HAMILTON, Bermuda, CMC -- Former Premier Sir John Swan has led the tributes to Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady" of British politics who died on Monday aged 87 following a stroke, crediting her with helping Bermuda become a global force in business. Sir John, who led the now defunct United Bermuda Party as leader of this British Overseas Territory from 1982-1995, said Thatcher, who dominated British politics for two decades, gave him free rein to negotiate a 1986 tax treaty with the United States, which laid the foundations for the huge growth in international business.
Antigua and Barbuda
ST JOHN’S, Antigua - There are many pathways to fame and fortune and sport is one of them. Truth be told, it is the road less travelled by many young people who really ought to consider it in the face of very few options. The Caribbean consists of countries, which by no stretch of the imagination can be considered as affluent. In almost every sphere of endeavour, we would be left in the dust, trailing behind those nations that are well endowed with the world’s goods – except in this one sphere called sports.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – LIAT staff told OBSERVER media on Monday that an ongoing industrial dispute between the airlines engineers and management did not affect the airlines flights from the VC Bird International Airport.
A senior LIAT employee confirmed that on Monday at least one aircraft was grounded in Grenada because of the dispute.
An engineer told OBSERVER media engineers are angry that management has responded to the pilots’ demands for allowances while ignoring theirs.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Caribbean Community (CARICOM) countries are among several nations committed to a ministerial declaration and a three year action plan that aims, among other things, to create at least one biosphere reserve in each Caribbean Small Island Developing State.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Jeffrey Robinson, considered the world’s leading financial crime author, is warning the nation and all Caribbean countries that a “financial tsunami” will hit the region in a few years and the time to plan a response is now. “In the next three to five years, Fidel Castro will die and when he does Raul (Castro) will not be able to hang on,” he said. “The invasion of Cuba is now being planned and it will be massive. It will be something the likes of which no one has seen before.”
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Two well known individuals in the political sphere have declared that the controversial dealings involving the late Vere Bird Jnr – the elder brother for former Prime Minister Lester Bird – may have tarnished his political career somewhat. That was the sentiment echoed by Political Analyst Arvel Grant and Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Senator Lennox Weston on Sunday’s Big Issues. Both men, however, concurred that the son of the Father of the Nation had contributed to national development.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Cabinet has decided to accord former member of parliament and attorney Vere Bird Jr an official funeral.
The information regarding the decision was conveyed to the media via press statement last evening.
Bird Jr, son of the nation’s founding father Sir Vere Cornwall Bird, and brother of former prime Minister Lester Bird, died on March 31 at the age of 76. He was diagnosed with liver cancer mere days before he died of heart failure, relatives said earlier.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Fewer, but more severe hurricanes, are predicted in the first major forecasts for the 2013 Atlantic Hurricane Season.
ImpactWeather has predicted this year could see fewer storms developing into hurricane strength, but more hurricanes intensifying to category 3 or higher.
The company normally offers advice to businesses in fields like oil and gas, petrochemical, healthcare and financial services.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Seven hundred and thirty-one local BAICO policyholders are slated to receive monies they have been awaiting for four years, in Phase II of the collapsed companies payouts. Local judicial manager for the defunct company, Cleveland Seaforth, said the governments of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) gave permission to release payments for Phase II of their BAICO Policyholders Relief Programme on March 25.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Finance Intelligence Unit heads from the English-speaking Caribbean will begin a major two-day meeting at the Jolly Beach Resort from April 3-4.
Up for discussion will be methods of tackling money laundering along with asset forfeiture and the proceeds of crime.
Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Baldwin Spencer, will deliver a keynote address at the opening ceremony today, which is being chaired by Lt Col Edward Croft.