
of a number of constraints, including finances.
He said that the government feels that it should consider the
position of these non-nationals and give them additional time.
The extra months will also aid the Labour and Immigration Departments
in upgrading their statistics.
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Rupert Sterling resigns
over dual citizenship matter
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Labour Minister Steadroy ‘Cutie’ Benjamin
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Junior Minister of Information Rupert Sterling
has resigned from the Senate and his ministerial position.
In his letter, Mr Sterling explained that in light of the commencement of legal
proceedings for a declaration to determine whether or not his position as a
Member of the Senate contravenes any of the provisions of the Constitution
of Antigua and Barbuda, he considered it within the best interest of the country
that he relinquish his position as a Member of the Upper House.
On 9th May, Attorney General Mrs. Gertel Thom filed an application in the High
Court for a declaration that Rupert Sterling and Linton Thomas of Barbuda were
not validly appointed as Senators because they hold dual citizenships.
The order called for both men to vacate their seats and further
restrain them from sitting or continuing to sit in the Senate.
Sterling and Thomas are citizens of the United States of America.
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister Bird, Sterling also said that he
is firm in his belief that he has not contravened any law by sitting in the
Upper House of Parliament. He said that he plans to clearly establish this
beyond any doubt by the use of the Judicial System.
Mr Sterling added that he believes that the Court is the appropriate forum
for such a declaration, but he also recognises that it will take some time.
He said that during the period leading up to the matter being heard in the
courts, he does not consider it proper for him to be performing the duties
of a Senator while he is defending the validity of his appointment as one.
He thanked the Prime Minister for the opportunity to have served the country
for the past four years.
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Female
minor case against Prime Minister Bird struck out
The Case brought by attorneys for Monique Kim Barua, (the female
minor involved in videotape allegations), against Prime Minister
Lester Bird and Beverley Percival has been struck out by the failure
of Lake and Kentish to comply with an order of the court to produce
evidence.
In the suit, the lawyers for Monique Kim Barua accused Prime Minister Bird
of sexually abusing her, while Beverly Percival is accused of abduction and
procuring a minor for sex.
At the beginning of May, Justice Mitchell ordered Lake and Kentish, attorneys
for Monique Barua, to provide the Prime Minister’s lawyers with certain information.
Failure to provide this information would strike out the case.
Lake and Kentish did not produce the material.
Prime Minister Lester Bird said that he regrets these developments as he was
looking forward to meeting his accusers in court.
The lawyers expressed concern that persons will seek to misconstrue this matter
with political eyes and not the facts; namely that information was requested
from Lake and Kentish since November 2002 and they have failed to do so.
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Voter Re-registration
to be held from July 1 to 31
Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda, His Excellency Sir James
Beethoven Carlisle, has signed a proclamation declaring July 1
to July 31 as the period for the registration of all eligible voters
in Antigua and Barbuda.
The recent amendments to the Representation of the People Act , which governs
the conduct of elections in the state, requires that all eligible voters be
re-registered before a general elections can be held.
The Amendments to the Act also provide for the establishment
of an Electoral Commission to organise and carry out the processes
required for the holding of an election. The Electoral Commission
has been receiving assistance from the Jamaica Electoral Commission
in the setting-up of the necessary equipment for the conduct of
voter registration.
The new system will provide voters with identification cards, equipped with
photograph and personal information about the individual registered.
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Prime
Minister Bird request June 12 for debate on no-confidence motion
Prime Minister Lester Bird has requested a special sitting of
Parliament on June 12 to debate a motion of no-confidence against
him that was filed by Antigua Labour Party Backbencher Shirfield
Bowen.
Prime Minister Bird said that he wishes to expedite the matter swiftly.
Should the motion brought by Bowen be supported by the majority
of members present in Parliament during the debate, the Constitution
provides for two alternative courses of action by the Prime Minister.
Either he resigns within seven days to make way for the selection
of a new Prime Minister or he requests the Governor-General to
dissolve Parliament and names the date for general elections to
be held within three months.
Leading members of the Antigua Labour Party Administration have publicly voiced
their support for Prime Minister Lester Bird, while Tourism Minister Molwyn
Joseph and former Trade Minister Hilroy Humphreys offered no comment on the
matter.
Health Minister and Veteran Politician in the Antigua Labour Party Administration,
John E. St. Luce says he does not support the motion of no-confidence against
the Prime Minister going to Parliament.
Minister St. Luce says that problems faced by any political party
should be ironed out at a party caucus or convention and not taken
to the highest decision making body in the land.
Vere Bird Jr., Chairman of the ALP, says that he too believes that if a person
has a problem with the Antigua Labour Party and its leadership, they should
vent their concerns within the party. He said that dissident ALP politician
Sherfield Bowen never came to Executive meetings to vent his feelings.
Labour Minister Steadroy Benjamin said the he will not be supporting
the motion. He said he has no difficulty with the leadership of
the Prime Minister. He added that Prime Minister Bird has been
an effective leader in getting development projects organized He
also said that the Prime Minister introduced programmes that not
only benefit Antiguans and Barbudans, but place the State in the
position to be the leader in the Eastern Caribbean.
Planning Minister Gaston Browne outlined that he will not support a move to
remove the Prime Minister and that he will not condone such actions. He also
said that there are avenues within the party where problems can be addressed.
Deputy Prime Minister Robin Yearwood has strongly supported Prime Minister
Bird noting that the motion filed by Bowen will not survive.
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AIDS
Secretariat launch project to reduce incidence of AIDS
The AIDS Secretariat, in collaboration with the United Nations
Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Barbados has recently launched
a project in Antigua and Barbuda designed to reduce the incidence
of drug abuse and HIV/AIDS, specifically among young people.
Drug usage and HIV/AIDS transmissions are major concerns in Antigua
and Barbuda and there is a definite link between drug use and risky
sexual behaviour leading to HIV infection.
The project will include the establishment of a steering committee.
This will be made up of both youth and adults and will be responsible
for overseeing the project for the two-year duration.
One major problem identified is the lack of information available
to young people, therefore, the project will also include the training
of peer educators to provide life skills to the youth. The project
aims to train at least 100 peer educators who will be able to provide
information and train other young people in the community.
The project also aims to seek innovative ways to get prevention
messages across. These activities will include sporting events,
concerts, dance and theatre as a means of getting the youth involved.
A youth forum will also be established to facilitate the exchange
of information, to discuss issues and problems affecting youth
and identify possible solutions.
Public Health consultant Teju Alakija, has recently been recruited
as the project co-ordinator and she will be responsible for implementing
the project with the steering committee.
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High
Commissioner Sanders reveals bogus Internet website claiming
to sell Antigua and Barbuda Passports and Economic Citizenship
Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to London, Sir Ronald
Sanders, has drawn attention to a bogus Internet website that claims
to be selling economic citizenship of Antigua and Barbuda as well
as passports.
Sir Ronald identified the website as: www.diplomaticsecondpassport.com.
He said the name of the company on the site is “International Privacy Consultants” but
it shows no address, or telephone and fax numbers.
The High Commissioner stated, “While the website claims that a Dr Markus Simonsen ‘will
answer all questions’, the only contact is through an e-mail process that does
not show an address and which self-destructs in ten seconds”.
Sir Ronald pointed out, “Antigua and Barbuda does not have, and
has never had, an economic citizenship programme. While we do have
a Permanent Residence Scheme, it does not give such permanent residents
Antigua and Barbuda passports”. He added, “Passports are issued
only to persons entitled to them by reason of birth or naturalization
under the laws of Antigua and Barbuda”.
High Commissioner Sanders said, “I am making this information public in order
to warn persons who may believe that this website is legitimate, particularly
as the bogus company requests payment of US$35,000, fifty per cent of which
has to be paid in advance”.
Sir Ronald concluded, “I have no idea how many people may have
been duped by this phony website, but my government is concerned
that no one should be fooled by it in the future”.
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Ambassador
Earl Phillip pays farewell visit
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Prime Minister Lester Bird and
Ambassador Earl Phillip
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On 28th May, Mr. Earl Phillips Jr., the Ambassador of the United
States accredited to Antigua and Barbuda, paid farewell calls on
the Prime Minister Lester Bird and Governor-General Sir James B.
Carlisle.
The Ambassador ends his tour of duty after fifteen (15) months as non-resident
Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, residing in Barbados.
The Ambassador will return to the United States this summer to
assume dual positions as an Associate at the Kenan Institute for
Private Enterprise and as a Visiting International Executive at
the Kenan Flagler Business School of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill.
In his meeting with the Prime Minister, Ambassador Phillips thanked the Prime
Minister for his work in building up the good relationship which now exists
between the United States and Antigua and Barbuda.
Prime Minister Bird touched on several of the more important
bilateral issues and stated how much he enjoyed working with Ambassador
Phillips during his stint in the region. He wished the United States
diplomat success as he moved on to the world of academia.
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Sir Ronald pays tribute
to Donald Halstead
Donald Halstead BA. LLB (Hons), former Member of Parliament and
Special Envoy for Antigua and Barbuda passed away on 19th May 2003.
Following is tribute by High Commissioner Sir Ronald Sanders
on his passing:
“If ever the phrase "larger than life" suited a man,
it suited Donald Halstead. He was truly larger than life, not only
because of his booming voice and his commanding presence in any
company, but also because he had big visions and was ready to confront
the mightiest obstacle to achieve them.
Donald was also a pragmatist. For him, the ends justified the
means, and the ends were always grand projects that would benefit
the Antigua and Barbuda's economy and uplift the quality of life
for the ordinary man and woman. In his lifetime, he saw many of
his projects realised both as a diligent young man in the vineyards
of the trade union movement and then in the Government of the Progressive
Labour Movement.
Many quarreled with Donald, but few remained upset with him,
for he had a big and generous heart. He kept friends in all the
political organisations in Antigua and Barbuda, even when he opposed
them on the public platform.
His obsession with the law was well known. "Bush-lawyer," he
called himself long before he studied law in England and was called
to the bar in Antigua. He counted exceptional lawyers all over
the Caribbean and the United Kingdom as his friends and enjoyed
nothing more than a debate on the finer points of law. That he
appeared before the Privy Council without the benefit of a Queen's
Counsel was a measure of the bold character of Donald Halstead.
He measured the worth of people by the quality of their contribution.
In turn, it is how most people measure him.
Donald Halstead's contribution to Antigua and Barbuda as a trade
unionist, government minister, opposition parliamentarian and lawyer
was immense. His illness over the last few years crippled a fine
mind. His death was a release for him, but a sad blow for the rest
of us.
Antigua and Barbuda has lost another of its outstanding sons.”
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Antigua
and Barbuda Development Bank gets new general manager
Bernard Gardiner will be taking over the management of the Antigua
and Barbuda Development Bank (A&BDB) as it moves into commercial
operations.
He will replace Alex Osbourne, General Manager for the past 11 years, who will
retire after 26 years of service with the bank.
Minister of Planning with responsibilities for the A&BDB,
Gaston Browne, said Gardiner brings with him a wealth of experience
and expertise.
“We are extremely pleased with his appointment and are quite
sure that he has the capacity to inject new life into the Bank
and ensure that the Bank achieve its strategic objective,” Browne
said.
“We intend to commercialise the operations of the Bank to a hybrid
between a commercial and development bank,” he added.
He added that the Bank will be taking deposits and it has recently
established a management information system.
“We have already received a commitment in principle from the
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank to proceed with the taking of institutional
deposits before branching into personal deposits,” Browne said.
“What we are trying to do is to broaden the bank's scope for
on-lending so that the bank can play a more meaningful role in
the socio-economic development of the country,” he added.
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Price of gasoline
falls again
The price of gasoline in Antigua and Barbuda has fallen once again
with the arrival of a new shipment of fuel ordered by the West
Indies Oil Company Limited.
The fluctuation in the price of gasoline stems from government implementing
a Flexible Pricing Structure for fuel which means that government has minimum
input in the price of gasoline and diesel. The price of both gasoline and diesel
are therefore determined by market forces.
Since 1980, the government through a Controlled Pricing Structure (absorbing
the cost in the rise of fuel on world markets), had kept the price at the pumps
stable by variation in the Consumption Tax charged. This was achieved through
an agreed price build up structure between the monopoly supplier the West Indies
Oil Company Ltd., (WIOC) and the government. All the elements of the pricing
structure were fixed except for product price and Consumption Tax.
With the Controlled Pricing Policy government experienced falling Consumption
Tax yield which posed considerable threat to the administration’s ability to
service its financial obligations.
The price of gasoline in Antigua and Barbuda, which is still among the lowest
in the region, is reflective of the cost West Indies Oil Company purchased
from its suppliers.
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Government to improve
working conditions of teachers
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Minister of Education Dr Rodney
Williams
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Minister of Education Dr. Rodney Williams has commended the Antigua
and Barbuda Union of Teachers (A&BUT).
Speaking on the occasion of Teachers’ Week, Dr. Williams noted
that the theme of the Week, "Quality Working Conditions: A
Key to Quality Education", was very timely and his ministry
was acutely aware of its importance.
He also said that the government had secured a loan from the
Caribbean Development Bank for the ministry’s ongoing basic education
project.
This loan, he said, has been used for the refurbishing, upgrading
and expansion of nine secondary schools; eight in Antigua and one
new school in Barbuda. Dr. Williams said the ministry plans to
improve the working conditions of teachers. He also updated the
public on other initiatives including:
The establishment of a maintenance unit for schools.
The training for primary and secondary school teachers in the
areas of induction, professional upgrading and management.
The training of teachers in the screening and teaching of children
with dyslexia tendencies. This has been done with the Antigua and
Barbuda Dyslexia Association.
The increasing focus on security in schools.
Dr. Williams commended all teachers, especially those who have
worked above and beyond the call of duty and those who have served
for more than 25 years.
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NO INTERFERENCE.. DPP
denies attempts to stop MBS investigation
Director of Public Prosecutions Cosbert Cumberbatch, has denied
that there is any collusion on the part of the government to stymie
the work of his office in ongoing investigations into the allegations
of fraud at the Medical Benefits Scheme.
Cumberbatch was responding to a statement from the Antigua and
Barbuda Medical Association (A&BMA) that, "high public
officials have hindered the investigations of the Scotland Yard
team."
Cumberbatch said, "we are doing our work and the suggestion
that there is government interference is simply not true."
The association has noted that in March 2003, the DPP issued
a media release in which he indicated that, “the level of co-operation
from some public servants has not been as helpful as would have
been expected.”
The A&BMA is calling on the DPP to comprehensively and exhaustively
ensure that the interest of the state in the prosecution of crime
is protected.
The association said it shares in the high public expectation
that the DPP will also investigate and inquire into any new areas
of possible fraud and criminal action.
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Miss
Universe Delegate in Panama
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Kai Davis
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Kai Davis is Antigua and Barbuda’s delegate to Miss Universe 2003
in Panama, this June.
Kai attended the Antigua state College and works as a promotions
and public relations assistant at the Antigua and Barbuda Free
Trade Processing Zone.
She has had twenty years of training in ballet, modern dance,
jazz and traditional African and Caribbean folk dance.
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Eldine
Baptiste released after false drug charges
Antigua and West Indies cricketer Eldine Baptiste was released from Wandsworth
Prison in London two days after he was arrested at Gatwick Airport on a charge
of possessing drugs secreted in golf balls.
Baptiste was traveling on Sunday, 18th May from Antigua to South
Africa, where he has coached cricket for the last 10 years, with
his eight-year old daughter who witnessed his arrest.
From the moment of his arrest High Commissioner to London, Sir
Ronald Sanders, was active in Baptiste’s case. He contacted the
Police, customs and the prison authorities demanding “careful handling
of this matter”. Sir Ronald said that he was persuaded both by
Baptiste’s testimony to the Customs investigator, the lawyer assigned
to his case and telephone calls from persons such as former Antigua
and West Indies Cricket Captain, Richie Richardson, that Baptiste
was innocent.
Immediately after he received a call from the Customs department
stating that a re-examination of the golf balls revealed no cocaine
but a faulty machine, Sir Ronald demanded Baptiste’s immediate
release.
Sir Ronald said that he was “extremely angry” over Baptiste’s
ordeal and he urged the outstanding cricketer to sue. “The awful
image that occupies my mind is that Mr Baptiste could have gone
to jail for 10 years for something he did not do”, the High Commissioner
said.
Sanders observed that flights from the Caribbean into London
are routinely targeted for drugs. “I accept the necessity for this”,
the High Commissioner said, “Britain and every country in the world
must defend itself from the scourge of drugs and damage it does
to its population, particularly its young people.”
He continued, “The problem is that 80% of the people who are
targeted by customs in the UK are West Indians, and Baptiste was
a victim of this kind of profiling. ”
Once released, Baptiste called the High Commissioner to thank
him for his efforts. He later publicly thanked him for his faith
and confidence. The Antiguan cricketer also expressed his thanks
to Richie Richardson who was passing through London and who went
to visit him in Wandsworth Prison. It was while Richardson was
with Baptiste that High Commissioner Sanders called the prison
governor to tell him that Customs had called him to admit their
mistake and were arranging for Baptiste’s release.
Baptiste said his eight-year old daughter gave him strength to
deal with the situation when she first asked why they were arresting
him “because you are a good man, Daddy. You didn’t do anything
wrong”.
The former Cricket star said that he will sue the Customs and
Excise department for wrongful arrest and for tarnishing his reputation
because he was due to take up a job as Coach to the West Indies
Cricket Board of Control, and this involved training young people.
“It is very possible that parents may be concerned that I would
expose their children to drugs after this wrongful arrest. Therefore,
I have to do everything to emphasise the gross error of the Customs
and Excise department”.
Baptiste also pointed out that to date the Customs and Excise
department has not given him an apology. High Commissioner Sanders
joined him in regretting the absence of an apology, adding “They
have already admitted their error, an apology would not make their
case any worse”.
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Three
Antiguans among twelve West Indies Cricket legends inducted
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A view of the audience and the
12 inductees
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Prime Minister Lester Bird delivering
the Welcome Address at the official opening of the Sticky
Wicket Hall of Fame |
Three of Antigua and Barbuda's outstanding cricketers, Sir Vivian
Richards, Anderson (Andy) Roberts and Ambassador Curtley Ambrose
were among twelve West Indies Cricket legends inducted into the
Sticky Wickets’ West Indies Cricket Hall of Fame when it opened
on May 8th.
Sir Viv made the fastest ever Test century off just fifty six (56) deliveries.
He is also the West Indies Team highest run scorer in Tests’ cricket with 8,540
runs. Andy Roberts is the first Caribbean fast bowler to claim two hundred
Test wickets and Curtley Ambrose emerged as the Caribbean's second highest
wicket taker with four hundred and five wickets.
The other inductees were Lancelot Richard Gibbs, George Alphonso Headly, Michael
Anthony Holding, Brian Charles Lara, Clive Hubert Lloyd, Malcolm Denzil Marshall,
Sir Garfield St. Aubrun Sobers, Courtney Andrew Walsh and Sir Everton de Courcey
Weekes.
Prime Minister Lester Bird in his Welcome Address, said that “nothing
like this has ever happened before in the history of West Indies
cricket.” Mr. Bird complimented investor Allen Stanford for his
vision and confidence in the people of the Caribbean in building
the Hall of Fame at the Stanford Cricket ground.
In the Feature Address, former West Indies Cricket Team Captain, Guyana-born
Clive Lloyd said the opening of the Hall of Fame is indeed a great move. He
added that he was delighted and honoured to be in the presence of the outstanding
W.I. cricketers who were also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Several Caribbean Prime Ministers, including Dr. Kenny Anthony,
Pierre Charles, Dr. Denzil Douglas, Dr. Keith Mitchell joined Prime
Minister Lester Bird and Governor General, Sir James Carlisle and
hundreds of sports fans at the Official Opening.
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