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antigua-and-barbuda

Don’t hold your breath

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua - The issue of reparations was once more in the news last week when Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of St Vincent and the Grenadines gave a lecture on celebration of the 50th anniversary of the African Unity/African Union and the recognition of Africa Year. His talk at the multi-Purpose Centre in St John’s was on the topic “The struggle for reparations: A Caribbean Imperative.” Dr Gonsalves, a good socialist friend of the late Tim Hector, has often been referred to as the only non-African head of government to attend an African university.

Government assures public servants of May salaries

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says despite “the many challenges facing it at this time” it will put in place the necessary mechanism to ensure that public servants are paid on time this month. Finance Minister Harold Lovell said that payment should be made no later than Friday. In recent months, public servants, including teachers, have gone on strike to pressure the Baldwin Spencer administration into paying their monthly salaries on time.

PM to meet with Chinese President next month

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer will be the first of a number of Caribbean leaders to have bilateral talks with China’s new President Xi Jinping on June 1. President Xi’s meeting with the prime minister, will take place during his (President Xi’s) state visit to Trinidad & Tobago from May 31 to June 2. In a brief statement from local officials, it was said the meeting was arranged shortly after President Xi was elected in March.

PM to approach US Vice President on gaming dispute

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer is hoping US Vice President Joe Biden can help expedite a resolution to the decade-long gaming dispute between Antigua & Barbuda and the economic giant. Joe Biden and CARICOM leaders have been meeting in Trinidad since Tuesday and Spencer said he’d personally raise the issue with him on the sidelines of the talks. “I am hoping that when I have the opportunity to meet the vice president of the United States … we will use that opportunity to raise the matter once again and to let the vice president get a real sense of where we are on this m

Smoke causes LIAT flight to divert to Guadeloupe

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Observer- A probe is underway to determine what caused a LIAT plane to fill with smoke while en route to Antigua on Sunday night.
Several members of the country’s national swim team were on that flight, which was forced to divert to Guadeloupe.
OBSERVER media’s Rory Butler has more details about the incident, which passengers have described as traumatic.

Qatar to invest in Antigua

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda says it is positioned to benefit from the establishment of a major tourism development project with Qatar. In a statement on Saturday, it was revealed that Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer recently held official talks with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, regarding cooperation for the new Azure Bay Property Development Project. According to Spencer, the Azure Bay Property Development project, when implemented, will represent the “largest high-end hospitality development opportunity in Antigua and Barbuda.”

Call for Tobacco ban

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Observer - – A local medical practitioner is making a case for government to relax the rules on the use of marijuana … while at the same time calling for a complete ban on tobacco. Dr Leslie Walwyn acknowledged that ganja has some harmful effects such as inducing mental health issues but she stressed that the medicinal properties are even more significant. Non-smokers are also at risk of developing complications associated with exposure to second hand smoke.

ANTIGUA-PRISON-Government to build new prison

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it is seeking to build a new prison to alleviate “some of the issues caused by the overcrowding of the current prison.
The Baldwin Spencer administration said that the new prison, which will accommodate 550 inmates, would “focus on rehabilitation and not just incarceration”.
The original prison was built in 1735 to accommodate 151, but at the end of December last year had a population of 395.

US immigration bill could lead to C’bean ‘brain drain’ – Lawyer

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Immigration and criminal defence lawyer Fitzmore Harris said the Caribbean and other developing nations need to prepare for the impending “brain drain” that will result from the US immigration reform. “The Caribbean has to become more competitive regarding, for example, remuneration for their skilled people because if the flood gates open and the US makes it very easy for them to get the H1-B (work visa) it will be a problem,” he said. “Developing countries need to start preparing for any eventualities.”
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