ISSUE NO.86 March 2004
UPP
wins big in Antigua and Barbuda’s General Elections
On 24th March 2004, Antiguans and Barbudans awoke to a new government
as the United Progressive Party (UPP) led by Prime Minister Baldwin
Spencer won the 23rd March poll.
In addressing the people of Antigua and Barbuda via a radio broadcast earlier
that morning, Mr. Spencer expressed thanks to all the people who voted for
the UPP and announced an "open house" at the Office of the Prime
Minister and invited all to take a tour of the building.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Lester Bird in conceding defeat at the hands
of the UPP, thanked the supporters of the Antigua Labour Party and said his
party will be as strong in opposition as it was in government.
Thousands of jubilant UPP supporters took to the streets of the nation in one
big victory celebration when it was discovered that the party won the election.
The UPP won 12 of the seventeen seats contested with the ALP
claiming four seats. The contest in Barbuda reached a stalemate
with both candidates receiving 400 votes each with six rejected
ballots. Both candidates have endorsed a by-election.
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New
Prime Minister Takes Oath of Office in Antigua and Barbuda
On the 24th March, newly elected Prime Minister of Antigua and
Barbuda Baldwin Spencer took the Oath of Office before members
of his party, family, friends and supporters of the United Progressive
Party.
Governor General Sir James B. Carlisle also delivered instruments of appointment
to five members of the party including Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer took the portfolio for National Security, Information,
Labour, Public Administration, Ecclesiastics and Barbuda Affairs.
The position of Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs was given to
veteran Attorney-at-Law Justin Simon.
Attorney-at-Law Harold Lovell was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tourism,
International Transportation and Trade.
Deputy Leader of the United Progressive Party Wilmoth Daniel is the Minister
of Public Works and Communications, while Dr. Errol Cort was given the Ministries
of Finance, Economic Development and Planning.
Mr. Charlesworth Samuel - Minister of Agriculture, Lands, The
Environment, Marine Resources and Food Production. Mr. Bertrand
Joseph - Minister of Education, Human Development and Culture.
On Friday 26th March the Prime Minister completed the list of appointments
of Ministers to serve in the Government.
Governor General Sir James Carlisle administered the Oaths of
Office, Allegiance and Secrecy to Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, Hilson
Baptiste and Joanne Massiah who were all appointed Ministers of
State.
Eleston Adams, Chanlah Codrington and Winston Williams and attorney-at-law
Lenworth Johnson were appointed Parliamentary Secretaries.
In addition, Aziz Hadeed who served in the last Senate, has been
appointed Minister of State, Trade Unionists Chester Hughes, David
Massiah and Francis Nunes, also received their instruments as Senators.
Medical Practitioner Dr. Edmond Mansoor, has been appointed President
of the Senate. Speaking to reporters, Dr. Mansoor said that he
is anticipating healthy constructive debates.
Also expressing her willingness to serve in the capacity of Minister of State
in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information and
Public Service, was the first female elected to the House of Represenatives
Dr. Jacqui Quinn- Leandro.
Dr. Leandro who received the most votes cast in the history of
general elections in Antigua and Barbuda, said that there are a
lot of exciting plans and programmes that the government is aiming
to introduce to bring a level of professionalism that should be
exhibited in the state owned media.
On Monday 29th March, Colin Derrick, was sworn in as Senator and made a full
Minister with responsibility for Social Transformation.
Retired Educator Hazelyn Francis, Activist Anthony Stuart and
former Chairman of the Barbuda Council Fabian Jones were also appointed
as Senators within the Administration of Prime Minister Spencer.
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Women
to play a more meaningful role in the governance of the country
 |
| Prime Minister Spencer
and Deputy Prime Minister Wilmoth Daniel witness the swearing-in
of Mrs D. Giselle Isaac-Arrindell by Clerk to Parliament
Mrs Sylvia Walker |
History was made in the Parliament when the first woman elected
to the Lower House was sworn in.
Dr. Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, a media consultant and former News Director of the
state owned radio and television service, is a new-comer to politics. Running
on a United Progressive Party (UPP) ticket, she defeated Guy Yearwood, a former
Information and Sports Minister in the Antigua Labour Party (ALP).
Speaking in his first weekly radio broadcast, since assuming the office of
Prime Minister, Mr. Spencer said he was delighted to have Dr. Quinn-Leandro
in his government and thanked the people of St. George's for voting for her.
"Dr. Jacqui Quinn Leandro’s election as the first woman elected to the House
of Representatives of Antigua and Barbuda is a significant milestone in our nation’s
history. This was long overdue.”
Meanwhile, the new Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mrs.
D. Gisel Isaac-Arrindel, also came in for high praise from Prime
Minister Spencer during her swearing-in ceremony at the Opening
of Parliament on 29th March 2004.
In brief congratulatory remarks before a packed Parliament Chamber,
Mr. Spencer praised Isaac-Arrindel for her principles, adding that
she would make a fine Speaker.
"I wish to extend heartiest congratulations to you. I have absolutely no
doubt in my mind that you would make a tremendous Speaker of this Honourable
House. You bring, in my humble opinion, the kind of balance, the kind of integrity,
the kind of decision-making powers that will help us through this very serious
process of conducting the people's business," he concluded.
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Government to ignite
entrepreneurial spirit in the community
 |
| Senator Aziz Hadeed
receiving his instruments of appointment from Governor-General
Sir James Carlisle |
Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer announced that his government
has urgent and constructive work to do, and in this regard he wants
to ignite the entrepreneurial spirit in the country.
Prime Minister Spencer said that the society is rich in human and financial
resources with near two billion dollars dormant in domestic savings in the
financial institutions.
“I want to unlock those funds and ignite the business spirit with which Antigua
and Barbuda abounds. I had that in mind in assembling my Administration. I wanted
to reflect the diversity of civil society on the Government benches in the Senate,
and, notably, in the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives,” Prime
Minister stated.
The Prime Minister pointed out that in order to restore investor
confidence, both local and international, he has invited local
businessman Aziz Hadeed to assist him as Minister without Portfolio
in the Prime Minister’s Office.
“I want to call upon Minister Hadeed’s flair for money management in our task
of restructuring the economy. I want Minister Hadeed to spearhead the Caribbean
Festival Park project, which is designated for the Perry Bay/Donovan’s area,” Mr.
Spencer stated.
The Prime Minister explained, “Minister Hadeed is one of the
region’s most successful entrepreneurs. His managerial skills are
widely known. He has wide business relationships that can translate
into development activity for the country.”
Mr. Spencer explained that the qualities that Mr. Hadeed brings to the government
will be invaluable in creating a cadre of new entrepreneurs drawn from all
sectors of the community as stakeholders and partners with major international
investors in making the Caribbean Festival Park an international visitor attraction.
The Caribbean Festival Park will be a gigantic undertaking by the new government
that will generate large numbers of new jobs and inject new dynamism in the
tourism sector and the economy.
 |
The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda:
(Front centre) - Honourable Baldwin Spencer Prime Minister and Minister
of National Security, Information, Labour, Public Administration, Ecclesiastics
and Barbuda Affairs, (front left) Honourable Wilmoth Daniel, Minister
of Public Works and Communications, (front right) Honourable Justin
Simon, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs,
(back left to right) - Senator the Honourable Colin Derrick, Minister of
Social Transformation - Honourable John Maginley, Minister of Health, Sports
and Youth Affairs - Dr The Honourable Errol Cort, Minister of Finance,
Economic Development and Planning - Honourable Harold Lovell, Minister
of Foreign Affairs, Tourism, International Transportation and Trade - Honourable
Charlesworth Samuel, Minister of Agriculture, Lands, The Environment, Marine
Resources and Food Production - Honourable Bertrand Joseph, Minister of
Education, Human Development and Culture. |
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Victory
against the USA at WTO
(Excerpted from the Antigua Sun)
Antigua and Barbuda has won a seminal victory at the World Trade
Organisation (WTO) in its dispute against the USA.
On 24th March, the SUN learned that the WTO Disputes Panel has
ruled in favour of this country in its action against the world’s
sole superpower.
Antigua and Barbuda had earlier presented arguments to the panel
to the effect that the US government in legislating against transactions
between US financial institutions and Antigua and Barbuda-based
Internet gaming companies, was acting in breach of its obligations
under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).
When contacted, Sir Ronald Sanders, the head of this country's
representative team at the WTO dispute, confirmed to the SUN that
the Disputes Panel at the WTO had indeed recommended that the USA
be requested by the WTO to bring the offending revenue measures
into conformity with US obligations under the GATS.
According to Sanders, an appeal is likely. “The US has fought
us at every stage of the way on this issue,” he said, “and we’re
sure they will appeal this decision. We’re very pleased with the
result however, and although the US can appeal on strictly technical
aspects of the case, the dispute will have to come to an end at
some stage, and there's no doubt in my mind that the issue will
ultimately be resolved in our favour.”
The Chief Negotiator told the SUN the US Government had two months
in which to give notice of appeal and a further two months in which
to enter its arguments and that the issue should be concluded very
shortly thereafter.
At stake is the future of the Internet gaming industry on the
island, one of the important pillars of diversification and expansion
of the country's services sector.
The US had enacted legislation to inhibit Internet gambling by
making it a crime for US financial institutions to accept or facilitate
credit card payments, wire transfers or any other banking instruments
in relation to gaming transactions with companies in Antigua and
elsewhere.
It is estimated that the loss of earnings to Antigua and Barbuda
was in excess of US$20 million after a number of Internet gaming
and offshore companies ceased operations on the island as a result
of the US action.
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New Minister of of Foreign
Affairs attends CARICOM meeting
Statement by Honourable Harold Lovell
MP, Minister of Foreign Affairs of
Antigua and Barbuda to the Fifteenth Inter-Sessional Meeting of the Conference
of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) held in Basseterre,
St. Kitts and Nevis, 25-26 March 2004.
 |
The Secretary-General
of CARICOM Dr Edwin Carrington greets
Foreign Affairs Minister Harold Lovell |
“The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, the Honourable Baldwin
Spencer, is unable to be here with us in St. Kitts & Nevis
for this meeting.
He has asked me to convey his sincere regret to his colleagues
and to the meeting at being unable, two days after a general election,
to take himself away from the urgent tasks involved in forming
a government. He sends his best wishes for successful deliberations.
Prime Minister Spencer noted the significance of the fact that
some of the very first decisions of his government involved Antigua
and Barbuda’s participation in CARICOM, and that this was symbolic
of his government’s re-dedication to the principles and ideals
of CARICOM.
In considering his options, Mr. Spencer was well aware of the
challenging issues facing this Conference. He looks forward to
an early opportunity to join his colleagues in tackling the pervasive
challenges to our people’s development and independence.
On his behalf I would like to thank the government of St. Kitts & Nevis
for hosting the Meeting at such short notice; and to express special
appreciation to our host Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil Douglas
for agreeing to chair the proceedings.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda also owes a debt of gratitude
to the Most Hon P. J. Patterson for agreeing to extend his term
as chair for three months. This was done at a critical time in
CARICOM’s external relations, and the region had the benefit of
clear and principled leadership.
Mr. Chairman, I offer you the full support of my delegation and of the government
of Antigua and Barbuda as you guide us towards the strategies that will see
a resolution of the issues that populate our agenda.”
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PM
Spencer meets three CARICOM Leaders
 |
Prime Minister Baldwin
Spencer with Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines,
Dr Ralph Gonsalves and Chief Minister of Montserrat John Osborne |
On 28th March Prime Minister of Baldwin Spencer held informal
meetings with three CARICOM Prime Ministers who were in-transit
in Antigua.
He met Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Dr. Ralph Gonsalves
and Chief Minister of Montserrat John Osborne who were on a stop over in Antigua
following the CARICOM Heads of Government Meeting in St. Kitts.
During their informal discussion, the Prime Minister, who was unable to attend
the CARICOM Summit, was briefed on a number of the issues that were discussed
at the meeting including Cricket World Cup 2007 and Antigua and Barbuda taking
up the Chairmanship of CARICOM.
Prime Minister Gonsalves said that although Baldwin Spencer has just assumed
the position of Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, he is confident that
he will play a major role as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
because of his experience and ability.
The Guyanese President congratulated Prime Minister Spencer on
his election victory, which he said was the beginning of an era
in Antigua and Barbuda considering that the United Progressive
Party was able to capture 75% of the votes cast in the elections.
Prime Minister Spencer said that chief among the issues that
his government will be addressing within the Community would be
the transformation of LIAT to make it into a profitable regional
airline.
Later that evening, Prime Minister Spencer hosted an informal dinner with the
President of the Corporate Republic of Guyana His Excellency Mr. Bharat Jagdeo.
Also present were the Minister of Tourism and Foreign Affairs Harold Lovell
and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Colin Murdoch.
Discussions at dinner focused on the situation in Haiti, the Caribbean Single
Market and Economy, Regional Transportation and Agriculture and Regional Development.
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Prime Minister Spencer
welcomes US Ambassador
 |
| (left to right) Permanent
Secretary Murdoch, Prime Minister Spencer, Foreign Minister
Lovell, Ambassador Kramer |
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda should be proud of the level
of democracy which was exercised during the transition to power
of the United Progressive Party Government led by Prime Minister
Baldwin Spencer.
This statement was made by the new United States Ambassador to Antigua and
Barbuda, Her Excellency Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Kramer, during her visit with Prime
Minister the Baldwin Spencer.
The US Diplomat said that Antigua and Barbuda has proven that it is a mature
democracy and the United States is willing to continue strengthening the relationship
by facilitating development in the country especially in the Tourism Sector.
Mrs. Kramer, in her remarks, also brought greetings from US President George
W. Bush, noting that her government is particularly impressed with Antigua
and Barbuda’s swiftness to tabling anti-terrorism legislation.
Prime Minister Spencer also expressed his government’s willingness to continue
honouring the country’s commitment with the United States thus further strengthening
their relationship.
Discussions with the US Ambassador also focused on key issues in US/CARICOM
relations and on the Prime Minister assuming the Chairmanship of CARICOM shortly.
Joining the Prime Minister and the Ambassador in the discussions were Foreign
Affairs Minister Harold Lovell, Permanent Secretary Colin Murdoch, Political-Economic
Counselor US Embassy Mr. Paul Belmont and Political Officer US Embassy Ms.
Amy Carnie.
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Cable & Wireless
goes GSM
Cable & Wireless (C&W) is making some important enhancements
to its mobile services, including the installation of its new GSM
network.
Head of Mobile at C&W, Daryll Jackson, said the GSM network
will complement the current TDMA service.
During the launch of the new technology, Jackson said the idea behind installing
the new network is to be able to provide a wider range of services to its mobile
customers.
"One of the capabilities that GSM provides is the ability
to provide a wider range of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service)
data and there are a number of features that can ride on this network,
which include Internet browsing from your handset and sending picture
messages," Jackson said.
Jackson said C&W will be introducing a number of new mobile
plans, which will give their customers wider choices, complete
with additional value.
"We are very excited about these plans we are introducing.
We are also expanding the range of handsets available to our customers.
These handsets will significantly increase the range we currently
have," Jackson said.
"We are generally just changing the overall image of Cable & Wireless
along with introducing GSM and our new services. We have been by
far, the largest mobile provider at least for the last six to eight
months and we intend to continue that momentum," Jackson added.
He also said the TDMA network will remain the same and that customers
are not compelled to switch.
C&W has not forgotten Barbuda and during the launch of the
new network, Jackson said they were pleased to announce that they
have installed a new site in Barbuda so customers will be able
to use C&W mobile service.
Although C&W is not the first mobile service provider to
install GSM, Jackson made it clear that the main reason for installing
the GSM network is to ensure their customers can take advantage
of this new technology.
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Throne
speech 2004
 |
 |
Governor-General Sir
James B. Carlisle delivering the
Throne Speech to both Houses of Parliament
on 29th March 2004 |
Members of Parliament with invited
guests
seated in the gallery |
Government’s plans and programmes on key areas such as Health
Care, Education, Infrastructural Development, Housing and the restructuring
of the public service were outlined on Monday 29th March 2004 by
Governor-General, Sir James B. Carlisle, as a new session of Parliament
opened with the traditional Throne Speech.
Following are excerpts from the Throne Speech:
“At the dawn of a new millennium, Antigua and Barbuda has entered
a new era in its political and social affairs.
The world, it seems, has warmly welcomed government in the sunshine in Antigua
and Barbuda.
My Government begins its stewardship with a great fund of goodwill that appears
to be close to universal.
Antigua and Barbuda will need all the goodwill we now enjoy.
Our country faces daunting internal challenges.
We also have to contend with current regional and global crisis.
We cannot escape the threat of unpredictable external shocks.
My Government begins its first term with the economy in crisis, and with severe
inadequacies in our physical and social infrastructure.
In a land of comparative wealth, too many of our citizens are trapped below
the poverty line.
CARICOM is facing its most serious crisis because of the situation with Haiti,
a member state.
Global Terrorism is a clear and present danger to every nation, including Antigua
and Barbuda.
Our region is under serious threat from the cartels engaged in narcotics trafficking,
and money laundering.
Our region is also under serious threat from the scourge AIDS.
The new globalised world order makes little concessions to small developing
states like Antigua and Barbuda. Nor will the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
With all of this, uncommon insight and innovation will be required of my Government
in equipping Antigua and Barbuda for success in a fiercely competitive borderless
world economy.
To do this, my government will have to bring the Antiguan and Barbudan peoples
together in a truly united nation.
As a united people, we will have to narrow the unacceptable and widening gap
between the rich and the poor in our society.
It will be necessary to give our young people hope and opportunity.
It will be necessary to restore the dignity of our elderly and enhance the
quality of their living.
It will be necessary to provide housing for our homeless.
It will be necessary to mobilize the entire country in a mission of recovery,
reconstruction and renewal.
It will be necessary to restore pride in our Nation, at home and internationally.
It will be necessary to strengthen all of our nation’s institutions.”
Social Transformation
The Government will implement a broad social transformation to eradicate poverty
in Antigua and Barbuda, create a level field for persons of all social origins,
upgrade urban and rural communities and provide affordable quality shelter.
“One family living below the poverty line is a blemish on society and the belief
that ‘to whom much is given, much is expected’ will mobilise the social partners
in a national social transformation mission.
The goal is to make all Antiguans and Barbudans self-reliant through education,
training, self-development and economic opportunity, and to end dependence
on welfare.
The national social transformation mission will provide assistance and encouragement
to Faith Based Organizations, other Non-governmental Organizations, and Community
Based Organizations engaged in relieving hardship among the vulnerable in the
society.”
Housing
“Though, affordable housing is increasingly recognised as a fundamental
right, in Antigua and Barbuda, as in most developing societies,
people of modest means are the hardest hit by housing shortages.
To tackle this problem in a meaningful manner, my Government will:
- Establish a Housing Trust to provide funding for the construction
of affordable homes.
- Establish a Rent Regulatory Board to ensure the effective administration
of the Rent Restriction Act.
- Facilitate the construction of 1500 affordable homes for low
income families in the next five years.
Related to home construction, land is increasingly beyond the
reach of the average Antiguan and Barbudan.
Contributing to this problem is the fact that prime agricultural land is hoarded
with the wealth of private land-bankers.
My Government’s response to this concern is to implement a Land Rationalisation
Programme to ensure that our land is used to create wealth for the Antiguan
and Barbudan people; and to establish well-ordered living communities, where
housing is affordable and accessible for every section of the population.
The Land Rationalisation Programme will include forensic investigations of
questionable land transactions.
The Land Rationalisation Programme will zone the country into
residential, agricultural, industrial and forest lands; with an
Independent Land Commission to take charge of the distribution
and sale of all public lands.
The programme will make land available to farmers on the basis of long term
leases that can be used to secure agricultural credit, and will allocate land
for the development of industrial parks for light industry.”
Infrastructural Development
Government will establish a National Development Task Force to
oversee the preparation of a comprehensive Physical Development
Plan to provide a blueprint for the development and management
of infrastructure in Antigua and Barbuda.
“The National Development Task Force will:
- Include the expertise of physical planners, engineers and architects
and the blueprint will be prepared through a consultative process
with civil society, including the business sector, the hotel
association, farmers, local communities, NGOs and professional
associations.
- Implement an island-wide road improvement programme based on
a study of the island’s transportation needs and a comprehensive
inventory of the road network, with rural roads in villages and
areas identified for new housing development given high priority.
- Implement a transportation plan for St. John’s to ameliorate
the city’s chronic problems of traffic congestion, limited parking
space, and inadequate sidewalks.
- Improve the management efficiency of public works projects
to ensure that projects are completed on time and within the
approved budget.
- Implement a management and technical training programme for
all levels of staff in the Public Works Department.
- Conduct regular condition assessments and preventative maintenance
on public buildings, roads, bridges, drains and gutters, etc.
- Provide Barbuda with a network of paved roads and a dependable
piped water supply system.”
Public Services
“My Government’s focus on the public service is to ensure the
rapid delivery of improved public services to the national community.
Measures geared to this end will include:
- A review of the status of non-established workers with a view
towards offering greater job security, improved benefits, better
working conditions and enhanced motivation.
- Subsidized fees for work-related seminars, training and study
programmes for public servants.
- Dedicated Early Child Care Education Centres for infant children
of public servants.
- The removal of impediments to upward mobility for established
officers in the public service, most of whom though experienced
and qualified, receive a fraction of the hefty compensation packages
paid to a large number of contract officers.
My Government’s Business Development Programme will promote Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises to become a major generator of jobs
and a significant contributor to the economy.
This programme will reserve specific areas of business activity exclusively
for the national Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises sector.
The programme will also include a statutory Enterprise Development
Agency as the vehicle for providing enabling services to the Micro,
Small and Medium Enterprises sector; with a Credit Guarantee System
to secure venture capital for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
at preferential rates and special incentives for export enterprises.
The programme provides for business incubators in designated Small Enterprise
Zones.
My Government will mount a number of special projects as a means
of empowering key economic sectors.
These projects will include:
- Transition to Business for Civil Servants and Non-Established
Public Sector Workers, which will provide customised training,
counseling, funding and mentoring for public servants wishing
to transition from the public services to the private sector.
- The Youth Business Development Project which will give encouragement
and special assistance to our youth who wish to develop their
own enterprises.
- The Export Trading House will provide group export marketing
for designated enterprises such as garment manufacturers, agro
processors, and producers of handicraft and other items for the
tourism industry.”
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Barbudans
go to the polls again
Barbudans will return to the polls on 20 April to select their
representative in the House of Representatives.
This, after a tie in the 23 March general election which saw
the two candidates Trevor Walker of the Barbuda People's Movement
and Arthur Nibbs of the Barbuda People's Movement for Change each
acquiring 400 votes. Six spoilt ballots were recorded.
Both candidates refused a recount and made it clear that they
would prefer to go back to the polls.
The Electoral Commission has set aside 20 April as polling day
with 1 April being Nomination Day.
Over 840 people are registered to vote in Barbuda.
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Prime
Minister tours national science fair
On 31st March Prime Minister, Baldwin Spencer visited the National
Science Fair (NSF) at the National Cultural and Exhibition Centre
at Perry Bay where he got a first-hand view of a number of projects
and models on display.
 |
 |
Jessica Joseph of the
Antigua Girls High School
explains alternative sources of energy
to the Prime Minister |
PM Spencer looks at the robot assembled
by
students of the All Saints Secondary School |
The Prime Minister was accompanied by Minister of Education, Bertrand
Joseph and was guided on the tour by the Coordinator of the NSF,
Earl Skerrit, who explained that the NSF began in the late 1980s
and showcases a number of science projects made in the country
by companies as well as schools.
 |
| Mr B Stephens of Antigua
Public Utilities Authority (APUA) shows Mr Spencer a model
water purifier |
Mr. Spencer expressed delight with the enthusiasm shown by the
participants and made special mention of the projects undertaken
by the students of the many schools who participated.
One project which caught the Prime Minister's attention was that of a robot
which was built by students of the All Saints Secondary School. Student Tijah
Myers and his fellow students demonstrated how the device worked.
Following his tour of the NSF the Prime Minister made a surprise visit to students
participating in a Math Quiz contest.
In his brief remarks, PM Spencer encouraged the students to study hard, pointing
out that one day one of them could become the next Minister of Education or
Prime Minister. He said his administration will provide the opportunities for
them to develop educationally and encouraged them to also develop a love for
their country.
Chief Education Officer, Dr. Austin Josiah thanked Mr. Spencer for visiting
and reminded him of the many needs which the Ministry of Education has.
Brief remarks were also made by the Minister of Health John Maginley.
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Government presents
Budget 2004
 |
 |
Dr Errol Cort, Minister of Finance,
Economic Development
and Planning delivers the 2004 Budget Address |
A section of the Gallery attending
the Budget
presentation on Wednesday 31st March 2004 |
On 31st March the Government unveiled its “Agenda for Change” during
the presentation of the 2004 Budget.
The Budgeted Recurrent Expenditure is $563, 676, 063, while the Recurrent Revenue
stands at $541,091, 412 – a deficit of $22, 584, 651.
Minister of Finance and the Economy, Dr Errol Cort while delivering
the Budget, outlined that the Government intends to finance this
deficit by pursuing a policy of privatization among selected publicly
held assets, with a view toward creating the opportunity for citizens
and residents to participate in the ownership of these assets.
Dr Errol Cort also announced that the largest share of the $563, 676, 063 recurrent
expenditure will go towards servicing Public Debt. He stated that his government
has inherited an astronomical national debt well in excess of 125% of the GDP
and has allocated 16.59% or $93, 513, 286 towards this effort.
“This is a mammoth challenge that my Government intends to confront aggressively.
We intend to review and update the country’s debt profile over the next ninety
days so that we could give an account to the public of Antigua and Barbuda,” Dr.
Cort stated.
The Ministry of Education, Human Development and Culture also received a huge
share of the budgetary allocations. Thirteen point nine six (13.96%) of the
recurrent expenditure or $78, 690, 853 will go towards this division of government.
In his Address Dr. Cort said, “My Government is committed to raising the literacy
rates and to promoting civic pride and energizing the socio-cultural awareness
of our people. In this regard, we intend to reform the Ministry of Education
to allow for the more effective management of our school system.”
The Health, Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry under Minister John Maginley
received 13.54% or $76, 346, 307 of the Budget. It was pointed out that the
first year of the United Progressive Party’s term in office will focus on redefining
the role of the Community Sports and Games Department and the National Sports
Council.
“The budgetary allocations to Youth Affairs will be utilized
to mobilize a National Youth Council which will be designed to
facilitate the execution of youth empowerment programmes and a
Youth Business Development Project as a dedicated business incubator
for young persons between eighteen and thirty years of age,” Dr.
Cort outlined.
The Ministry of the Prime Minister which has been restructured with the rationalization
of the existing Ministries received the second largest budget allocation of
14.08% or $79, 343, 811.
The Ministry has been restructured with the addition of the Police, Police
Training School, Fire Brigade, Establishment Division, Public Information and
Broadcasting, Labour, Barbuda Administrative and General Services, Prison and
National Office of Disaster Services. Removed and reassigned to the Ministry
of Tourism, Foreign Affairs, International Transportation and Trade were External
Affairs, Overseas Diplomatic and Consular Section, and Immigration Unit.
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Two
Caribbean States to lose designation as beneficiary developing
country status, says regional trade body
Two Caribbean Community (CARICOM) states are to lose their designations
as beneficiary developing countries for purposes of the generalised
system of trade preferences, according to Tradewatch, the official
publication of the Barbados-based Caribbean Regional Negotiating
Machinery (CRNM).
It said that reports out of Washington suggested that the White
House had announced that Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda were
to lose their designations as beneficiary developing countries.
The designation allows products of designated developing countries
to pay lower custom duties when they enter the markets of developed
countries, with no obligation of reciprocity.
Tradewatch said the high per capita income and social profile
of these Caribbean countries has again caused it to lose out on
vital trade benefits.
It said that Barbados and Antigua and Barbuda have been re-designated "high
income" countries and would lose the trade preferences on
January 1, 2006.
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Sir Ronald Sanders
places resignation at disposal of new Prime Minister
Sir Ronald Sanders has placed his resignation at the disposal
of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.
In his resignation letter, Sir Ronald expressed his belief that
it was right and proper that he immediately allow the Prime Minister
the freedom to appoint such people as he deemed appropriate to
replace the High Commissioner in the execution of the various duties
that had been assigned to him.
Sir Ronald demitted office as High Commissioner on 31st March
2004
The letter, which was copied to Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary
Colin Murdoch, concluded: "It merely remains for me to congratulate
you on your election and to wish you and the new Government the
very best for the successful governance of Antigua and Barbuda."
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