ISSUE NO.84 January 2004
Carlisle Bay Hotel, Old Road |
Caribbean’s
financial sector remains under serious threat
 |
Sir Ronald Sanders
KCMG, KCN, Chief Foreign Affairs Representative with Ministerial
Rank and High Commissioner
|
The Chairman of the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF),
Sir Ronald Sanders, believes the Caribbean’s financial services sector
remains under serious threat and has sought to warn the region that
the recent fight waged against the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) and its harmful tax competition initiative
is far from over. “There are those who believe that the fight with
the OECD on this matter is ended, but they are wrong,” said Sir Ronald
Sanders.
He is further cautioning the region that the work of another international
agency, set up by G7 countries to fight money laundering and counter
terrorism, presents a “real and present danger” to the development
of the region’s financial services sector.
The caution comes in the wake of a December 2-4 meeting in Washington
of a working group set up by the Paris-based Financial Action Task
Force (FATF), which focused on the current round of negotiations
on new Anti-Money Laundering/Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT)
Methodology. The AML/CFT Methodology is to be used by the World
Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to conduct financial
sector appraisals in regional jurisdictions.
However, Sir Ronald has accused the FATF of a “blatant disregard” of
the views of the CFATF team, which attended the meeting. “Of concern
too is that the FATF is taking the lead role in developing methodology
despite ownership being touted by the IMF and the World Bank,” Sir
Ronald said.
The FATF, set up in the late 1980s by the world’s seven main economic
powers to put the curbs on money laundering, estimates that up
to US$1.5 trillion in illicitly gained cash is pumped through bank
accounts by the underworld. For not cooperating in the fight against
the laundering of ill-gotten gains, the FATF threatens sanctions,
including denying further licences to banks from outcast countries
to operate in FATF member states and advice to the wider business
community of FATF countries that operating in culprit nations is
risky.
Back in 2001, the OECD, which is engaged in similar work, had
also blacklisted several Caribbean countries labelling them as
tax havens and threatened over 40 jurisdictions with sanctions
unless they made a commitment to exchange information with OECD
countries on tax matters. With the harmful tax competition initiative
currently in abeyance, Sir Ronald is predicting that it will raise
it head again in a few weeks time when a report of a working group,
which is looking at “ways of levelling the playing field” is expected
to be presented.
Sir Ronald said he would be interested to see if the “OECD tries
to make the same demands they made in the past on us with the same
threat of sanctions against jurisdictions that don’t comply with
what they want”.
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Sir
Ronald Sanders expresses concern over FATF approach to the Bahamas
and Guatemala
At the end of a meeting in Miami of the Steering Group of the
Caribbean Financial Action Task (CFATF), the Chairman, Sir Ronald
Sanders, has expressed concern about the approach of the Paris-based
Financial Action Task Force to The Bahamas and Guatemala.
The Bahamas and Guatemala are two of the thirty Caribbean Basin
member jurisdictions of the CFATF, while the FATF is a group set
up by the G7, the world’s richest nations.
Both the CFATF and the FATF were established to initiate standards
and practices to fight money laundering and to counter terrorism
financing.
Guatemala is the only member country of CFATF that continues to
be listed by the FATF as a “non-cooperative country” in the fight
against money laundering and other financial crime.
Sir Ronald said, “The economy of Guatemala is being adversely
affected by the fact that FATF continues to list it as a non-cooperative
jurisdiction. Guatemala has been urging the FATF to review its
arrangements in February so that it could be de-listed at the FATF
Plenary meeting in March in Paris. But, instead of fulfilling it
mandate to help to get countries off its blacklist, some FATF members
want to re-evaluate The Bahamas”.
The CFATF Chairman declared, “I do not understand this desire
to re-evaluate The Bahamas which FATF had earlier taken off its
list. What is more from CFATF’s own evaluation of The Bahamas,
we are aware that The Bahamas has exceeded the requirements of
the FATF’s 40 recommendations on money laundering and its 8 recommendations
of counter terrorism financing. The Bahamas already regulates lawyers,
stockbrokers and others and it has devoted a great deal of resources
to international cooperation. In this connection, it does far more
than some FATF countries”.
The Chairman explained that he has been “mandated to write to
the President of the Paris-based FATF to indicate CFATF’s concerns
that the de-listing of Guatemala is being delayed while there is
an inexplicable focus on The Bahamas despite all that the Bahamas
government has done.”
Sir Ronald also said that the Steering Group has made a decision
to attend a meeting of a Working Group of the FATF in Japan later
this month where work is continuing to devise a methodology which
will be used by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to judge
anti-money laundering standards and practices in CFATF countries.
“We will attend this meeting in Tokyo to ensure that Caribbean
views continue to be heard and to ensure that a methodology is
not applied to us in which we have not at least sought to protect
the interests of the Caribbean people”, Sanders concluded.
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Antigua
and Barbuda ratifies OAS Convention against Corruption
 |
Prime Minister
Lester Bird
|
On the 14th of January Prime Minister Lester Bird signed the Inter-American
Convention against Corruption. In ratifying the Corruption Convention,
the Prime Minister noted that the Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda,
by resolution, adopted this convention in March 2003.
"My Government has clearly indicated to our citizens, to the region,
and to the states of this hemisphere that acts of corruption by
any public servant, at any level, are unacceptable," the Prime
Minister said.
He explained, "Antigua and Barbuda is committed to transparency,
integrity and efficiency in government, as evidenced by the willingness
of Government to authorize Commissions of Inquiry.”
The Inter-American Convention against Corruption is the first
anti-corruption treaty in the world. It commits the United States,
Canada and the other 32 OAS countries, which includes Antigua and
Barbuda, to criminalize a wide range of corrupt acts while strengthening
preventive measures. In addition, the Convention is designed to
fight corruption among government and private-sector officials
by strengthening cooperation on extradition, mutual legal assistance,
and asset forfeiture for corruption-related crimes.
The Inter-American Convention against Corruption contains transparency
measures, in its provisions, requiring the registration of income,
assets, and liabilities of persons who perform public functions
in certain posts. The Convention also encourages governments to
establish a mechanism to ensure that publicly-held companies -
and other types of public firms - maintain books and records which
accurately reflect the acquisition and disposition of assets. It
also requires companies to have sufficient internal accounting
controls to enable their officers to detect corrupt acts.
The document signed by the Prime Minister is to be deposited with
the OAS Secretary General in Washington, D.C.
Antigua and Barbuda joins Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and
the Grenadines as the fourth OECS country to ratify this OAS Convention.
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Antigua being positioned
for Caribbean Single Market
Prime Minister Lester Bird says Antigua and Barbuda
could benefit greatly from the Caribbean Single Market and Economy.
Mr Bird, in his broadcast of 6th December declared, “Antigua and
Barbuda is not a significant producer of agricultural products
and manufactured goods. Clearly the main beneficiaries of a Caribbean
single market in terms of trade in these products and goods will
be countries like Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and to some extent
Guyana.
“However, Antigua and Barbuda does have a competitive advantage
in relation to services. We expect that companies, which become
Caribbean-wide in their reach, will establish headquarter operations
here. They will do so to take advantage of our excellent external
communications - direct flights to London, Toronto, New York -
and regular, daily flights to every Caribbean country.”
Mr Bird contended that companies locating headquarters in Antigua,
will also benefit from our modern telecommunication system, which
will put them in touch with their clients through instant telephone
calls and e-mail via the Internet.
Further, they will benefit from the investment that the Government
has made in the Institute of Information Technology, for they will
find in Antigua a pool of people who are well trained in the use
of computers and information technology.”
Pointing to the fact that Antigua and Barbuda has one of the lowest
tax rates in the world, the Prime Minister said, “we have no personal
income tax, and over the years my Government has lowered the rate
of company tax from 40% to 30%, and we intend to lower it sill
further to 25% by the year 2005 when the Caribbean Single Market
comes into being.”
“In this connection, Caribbean-wide companies that are looking
for good communications by air, good telecommunications, a computer
literate work force, and low taxes to maximise both efficiency
and profits will find Antigua and Barbuda very desirable.” Mr Bird
concluded.
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OECD,
Ministry of Planning launches report
 |
Minister of Trade
Gaston Browne
|
The Ministry of Planning in collaboration with the Organisation for
Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has launched a business
environment report in Antigua.
Planning Minister Gaston Browne explained, “The report looks at
the investment climate in Antigua and Barbuda and develops strategies
to enhance the business environment in the country. We have a very
good business climate in Antigua and Barbuda but obviously there
is still room for improvement.”
The business environment report will complement an investor road
map. "In the road map we will list all the regulations and all
the processes. Any investor coming into the country will be able
to pick up that road map and see all the requirements he/she should
satisfy. What we are doing is transforming Antigua into a major
global tourism/financial centre," Browne added.
The project is financed by the British government.
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Million dollar venture
fund launched
On 19th January, the Government in conjunction
with the Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank (ABDB) launched the
Enterprise Development Fund (EDF) in a bid to ensure systematic
development in entrepreneurship and in the building of a more diverse
economy in Antigua and Barbuda.
During a press conference held at the bank Minister of Planning
Gaston Browne said the main objective is to build a globally competitive
economy while at the same time developing entrepreneurship in tandem
with education.
He explained that the fund will be capitalised in the first instance
with EC$1M and will expand on an annual basis with budgetary allocations
from the central government. Additionally, the bank will allocate
a percentage of its annual profits to the fund and will actively
pursue Official Development Assistance (ODA) in support of the
fund.
Browne further said that the fund is fully guaranteed by the government
and will cater in the first instance to youths between the ages
of 18 and 40 but will subsequently be broadened to include individuals
of all ages.
In providing the managerial, administrative and technical skills
for the young entrepreneurs to compete globally, Minister Browne
said the bank would put together a business advisory programme
in which they will train entrepreneurs in a number of different
areas.
General Manager of ABDB Bernard Gardener, explained that the maximum
amount that will be provided is $20,000 and the term for repayment
is five years with an interest rate of 9.75%. Interested individuals
are asked to provide an equity position of 10%.
Additionally, Gardener said, they have a very liberal debt service
ratio of 50 per cent, which will allow many of the entrepreneurs
to qualify for loans a lot easier than in traditional banks. Priority
will be given to those interested in agriculture, fishing, tourism,
informatics and other productive areas of the economy.
Mr Browne said that distributive trades will not be given priority
because the government's main objective is to transform Antigua
and Barbuda into a high value added economy and a major tourism
and financial centre.
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Prime
Minister plans to use tourism and business to expand the economy
Prime Minister Lester Bird has identified tourism and business
development as two key areas in which the government will be concentrating
its spending to expand the economy.
In one of his weekly radio addresses to the nation, the Prime
Minister said government wants to attract more local and foreign
investment. "We intend to drop the rate of company tax by 25% by
the end of the year 2005 so that we can bring in more companies
to establish their headquarters in Antigua in connection with the
Caribbean Single Market and Economy. This will increase our tax
base, giving the government more revenue as well as creating new
employment," Bird said.
Mr Bird said his administration would also privatise some government-owned
entities or go into partnership with the private sector. He pointed
out that these initiatives along with improving telecommunications
to attract new business were plans the government intends to embark
on to earn much needed revenue rather than dismiss 4,000 public
servants as proposed by the International Monetary Fund.
"We have made this point that to dismiss these people would create
hardship for them and their families, increase unemployment, contribute
to the increase in crime and adversely affect the business sector
which would be deprived of the spending power of these four thousand
people," Mr Bird explained.
He said while it was true that the payments to the workers could
be spent in other ways, if government decided to send them home,
it would have to increase spending on police, prisons, narcotics
interdiction and increase demands on the medical care system.
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Deputy PM hosts business
dialogue
 |
Deputy Prime
Minister Robin Yearwood
|
On 19th January, Deputy Prime Minster Robin Yearwood, hosted a business
dialogue at Jumby Bay Hotel which included members of the US Congress
Caribbean Caucus, the Inter-American Economic Council and representatives
of the local business sector.
In attendance were Congressmen Donald M. Payne and Gregory W.
Meeks. Also present was President of the Inter-American Economic
Council Barry S. Featherman.
Other government Ministers attending the session were Trade Minister
Gaston Browne, Minister of Education Dr Rodney Williams and Sports
Minister Guy Yearwood.
Topics of the dialogue included: Economic diversification in Antigua
and Barbuda and the Caribbean, tourism, trade, offshore banking,
education, infrastructure, investment perspectives and strengthening
relations between the US and the Caribbean.
The Congressmen emphasised the readiness of the US Congress Caribbean
Caucus to spur the mobilisation of US investment interest in projects
in Antigua and Barbuda, but they also made the point that the identification
of the projects and the involvement of local participation had
to be initiated by Antigua and Barbuda and the neighbouring Caribbean
governments.
Congressman Meeks said the Caribbean was regarded as not just
the US third border but also as the US friend. He intimated, however,
that negotiating strength stemming from this fact was of relevance
only in the context of a united position with other sovereign Caribbean
states.
As a practical suggestion of the regional approach, Congressman
Payne encouraged Antigua and Barbuda's cruise tourism interests
to get together with cruise tourist stakeholders in neighbouring
Caribbean destinations and establish a consistent and satisfactory
fee per cruise tourist to increase returns from the sector.
A problem raised at the meeting was the high cost of investment
financing.
Raul Herrera, Latin America Chairman of the Chicago-based international
law firm Winston & Strawn detailed multiple sources of financing
available to investment interests in Antigua and the region in
general. He too, advocated a regional approach as one way of increasing
Caribbean options and countering size disadvantage to accessing
cheaper financing.
One of the conclusions coming out of the business dialogue stated
that Antigua and Barbuda should be part of a regional movement
aimed at formulating and presenting approaches to US private and
public sector agencies as a means of removing some of the impediments
to growth and development in the Caribbean.
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Antiguans
and Barbudans trained in counterfeit detection
On 14th January 2004, representatives from the financial sector
of Antigua and Barbuda as well as other Caribbean states participated
in two US currency counterfeit detection seminars held at the ECCB
Headquarters in Basseterre, St. Kitts.
More than 100 cash handlers are now better able to distinguish
between genuine and counterfeit US dollar notes.
US Secret Service officials apprised participants of the efforts
being taken by the US to combat counterfeiting, including co-operation
and co-ordination with other countries, the development of legislative
agreements, the establishment of investigative units overseas,
and training and education programmes.
They reviewed the security features of genuine US dollar notes,
and provided check rules for people receiving counterfeit notes.
During the interactive sessions participants were exposed to the
production processes used by counterfeiters, and scrutinised counterfeit
notes in order to detect their irregularities.
In assessing the day's activities, participants rated the seminars
as highly educational, very informative and an absolute necessity
for all cash handlers and treasury officers.
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Prime
Minister receives Chilean Ambassador
 |
Prime Minister
Lester Bird and Ambassador Prado
|
On 19th January 2004, Prime Minister Lester Bird received the Ambassador
of Chile and Special Envoy to the Chilean President, Emilio Prado,
Ambassador Emilio Prado sought Antigua and Barbuda’s support for
the Chilean nominee for the post of Secretary General to the OAS.
“Chile is a good friend of Antigua and Barbuda,” the Prime Minister
remarked, “and so I cordially received the President’s envoy even
though CARICOM took a decision to support the Costa Rican candidate
for the post of OAS Secretary General,” he concluded.
Prime Minister Bird promised to have Antigua and Barbuda’s delegation
raise the matter at the upcoming OECS Heads meeting. He also indicated
to the Chilean envoy that every effort would be made to give the
Chilean Government the same opportunity that was extended to the
Costa Rican government.
The Chilean Ambassador noted that he received even more than he
had anticipated. “Antigua and Barbuda has always been very friendly
to Chile, and we continue to value your friendship highly,” Ambassador
Prado commented.
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New
South Korean Ambassador presents credentials
On 26th January, His Excellency Mr. Lee Joon-Il, the new South
Korean Ambassador, presented his credentials to His Excellency
Sir James Carlisle. After the presentation, Ambassador Joon-Il
paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Lester Bird with whom he
had very fruitful discussions.
During the meeting with the Prime Minister, discussions centred
on how both countries could develop bilateral relations. Prime
Minister Bird expressed gratitude for assistance received from
the Republic of Korea in materials and training.
Prime Minister Bird also mentioned the OECD Lawful Tax Competition
issue. He urged Korea as a member of the OECD to give support to
Antigua and Barbuda's call for a level playing field in international
tax matters.
His Excellency Mr. Lee Joon-Il replaces His Excellency Mr. Chou-uk
Kim who was recalled by the Government of South Korea in September
last year.
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Prime
Minister Lester Bird addresses Mount St. John's loan
Prime Minister Lester Bird, in seeking to set the record straight,
has stated that government has no intention of using money from
Social Security Scheme to purchase equipment for the Mount St.
John's Medical Centre.
Allegations surfaced recently in Antigua that chairman of the
Social Security Board, Ambassador Leroy King, had made available
large sums of money to purchase equipment for Mount St. John's
Medical Centre following negotiations with a team from the Trinidad-based
RBTT bank. But this, Prime Minister Bird said, is far from the
truth. On the contrary, he noted that the Social Security scheme
would only act as a guarantor.
Prime Minister Bird further pointed out that Medical Benefits
Scheme (MBS), on the other hand, “has been accumulating US$250,000
per month into a fund to purchase equipment for Mount St. John's
Medical Centre.”
MBS is financing the construction of the Mount St. John's Medical
Centre.
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Prime Minister attends
funeral of the late Prime Minister of Dominica, Pierre Charles
Prime Minister Lester Bird attended the funeral of the late Prime
Minister of Dominica, Mr Pierre Charles on Saturday 17th January.
Mr. Charles died on 6th January 2004 of heart failure.
Following is the statement made by the Prime Minister on the announcement
of Mr Charles’ death:
“I am deeply saddened by the news of the untimely death of my
colleague and friend, Pierre Charles.
Pierre Charles became the leader of the Labour Party in the shadow
of death. It is sad that the same shadow now enshrouds him and
the Labour Party once again.
At the time he assumed the mantle of leadership, his country was
grappling with new global challenges. The people of Dominica wanted
him to succeed as he tackled the fiscal difficulties that a downturn
in the world economy spawned. The Dominica diaspora held great
hopes for his ability to transform Dominica.
The thousands of our brothers and sisters from Dominica who have
chosen to make Antigua and Barbuda their home, also mourn his loss.
On behalf of the Government and people of Antigua and Barbuda,
I express deep sympathy and condolences to the family of the late
Prime Minister, to the Dominica Labour Party, to the Government
and people of Dominica, and to the many Dominicans resident in
Antigua and Barbuda, on the death of our good friend, Pierre Charles.”
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Foreign
Ministry says Prime Minister Bird had relinquished CARICOM Chairmanship
before Antigua and Barbuda general election
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Prime Minister Lester
Bird was not aware of the release from the Information Department
announcing his Chairmanship of CARICOM from 1st January.
The Ministry was reacting to an allegation by the Leader of the
Opposition United Progressive party (UPP), Mr Baldwin Spencer,
that the Prime Minister “is likely to delay the election date so
that he will have the chance to take the spotlight as CARICOM Chairman
when Antigua and Barbuda hosts the next Summit, this coming March
25th and 26th.”
The Foreign Ministry revealed that the release was issued by the
Information Division which did not know that on December 19th,
two weeks before the release was issued, Prime Minister Lester
Bird had written to CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington
telling him that he had consulted with the current Chairman, Prime
Minister P J Patterson of Jamaica, and asked him to “continue to
carry out the main functions of the Chairman for the first half
of my term as Chairman”.
In his letter to the CARICOM Secretary-General, Mr Bird continued, “Following
the general elections in Antigua and Barbuda, it is my intention
to have the duties and other responsibilities of the Chairman revert
to Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister”.
The Ministry said, “It is clear from Mr Bird’s letter that he
has no intention to delay the election date to take the spotlight
as CARICOM Chairman, as Mr Spencer alleges”.
The Foreign Ministry also went on to point out that being Chairman
of CARICOM would be nothing new to Prime Minister Lester Bird. “He
has already served twice as the Chairman of CARICOM; this will
be his third Chairmanship. Therefore, the idea that Mr Bird would
be deliberately attempting to seek political mileage from this
post, in which he has already served with distinction, is without
any foundation”.
The Ministry concluded, “Under the two previous Chairmanships
of the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister, CARICOM established
and launched the Regional Negotiating Machinery (RNM), which has
been a key instrument of the Region’s critical external trade negotiations,
and the Task Force that worked to keep Nevis as part of the Federation
of St Kitts-Nevis. These were significant achievements under Antigua
and Barbuda’s Chairmanship.”
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ALP opens Party Headquarters
in preparation for General Elections
The ruling Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Headquarters is now open
in preparation for general elections constitutionally due by March,
2004. The headquarters is outfitted with all the facilities that
a modern office requires and will be user-friendly.
Speaking on a recent interview with the Caribbean Media Corporation
(CMC), Prime Minister Lester Bird, said the elections were imminent
and expressed the view that the ALP will be victorious at the polls.
Addressing party supporters at a huge public meeting in Old Road
on the 18th January, Mr Bird repeated a call to the "troops" to
get ready to go into battle with the opposition.
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ALP candidates to declare
assets
All Antigua Labour Party (ALP) candidates in the up-coming general
elections will be required to register their income, assets and
liabilities with the Ombudsman.
The party's candidates will also be required to sign an undertaking
that, if elected, he or she will also register income, assets and
liabilities with the Speaker of the House and the Governor-General.
Prime Minister Lester Bird announced this in his 15th weekly broadcast
to the nation, the prime focus of which was corruption. The Prime
Minister conceded that in the past, a few persons had "gone astray".
He continued, "but what is equally true is that action was always
taken against them swiftly.”
"The actions of those few do not denote the attitude of the party.
Nonetheless, the time has come for the state as a whole to move
beyond curing wrong-doing to preventing wrong-doing," he said.
Giving further details of the new anti-corruption measures, the
PM added, "Prior to the election, Labour Party candidates will
also be required to subscribe to a code of conduct in office, the
confirmed violation of which would result in their expulsion from
the Party, and their immediate withdrawal from a Ministry should
they be given a Portfolio.
"After the general election, the code of conduct will apply even
more stringently, and should it be substantiated that any minister
or parliamentary secretary has behaved in a manner that compromises
the code, he or she will be withdrawn from office immediately."
In his address, the PM told the nation that Antigua and Barbuda
was a signatory to the Inter American Convention Against Corruption
established by the Organisation of American States (OAS), a principle
of which is that "corruption undermines the legitimacy of public
institutions and strikes at society, moral order and justice."
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ALP holds massive Whistle-Stop
 |
Photographs show
portions of the ALP’s “whistle stop” motorcade
|
On Sunday 25th January, following the opening of its Headquarters
the ruling Antigua Labour Party (ALP), led by Prime Minister Lester
Bird, held a mammoth whistle-stop that saw thousands of party supporters
and well wishers demonstrating strong support for Mr. Bird and his
team of candidates who will contest the upcoming general election
due by March this year.
Sporting the party's red colours, supporters filled buses, cars,
trucks, rode motorcycles, bikes (two young men were seen on roller-skates)
as Labour's political motorcade criss-crossed the mainland as jubilant
supporters sang, chanted and danced to the musical commercials
of their favourite candidate.
This massive show of strength for the ALP came hours after the
party officially launched its headquarters where once again thousands
showed-up to see the candidates and to listen to a speech by the
party's political leader, Lester Bird when he called upon supporters
to go to the polls early to ensure that the ALP is safely returned
to office.
 |
Photographs show
portions of the ALP’s “whistle stop” motorcade
|
Pleased with the massive show of support in the whistle stop,
Mr. Bird said it tells a tale of victory for the ALP, adding that
all systems are now at “go". He said “The party will be turning
up the heat with an increase in public meetings across the country
as election day draws near.”
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission stated that everything is
in place for the election whenever it is called.
The Commission recently began distributing the new voter identification
cards, a new security feature in this year's election as government
moves to make the electoral system more safe and transparent.
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Antigua
Labour Party challenges Baldwin Spencer
Following is a Press Release from the Public Relations Department
of the Antigua Labour Party:
“The Antigua Labour Party takes serious objection to the outrageous
remarks by Mr. Baldwin Spencer, the Leader of the United Progressive
Party (UPP) in his broadcast on the UPP-owned radio station, Crusader.
We recognise that because the UPP owns and controls Crusader Radio
whose expressed policy is to broadcast UPP propaganda, Mr. Spencer's
broadcasts are not subject to editorial checks for accuracy. But
this broadcast was so flagrantly deceitful and misleading that
the Antigua Labour Party could not let it pass without comment.
Mr. Spencer blatantly lied when he said “the Prime Minister's
resistance to international observers in the run-up to the election
is telling evidence of the ALP's intention to steal the election
again."
At no time has Prime Minister Lester Bird resisted international
observers in the run-up to the election.
Further, at no time in the history of Antigua and Barbuda has
the ALP stolen any election. The results of every election held
in the country have been accepted by the parties and the people.
Indeed, the 1999 General Election was observed by a team of seasoned
and experienced people from the Commonwealth and they declared
that "the election was conducted in a manner that allowed the people
of Antigua and Barbuda to freely express their will at the polls."
Mr. Spencer cites a document on the 1999 General Election that
was written by one man under the aegis of the Centre for Strategic
and International studies, and uses the comments from that report
to try to build an argument that the 1999 Election was not free
and fair.
In his deceitfulness, Mr. Spencer omits to point out that neither
the Centre for Strategic and International Studies nor the one
man who wrote the report observed the 1999 General Election.
What is more, neither the Centre nor the man has any experience
of observing general elections.
The report was written months after the 1999 General Elections,
on the basis of oral presentations by UPP leaders, and documents,
whose legitimacy were questioned even by the writer.
Mr. Spencer's broadcast and his deceitful statements were made
to mislead the innocent at home and abroad.
The reality is that no results of any general election in Antigua
and Barbuda have ever been questioned, and the Commonwealth observed
the 1999 general election and endorsed its results.
The Antigua Labour Party has absolutely no problem with the forthcoming
general election being observed by multi-national and international
bodies with the proven capacity to do so. We fully intend to be
party to the invitation of such observers at the appropriate time,
for when the UPP, under Baldwin Spencer's leadership, drowns under
the weight of its defeat at the next general election, we want
him to have no straws at which to clutch.”
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ALP
calls for apology from opposition over remarks comparing citizens
to Haitians
The ruling Antigua Labour Party (ALP) has described as insulting,
a statement by Opposition Leader Baldwin Spencer that the citizens
here were a little better off than the people of Haiti. “This was
an odious comparison given the tradition of democracy, respect
for human rights and the relatively high standard of living that
the vast majority of our people enjoy,” the ALP said in a statement.
The ALP said that it was also taking issue with Spencer’s radio
broadcast, claiming that he had indicated that with the possible
exception of the Haitian people, the people of Antigua and Barbuda
have endured more this year than those of any other Caribbean country”.
The ALP said this “wild claim by Mr Spencer does not stand-up to
scrutiny and is an insult to the people of Antigua and Barbuda
for which he should apologise”.
“The people of Antigua and Barbuda have the second highest income
per person in the Caribbean Community and Common Market including
oil-rich Trinidad and Tobago; we also have the lowest unemployment
figures in the Region which means more of our people are employed
than others in the Caribbean,” the ALP said.
“In some countries of the Caribbean the murder rate and the number
of kidnappings are in the hundreds. In Antigua and Barbuda we barely
reach double digit figures. The savings of our people in the banks
are greater than any other people in the OECS countries and our
people own more property per capita than others in the Region,” it
added.
The party says the island also upholds freedom of the Press with
the main opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) controlling
its own radio station “that does nothing but broadcast its own
propaganda”.
“The reality is that Antigua and Barbuda performed well in 2003
with economic growth of almost 4%, low unemployment, relatively
high wages, low inflation and a stable and democratic environment
with lower crime than elsewhere in the Caribbean,” the Labour Party
said. “Mr Spencer may be living on another planet, but the people
of Antigua and Barbuda live in this country. They are perfectly
well aware of the quality of life they enjoy, and no lies from
Mr Spencer can alter the truth. He should apologise yet again for
his offensive statements about our country,” it added.
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Antigua’s
opposition leader warns future ministers of dismissal over corruption
Antigua and Barbuda’s main opposition political party has announced,
in the event of it’s winning the upcoming general elections, its
intention to set standards of behaviour for government ministers
which would require their resignation, if found to be dishonest
with the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
In his weekly radio address, leader of the United Progressive
Party (UPP) Baldwin Spencer, said that he would hold his ministers
to the most rigorous standards, should the party be victorious
at the polls that Prime Minister Lester Bird has indicated will
be held in early 2004.
He said that lying to the people will be tantamount to resignation
from a UPP Cabinet. Stealing from the people will mean certain
and instant removal from a UPP Cabinet, and swift justice under
the nation’s laws. There would be no ‘sacred cows’ in a UPP Government.
He said they will bring a new dimension into the management of
the country’s resources, the interest of the people, and not the
politicians’ personal profit.
Spencer also pledged to work assiduously to bring elected officials
who have stolen public funds or committed other crimes against
the people to justice; no matter how devious the means they may
have used. He added that it is his duty to caution that out of
absolute necessity, anti-corruption legislation will have to be
retroactive, to cover the periods of such politicians’ occupancy
of elected public office.”
He said he also cautions corrupt politicians that, within this
year, a UPP Government will introduce legislation to recover money
stolen or fraudulently diverted from the people.
The Opposition Leader said that his party was very confident of
winning the elections whenever they are called, noting that the
ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party would have to face a cleaner
voters’ list than has been used in any previous election in Antigua
and Barbuda. He said that the only speculation would be about the
date of the election, not about the outcome.
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Political
parties preparing for general elections in Antigua and Barbuda
Confident that it would be victorious in at least 14 of the 17
parliamentary seats at stake in the general elections, the ruling
Antigua Labour Party (ALP) has gone on the campaign trail as the
island prepares for a general election.
ALP leader and Prime Minister Lester Bird told supporters that
his administration had been able to “deliver the goods” and he
was predicting victory in at least 13 to 14 seats in the elections.
The date for the polls has not yet been announced even though Mr
Bird has hinted on numerous occasions that it was possible that
it could be called before the constitutional deadline of March
this year.
Both the ALP and the main opposition United Progressive Party
(UPP) have been holding public meetings and launching candidates
ahead of the polls.
The ALP's headquarters in the capital has been decked with election
paraphernalia, including three giant-size red and white balloons
on the roof. The ALP has also launched its “Solidarity Platform” of
broadcasters urging support for the ruling party, while blue and
yellow large posters and billboards have been erected by the UPP
across the island.
The ALP launched most of its candidates at a public meeting on
the weekend of 16th January with Johnston Southwell, a school teacher
and the candidate for the All Saints and St. Luke's constituency,
urging support for the ruling party.
"The Antigua Labour Party is an institution of the people, for
the people, by the people. It is you the people of this country
that have made this great institution called the ALP and we will
not allow anyone to wreck it," the school teacher said.
Meanwhile, voters have started receiving their new voter identification
cards, one of the new features for the upcoming polls, as the authorities
seek to lessen allegations of election fraud and other irregularities
of the past. The local electoral office in Antigua has been receiving
assistance from Jamaica electoral officials in their preparation
for the polls.
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ALP launches website
On 27th January, the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) launched its internet
website, www.votealp.com.
Political Leader of the ALP, Prime Minister Lester Bird, explained
that the Website is a credible source where information on the
party and its outstanding performance over the years can be obtained. "The
Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party has a long and rich history. It
is a party that has affected the lives of all Antiguans and Barbudans,
and the people of the Caribbean,” he said.
The website, www.votealp.com,
also features downloadable music and videos, photographs and biographical
data on all the candidates contesting the upcoming general election,
a photo gallery which tells the ALP story in pictures, a calendar
of events, the latest news related to the ALP, and lots more.
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Antigua
and Barbuda deports Dominican Republic nationals
On 19th January, Immigration Chief Colonel Clyde Walker called
on his counterparts in the Dominica Republic to investigate an
alleged passport scam, following the deportation of six Dominican
Republic nationals with fraudulent French documents.
The four men and two women were caught attempting to get into
Canada via Antigua and St. Lucia. He said, Galvan Mora, Mariela
De Leon, Lourde Maria De Gomez, Angela Perez, Miguel Antonio Caceres
and Santa Sanchez paid up to US$2,000 each for the fraudulent French
passports. The group were taken into Police custody in St. John's
on the 17th January and were sent back to Santo Domingo on Monday
19th January.
The Immigration Chief said Dominican Republic nationals were detained
with fraudulent documents on an almost daily basis; the most recent
being Feliz Torres, who was deported for a similar offence
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WTO
panel opens second hearing in Antigua dispute with US
The Panel of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), which is arbitrating
the dispute between Antigua and Barbuda and the United States,
began its second hearing on 26th January in Geneva.
Antigua and Barbuda is challenging the prohibition by the US Government
of the delivery of Internet gaming and betting services in to the
United States. Antigua and Barbuda’s case is based on a claim that
the US is violating obligations under the General Agreement on
Trade in Services which allows cross-border trade in services.
The European Union, Canada and Mexico support Antigua’s position
as third parties to the dispute.
Antigua and Barbuda took the dispute with to the WTO Dispute Settlement
Body after the failure of attempts to settle the matter in direct
consultations with the US.
The Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO authorised the Panel in
July last year despite US objections, and the Director-General
appointed the Panel members lat August after the US rejected two
lists of panellists supplied by the Secretariat.
The first hearing of the Panel was held in December.
At the second hearing, Antigua and Barbuda’s Chief Foreign Affairs
Representative, Sir Ronald Sanders, told the Panel that “the Antigua
case has not been rebutted by the US”. He said, the US statement
at the last hearing was “replete with misstatements and unsupported
evidentiary conclusions”.
For its part, the US, through its lead representative, Stanford
McKoy, claimed that Antigua must “identify all relevant US legislative
and regulatory provisions that the Antigua Government is challenging”.
Sir Ronald retorted that “such an approach would deter developing
countries from using the dispute settlement system, effectively
limiting access to the WTO dispute machinery to the richest members”.
The Antigua diplomat said, “Because of scarce resources, developing
countries find it difficult to bring dispute settlement cases to
the WTO even when the domestic legislation is simple”.
“If panels were to adopt the approach that every law had to be
examined and distilled, when only one law had to be established,
dispute settlement would be impossible”, Sir Ronald argued.
The Panel hearing was wrapped up on 27th January with other technical
and legal issues discussed.
A descriptive part of the Panel’s report is scheduled to be issued
on 20th February with the interim report expected in mid-march
after which the parties to the dispute could request a meeting
with the Panel to review parts of the Report.
“I fully expect the US to ask for such a meeting. It would fall
into their pattern of using every opportunity for a delay”, Sir
Ronald said. He added, “If this happens, as I am sure it will,
the Panel will have to ask the Dispute Settlement Body of the WTO
for an extension of time and the final report will not be out before
mid-May”.
He concluded, “Whatever happens, we intend to see this through
to the end. We have Antiguan jobs and revenue at stake here”
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Cuban Deputy Minister
of Investment meets Prime Minster Lester Bird
 |
Prime Minister
Lester Bird and Deputy Minister Eduardo Santos
|
On the 20th January Eduardo Santos, Deputy Minister in the Ministry
of Investment and Economic Cooperation in Cuba, met Prime Minister
Lester Bird.
Deputy Minister Santos was in Antigua at the head of a Cuban delegation
which participated in the fifth session of the Antigua and Barbuda/Cuba
Mixed Commission.
PM Bird welcomed the Cuban minister to Antigua and Barbuda and
expressed satisfaction that the meetings of the Commission had
gone well. He said that Cuba is playing a vital role in the development
efforts of the nation, especially in two key sectors, which touch
the lives of all members of society - health and education.
Prime Minister Bird also recalled the Caricom/Cuba Summit, which
took place in Havana in December 2002. The Summit celebrated 30
years of Caricom/Cuba relations, and set out a number of initiatives
designed to build on the strong co-operation already established
between Cuba and the rest of the Caribbean.
Also in the meeting were Ambassador Colin Murdoch, Permanent Secretary
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Antigua and Barbuda's Ambassador
to Cuba, Armando Casado - Technical Advisor to the Deputy Minister,
and Dr. Geovando Martinez, co-ordinator of the Cuban medical team
resident in Antigua.
Ambassador Murdoch explained that the value of Cuban technical
co-operation with Antigua and Barbuda is in excess of EC$8.5 million
annually.
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Antigua and Barbuda
concludes negotiations with Australia and New Zealand on Tax
Information Exchange Agreements
 |
Sir Ronald Sanders
(seated front, centre) with negotiating team
|
On 23rd January 2004, Antigua and Barbuda’s Chief Foreign Affairs
Representative, Sir Ronald Sanders concluded two days of negotiations
in London with Australia and New Zealand on Tax Information Exchange
Agreements.
Sir Ronald explained that, “The Government of Antigua and Barbuda
operates on a basis of transparency in the regulation and supervision
of our financial service sector, and on cooperation with the international
community on anti-money laundering and financial crime including
tax evasion”.
“In this connection, Antigua and Barbuda was happy to negotiate
bilateral tax information agreements with two sister Commonwealth
countries, Australia and New Zealand”, Sir Ronald said.
He went on, “These bilateral tax information agreements are very
different from the approach of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD) which has sought to force small countries,
like Antigua and Barbuda, to provide information on demand or face
inclusion on a blacklist. These negotiations are bilateral, they
are aimed at tax evasion only, and are based on the factual tax
regimes existing in the countries that are party to the agreement.
In this sense, they are fair and voluntary with negotiated protections
for the rights of all parties involved”.
The Antigua and Barbuda diplomat, who led the negotiations, disclosed
that the bilateral agreements are the first such agreements to
be negotiated by Australia and New Zealand. “We find ourselves
in the remarkable situation, as a small state, of having more experience
in bilateral tax information exchange agreements than our two larger
Commonwealth partners”.
Sir Ronald said, “The discussions went well, and there was considerable
respect on all sides for the laws, judicial systems and regulatory
machinery of the countries concerned”.
He concluded, “These further agreements will show the world that
Antigua and Barbuda is operating a transparent and well regulated
financial services sector. It will strengthen the reputation of
the existing financial institutions in Antigua, and encourage more
reputable institutions to locate in our jurisdiction bringing us
more revenue and more employment”.
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BMI
may operate non-stop services from Manchester UK to Antigua
 |
British Midland
landing at Manchester International airport
|
On 14th January, British Midland Airways Limited (bmi), the UK’s
second largest full service airline, announced that it is considering
the operation of non-stop services from Manchester UK to Antigua
starting in November 2004.
According to Commercial Director for British Midland Andrew Jansen,
they are proposing to operate three or four weekly flights on a
year round basis to Antigua.
Antigua and Barbuda’s High Commissioner to London, Sir Ronald
Sanders, said “The London Office is giving every encouragement
to British Midland to fly directly from Manchester to Antigua.
We have long wanted a direct flight from the North of England which
is a lucrative market.”
Sir Ronald added that if British Midland decides to fly to Antigua,
this will be a profitable route for the Airline and the people
of Antigua and Barbuda. “It will complement the excellent service
we are getting from British Airways supported by Virgin Atlantic
and BWIA,” he said.
BMI has its main operational base at London Heathrow where it
holds 14% of all take off and landing slots. The airline operates
over 2,000 flights a week with a fleet of 41 jet aircrafts which
have an average age of five years. BMI serves 28 destinations in
ten countries and in 2002 carried over seven and a half million
passengers.
Services to Antigua and other islands in the Caribbean would be
operated by the 244 seater A330 aircraft with a three class configuration
comprising of a first class style business style cabin, the Business,
an enhanced economy service, the New Economy and an Economy Cabin.
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Cruise
Ship visits on the rise in Antigua
The investment by government and private sector in cruise tourism
is showing rewards. Over the Christmas and New Year holidays several
cruise ships visited Antigua with over 10,000 passengers.
The cruise ship passengers were welcomed by the Police choir and
steel-band music. The Performing Arts Society also put on a show.
Some of the cruise ships in port were - Constellation, Costa Romantica,
Pacific Dream, the European Vision - which made its inaugural call,
Club Med, Bramer, sea Dream 1 and MV Arion.
Shipping Manager at Bryson’s Shipping, Nathan Dundas said that
by the end of January Antigua and Barbuda will reach its 650,000
cruise ship passenger target.
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