ISSUE NO.97 March 2005
High Commissioner’s message  Welcome
to the 97th Issue of the Antigua and Barbuda High
Commission Newsletter.
This issue contains two very important features that I am
sure is of interest to all Antiguans and Barbudans:
Firstly, I am particularly pleased to have accompanied the
Minister of Tourism, Harold Lovell to the ITB 2005 in Berlin
, Germany where Antigua and Barbuda was energetically marketed
from 11th to 15th March 2005 .
There were some 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries
and regions, the full complement of global tourism at all levels
of tour operators, booking systems, travel destinations, airlines,
hotels and rental cars were well represented.
Minister Lovell focused on closing the Condor Airline deal
and was successful in this endeavour. I am happy to say that
Condor Airlines will resume a weekly non-stop service on Mondays
from Frankfurt , Germany to Antigua with
effect from 7th November 2005 . The government
recently serviced an outstanding debt owed to the airline company
during their arrangement with the former administration.
Secondly, every Antiguan and Barbudan can feel a sense of
pride that we have taken on the mighty USA and
won.
On the 7th April, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Appellate
Body upheld a ruling in favour of Antigua and Barbuda in
the trade dispute with the US regarding cross-border
online gaming.
This is a landmark victory for Antigua and Barbuda as
the first and smallest WTO member to defeat the United
States , the largest member, in this highly respected
international trade court.
Finance and Economy Minister, Dr Errol Cort, stated during
a press conference, that after going through the Findings and
Conclusions of the 127-page Report, he is happy to announce that
Antigua and Barbuda has been successful in the appellate case
in respect to all the major points of the appeal.
Dr. Cort said that the report reveals that the US was found
to be discriminating against Antigua and Barbuda in particular,
in terms of accessing its market and as such, the Appellate Body's
report concludes by asking the US to bring its laws into conformity
based on the findings.
Minister Cort also said that the next step will be for the
report to be adopted by the Dispute Settlement Body at a meeting
to be held on 19 th April 2005 . Following
which Antigua and Barbuda will then meet with
the United States to work out the necessary
modalities to ensure that compliance is met with the ruling as
found by the WTO.
The Finance Minister added that once they have worked out
the modalities with the United States , Antigua
and Barbuda will be able to access the US market
which means “we can expect to see a very vibrant and growing
Internet Gaming sector, generating employment opportunities for
a number of young people in Antigua and Barbuda .”
The Minister also said that with the Appellate Body of the
WTO ruling in favour of Antigua and Barbuda ,
it had set legal precedence in a number of areas as it pertains
to the future of Internet Gaming worldwide.
Dr Carl W. Roberts
High Commissioner
BACK TO TOP
PM
Spencer discusses UN Reform with German Special Envoy
 |
| Prime Minister
Baldwin Spencer with Special Envoy Professor Dr Tono Eitel |
On the 29th March Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer received a special
envoy of the Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Special Envoy Professor Dr. Tono Eitel lobbied on behalf of Germany
regarding United Nations reform.
The UN General Assembly will debate the issue of United Nations
reform during this year.
Special Envoy Eitel spoke of the power of the G77 group, which,
because of their numerical superiority, has great influence on
the issue of reform. He also spoke of the difficulty of reaching
consensus in New York at the United Nations Headquarters because
the positions are so far apart. He pointed out that UN Secretary
General Kofi Annan would like to see a decision before September
of this year.
During the discussion, Prime Minister Spencer stressed the need
for UN reform, as the world has changed significantly since the
establishment of the UN and the body needs to reflect modern realities.
The Prime Minister pointed out that CARICOM was seeking to achieve
consensus on the issue.
Special Envoy Eitel, who was accompanied by Germany 's Deputy
Head of Division-United Nations Division Dr. Jur Ingo Winkelmann,
spoke of the various models for reform proposed by the UN High
Level Panel's Report's Report.
Antigua and Barbuda UN Permanent Representative Dr. John Ashe
is part of a core group of CARICOM member states and a core group
of development countries within the Group of G77 and China which
will providing options for the consideration of the larger groupings.
Prime Minister Spencer during the discussion with the German Envoy
was praised for his speech delivered to the United Nations General
Assembly last September in New York . BACK TO TOP
House of Representatives passes Income Tax Legislation
On the 24 th March the House of Representatives passed the Personal
Income Tax Act, 2005, which will see the re-introduction of the
tax in Antigua and Barbuda with effect from April 1. The House also passed the Income Tax Amendment Act, 2005 and the
Revenue Miscellaneous Provisions Act, 2005.
The Personal Income Tax legislation makes provision for the imposition
of personal income tax on the income of individuals, with effect
from April 1, 2005 and for this purpose, to prescribe the rates
of tax, relating to employment income, income derived from self-employment
and income from other sources.
It also seeks to provide for the method of determining ultimate
tax liability, the administration, collection and enforcement of
the tax and to create offences and penalties for the contravention
of the provisions of the Act as well as to make minor consequential
amendments to the Inland Revenue Administration Act.
The Amendments made to the Income Tax Act, among other things,
call for the removal of the 2% monthly final tax and lowers the
consumption tax paid by incorporated companies from 35% to 30%.
The passage of the Revenue Miscellaneous Provisions Act supports
a number of proposals made in the government's Budget Statement
of 30 th November 2004 . Among the provisions of the Act are the
repealing of a 1% levy on foreign currency transactions, the abolition
of stamp duty of 3% on loans to non-citizens and the abolition
of the 10% duty on entertainment by persons who are citizens of
Antigua and Barbuda and CARICOM. BACK TO TOP
Government to rapidly develop the nation's Human Capital on a platform of excellence Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has devised a strategy for preparing
the country for a quantum leap to growth and prosperity and to
a secure future.
The Prime Minister revealed his government's plans during a national
broadcast marking the first anniversary of his administration in
office. He noted that the best strategy for success and survival
is the rapid development of the country's human capital on a Platform
of Excellence.
“What we lack in size, scale, and numbers, we must replace with
the quality of the education and the calibre of the skills with
which we must equip the Antiguan and Barbudan people. I propose,
therefore, that we mobilise all our resources, all our sectors,
in constructing a Platform of Excellence as this country's key
strategy to a quantum leap forward,” Prime Minister Spencer noted.
He said that the National Economic and Social Council would be
a key catalyst in the mission, which will rapidly equip the population
with the knowledge skills that are critical to success in the 21
st Century. It was outlined that from the Platform of Excellence,
every child must be imbued with a focus on achievement, every adult
with a focus on learning and training and every worker with a focus
on productivity.
“From this Platform of Excellence, every person must accept the
need for responsibility as an essential obligation of citizenship.
From this Platform of Excellence, we must achieve the dramatic
enhancement of our human capital that will be fundamental to success
in the Caribbean Single Market and Economy,” the Prime Minister
pointed out.
It was also stated that the enhancement of the country's human
capital would be fundamental to succeeding in the Free Trade Area
of the Americas and to competing in the global village, which is
now a single world economy.
He said that although the challenges are formidable, his government
has no option but to set as its primary national objective for
development, the swift transformation of Antigua and Barbuda into
a knowledge based intelligent Nation.
“It will take a Revolution in Education to transform Antigua and
Barbuda into an intelligent Nation, and a knowledge based society.
We identified this as a key national objective in “Agenda for Change,” the
United Progressive Party's election manifesto. I see it as Job
Number One for the second year of Government in the Sunshine that
we make a quantum leap to a knowledge based society in an intelligent
nation,” he said.
Prime Minister Spencer said that the job could be done in partnership
with civil society similar to the one formed with Antiguan investor
R. Allen Stanford which will see the construction of a $25 million
dollar higher education complex in Antigua and Barbuda.
He stated that the partnerships must aim at upgrading, expanding
and establishing new education and training systems and facilities
which will not only embrace the young people of the nation, but
all in the nation, in a cycle of lifelong learning.
“Incidental to the major areas of the revolution in education,
an immediate and realistic target is that by the end of this year,
every school in Antigua and Barbuda should be connected to the
Internet. This is a realistic target. As a component of the revolution
in education, we have to bring back the brains that fled Antigua
and Barbuda to other lands. We need to attract them to return home
to help in the reconstruction of our nation,” Prime Minister Spencer
concluded. BACK TO TOP
Antigua
and Barbuda discusses Information Technology assistance with
India
 |
| Indian High Commissioner Avinash
Gupta holding discussions with then Acting Prime Minister
Wilmoth Daniel and Ambassador Colin Murdoch at the Prime
Minister's Office |
Information technology and IT management were the key areas of
discussion between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and the
Indian High Commissioner His Excellency Avinash C. Gupta when he
made an official visit Antigua and Barbuda .
High Commissioner Gupta met Minister responsible for Information,
Dr. Edmond Mansoor and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Ambassador Colin Murdoch and a wide range of areas of
cooperation were discussed. The High Commissioner also held extensive
discussions with Acting Prime Minister Wilmoth Daniel.
During the discussions it was outlined that India is prepared
to offer continued assistance to Antigua and Barbuda in the areas
of information technology training.
Four nationals have successfully completed courses of training
in various IT areas in India and have already returned to the public
service with two remaining in India still undergoing training in
IT.
It was agreed that ten additional persons would be sent to India
for training this year in varying areas of Information Communication
Technology. Talks were also held on attracting consultants to the
country in Information Technology Security, Software Engineering
and Database and consultants to formulate policies, legislation
and regulation to address telecommunications and broadcasting convergence,
the impact of new technologies and e-commerce issues.
Further discussions were also held on training opportunities for
media personnel at the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is committed to expanding
its technology platforms including all aspects of e-government
and is actively considering the issue of connectivity to the information
highway, which it believes will provide major economic opportunity. BACK TO TOP
UN Habitat officials visit Antigua and Barbuda
On the 11th March a team of officials from United Nations (UN)
Habitat concluded an official visit to Antigua and Barbuda .
The visit was a follow up to an initial conversation by UN Officials
and the Finance and Economy Minister, Dr. Errol Cort during the
UN Small Island Developing States Conference in Mauritius earlier
this year.
UN Habitat programme is geared towards constructing homes for
low/middle income earners thereby eliminating slums in certain
parts of a country.
The team, which held discussions with a number of Government and
private sector officials also visited several areas such as Point,
Grays Farm and Clarehall where they conducted brief interviews
on housing and finance.
On Thursday 10 th March, UN Habitat staff members, David Franklyn
and Dinesh Mehta delivered a preliminary report to Director of
Community Development, Judy Labadie; Director of the National Office
of Disaster Services, Patricia Julian; Permanent Secretary in the
Ministry of Housing, Culture & Social Transformation, Vernessa
Matthew and Social Development Policy Coordinator, Almira Henry.
Should the Government give its ‘blessing' to the project, the
UN Habitat officials will prepare a project proposal and once the
grant is given, work will commence immediately.
The report to government outlined a number of ways the
project can be set up, suitable housing structures and how cost
can be reduced for persons earning a low income who wish to own
their home.
In the meantime, a Needs Assessment Study for the country is being
planned. The evaluation will, among others, seek to acquire the
number of low-income housing needed and the type of housing that
is preferred.
The Government of Antigua and Barbuda is expected to organize
the survey and the UN Officials have pledged to provide technical
assistance when and where necessary. BACK TO TOP
Antigua and Barbuda is member of the governing body of the United Nations Human Settlements Organisation (UN-HABITAT)
 |
| Minister of Housing, Culture and
Social Transformation, Hilson Baptiste attending
the Conference in Nairobi , Kenya |
At its twentieth Session held in Nairobi , Kenya from 4 th to
8 th April, Antigua and Barbuda became a member of the United Nations
Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). Antigua and Barbuda is
represented on the UN-HABITAT Governing Council by the Minister
of Housing, Culture and Social Transformation, Hilson Baptiste,
who was installed as the Deputy Chairman for a period of two years.
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UN-HABITAT, is
the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated
by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally
sustainable towns and cities with the goal of providing adequate
shelter for all. “Every two years, UN-HABITAT's work and relationships
with its partners are examined in detail by a Governing Council
composed of 58 member states. It is a high-level forum of governments
represented at the ministerial level during which policy guidelines
and the organisation's budget are established for the next two-year
period,” Minister Baptiste explained.
UN-HABITAT runs two major worldwide campaigns – the Global
Campaign on Urban Governance , and the Global Campaign
for Secure Tenure . Through these campaigns and by other
means, the agency focuses on a range of issues and special projects
which it helps implement. These include a joint UN-HABITAT/World
Bank slum upgrading initiative called the Cities Alliance ,
promoting effective housing development policies and strategies.
“By becoming a member of the Governing Council my government hopes
to address some of our own developmental issues by tapping into
these and other programmes of UN-HABITAT such as its Safer
Cities Programme , which, among other things, helps fight
crime, undertakes research and monitoring of urban economic development,
employment, poverty reduction, municipal and housing finance systems,
and urban investment. It also helps strengthen rural-urban linkages,
and infrastructure development and public service delivery,” the
Minister clarified.
Among some of the benefits of membership the Minister cited were
UN-HABITAT's 154 technical programmes and projects in a number
of countries around the world, such as, the fact that the agency's
operational activities is intended to help governments create policies
and strategies aimed at strengthening a self-reliant management
capacity at both national and local levels, its focus on promoting
shelter for all, improving urban governance, reducing urban poverty,
improving the living environment and managing disaster mitigation
and post-conflict rehabilitation. BACK TO TOP
Committee set up to formulate guidelines for Senior Citizens’ Homes
A working committee has been set up to formulate guidelines
for persons operating senior citizens homes.
This was the major decision coming out of a meeting with Minister
of Housing, Culture and Social Transformation, Hilson Baptiste
and owners and coordinators of senior citizens homes on Wednesday
9 th March 2005.
The committee comprises Heather Lopez, Wonda Kendell, Carlstein
Quinland, Jeanie Jeffrey, Bernita Simon, Marilyn Simon and Lorna
Timothy. guidelines can be taken to Parliament.
During the meeting, a rough draft of a list of requirements for
persons operating senior citizens homes was distributed. Minister
Baptiste stressed that these guidelines are not written in concrete
and the committee can make changes where necessary, as he wants
a collective approach to solving the problems.
The Minister thanked those who attended for their dedicated service
over the years and said he was impressed with a number of the facilities
he had seen.
He said, “You have to be commended for the energies you have put
into this over the years. What we are also saying is that you have
to come together to carry it a step further and Government will
be responsible to help.”
Minister Baptiste further outlined that senior citizens cannot
be used during an election and then dropped back at their respective
homes or centres and not cared for. He said that this practice
is wrong and he would not encourage it.
Approximately 30 persons attended the meeting, which was
chaired by Minister Baptiste and assisted by Permanent Secretary,
Vernessa Matthew and Social Development Policy Coordinator, Almira
Henry.
Other matters discussed were the attachment of dieticians and/or
nutritionists to the homes to ensure correct meal preparation,
adequate bathroom and resting facilities and trained/qualified
persons on staff to care for the patients.
Minister Baptiste called the meeting for a number of reasons,
including garnering the views of persons involved in the care of
the elderly, while at the same time listening to their concerns
and sharing his Ministry's plans for the development of these institutions.
Baptiste said such meetings were necessary and partly fulfils his
Ministry's motto, which is, “The Social Consciousness of Antigua
and Barbuda .” BACK TO TOP
Antigua and Barbuda urged to strengthen ties with Sweden
 |
| (l to r) Senior Ambassador Sir
Ramez Hadeed, Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, Ambassador
Ask and Mrs Ask |
Ambassador Designate of Sweden to Antigua and Barbuda has called
upon the country to develop stronger relations with Sweden .
Ambassador Sten Ask during a courtesy call on Prime Minister Spencer
outlined that Sweden has been ranked as number one in the world
for Information Technology and he believes the nation can benefit
in this avenue.
Prime Minister Spencer noted that his government is aiming at
integrating and adopting state-of-the-art information and communications
technologies in all spheres of each individual's life, in education,
health, production, commerce, services, governance systems, law
enforcement, entertainment and social interactions. He said that
Information Technology and telecommunications would be an ideal
area for cooperation between Antigua and Barbuda and Sweden .
The Prime Minister explained several aspects of the CARICOM Single
Market and Economy (CSME) to Ambassador Ask, including the Caribbean
Court of Justice (CCJ).
Ambassador Ask spoke on the issue of reform of the United Nations
which will take place this year, and he informed Prime Minister
Spencer that Sweden will assume the Presidency of the United Nations
later this year BACK TO TOP
European Union to provide Macro Economists to Antigua and Barbuda The government is in the process of obtaining technical support
from the European Union to boost its macro-economic policy formulation
capacity within the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
The technical assistance is another tangible EU support to Antigua
and Barbuda particularly to strengthen capacity within the Ministry
of Finance and Economy as the government adopts new fiscal stabilization
strategies.
The consultant will be expected to provide advice on macro-economic
issues, particularly in the area of fiscal reform management, while
at the same time, facilitating the development of the capacity
of the Economic Policy and Planning Unit of the Ministry to undertake
macro-economic analysis, monitoring and evaluation and forecasting.
Provision of the technical assistance follows a formal
request to the EU by Minister of Finance and The Economy Dr. Errol
Cort for support in the area of macroeconomic policy formulation
and debt expertise. “I am delighted that we will soon have the
Macro-Economist, to strengthen the technical capacity within the
Ministry. We are grateful that the EU is partnering with the government
in tackling our fiscal difficulties”, Dr. Cort declared. BACK TO TOP
Antigua and Barbuda to issue machine-readable passports in CARICOM format by mid-year
Antigua and Barbuda will commence issuing new, machine-readable
passports utilizing the common CARICOM format by mid-year 2005.
The passports will feature the CARICOM insignia, the Antigua and
Barbuda Coat of Arms and the country's name.
The passports, which will meet the highest international security
standards, will be issued in the colours of dark-blue for citizens,
green for government officials and red for diplomats. This is in
keeping with the CARICOM format.
The suppliers of the new Antigua and Barbuda passports are confident
that security devices encrypted in the new document will make it
virtually impossible to forge them. Machine-readable passports,
which consist of two lines of letters, numbers and chevrons printed
at the bottom of the personal information page, allow data in the
passport to be scanned automatically by a machine. BACK TO TOP
Victory to Antigua and Barbuda in WTO appeal
Excerpted from the Antigua Sun Antigua and Barbuda overcame the US to win a favourable ruling
from the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the cross-border gaming
dispute that has been ongoing for well over a year.
This is the second victory over the US , with Antigua and Barbuda
succeeding in the WTO Dispute Panel proceedings last year. The
US appealed the ruling, but failed to find favour with the WTO
Appellate Body.
Speaking at a press conference at the Ministry of Finance, a pleased
but restrained Dr. Cort explained that in the end, the US legal
team was unable to convince the Appellate Body that the Wire Act,
the Illegal Gambling Business Act and the Travel Act did not discriminate
against Antigua and Barbuda in the area of Internet gaming.
These US laws, according to the Minister of Finance, were created
on moralistic grounds "to protect the US public morals and
maintain public order," but "the US was not able to demonstrate
that it acted in a manner which did not discriminate against other
persons coming into its market."
Reading an extract from the "Finds and Conclusions' of the
127-page report which was handed to Antiguan officials early on
the morning of 7th April, Dr. Cort said, "The Appellate Body
recommends that the Dispute Settlement Body request the United
States to bring its measures, found in this report and in the panel
report as modified by this report, to be inconsistent with the
General Agreement on Trade and Services into conformity with its
obligations under that agreement. So therefore the Appellate Body
is asking the US to bring its laws into conformity based on the
findings."
The next step will be the adoption of the report at the dispute
settlement body at a meeting slated for 19 April.
"Once the report has been adopted Antigua and Barbuda will
then meet with the US to work out the necessary modalities to ensure
that compliance is met with the ruling as found by the Appellate
Body of the WTO,” the Minister said. Dr. Cort noted that the ruling
clearly showed that a small island state was able to "successfully
challenge a giant like the US . "It says to all of us that
this rules-based system is working and we commend the WTO in respect
of the rules-based system of dispute resolution," he said.
Dr. Cort predicted that the ruling would help to jump-start the
industry into a "very vibrant and growing Internet gaming
sector." He further indicated that there was "strong
interest" received from gaming companies to set up business
in this jurisdiction.
"The immediate implication is that all those young persons
out there in the community who may wish to be employed will find
employment because we anticipate that this sector will be growing
in leaps and bounds."
Before the advent of the US laws, the sector employed over 3,000
people, but it has dwindled to about 300. When asked if he had
heard a response from the US or the other countries that had participated
in the hearing as third parties, Dr. Cort said he had not received
official word from them from either group, but reiterated that "we
have won and we will continue our friendship (with the US), nevertheless
this victory must be adhered to and the US must abide by it." BACK TO TOP
Antiguan living in England named Chair of IMB at new prison
Antiguan Cliff Walker has been named Chair of the Board of Independent
Monitors (IMB) at the new Prison, which opened in March 2005.
The Role of the IMB is to (monitor) take an independent view of
the standards of treatment of those who the courts sentence for
periods of imprisonment.
Mr Walker is very active in community affairs in the UK , both
the general community and the Caribbean group. He is a local Magistrate
and also a Deputy to the Lord Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire where
he lives.
Mr Walker regularly visits Antigua and on one of his visits, in
2003, visited the Prison. He has also been involved with the Boys'
Training School and for some years provided them with assistance.
He will be visiting Antigua during the months of April and May,
and hopes to be able to once again visit the Prison and the Boys'
Training School.
BACK TO TOP
PM Spencer meets FAO regional representative On the 29th March the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Sub-Regional Representative Ambassador Barbara Graham presented
her credentials to Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer.
In welcoming Ms. Graham, Prime Minister Spencer noted the long
working relationship between the FAO and Antigua and Barbuda ,
and the involvement of the FAO in several projects in the agricultural
sector.
Ms. Graham thanked Prime Minister Spencer for receiving her and
brought special greetings from the FAO Director General Dr. Jacques
Diouf. She spoke of several of the projects in which the FAO was
involved in Antigua and Barbuda , including greenhouses, water
and rural infrastructure. The FAO Regional Representative also
indicated that her organization would work more closely with regional
bodies such as CARDI, IICA and the CARICOM Secretariat in the development
of Agriculture in the region.
During the discussions Prime Minister Spencer referred to the
outstanding arrears owed by Antigua and Barbuda to the FAO and
indicated that his government would address the issue shortly.
He also spoke of making World Food Day on October 16 a grand national
affair.
He also briefed her on the proposed School Feeding Programme and
on the possible future development of a viable and thriving cotton
industry in Antigua and Barbuda . BACK TO TOP
Health workers attend chronic diseases training programme
The Ministry of Health has embarked upon a Management of Nutrition-related
Chronic Diseases training programme for health care workers.
The programme, which deals with hypertension, diabetes and obesity,
seeks to develop ways of prevention and management, which should
include regular exercise and proper dieting.
Chief Nutrition Officer Juanita James said that chronic diseases
in Antigua and Barbuda continue to rise with diabetes being seen
in young children 14 to 16 years old due to problems with weight.
One of the facilitators, Dr Pauline Samuda, who is the Caribbean
Food and Nutrition Institute Nutrition Educator, outlined that
health care workers need to be updated with the scientific information
which relates to chronic diseases.
She also advised that health care providers should change their
focus from being therapeutic to prevention. Obesity, she pointed
out, is costing families and government a substantial amount of
money in Medicare.
Dr Samuda encouraged persons to live healthy lifestyles and urge
health care workers to be role models for their patients in the
management and prevention of chronic diseases. BACK TO TOP
Newest US Flagged Cruise Ship to call on Antigua
 |
| Norwegian Jewel's 7 day Eastern
Caribbean itinerary commencing
November |
Norwegian Jewel, the newest ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line
fleet, will begin calling at Antigua from November 6 this year.
This was one of the announcements emerging from discussions during
Seatrade with top executive of Norwegian Cruise Lines', Lania Rittenhouse,
Vice President who said that the ship will be delivered in August
this year and will commence an innovative itinerary including Antigua
as a key destination.
Minister of Tourism, Harold Lovell, recognised the importance
of partnership with Norwegian Cruise Lines, which is one of the
most pioneering, and dynamic lines in the industry with high spend
visitors to the region. “This is the first regular itinerary of
a major cruise line that has embraced Antigua rather than St. Maarten
as its first port of call and only non-US port. This extends major
opportunities in terms of shore excursions, shopping and general
visitor spend on the island.”
Minister Lovell recognised the historical and pivotal significance
of this development since both Disney and Royal Caribbean Line
experimented with such an itinerary but as yet have not instituted
regular preferred itineraries including Antigua out of Miami . “We
expect that other lines will now follow since the size and speed
of the newer ships make such an itinerary feasible and more critically,
consumers are now requesting Antigua as a port of call in their
Eastern Caribbean cruises.”
Minister Lovell continued that feedback from past cruise visitors
had been very positive in terms of their overall experience when
onshore, “We are delighted that Antigua is recognised as a good
place to visit with a wide variety and quality of tours - to the
extent that Antigua Seafaris operated by Nick Cheremeteff won accolades
as best tour throughout Disney's global Winter deployment in 2004/2005.”
Managing Director of Antigua Pier Group, Cameron Fraser, reiterated
the thrust in marketing the destination “We have identified a number
of ways of targeting the consumer and exposing them to what Antigua
and Barbuda has to offer.
In addition we will work with the cruise lines in their efforts
to improve the variety of their itineraries, as well as strengthen
cruise and land based partnerships that could challenge the way
cruise lines conduct business in the Caribbean . We have been experiencing
tremendous goodwill towards Antigua and Barbuda and with the commitment
and involvement of the Ministry along with the support of the Antigua
and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association, we are poised to turn this
goodwill into substantial business for those who directly and indirectly
benefit from cruise passengers”.
Cruise passengers in Antigua and Barbuda increased by 35% in 2004,
reaching a total of 522,705. BACK TO TOP
Antigua to be the home of transatlantic row boating
The Ministry of Tourism in Cooperation with the Antigua Marine
Trades Association and the National Parks Authority are busy making
plans for the inaugural Boat Rowing Regatta due to take place in
Antigua in November 2005.
Lin Parker of Woodvale Events ltd and Kenneth Crutchlow of the
Ocean Rowing Society have teamed up to organize the event.
Forty 24ft boats are registered to begin crossing the Atlantic
and already the first rowboat has begun the voyage from London
to Antigua . This is not to be labeled as a “Maiden Voyage” however,
as the first rowboat operated by a sailor to complete such a voyage
from London to Antigua was done back in 1971. Sidney Genders accomplished
this great feat when he made a solo voyage, which landed him in
Antigua 's very own English Harbour . Ten years later, a couple,
Curtis and Kathleen Seville were announced as the first pair to
cross the Atlantic from Casablanca to Antigua .
The planned regatta will signal the beginning of rowing events
from London to Antigua .
Already plans are in place to develop a museum for historical
rowing vessels and Sidney Genders' boat will be the first to be
housed in the museum.
The overall reception will climax with commemorative plaques being
enshrined in the Nelson's Dockyard area in honour of sailors who
have made history by completing various transatlantic feats concluding
in Antigua and Barbuda . BACK TO TOP
Condor returns to Antigua in November 2005
 |
 |
 |
| Minister Lovell and Condor Airline Executive
completes new arrangements |
Tourism Minister engaged
in discussions at ITB
Berlin , Germany |
Antigua and Barbuda ITB
2005 Berlin delegation |
After months of intensive negotiations with the German airline
Condor a contract was signed in Berlin during the ITB tourism trade
fair. Condor will resume a weekly non-stop service on Mondays from
Frankfurt to Antigua with effect from November 7.
The flight will create renewed interest in Antigua and Barbuda
from tour operators in Germany , Austria and Switzerland . Tour
operators in Europe include TUI, the largest tour operator in Europe
; will commence shortly the marketing of the country as “The Heart
of the Caribbean .”
Immediately after the signing ceremony Minister of Tourism
Harold Lovell stated “The discontinuation of flights out of Germany
in 2001 was a major setback for Antigua and Barbuda . One of my
key strategic objectives was the re-introduction of non-stop airlift
from this key market. The signing of the contract with Condor is
a significant milestone in achieving sustained growth in visitor
arrivals. I wish to thank Dr. Werner Giersch of the German Office
and Mr. Ted Isaac of AHTA for their support in this important endeavour.”
The Director General of Tourism for Antigua and Barbuda who also
attended ITB Berlin as part of the Antigua and Barbuda contingent
echoed these positive sentiments.
Ted Isaac, General Manager of Jolly Beach Resort, remarked: “As
Chairman of AHTA I endorse and support this initiative. The present
hoteliers and incoming agents from Antigua and Barbuda had the
chance to negotiate with tour operators who will expand their programmes
due to this flight and new interest was generated in our destination.”
Responding to the reported trend that Germans book vacations for
extended periods, Stanley Francis, General Manager of National
Tours and Services, said: “It is an enhancement to have Condor
return to Antigua and Barbuda . It will bring well needed traffic
from Central Europe to our destination.” Mr. Francis indicated
that Germans are staying 14 days and beyond and therefore will
spend more money.
Much kudos have come in for the Tourism Team who successfully
negotiated the terms and conditions for Condor Airlines' return. “It
is a return long over-due and I am sure that all parties involved
including the Minister and the Director General have worked very
hard to re-introduce this very vital air link to one of the most
important markets in Europe ,” stated Franklyn Eaton, General Manager
of Sandals Antigua Caribbean Village & Spa.
Condor's return to Antigua 's airspace was not the only positive
outcome of ITB 2005. Tour reps. for various accommodations were
in a position not only to discuss, but also to sign contracts with
tour operators and were generally pleased with the result of their
participation in this fair.
Meetings were held with cruise ship companies such as Sea Cloud
Cruises and Star Clippers, which resulted in a strengthening of
co-operation. The luxury sailing ships Sea Cloud and Sea Cloud
2 will commence home porting in St. John's in the winter season.
Interest was sparked in “ Antigua and Barbuda : The Heart of the
Caribbean ” at ITB 2005 and this created much international media
attention. Members of Antigua and Barbuda 's delegation included
Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell who headed the delegation and
was accompanied by Shirlene Nibbs, Director General of Tourism,
and Dr. Carl Roberts, High Commissioner in London , were repeatedly
interviewed by the German and Swiss trade press along with a television
interview.
The team of Tourism Officials who took part in ITB also participated
in Sea Trade, which was held in Miami , Florida . Lorraine Headley,
Director of Product Development joined the group there for discussions
which centred heavily on increasing the number of cruise-ship visits
to Antigua and Barbuda during the summer months.
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