ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - Four weeks ago Minister of Tourism John Maginley sounded a positive note in announcing new aircraft leases for our embattled airline, LIAT. Our headline writers were positively euphoric in declaring “LIAT’s flying high again – Tourism Boss”. As encouraging as the news might have been, it is far too optimistic to assume that LIAT’s problems are over. This, of course, is typical of government enterprises in which the smallest bit of good news is promoted as the solution to all problems.
Antigua and Barbuda
WASHINGTON, CMC - A United States federal district court has dismissed a US$750,000 breach of contract lawsuit against the Antigua and Barbuda government that had been brought by the son of the owner of a company based on the island. The suit was filed on July 19, 2010, by Dan Abraham Sarfati, the son of Maurice Sarfati, of Roydan Ltd, regarding the payment of three promissory notes issued to the company and signed by then agriculture minister Hilroy Humphreys in June 1990 and guaranteed by the Ministry of Finance.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The European union is providing EC$1.3 million (One EC dollar = US$0.27 cents) to the Gilbert Agricultural and Rural Development Centre (GARD) for a project aimed at enhancing the income generating opportunities of vulnerable young women in Antigua and Barbuda. GARD said the Empowerment of Young Women in Antigua and Barbuda in their Income Generation (YWEP) project will have a two year life span and will target over 200 vulnerable young women who are unemployed or underemployed.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Observer - With a month to go before the second meeting of the OECS Assembly in Antigua, concerns are being raised about its format, in light of previous controversy. During the inaugural meeting here in August, the authorities removed the mace, Queen’s image, national flags and laws of Antigua & Barbuda from the building. The event was attended by legislators from the nine-member sub-regional grouping.
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – A senior government official Wednesday said Antigua and Barbuda is still open to finding a resolution to its Internet Gaming dispute with the United States even though the World Trade Organization (WTO). Trade Ambassador, Colin Murdoch, speaking on the state-owned media, said that the Baldwin Spencer government has still not yet receieved any communication from Washington since the WTO ruling last week.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Observer – Following the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) approval last Monday of Antigua & Barbuda pursuing sanctions against the United States, there has been a flurry of media coverage internationally. Major news organisations such as National Public Radio (NPR), British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), TIMES and Forbes magazines, carried stories on the latest development in the gaming dispute. The increased coverage is no doubt a result of the efforts of LEVICK, a public relations firm hired by government in September.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Observer – The European Union will be funding a disaster risk management project in Urlings aimed at reducing the impact of hurricane damage. The programme, being undertaken in African Caribbean and Pacific states, has three components – capacity building, building resilience at the community level and the revision of Disaster Management Plans across the region. According to Director of the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) Philmore Mullin, discussions have started on a project.
KINGSTON, Jamaica, Gleaner — The Antigua and Barbuda government says it is seeking support from opposition legislators as it seeks to resolve its long standing gaming dispute with the United States. Finance and Economy Minister Harold Lovell said both sides in Parliament had a stake in the matter as one side brought the matter to the WTO while the other took it to successful conclusion.
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – The government could decide to call it quits with the country’s second biggest contributor to the economy – the financial services sector. Experts have previously warned the sector is under severe threat, but it’s the first time the government has admitted it might not be worth the fight. Finance Minister Harold Lovell said a review would be launched shortly.
ST JOHN'S, Antigua, CMC - The opposition Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) has expressed concern about the stance being taken by the Baldwin Spencer led administration concerning the Internet Gaming Dispute at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
In a statement on Thursday, ALP Leader, Gaston Browne said the country is on a collision course with the United States.