ISSUE NO.79 July 2003
| Miss Terri-Ann Richardson is Queen of Carnival 2003.
She won the title from 6 other contestants on Wednesday
30th July . Terri-Ann, sponsored by APUA PCS , performed
splendidly in her white and blue cloud-like costume entitled “Day
Dreamer” and was described as “leaving the audience in
awe of her fluid and agile movements.” |
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Antigua
and Barbuda to host next CARICOM meeting in February 2004
 |
Prime Minister
Lester Bird and Sir Ronald Sanders at the 24th Regular
Meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM held in Jamaica
|
Prime Minister Lester Bird will chair the next Heads of Government
Meeting, slated for St. John's in February next year.
This was announced during one of the plenary sessions on the
third and final day of the 24th Regular Meeting of the Heads of
Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held at the Ritz-Carlton
Hotel in Montego Bay in early July.
Mr. Bird was also appointed to sit on the Bureau of Heads.
His appointment as Chairman of CARICOM takes effect January 2004.
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Canadian
High Commissioner bids farewell
 |
Prime Minister
Lester Bird and
H E Ms. Sandelle Scrimshaw
|
HE Ms. Sandelle Scrimshaw, the Canadian High Commissioner accredited
to Antigua and Barbuda paid farewell calls on Governor-General
Sir James Carlisle, Prime Minister Lester Bird, Colonel Trevor
Thomas - the Commanding Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence
Force and senior officials in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Canadian High Commissioner ends her tour of duty as a High
Commissioner to Antigua and Barbuda with residence in Barbados.
High Commissioner Scrimshaw will return to Ottawa before taking
up another posting in the Canadian Foreign Service.
During her visit the Prime Minister and the Canadian Diplomat
reviewed regional and international developments, focusing especially
on the CSME and international trade negotiations in the FTAA.
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Electoral
Commission issues guidelines
The role of scrutineers appointed by both parties - the ruling
Antigua Labour Party (ALP) and the opposition United Progressive
Party (UPP) - to oversee the registration process was under investigation
early July.
As a result of this, the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission
purchased a number of special notebooks, which were given to the
scrutineers to record information when an individual is registering.
It was brought to the attention of the Electoral Commission that
the scrutineers were recording all the information supplied by
the individual registering including their passport number. This
led to talks between Chairman of the Commission, McClin Matthias,
and a delegation from the UPP including political leader Baldwin
Spencer.
In a letter to all scrutineers Mr Matthias wrote:
"For the good conduct of the registration process and to
ensure order in the registration units, all scrutineers are hereby
informed that their activities and conduct at the registration
units are governed by the following guidelines.
a. Each political party is authorised to appoint two scrutineers
per registration unit. Both scrutineers must devise a schedule
between themselves with respect to their hours of work on a daily
basis, such that only one scrutineer from each party is present
at any time during the period of registration;
b. Every scrutineer will be issued with a notebook and a black
ink pen for use in the registration unit. Therefore, scrutineers
need not bring any other stationery material into the unit;
c. Scrutineers are not permitted to bring any pre-printed form
into the units. All observations and notes must be recorded in
the notebook supplied by the commission;
d. It is anticipated that all scrutineers will be knowledgeable
of the persons living in the electoral district where their particular
registration unit is located. In this context, the scrutineers
should be able to identify many registrants as eligible electors.
In the event that the scrutineer is unable to identify any registrant
as eligible, he/she is entitled to request of the clerk the opportunity
to inspect the documents offered to the clerk for scrutiny. This
opportunity will be granted by the clerk in order to facilitate
the scrutineer in making a decision whether or not to object to
the particular registrant during the claims and objection sessions
to be held in August.
e. All scrutineers are advised to be of good behaviour always
in the registration unit and to ensure they do not interfere with
the work of the clerks in a manner that would disrupt the registration
proceedings. Any scrutineers deemed to be in contravention of this
rule will be summarily dismissed.”
According to the Representation of the People (Amendment) Act
2002, Section 9 (1) every political party that is represented in
the House of Representatives shall be entitled to nominate not
more than two scrutineers in connection with any registration exercise
pursuant to section 18 (1) of the Act in every registration unit
in each constituency.
Section 10 (1) of the Act states “the duty of each scrutineer
is to monitor the registration proceedings in the registration
unit for which he is appointed.”
Whereas the registration officers registration clerks and polling
clerks took a oath of office and are sworn to secrecy, this is
not the same for the scrutineers. The Electoral Commission advised
registration applicants that the registration certificate which
is a receipt given to them at the completion of their application
should be kept by the individual in a safe place.
"It should not be given to anyone else. It is your receipt,
without it, you will not be able to pick up your voter ID card," a
notice from the Electoral Commission stated.
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Jamaica's electoral
office says preparations on target for Antigua poll
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) says it
is on target in preparations for the upcoming general election
in Antigua and Barbuda.
In April, the EOJ secured a US$50,000 contract to assist in organising
Antigua and Barbuda’s electoral system for the poll.
The EOJ is collecting demographic data, fingerprints and photographs.
It is also training workers from the Electoral Commission and assisting
in the setting up of 54 registration centres throughout Antigua
and Barbuda.
The Commission says it is now seeking to provide the country
with a clean voters’ list in time for the elections, constitutionally
due by March 2004.
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Model
house to be constructed by CHAPA
The Ministry of Housing is on a mission to ensure that every
citizen of Antigua and Barbuda who wants to own a house can so
do.
Deputy Prime Minister Robin Yearwood, the minister responsible
for Housing, announced that the Central Housing and Planning Authority
(CHAPA) will be constructing two model homes - a two bedroom wooden
house and a two bedroom concrete structure – in order to give the
public a better idea of the housing scheme.
“We are designing the two model homes. The two bedroom wooden
house will cost $64,000 while the two bedroom concrete house costs
$87,000. We are catering for the low income earners so owning a
house can be affordable to each and everyone,” Minister Yearwood
said.
He explained that the houses will be constructed to the clients’ specific
requirements and on their land.
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Projected growth for
Eastern Caribbean dollar
Growth of 1.8% has been forecast for 2003 in the
Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, with a relatively strong Eastern
Caribbean dollar.
The Governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Sir Dwight
Venner, made the observation at the conclusion of the 48th meeting
of the Monetary Council held recently in St. John's.
The Governor explained “We saw some stabilisation last year.
The governments are aware of the need for stabilisation and are
putting in place a number of programmes and policies. The Council
maintained that the EC dollar should remain pegged to the US dollar
at $2.70.”
According to Sir Dwight, the ECCU will focus on the development
of money and capital market and the regulation of the financial
sector to meet international standards. “Our major emphasis now
is to try and develop the money and capital market. For example,
the stock exchange is our main vehicle, we want it to be a wider
audience for the OECS and the Council has given us the mandate
to explore this being a regional exchange beyond our shores.”
With regard to the coming on stream of the Caribbean Single Market
and Economy within the next two years, Sir Dwight said that the
OECS member countries have to be very mindful of their place in
this arrangement.
"We have to look within ourselves and determine what our
interests are in that arrangement, for example the stock exchange
should in the sense be a regional stock exchange if we are to participate
fully in the CSME," he said.
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Minister
Yearwood pledges support for private sector
 The
secondment of an economist to the Chamber of Commerce is one of
the practical measures recently suggested by government to help
boost private sector institutional capacity.
This would mobilise the sector to influence policies and regional
negotiation positions in the upcoming Free Trade Association of
the Americas (FTAA) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) talks.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Utilities, Robin
Yearwood (pictured, right), made the offer at a meeting
with Caribbean Association of Industry & Commerce (CAIC) President,
Dr. Rollin Bertrand, on 17th July. Bertrand was accompanied by
CAIC's CEO Carol Ayoung. Also in attendance were directors of the
Antigua Chamber of Commerce, including Vice President Everette
Christian and Executive Director Holly Peters.
Yearwood was responding to a call by Bertrand for greater support
of the private sector by regional governments, and the removal
of the adversarial relationship, which he said typically characterised
public/private sector relationships throughout the region.
Bertrand identified a pressing need on the part of the private
sector for institutional strengthening and capacity development,
saying "The regional private sector agencies model is now
completely antiquated. What they need, to play the role now demanded
of them, are trade desk facilities, economists, information technology
support facilities and a general capacity uplift."
Minister Yearwood expressed full agreement and reminded the meeting
that he had initiated dialogue with the Antigua Chamber to effect
solutions to problems affecting its members.
In making his offer of an economist, he emphasised "We need
to find different ways of supporting the private sector. Without
the private sector we are dead."
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Inland Revenue seeks
to collect unpaid taxes
The Inland Revenue Department is seeking to collect millions
of dollars owed in unpaid property tax.
Commissioner of Inland Revenue William Schouten has indicated
that the outstanding tax is in the millions and that the outstanding
property tax dates back to the 1980s.
Senior Research Officer in the Tax Compliance Unit, Hyacinth
Charles, who is assigned to the Property Tax Department encouraged
property owners to come into the Inland Revenue Department and
update their accounts.
She explained that the Inland Revenue Department is in the process
of updating its records and a new system of registration was put
in place in 2000.
She added “What we have done basically is to get all landowners
in the system and we try to capture as many of the buildings as
possible. At present we have 46,600 records in our system (properties
and land). With the new system, our revenues have increased significantly.
At the end of 2000 revenue collected was $4.5 million and by the
middle of June 2003 we have already gone over the $6.5 million
mark.”
However, Charles noted “We are still way below our target because
we are trying to get everyone to realise that property tax must
be paid. Paying property tax is mandatory. It is a revenue earner
for the government to put in place infrastructure development.”
Charles noted that there is a penalty for property owners whose
accounts are delinquent. In addition anyone wishing to sell a property
will have to ensure that the tax is paid up. Therefore, it is in
people’s interest to keep their property tax up to date.
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Stanford
tells Caribbean business people: Let's get together
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Mr R.Allen Stanford
|
American investor Mr. R. Allen Stanford has made a strong plea
to Caribbean business people to come together for a weekend of
brainstorming after which, "I assure you we would come up
with a long list of incentives to bring investors here."
He was at the time addressing members of the St Lucia Chamber
of Commerce at the Royal St Lucian hotel in Gros Islet. Mr. Stanford
said that for far too long the Caribbean had attracted the wrong
kind of investor and described today's "Pirates of the Caribbean" as
those individuals and corporations "who come to our debt-ridden,
small, island nations, which are desperate for foreign investment
and in simple terms, rob them.”
The Texas-born entrepreneur, who now holds Antiguan citizenship,
told leading business personalities in St Lucia that over the years
he had seen poorly negotiated deals, "where the government
gives everything away to the investor and then the investor does
not perform.”
"The reality is hardly any investor is properly vetted prior
to negotiations with a government and once a deal is made, there
are seldom any provisions put in place to ensure performance and
adherence to commitments made by the investor during the negotiations," said
Mr. Stanford.
He emphasised, "I am 100 per cent in support of a Caribbean
government aggressively courting investment, but the investor must
live up to his end of the deal."
Taking a look at tourism, the backbone of many of the islands'
economies, Mr. Stanford said that the Caribbean could not continue
to put all its investment eggs in one basket. He described that
as "poor economic policy." He said, "We all know
tourism is extremely important to the Caribbean's economic health,
but real sustainable growth and a first rate economy lie beyond
the shores of tourism." Mr. Stanford pointed out statistical
data revealed that although the Caribbean had been a favourite
destination of travellers for decades, tourism had not been enough
for the region to build a thriving economy.
He used the example of the British Virgin Islands and the US
Virgin Islands, which, divided by only a narrow strip of water,
have two completely different economic bases. The BVI has diversified
its tourism economy into international financial services while
the USVI still relies on tourism. As a result the standard of living
in the BVI is much higher; the unemployment rate is under three
per cent with virtually no inflation and in 2000 the GDP's real
growth rate was in excess of six per cent. Across the way in the
USVI, the unemployment rate topped seven per cent and it struggles
with an anaemic growth of just over two per cent.
"Clearly diversification is key to sustained economic success," stated
Mr. Stanford. Sharing his experience of the last 20 years in the
Caribbean, Mr. Stanford warned about the hurdles which needed to
be removed to make investing in the region more attractive. He
identified inconsistent regulations from island to island, uneven
enforcement of existing regulations, rampant protectionism, stifling
value added taxes and different work rules as some of those hurdles.
"It's not surprising then that the Caribbean would appear
to be a far less than desirable environment to grow a business.
However, as we all know, if you understand the region, see the
real potential and have the tenacity that it takes, you can succeed.
But the reality is, few legitimate investors are willing to take
the risk," Stanford said.
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ALP
responds to UPP allegations on re-registration process
The following Press Statement was issued on 9th July by the
Antigua Labour Party in reply to allegations made by the Opposition
that the ALP was obstructing the re-registration process.
“The Antigua Labour Party rejects as wilfully false a statement
made on Tuesday 8th July by the Leader of the UPP Mr Baldwin Spencer
in which he stated that the “ruling regime has set out to obstruct
UPP scrutineers from carrying out their legitimate functions at
registration units currently operating in the re-registration of
voters”.
It is significant that Mr Spencer has not listed how the government or the
ruling Labour Party is obstructing UPP scrutineers. He has not done so, and
cannot do so, because his allegation is wilfully false.
The truth is that the hand book prepared by the Electoral Commission and personally
supervised by Mr Spencer’s two nominees, Bruce Goodwin and Ewing Dorset, states
quite clearly the following:
“Scrutineers are NOT allowed to intervene in the registration proceedings in
ANY manner which disrupts the conduct of the registration process”.
Despite this clear instruction to all scrutineers, the UPP appointed scrutineers
have been demanding sight of the registration forms of electors and have sought
to fill them out. The ALP and every other party have a right to object to such
coercion by UPP scrutineers. Clearly, if there is any attempt to corrupt and
disrupt the re-registration process, it is by the UPP itself.
The ALP also notes that Mr Spencer in his statement makes wild accusations
about what Prime Minister Lester Bird is reported to have said about the voting
process while he was at the CARICOM Heads of Government Conference.
Obviously Mr Spencer could have no knowledge of anything the Prime Minister
said privately since he was not in Jamaica, and neither he nor any UPP member
was at any of the Prime Minister’s private conversations. In any event, Mr
Bird categorically dismisses Mr Spencer’s claims as “nonsense”. It is clear
that the remarks that Mr Spencer attributes to the Prime Minister are fabrications
designed to fool the people.
The ALP deplores and condemns Mr Spencer’s resort to defame the
Prime Minister in this way when he was representing the interests
of our country and our people at the highest levels in the Region.
Mr Spencer’s wicked remarks are not only unpatriotic, they border
on the obscene.
Finally, Mr Spencer claims that Prime Minister Lester Bird’s presence at the
CARICOM Heads meeting was “an embarrassment” to other Caribbean Leaders. The
facts tell a different story. Not only was Mr Bird asked to join the three-man
Bureau of Heads of Government who manage the affairs of CARICOM between Conferences,
the Heads also decided that he would be their next Chairman beginning in February.
In addition, Mr Bird chaired several sessions of the Conference
and made valuable contributions to the decisions of the Heads on
vital issues such as crime and security, relations with the US,
and the widespread establishment of information and communication
technology as a development tool for the Region. These facts were
widely reported in Antigua and the world by the international media.”
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Prime
Minister Lester Bird responds to H P Mungalsingh on Colonial
Homes matter
Prime Minister Lester Bird has responded to a request made by
Mr. H. P. Mungalsingh of Colonial Homes of Trinidad for a meeting
for a meeting to discuss a matter now before the Court in relation
to a housing project at Lightfoot where many Antiguans felt that
they had been deceived.
Between 1996 and 1998, Colonial Homes built sub-standard houses at Lightfoot
in Antigua under the name of Bayview Housing Project. In doing so, the firm
took the money of hard-working Antiguans, many of whom were single parents
or newly married couples. On 19th and 20th September 1998, Hurricane Georges
exposed the sub-standard work fully, revealing substantial structural defects
with respect to all the houses.
The Government received numerous letters and other communications from rightfully
disgruntled Antiguans who felt that they had been defrauded by Colonial Homes.
Consequently the Development Control Authority investigated the project and
directed Colonial Homes to cease all construction, particularly as inspections
revealed that the houses were not built according to the drawings submitted
and approved.
The matter is now before the Court in Antigua and Barbuda and
is being handled by Stanley I. Marcus, S.C. of Trinidad and Tobago
on behalf of the government.
In his request to the Prime Minister, Mungalsingh claimed that
the non-resolution of the matter is based on a vendetta by senior
government ministers. He also threatened to make the matter “an
election issue” if he does not receive a favourable response.
In his reply Prime Minister Bird outlined that senior government
officials have met on several occasions with Mr. Mungalsingh and
his representatives on the matter, and have failed to reach a resolution
as Mr Mungalsingh has consistently insisted that government should
pay him compensation in excess of ten million dollars.
“We do not believe that you are entitled to such compensation.
Therefore, my Government sees no value to any of the parties of
holding the meeting that you desire. The Court is the best adjudicator
of this matter,” said the Prime Minister in his letter.
In relation to Mungalsingh’s threat of making the matter an election issue,
the Prime Minister told Mungalsingh “Please feel free to make this matter “an
election issue” if you so wish. My Government has a duty of care to its citizens,
and many of them who paid their hard earned money for houses at Lightfoot feel
aggrieved and deceived. My Government had an obligation to protect their interests
when the substandard work performed by your company was revealed. We now have
a responsibility to ensure they are compensated.”
The Attorney for the Government of Antigua and Barbuda in the
matter, Mr. Stanley I. Marcus S.C. has also written to H.P. Mungalsingh
advising him that the matter will be settled in the Court and not
via discussions.
Mr. Marcus pointed out to Mungalsingh that notwithstanding the existence and
pendency of the court proceedings instituted by him, he and his company have
been waging a relentless media campaign directed to denigrate the Government
of Antigua and Barbuda and some of its Ministers. This has included paid advertisements
taken out in Trinidad earlier this year, and Jamaica more recently, to coincide
with CARICOM Heads of Government conferences in those countries. One radio
station in Jamaica picked up the story, and the Antigua Observer also wrote
an article about it.
“This course of conduct has given rise to the understandable view that your company
has not been acting and will not in future act in good faith in any negotiations
concerning the dispute that has given rise to the litigation,” Marcus added.
In relation to the threat of making the Colonial Homes matter an election issue,
Marcus pointed out to Mungalsingh that it is a matter for his own judgement
and choice, assuming that he is qualified and eligible to actively participate
in the domestic affairs of Antigua and Barbuda.
The attorney also denied the existence or maintenance of any vendetta on the
part of the Government or its ministers and assured the Colonial Homes owner
that any position taken with respect to the impasse was and is based on the
bona fide furtherance of the interests of the Government and people of Antigua
and Barbuda.
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Newly
elected members of the Barbuda Council meet with Prime Minister
Bird
On 8th July 2003, the newly elected members of the Barbuda
Council had an emergency meeting with Prime Minister Lester Bird.
The main purpose of the meeting was to discuss an impasse regarding
the setting up of the Council. The delegation included political
leader of the Barbuda's People Movement for Change #1 Arthur Nibbs,
Dave Desouza, George Burton, Everette Thomas, Tyrone Beazer represented
the Antigua Labour Party (ALP ) Barbuda branch and Senator Rueben
James, who is parliamentary secretary to Barbuda, was also part
of the delegation.
"We came to see Prime Minister Bird on the way forward for
the council. Although the matter is before the court we cannot
see the island state of Barbuda not functioning. We are trying
to see what can be done without breaking the laws of the land to
expedite the process or interfering with the court and interrupting
the normal function of the Barbuda Council," Nibbs said.
Since Council elections in April, the duly elected members of
the Council have not been sworn in. Several attempts were made
but new councillors are adamant that they will not sit with Senator
Lynton Thomas because he holds dual citizenship and may not be
eligible to sit on the Council.
As a result, there has been a number of legal challenges regarding
the eligibility of Senator Thomas to serve as a senator in the
Upper House and also to sit as a member of the Barbuda Council.
Attorney-General Gertel Thom had filed a writ in the High Court
against Senator Thomas who is a citizen of Barbuda and the United
States.
Senator Thomas has, however, maintained that he is a citizen
of Barbuda and that he has renounced his US citizenship. Senator
James has also filed suit against Senator Thomas.
The cases, which were due to be heard in July, have been rescheduled
to September.
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Criminal Investigation
Department has new head
There has been a change in command at the Criminal Investigation
Department (CID).
There are now new heads at the CID and at the Traffic Department.
Superintendent Albert Smith, who was seconded to the Office of
the National Drug and Money Laundering Prevention Policy (ONDCP)
for the last four years, has replaced Assistant Commissioner Phillip
Isaac as the new Head of CID department.
Meanwhile, Isaac has taken over command of the Traffic Department
following the promotion of Assistant Commissioner James Hill.
The moves are part of the overall policy of acting Commissioner of Police Elton
Martin's new administration to have officers posted in different departments
within the police service.
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Alec
Vanderpoole appointed as Deputy Director of ONDCP
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Alec Vanderpoole
|
Director of the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering control
Policy (ONDCP), Mr. Wrenford Ferrance, has announced the appointment
of Mr. Alec Vanderpoole as Deputy Director with effect from July
8.
Alec Vanderpoole, who is Antiguan born, has a wealth of law enforcement experience
having spent the last fifteen years in the Metropolitan Police Service in London,
eleven years in Special Branch at Scotland Yard. He has also served in the British
Army in the Corps of Royal Engineers, and has worked as an airline security coordinator
at London’s Heathrow Airport.
He is the son of Genetta and Joseph Vanderpoole, a former Senior Superintendent
in the Royal Antigua and Barbuda Police Force and former Commissioner of Police
of Montserrat.
Mr. Vanderpoole, a graduate of St. Joseph’s Academy, holds two undergraduate
degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Commerce from St. Mary’s University
in Canada. He also speaks German fluently.
Mr. Vanderpoole is a leader with the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and is a
member of the Antigua and Barbuda Shooting Club and the Shotokan Karate Academy.
Director of the ONDCP Mr. Wrenford Ferrance said this appointment demonstrates
the ONDCP’s intention to recruit highly professional individuals whose knowledge
and skills will be utilized in continuing the fight against illicit drug trafficking
and money laundering.
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Joint anti-narcotics operation
nets 43 pounds of cocaine
A joint anti-narcotics operation, involving the Narcotics Squad of the
Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda, Customs, and the Task Force of the
Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP), was carried
out at the V.C. Bird International Airport on July 17.
Director of the ONDCP Mr. Wrenford Ferrance said that the operation resulted
in the arrest of three individuals (a 21 year old male, and two females in
their 30’s). All three were arrested after a large quantity of cocaine, some
43.5 pounds, was found in their possession.
The cocaine was concealed in the false bottom of a suitcase, as well as, hidden
in books and shoes. Over four thousand US dollars in cash was also seized.
The three individuals, all Guyanese nationals, were en route to St. Maarten
from Guyana. All three suspects were later charged with offences relating to
the importation of cocaine and with possession with intent to supply.
It was learned that another drugs courier associated with the three was apprehended
in Guyana prior to his departure on the same flight.
Mr. Wrenford Ferrance said that the joint operation demonstrated the advantages
of a multi-agency approach to combat drug trafficking.
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Sterling to sue Opposition Leader
 |
Rupert Sterling
|
Rupert Sterling, former Junior Minister of Information, has indicated that
he will be suing Leader of the Opposition Baldwin Spencer for defamation of
character and intentional infliction of emotional distress to his family and
himself.
The former government senator made the comments after the UPP decided to withdraw
legal proceedings against him that claimed he sat in the Senate in contravention
of the provisions of the Constitution of Antigua and Barbuda.
Sterling said that Spencer, in an affidavit, claimed that he sat in the Senate
illegally from 1999, and had taken the people's money illegally. "I think
those kinds of statements have done irreparable harm to my character and my
family. They just cannot drop the case without some form of compensation. I
am going to sue them - for abuse of the judicial process, political gimmickry,
defamation of character and intentional infliction of emotional distress to
me and my family,” he added.
He explained "My attorney, will be moving forward for some form of compensation
and to exonerate my name because if this thing is left like this I will not
be able to serve the people of Antigua and Barbuda.”
Attorney representing the UPP, Justin Simon, stated publicly their reason
for withdrawing the case was because Sterling had revoked his Senatorship.
However, Sterling refuted this saying "Justin Simon the attorney for
Spencer who brought the action stated that they withdrew because I resigned
from the senate. I am stating that's rubbish. I was born in this country. When
I became an American citizen I was a British citizen. I left Antigua since
1959, and achieved American citizenship in 1965 long before Antigua existed
as a state. And I could not have contravened or have done anything of my own
act against the constitution or a country that did not exist. Furthermore when
I became an American citizen I did not have to swear allegiance, all that was
done was the filling out of a declaration and an application.
“As a British citizen I was not required to swear, all that was required
was that the information given was true and correct.”
Sterling said the Opposition has documentation certified by the court. “They
are aware of this. They could see their case was hopeless. They were on thin
ice and decided to drop the case.”
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Trade Unions in Antigua are now
united
After some 20 years in the making the Antigua and Barbuda Trade Union
Congress is now a reality.
The TUC was launched on 19th July 2003 at the Royal Antiguan Resort and was
described by Sir George Walter, former Premier of Antigua and Barbuda and a
strong advocate for the TUC, as “a historic event.”
Sir George, who acted as co-chair of the event with former general-secretary
of the Antigua Trades and Labour Union Robin Bascus said “This is historical
and I am happy to see the unions are getting together, where there is unity
there is strength. I endorse this movement and I am happy to see it happen
in my lifetime.”
Bascus who supported the idea from its beginning in 1984 said “I am happy
that there is a new body, a new approach, what we failed to do in the past
we are now doing it.”
President of the A&BWU Maurice Christian described the event as “a new
era" in the trade union movement. His counterpart at the AT&LU Wigley
George remarked, added that the move will bring an end to rivalry. Guest speaker
Robert Morris of Barbados Workers Union stated that the hallmarks of the TUC
should be productivity and customer service. He urged his fellow trade unionists
to push now for a Caribbean Labour College.
Minister of Labour Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin under whose auspices the event
was held said that government supports the idea of a TUC. "I am delighted
that the unions after 20 years can now speak with one voice for the benefit
of the working class and united membership," he said.
Signatories to the charter of the TUC were the A&BWU Maurice Christian,
the AT&LU, the Antigua and Barbuda Public Servant Association, the Antigua
and Barbuda Union of Teachers, the Antigua Hotel Management Association, the
Guild of Antigua and Barbuda Air Traffic Controllers, and the Leeward Islands
Aeronautics Engineers Association.
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Antigua
and Barbuda successful with WTO:Arbitration panel to be established
 |
HE Sir Ronald Sanders KCMG,
KCN
Chief Foreign Affairs Representative with Ministerial Rank
and High Commissioner
|
Antigua and Barbuda has succeeded in getting the World Trade Organisation
(WTO) to establish an arbitration panel to hear its dispute with the United
States on the cross border supply of gambling and betting services.
The Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO agreed to establish the panel at a meeting
in Geneva on the 21st July 2003.
Addressing the Body, Antigua and Barbuda's Chief Foreign Affairs Representative,
Sir Ronald Sanders, argued that “a US ban on the cross-border supply of services
violates the General Agreement of Trade in Services which seeks to create equal
conditions of competition for domestic and foreign service suppliers.”
He said, “It is not a reasonable argument to contend that a measure prohibiting
cross-border supply has an equal effect on foreign and domestic service suppliers.
After all, the US domestic service suppliers are not crossing any borders when
they supply the US market to the exclusion of others who are outside US borders.”
Sir Ronald also questioned a US Government contention that the US has grave
concerns about the risks posed by Internet gaming to children. The Antigua
and Barbuda diplomat explained that his government prohibits underage gambling
and “strictly enforces” the prohibition through an independent regulatory Commission.
He said, “Internet gaming entities are legally defined as financial institutions
and are subject to heavy fines and imprisonment for offences, which include
money laundering, terrorism financing, fraud and other breaches of the law
such as underage gambling.”
At the end of the meeting, Sir Ronald said, “We are pleased with the decision
to establish the panel. Now, the US, the WTO Secretariat and ourselves have
to decide on its composition to ensure that the panelists are both knowledgeable
about the issue and possess a broad appreciation of WTO laws.”
He said he expects this process to begin immediately and to be settled quickly. “Thereafter,
both countries will have to present their legal arguments to the panel and
await its decision, but I am pleased that our decision to fight for the interests
of our workers has been respected by the WTO.”
Several countries stated their interest in reserving their rights against the
United States in this matter. The countries are the European Union, Canada,
Mexico, Chinese Taipei and Japan.
(The full text of Sir Ronald’s presentation to the Dispute Settlement Body
can be read at our website:www.antigua-barbuda.com, under ‘Latest News’.
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Holding
Company formed for BWIA/LIAT
A holding company has been established in Trinidad & Tobago to bring
together a ‘nexus' between the air carriers LIAT and BWIA for their eventual
merger into a single regional carrier.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who has
special responsibilities for Transportation in CARICOM, said “We agreed to
move towards a single airline in the southern and eastern Caribbean looking
at LIAT, BWIA and Tobago Express. The holding company has been formed in Trinidad.”
Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago
governments are the promoters of the merger.
It was pointed out that LIAT and BWIA would continue with their substantial
co-operation and restructuring. LIAT is in need of $25 million. St. Vincent
and the Grenadines has put up $2 million, Barbados $3 million, Antigua & Barbuda
$4 million. The remaining $12.5 million is supposed to come from the Trinidad
government in the form of a loan with zero interest and a five-year moratorium
on any payments. These are very generous terms and it is envisioned that by
the end of the year LIAT will be on a reasonably sound footing, trading as
LIAT but under the holding company.
St. Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves explained, "LIAT
carries more passengers through Grantley Adams than American Airlines, than
British Airways, than Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada. If you check LIAT's passenger
load through VC Bird International you will see a similar reflection. Can you
image what will happen to Antigua's tourism if you do not have LIAT?"
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Caribbean
Star soars to new heights
 Caribbean
Star Airlines continues its growth curve.
At the end of the first half of 2003, the airline has recorded close to 50
per cent growth in sector passengers carried, when compared to the same period
last year.
In 2002 Caribbean Star moved 500,000 sector passengers, which was 100 per
cent more than that carried during 2001. And already this year this figure
has reached a staggering 345,000 sector passengers carried.
In addition, the airline has been able to maintain a 99.3 per cent dispatch
reliability and a little over an 80 per cent on time performance.
Though Caribbean Star has been operating for a little more than two and a
half years, the airline has tied up agreements with both regional and international
airlines.
It now has code share agreements with USAIR and Caribbean Sun, including
the transfer of frequent flyer miles on both airlines.
Based on these achievements the airline has prepared a three-year Business
Plan, which would see Caribbean Star increase its fleet by the end of 2003.
Chief Operating Officer Paul Moreira said, “We will continue on our growth
path, since our main priority is customer satisfaction and service.”
“We have been able to set and maintain one of the highest standards of in-flight
service in regional travel and we intend to keep it that way,” he added.
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DCA
insists on local pilots
Caribbean Star officials have said that the sudden change in policy regarding
the validation of foreign pilots' licences by the Directorate of Civil Aviation
(DCA) of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), may severely
curtail the operating ability of the rapidly growing airline.
Caribbean Star is the major competitor to LIAT on most eastern Caribbean
routes. The DCA, headed by long-time employee Herald Wilson, has decided as
policy, not to approve any more licences for foreign pilots employed by Caribbean
Star after 31 July 2003.
In addition the airline has already been advised that all such licences now
in use by the airline's pilots would also be terminated on 31 July 2003. The
DCA states that there are enough Caribbean pilots available and Caribbean Star
need not employ foreigners. The Authority also said that the foreign pilots
were being paid considerably more than local ones.
According to Paul Moreira, chief operating officer of Caribbean Star, all his
company's captains are CARICOM nationals and the majority of validations now
being sought were for First officers (co-pilots). He added that the DCA records
would show that previous requests for validations of pilots' licences reached
as high as 32, but on this occasion the figure has been reduced by 40 per cent
and he planned to bring it to zero by the end of the year, with a planned start-up
of pilots ground school on 4 August
This class would have trained 20 additional CARICOM pilots for employment
by the airline.
Mr Moreira said “The DCA's decision not to grant Caribbean Star any more
validations and further to cancel all existing validations at the end of the
month, now puts that ground school in jeopardy and would surely delay the employment
of 20 more CARICOM pilots. The decision could also mean putting on hold the
airline's plans to increase its fleet of Dash-8-turbo prop airplanes, also
scheduled by year-end.”
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Air Luxor begins service into Antigua
from Lisbon Portugal
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Planning Minister Gaston
Browne with air Luxor’s Marketing Director, Paulo Moreara
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The country’s tourism industry got an additional boost on Saturday 12th July
when another international airline commenced service into Antigua from Europe.
Air Luxor of Portugal began a weekly direct flight from Lisbon into the V.C.
Bird International Airport bringing over 200 visitors to the country on its
first trip.
Planning Minister Gaston Browne who substituted for Tourism Minister Molwyn
Joseph during a brief welcoming ceremony, said that the addition of Air Luxor
is a welcome one and will help to boost our tourism product. He said that Antigua
and Barbuda is now embarking on a market penetration strategy and the European
market is one of the markets in which the government hopes to increase the
number of tourists coming to the island.
Air Luxor targets middle to high income passengers, which Minister Browne said
is in keeping with the country’s policy to attract high spenders and help to
expand the tourism product.
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Air Luxor of Portugal arriving
at V C Bird International Airport on the first of its weekly direct
flight from Lisbon to Antigua
|
The Air Luxor flights will operate as a pilot project and for approximately
three months and if the demand is strong enough, the flights will move from
seasonal to annual with regular scheduled flights.
The Planning Minister also outlined that the next tourist season will be an
attractive one with a prediction of approximately 6% growth in overnight arrivals
and a 50% increase in cruise tourism.
Marketing Director for Air Luxor, Paulo Moreara, said that Air Luxor was
looking for new destinations for their tourists and found Antigua was a potential
destination for their upscale clientele. He said the response to Antigua has
been very positive.
Paulo outlined that during the next few weeks and months, several thousand
Portuguese tourists and other European citizens will be flying to Antigua through
the new flights being offered by Air Luxor
Air Luxor is a 15 year old company operating out of Lisbon, Portugal. It will
utilise its Airbus 330-233 aircraft to service the Antigua/Portugal route.
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