ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC - The Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) is warning criminals it will continue to pursue its mandate obligations to the country even as they adopt new strategies to carry out their illegal activities in Antigua and Barbuda. “The counterdrug efforts remain consistent but increasingly challenging as the criminals are learning from our successes against them and altering or innovating their techniques to evade detection,” said ONDCP director Lieutenant Colonel Edward Croft.
Antigua and Barbuda
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Computer technology expert Yves Ephraim has pointed to growing incidents of cyber attacks in the country as a new report points to its damaging effects on small businesses in particular. Ephraim, managing director of Pegasus Technologies, told OBSERVER Media that in his line of work, he has seen repeated examples of cyber attacks which lead him to the conclusion that the scourge is growing locally. “I think it happens more often than we really like to admit. Some people don’t even know that they are being hacked but we are under attack,” the IT expert said.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – After threats of sanctions and of ignoring United States copyright laws just a few months prior, Minister of Finance Harold Lovell is sounding the most optimistic he has in recent times that a settlement with the US over the online gaming issue will be reached. Lovell, in an interview with OBSERVER media, said negotiations with the US have lead to some “interesting options” being on the table. “There is still some distance between our position and their position and we are satisfied that over the last three weeks we have seen the gap narrowing gradually,” he said.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – A delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) arrives here on Monday to review the operations of the multi-million dollar Stand By Agreement (SBA) the financial institution has with Antigua and Barbuda. A government statement said that the review, which will end on May 3, is the final under the 36-month SBA. The IMF team will meet with private and public sector officials during the weeklong visit. In 2010, Antigua and Barbuda was approved for the 36-month SBA of US$118 million, but that figure was downgraded to US$107 million
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Brian Challenger has been appointed as Antigua & Barbuda’s non-resident ambassador to Latin America.
Ambassador Challenger will serve as the country’s representative to a number of countries to include the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Republic of Venezuela.
St. Johns Antigua- The “Come back kid” is going nowhere. Former prime minister Lester Bird said despite weak legs and a herniated disc, he plans on contesting in the next general elections constitutionally due in 2014. In an exclusive interview with OBSERVER media, the St John’s Rural East incumbent said his “mind is sound” and he’s taking control of his health; exercising and following his doctor’s instructions.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - The silly season of election politics has begun and there is much talk around town about the possibility of early elections. This is to be expected because there is never a Caribbean election that enters its final year that does not start the rumours that the incumbent will use certain perceived advantages to surprise their opponent with a snap election. On all sides of the political coin (because Antigua’s political coin seems to have more than two), there will be strong arguments both for and against the gamble.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Former general secretary of the Antigua & Barbuda Football Association (ABFA) Senator Paul “Chet” Greene does not fear wider fallout for Caribbean football after the resignation of Trinidad & Tobago’s former National Security Minister Austin “Jack” Warner.
Warner on Monday resigned from his post as national security minister, as chairman of the United National Congress (UNC), the main party of Trinidad & Tobago’s ruling coalition government.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government will seek funding from the World Bank to ensure the implementation of an “Open Data” project that would make available to the public non-sensitive, non-personal data which it collects in the course of its operations.
Telecommunications, Science and Technology Minister Dr. Edmond Mansoor said the island had been chosen as the pilot country for the assessment of the project given its leadership role in information communication and technology (ICT) in the region.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Antigua & Barbuda is in line to benefit from a US $42 million fund to protect marine and coastal habitats.
It comes under a project called “the Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI)” – led by the Nature Conservancy (TNC) – which seeks to have 20 per cent of near shore areas in Caribbean islands set aside as marine protected sites by the year 2020.
Countries are first required to create National Conservation Trust Funds and show how they will sustainably finance them. The funds will be used strictly to create and manage marine protected areas.