PREPARING FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE Friday 9th January 2015 A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a Vol.3 No.72 $2.00 China, Celac map out cooperation plan pg 3 The new Antigua and Barbuda government is demonstrating its commitment to tackling the country’s three most pressing problems, the fiscal deficit, unemployment and crime as it laid out an aggressive legislative and social agenda for the year. In the government main policy document for the year, the traditional Throne Speech delivered on Thursday, Governor General, Sir Rodney Williams, gave insights into the strategies the government plans to employ to tackling the issues that are eating away at the fabric of the society. Under the theme, Realigning to Rebuild a Broken Nation, Sir Rodney said the Government recognises that there are three high-priority cont’d on pg 2 EU grant for Customs Division upgrade..pg 3 Windies, South Africa face off in T20....pg 24 pg 23 For Voucher 2 caribtimes.com cont’d from pg 1 challenges that stare the country in the face. “My Government views itself as a problem-solver and has thus approached these challenges with the mindset of a medical doctor: diagnosis, treatment and recovery; not complaint, blind faith, or anger,” the Governor General declared. In dealing with the fiscal imbalance in the economy, estimated at around $450 million for this year, Sir Rodney said Friday 9th January 2015 the government plans to grow the economy through massive investments into several viable projects. He said while the International Monetary Fund has forecast a 1.7 growth for this year, the government has its sights set more on a growth rate nearer the 4.5 per cent that the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank predicts He noted that in the past, government has been viewed as the employer of first choice, however, his government will focus much attention on stimulating economic growth through private sector investments. This, he added, will redound to the country’s benefit through increased revenues and job creating. The Governor General said finding jobs for the nation’s youth and the heads of households continue to occupy much of the government’s attention. “Since June 12, 2014, more than US$3 billion dollars in new investments have been secured. Each permanent job in Antigua and Barbuda requires nearly $250,000 in investment. One billion dollars of investment would therefore create nearly 4,000 new jobs. Three billion dollars will generate 12,000 new jobs and other spin-offs that will cause our economy to grow exponentially,” Sir Rodney stated. On the issue of crime, The Governor General laid out in much detail a comprehensive plan to fight crime. He said additional resources will go towards this effort as crime threatens the country’s way of life, its stability and its economic future. He said there are plans to utilise existing technologies in the war against crime. In addition to increased training, manpower and equipment, there are also plans for the government to clear up the arrears owed to regional laboratories that provide specialised services in DNA testing for the police department. “2015 will be the year when the criminals will cringe, as the power of the state is unleashed against those who will choose to rely upon illicit guns to do harm. We shall not surrender. We shall succeed,” Sir Rodney declared. The Throne Speech marks the formal opening of the second session of parliament. It was delivered to a joint sitting of both the Senate and the House of Representatives and a gallery comprising members of the diplomatic corps, other specials guests and students from the Antigua State College. Meanwhile, the House will convene on Monday for the presentation of the 2015 National Budget. Friday 9th January 2015 caribtimes.com 3 Xi: China, CELAC to map out cooperation plan over next five years BEIJING – China and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) will put into writing a five-year cooperation plan, Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday. The plan -- together with the Beijing Declaration, and the Regulations on China-CELAC forum -will be the major outcome of the first China-CELAC forum ministerial meeting, Xi said in his opening re- marks. The plan (2015-2019) will have specific measures for overall cooperation between China and Latin America, covering politics, security, trade, investment, finance, infrastructure, energy, resources, industry, agriculture, science and people-to-people exchange. In the coming decade, China aims at 500 billion U.S dollars of bilateral trade with Latin American and the Caribbean and 250 billion U.S. dollars of direct investment into the region. “China is willing to take the opportunity to build a new platform for cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean,” said Xi. China’s economy will continue medium to high speed growth in the coming period and provide more opportunities for the world including Latin American and Caribbean states, Xi added. The Beijing Declaration will summarize political consensus, set the direction for the forum and define cooperation guidecont’d on pg 5 4 caribtimes.com Friday 9th January 2015 Customs and Excise Division to receive new technology from the EU With help from the EU Antigua and Barbuda’s Customs and Excise division is, at long last, being brought in to the 21st century. The European Union has provided an EC$2.2 million grant for Antigua and Barbuda to assist with the implementation of a much needed, modern computerised system for the Customs and Ex- DA is a computerised system which covers management most foreign trade procecise division. ASYCU- customs dures. It handles manifests and customs declarations, accounting procedures, transit and suspense procedures as well as generates trade data that can be used for statistical economic analysis. A press conference held yesterday afternoon saw the Head of the European Union Delegation to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Mikael Barfod, introduce the ASYCUDA project which could commence as early as March this year. The objective of this project is to strengthen and modernise government institutions in order to restore fiscal sustain- ability. With this cutting edge technology trade data in Antigua and Barbuda will be timely and accurately recorded. Over the last decade, the EU has contributed approximately EURO 20 million in the form of various cultural, social and technical assistance and this latest grant once again proves the EU’s commitment to bettering Antigua and Barbuda. Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne responded with sincere gratitude to the EU for their continued support, stating that this project would strengthen government frame work, increase trade facilitation and be a support in cracking down on tax dodging. caribtimes.com Friday 9th January 2015 cont’d from pg 3 lines. The regulations will set the rules of the forum, define three regular dialogues between China and CELAC, and provide a system to guarantee the implementation of political consensus and plans. “Each CELAC country, both rich and poor, is equal under the framework of the forum,” said Xi. “All sides should keep friendly consultation, hold common development and consider interests from all sides in or- der to ensure a firm political foundation for the cooperation.” Both China and CELAC should expedite the construction of the forum and map out a collaborative blueprint to achieve win-win results. “One plus one is bigger than two,” Xi said. In the forum relations between China and CELAC will be flexible and practical, complementing each other’s advantages, Xi added. Xi welcomed any organizations 5 or multilateral agencies from Latin America and the Caribbean region to join the cooperation. “The China-CELAC forum will contribute to the world’s prosperity, as well as China-CELAC development and South-South cooperation,” Xi said. Xi’s opening remarks will guide the development of the China-CELAC forum and open a path of mutual benefit, said Xu Yicong, former Chi- cont’d on pg 9 6 Friday 9th January 2015 caribtimes.com 2015 - A fresh start! Here we are again ... starting a new year which holds before us another ride of the unknown, the hoped for, of fears and of opportunities. It is the one time of year, along with Christmas Day for some, where our hearts are filled with hope and gleeful anticipation of what could be and what will be. A wiped slate, having had our mishaps tossed overboard into the sea of yesteryear, the new year for some is another op- portunity for a “do-over” or a stepping stone to graduate to new heights of achievement. As we turn this new leaf of time, we may reflect on those who could not join us on this journey, having entered into eternal rest from their earthly pilgrimage. As if we are the “chosen ones”, we might even feel a sense of burden, for the sake of those who could not make it, to be ambassadors for humanity going forward. We say, “Bear that burden with pride.” It will be the first step to having a successful year. After that comes the planning and the goal setting. Set SMART goals A growing number of people are throwing in the towel as it relates to New Year’s resolutions. “What’s the point, you are going to break them by February!”, many of them say. Persons, frustrated with unaccomplished goals of the years before, will see the new year, instead of a branch of hope, as a frowning judge convicting them of their shortcomings. Peel away the fanfare and fireworks of this festive season, and the principles of goal setting will remain the same. Fail to plan, then you plan to fail. Most of us should have heard of the SMART mnemonic, used to describe the type of goals we all should be setting. cont’d on pg 7 Friday 9th January 2015 cont’d from pg 6 SMART usually stands for: Specific; Measurable; Attainable; Relevant; and Time Bound. For instance, someone’s New Year’s resolution could be “to be healthier and happier”. While this certainly sounds good, how exactly is health and happiness to be measured? When should you start to see results in order to feel that you have succeeded in this area? Better goals might be to “increase my daily intake of water and vegetables”, “go running two days a week” or “make time for one book or one good movie per month”. Once you have decided on your goals, write them down clearly and in a place where you can review and update them. As situations change, you may find the need to modify them to reflect your changing priorities and experience. For example, a goal may be set to “own my own home by 2015”. With greater thought, and the advice of a mortgage consultant, you may deter- mine that in order to cut out interest payments on legal fees and other associated upfront costs, you need in fact, to have in your possession a certain amount of funds that will take you one year to raise. Thus, the purchase of your home will have to be deferred to 2016. This should not be seen as a disappointment, but as a realisation that the first goal was not attainable given certain factors. The same could apply to many other goals which you may have set in pre- caribtimes.com 7 vious years, but never accomplished. Don’t give up, rethink your strategy to something more SMART. It is possible to set goals that are too difficult because you did not appreciate the obstacles in the way, or understand how much skill was needed to achieve a particular level of performance. So don’t be afraid to embark upon a 2015 of vision and the hopeful realisation of your goals to reach that expected end. (Reprinted from the Barbados Advocate) 8 caribtimes.com Friday 9th January 2015 Signs of the Times A lot of things are happening in A&B. Practically every day on the news shows we hear some item that leads us to the conclusion that all is not well. That in itself is not news. All has not been well in A&B for longer than anyone alive can recall. Yet, in all the media debate over the negative trends affecting the country, there is a significant blind spot in the analysis. Strange as it may seem, everything that happens in A&B – good, bad or ugly – is connected to everything else in some way, shape or form. This is as certain as the physical law that says all bodies in the Universe are attracted to all other bodies. The principle is contained in the very name “Universe”, meaning a single entity that holds all of Creation within its ever-expanding boundaries. In like manner, the human body is a mini-universe, and everything held within its integument is connected to everything else. If this were not so, we could not live: heart, blood, lungs, nervous and circulatory systems, muscles and bone structure – all are dependent for optimum performance on the health of every other organ, and when one ails, the ill effects impact on every other. Our country is just like that. It may not be immediately clear to a casual observer, but because Antigua and Barbuda form one physical, social, economic and political entity, everything that happens, for good or for ill, is connected to everything else – whether as cause, effect, or repercussion. That is just the way things are, even though for partisan or other reasons many of us like to pretend that the beneficial things spring from our good efforts, while the pain is entirely the result of other peoples’ bad intentions. Take for example the increasing number of traffic collisions, now averaging out at about 5 daily. Yes: a lot of it has to do with poor judgment by drivers; but there may be another factor. Has anyone ever stopped to think that the real reason for the steady growth in the number of (thankfully) non-fatal traffic accidents has a lot to do with too many motor vehicles competing for space on too few roads? St Johns and its approaches were not designed to facilitate the flow of so many vehicles into or out of the city from so many directions in a short space of time. That truth is borne home to me every morning and evening when I look out my window to survey the All Saints Road parking lot. At peak morning rush hour some vehicles take 10 to 15 minutes to travel from the American-Bendals Road junction to the traffic lights at Thwaites Corner: as long as it takes to drive from Liberta to Towne House Mega Store. If that is not a cause for sheer frustration on a daily basis, what else can it be? Yet, because of the absence of an efficient public transport system, individuals are forced to clog our limited road network with costly imported personal vehicles in order to deal effectively with the challenges of life in our tiny subtropical paradise. At the same time, the functionaries in charge of supervising the challenged public transport system have managed to implement a sadistic construct that practically forces bus operators to drive like maniacs without regard for life and limb – just to keep body and soul together. Motor car dealers and lending institutions may like things the way they are, but the rest of us do not – and railing against the bad drivers does nothing to alleviate the condition. And what can we say about the deteriorating crime situation? Statistics appear to show that violent crime has increased throughout 2014, accelerating in the latter half of the year. To your ardent UPP-ite, this provides clear evidence of the failure of the ABLP government, which took office in June. The UPP faithful will not admit that we are living through the effects of a long economic decline that started in 2009 and is only just beginning to bottom out and rebound. Two years of less than 2% growth in the economy cannot begin to compensate for 4 years during which the economy contracted by more than 25%. Marginalized and anti-social elements (most of them unemployable, anyway) are becoming increasingly desperate to exploit new opportunities to prey on those they see as better off. In the meantime our prison is so overstuffed that officialdom is waking up to the need to find some way of creating space within its walls by moving out minor miscreants to make room for the really hard cases who will shortly be flooding in to serve very long sentences. In the meantime to secure our peace of mind we the good, law-abiding (sort of) citizens are committing our lives to an open prison: an emerging police state designed to protect us all from the ill effects of the Darwinian condition (Nature, red in tooth and claw?) we have created. Look at it this way: a police state supported by generalized CCTV surveillance is marginally better than arming all decent citizens for protection against one another. These are the signs of our times – the end result of our pernicious habit of doing things the way things have always been done, and hoping thereby to reap rewards, rather than punishment. It is too late now to turn back the clock on the effects of the old ways. The old ways have produced the new days, and even though 20-20 hindsight might provide clues to our future, nobody is interested in looking back, except to celebrate the Old Time Something, when everything was so wonderful. Sorry … got to get back to my cell – before the police catch me in a stop-and-search! Friday 9th January 2015 cont’d from pg 5 nese ambassador to Cuba, Argentina and Ecuador. 13 KEY AREAS IN COOPERATION During the two-day meeting, ministers and representatives from China and CELAC, will define 13 key areas for cooperation over the next five years, according to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. “The five-year plan will bring unprecedented depth and width to bilateral cooperation,” Wang said. Wang called on both sides to decide quickly on specific projects in key areas to reap early harvests form the forum, proposing that China and CELAC share experience and build a cooperation model in line with the characteristics and needs of both sides, a new model of South-South cooperation. China and CELAC should promote cooperation in industries, infrastructure, energy and resources, said Xu Shaoshi, minister for the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planning body. Xu suggested innovation in collaboration ranging from finance and construction to operations and management. HISTORICAL EVENT “The foundation of the forum is a historical event and the initiative to reinforce cooperation brought up by Xi last year is common expectation,” Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro Moros said at the meeting. Other foreign attendees include Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo caribtimes.com 9 Solis, Ecuador President Rafael Correa Delgado, Bahamas Prime Minister Perry Christie, ministerial representatives from CELAC member countries and members of international organizations. Solis said that the China-CELAC forum expands new cooperative fields and construct a “communication bridge” for both sides. Solis expressed his hope for more exchanges in investment, trade, interconnection, culture, education, science and technology and environmental protection to achieve sustainable development. Correa said that China can help Latin America realize economic restructuring and social transformation through training talent, technology transfers and raising capital. 10 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 9th January 2015 Lessons from Guyana and Norway Forests are crucially important to climate change. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), “they have the potential to absorb about one-tenth of global carbon emissions projected for the first half of this century into their biomass, soils and products and store them - in principle in perpetuity”. By the same token, the FAO points out that where forests have been cleared, overused or degraded, they contribute about onesixth of global carbon emissions. Clearly, then, it is in the interest of the planet as a whole that forests be preserved. This is, in part, why in November 2009 the government of Norway signed an agreement to provide the government of Guyana up to US$250M by 2015 to avoid deforestation. The agreement between the two governments specifically recognized that “Sustainable, low-carbon development is essential if global warming is to not increase by more than 2°C above pre-industrial levels. Given the significant contri- bution of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation to climate change, and the real risk of increased pressure on forests in currently low-deforesting countries as rates in currently high-deforesting countries are decreased, the Participants consider it crucial that all tropical forest countries, both high - and low- deforesting countries, are given incentives to reduce and avoid emissions from deforestation and forest degradation”. The problem with the agreement is that it placed the responsibility for disbursing the Norwegian monies to Guyana in the control of the World Bank and other implementing agencies whose criteria delays payments and imposes a costly level of bureaucracy. For countries, such as Guyana, that are rightly eager to utilise their natural resources to develop their economies and improve the living conditions of their people, delays in the provision of financial resources to preserve forests have to be balanced against what the country could have earned from forestry and By Sir Ronald Sanders other extractive industries which, inevitably, would have caused forest degradation. The present agreement between the two governments will end this year. No doubt both Norway and Guyana will be considering ways of keeping the agreement – or elements of it - in place. To be fair to Norway, it has reaped no gain for itself alone; the benefits of the agreement have redounded to the world as the Guyana forests absorb and trap CO2 emissions from polluters elsewhere. Of course, the preservation of the forests has also stopped even more CO2 from being released into the world’s atmosphere. Significantly, in the agreement the two countries had envisaged encouraging “other developed countries to contribute to the Fund as part of their efforts to combat climate change”. But, other industrialised nations have not followed the pattern set by Norway. No other countries sought to join the effort in Guyana or to provide funding to other countries to maintain their forests. Further, intermediary organisations, have imposed criteria that were not envisaged in the agreement. Therefore, cont’d on pg 11 Friday 9th January 2015 cont’d from pg 10 payments have failed to address pressing issues such as alleviating poverty and improving health care. If industrialised nations were genuinely interested in preserving forests in developing countries, many of them should have followed Norway’s example, and committed themselves to doing so in the Conference of the Parties (COP) on Climate Change and other meetings that have been on-going for years. What is more, they should have created a mechanism for financing such commitments. It is now evident that the idea of “carbon trading” between high emitting and low emitting countries was nothing more than a sop to environmentalists and developing countries. The failure to realise “carbon trading” gives greater strength to the call for a tax on the carbon emitted by companies worldwide with exemptions for those in countries whose emissions is very low. Norway itself should have developed with Guyana a mechanism for making payments, against strict monitoring, regulation and measurements that did not include the general and restrictive rules set by these intermediary organisations. Because of its considerable forests, Guyana has been a leader in developing a low carbon strategy for development. Part of that strategy is the preservation of its forests. In implementing the strategy, the country has demonstrated considerable international responsibility. Of course, there are other countries in the 15-nation Caribbean community (CARICOM), of which Guyana is a member, that also have forests though none of them as large as Guyana’s. Belize, Dominica and Jamaica also have forests that should be preserved. It is only a question of time before these countries have to make a choice between earning incomes from forestry operations and showing international conscientiousness by leaving their forests intact. In the absence of international help to preserve the forests, they might well have to opt for the former. The degradation of forests in almost every Caribbean country preceded the destruction of forests in the United States. When the Caribbean islands, such as Antigua, Barbados, Haiti and Jamaica, were colonised by European settlers, they were thick with forest cover that was systematically destroyed to grow indigo, tobacco and eventually sugar. In many of these islands, the harmful effects of deforestation has stretched over centuries. For example, Antigua has suffered from extensive periods of drought lasting years in some instances, crippling agriculture and causing expensive investment in desalinised water. An official of the water authority there has said that 70% of the country’s water now comes from desalination, and “based on climate trends” the country may soon have to become fully reliant on desalination for water – an expensive proposition for households, the tourism industry and manufacturing. Reforestation and the preservation of existing forests should be pursued by Caribbean countries in the Climate Change meetings scheduled this year and culminating in Paris in November. Maintaining forests serves the interest of the countries in which they are located and all of mankind. The Norway-Guyana model is not perfect, nor caribtimes.com 11 was it expected to be, but it exists and does provide a framework for other such agreements that follow. There are lessons that can be learned from it in establishing North-South co-operation to maintain and rebuild forests that are precious to the well-being of the planet. THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN SUPREME COURT IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA ANUHPB2015/______ IN THE ESTATE OF: ARTHUR DENFIELD HENRY, Deceased NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at the expiration of eight (8) days from the date of this Notice, Application will be made by JOHN ALEXANDER HENRY of Adeline Street, Newport Gwent, South Wales, England, to the High Court of Justice for an Order that a Grant de bonis non Administratus of the Estate of ARTHUR DENFIELD HENRY, Deceased, be granted to the said JOHN ALEXANDER HENRY, the lawful brother of the said ARTHUR DENFIELD HENRY, who died on the 20th day of September, 1992 in the Parish of Saint George in the Island of Saint Christopher in the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis. DATED this 7th day of January, 2015 _______________ GAIL S. PERO WESTLIN CHAMBERS Attorney-at-Law for the Applicant 12 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Once again it’s time to assess how we want to improve our quality of life in the New Year. Have you already made your list of resolutions? I highly recommend adding the resolution of making dental health a priority. Our teeth allow us to communicate to others confidence, acceptance and happiness, eat a variety of healthful foods, and enjoy delicious tastes and textures. With our busy schedules, it’s easy to neglect good dental health or take it for granted. Sometimes we can only truly appreciate something after we no longer have it. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. With daily or periodic preventive measures and receiving timely dental treat- Friday 9th January 2015 Resolve to make dental health a priority in 2015 ment, you are making large strides toward optimal dental health. Remember, successful habit changes are achieved by being consistent and by taking small steps. Don’t plan to change all in one day, but rather little by little, in ways you can maintain in your daily routine. Brushing. Whenever you eat or drink anything, the food or drink turns into a form of sugar in your mouth. Bacteria feed on this substance on your teeth, leading to decay. Thoroughly brush- ing your teeth removes the sugars and built-up plaque, minimizing the chance of the plaque irritating your gums or turning into hardened tartar. This means using gentle circular motions with a soft bristled tooth brush. The majority of people do brush in the morning and at night, however brushing after lunch is challenging for many. Brushing after each meal is especially important for people who are more likely to get cavities or have faster tartar buildup. Flossing. Whereas people brush fairly regularly, daily flossing is a much more difficult habit to achieve. In a way, you can think of floss accomplishing between the teeth what brushing accomplishes on the other surfaces. Unless you floss, your teeth are not completely clean. Flossing removes sugars, plaque and food substances where the brush can’t reach. This removal of plaque minimizes irritation of the gums and bleeding, the signs of the beginning of gum disease (gingivitis). Persistent gum irritation by plaque and tartar may cause permanent gum damage (periodontal disease). Flossing only takes a minute or two, but serves an essential purpose. Add flossing “painlessly” to your night routine by also watching tv at the same time. Timely Dental Treatment. It seems easier try to avoid dental treatment, whether your tooth cont’d on pg 13 Friday 9th January 2015 cont’d from pg 12 is sensitive or aching, or whether you have already been diagnosed as needing a filling or crown. Some people may think (or strongly hope) that waiting may make the dental problem go away. Unfortunately, waiting may only make the situation worse... and very likely more expensive. Tooth sensitivity could be a sign of trouble in that a cavity may be present and/or the enamel may be worn or fractured. If a cavity is left unfilled, decay may continue down the tooth, past the enamel layer, and affect the pulp or the nerve of the tooth. Often, if decay reaches the pulp, the effect is an irreversible infection, swelling, and severe pain. What began as a tooth needing a filling has now become a tooth possibly needing a root canal and crown, maybe more. Remember, it never pays to procrastinate on dental treatment that is needed. Periodic Cleanings & Exams. Some patients are recommended by the dentist to see the hygienist for a professional cleaning every six months, while others with conditions such as gum disease see the hygienist more frequently. During these cleanings, tartar and surface stains are removed, teeth are polished, and information is given to patients on areas of concern that need more preventive attention. Just as the commercial says, “Only a dentist can remove tartar”. This is an extremely important process as tartar build-up leads to gingivitis, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. Paired with a cleaning by a hygienist is an examination by the dentist. Teeth are evaluated visually as well as through radiographs (x-rays), for cavities or other conditions. Periodic exams by a dentist are important in taking a preventive approach to your dental care. Always remember that when you focus on prevention or early detection and treatment of dental related problems, you are fulfilling your responsibility of helping to care for your teeth. Having a New Year’s resolution for proactive dental care is a good way to start 2015. Here’s hoping that 2015 is a year of smiles and improved quality of life for everyone. caribtimes.com 13 14 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 9th January 2015 caribtimes.com Friday 9th January 2015 15 Throne Speech By His Excellency Sir Rodney Williams, GCMG, KGN, GCFO, MBBS, CAM, CSM Governor General of Antigua and Barbuda “Realigning To Rebuild A Broken Nation” Madame President and Members of the Senate: Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: I take this opportunity, at the start of the New Year, to wish each and everyone a prosperous and safe 2015, with jobs in abundance and economic opportunities aplenty. The year just ended provided the Antigua and Barbuda people, the nation and its residents with many challenges and choices. The most compelling choice occurred on June 12, 2014, seven months ago, when the adults in our democracy were called-upon to exercise their franchise. I pause to reflect on the indisputable fact that adult suffrage was won for us by the Political Committee of the Antigua and Barbuda Trades and Labour Union on December 20 1951, or 63 years ago. It was a struggle led by a generation which we call the 39ers; subsequent generations ought never to forget this valiant struggle and the resulting conquest. The successes of that watershed year set the stage for the political and economic transformation of our country, evolving from a colonial outpost to an economical- ly-thriving sovereign state. Today, my Government faces many new challenges growing out of the six decades of history of the management of our scarce resources since 1951. Madame President and Members of the Senate: Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: Three high-priority challenges dominate in the Antigua and Barbuda which we all love. My Government views itself as a problem-solver and has thus approached these challenges with the mindset of a medical doctor: diagnosis, treatment and recovery; not complaint, blind faith, or anger. First, a recurring fiscal imbalance—brought about by spending more annually than is collected in revenue—is unsustainable. Spending more than is earned cannot continue ad infinitum. That challenge occupies the thinking and policy-choices of my Government. Overcoming the fiscal imbalance requires growth in the economy, not increases in taxes. The former administration introduced several new tax measures but failed to grow the economy, espe- cially so after 2008. It is my Government’s intention to grow the Antigua and Barbuda economy in 2015 at a rate much higher than the 1.7% forecast by the International Monetary Fund. The forecast by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) of 4.5% growth is closer to my Government’s goal. My Government assures the Antigua and Barbuda workers and families that there will be no new taxes. The second challenge grows out of the first, and is given the highest priority by my Government. That challenge is unemployment, especially among youth and heads of households. In the immediate past, the Government became the employer of choice. My Government intends to expand private-sector employment by increasing foreign direct investments. That formula for growth and revenue expansion worked after 1976, and will succeed during this five-year term. Since June 12 2014, more than US$3 billion dollars in new investments have been secured. Each permanent job in Antigua and Barbuda cont’d on pg 16 16 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m cont’d from pg 15 requires nearly $250,000 in investment. One billion dollars of investment would therefore create nearly 4,000 new jobs. Three billion dollars will generate 12,000 new jobs and other spin-offs that will cause our economy to grow exponentially. The immediate future is therefore bright, my Government can report, and the long-term growth expectation is justifiably superb. The challenge to create new jobs, to fill and exceed the thousands of jobs lost since 2004, is the Friday 9th January 2015 number one priority of my Government. The third challenge revolves around violent crime. The Antigua and Barbuda people have witnessed home invasions by violent criminals; robberies with guns perpetrated against businesses and their employees; and, violent acts against innocent people on our streets, intended to deprive them of their money and precious identification, at all hours of the day. These cannot continue. A culture of lawlessness cannot be al- lowed to take root in our country. My Government is therefore allocating additional resources to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda and its leadership, in its determination to reduce and eventually to eliminate this grave affliction. The Royal Police Force will also be provided the kind of financial resources it requires in order to enable it to meet expenses connected to forensic investigations, DNA decoding and identification, and meeting the expenses associated with other advanced technological investigations, undertaken overseas. My Government is also fully aware that two other major components of fighting crime are effective leadership and improved technology. The Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda therefore, will be restructured to better serve our nation. 2015 will be the year when the criminals will cringe, as the power of the state is unleashed against cont’d on pg 17 Friday 9th January 2015 cont’d from pg 16 those who will choose to rely upon illicit guns to do harm. We shall not surrender. We shall succeed. Madame President and Members of the Senate: Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: Crime undermines economic growth. Debt can also undermine growth, especially if the ability to repay is outstripped by the revenues generated continuously, for years on end. The outgoing administration discovered this fact far too late, my Government believes. In fact, significant borrowings before 2014 were utilized for consumption, which inherently does not generate any returns. Following the assumption of office on June 13, 2014, my Government discovered that many debts had gone unpaid, because the resources available exceeded the ability to meet them. My Government will be compelled to repay, since Government is continuous. The burden is real and will not be concealed by any clever accounting. My Government will tabulate every unpaid debt owed by the state, bringing them to book, indicating how their interest will be paid, how their principal will be reduced, and when they will be liquidated. The era of concealment is over. The challenges are real and the solutions will come from creative thinking and strategic maneuvering. Madame President and Members of the Senate: Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: My Government commends the professionals at the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance for the sterling service which they have undertaken on behalf of their country. In many ways, the Ministry of Finance is a nerve center. One of its many responsibilities is to provide advice on the allocation of resources in a well-reasoned debt-management strategy. By providing reliable, timely and accurate data, decision-makers are able to construct effective policies. My Government intends to develop a forecasting model at the Treasury and to improve the accounting structure and system in all Government Accounts Departments. Most importantly, my Government intends to develop an electronic project that will allow for the storage and retrieval of vouchers and other important documents. The days when boxes of vouchers sit in corners waiting to be processed are fast coming to an end. Madame President and Members of the Senate: Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives: One of the important contributors to the Consolidated Fund has been the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services (ADOMS). My Government brought legislation to Parliament shortly after the June 12 general elections in order to strengthen and modernize ADOMS. My Government also reversed a 2008 decision of the previous administration by re-instituting a 1992 decision that sensibly allows for duty-free and tax-free entry of luxury caribtimes.com 17 yachts and other vessels here. The object is to entice their owners to register these vessels in Antigua and Barbuda, rather than chase the vessels away to neighboring islands and elsewhere. The 2008 policy caused these vessels to be registered in other destinations and then to enter Antigua and Barbuda’s ports without making any significant contribution. My Government has followed the lessons learned between 1976 and 2004. When taxes are lowered, and the welcome mat is laid out, jobs begin to flow. The operators of the dry docks are very pleased because they will sell more spare parts and more services to the owners and operators of the vessels. My Government also instructed the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) to establish a reverse osmosis plant in the Nelson’s Dockyard area in order to ensure that visiting vessels can receive all the fresh water that they require. That decision was coupled with a directive to open the gas station near the docks that was intended to provide fuel. My Government solved the problem between the owner and the investor, making Falmouth a far superior place in one felled swoop. Prior to that, the practice had been for owners of vessels to travel to All Saints Village where the closest gas station was located. That journey required a taxi cost which added to the cost of operation each time a vessel required fuel. That challenge was overcome by superior leadership in time for the boat show last month. To be continued.... 18 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 9th January 2015 caribtimes.com Friday 9th January 2015 Thursday’s Sudoku Solution 19 SUDOKU C R O S S WO R D Across 1. “Henry V” (1989) actor 5. Way off 9. More than unpopular 14. Sculptor Nadelman 15. All the time 16. Familiar vowel sequence 17. With 38-Across, start of a frivolous news promo 20. In a different place 21. Portended 22. Part of a portfolio 23. Impurities 25. Lament 29. It doesn’t have ones 30. Music co. headquartered in London 33. Air alternative 34. Complacent 36. ‘90s sitcom 38. See 17-Across 41. Squirrel’s pal? 42. “In a democracy dissent __ act of faith”: Fulbright 43. Blanchett of “Elizabeth” 44. Rockport’s cape 45. Four, usually 47. Prevailing 49. Dermatology issues 51. Clink 52. “__ Sings Folk Songs”: 1963 Grammy nominee 55. Laborious 60. End of the promo 62. Nicks 63. Skater Heiden 64. Hard to hold 65. Cramp 66. Celtic dialect 67. Mlle.’s counterpart Down 1. Cut down 2. Mixed bag 3. Air 4. Country songwriting legend 5. Get ready to open 6. State 7. Made catcalls? 8. Bono leader 9. Crew members 10. Adjuncts 11. High school subject? 12. Hamburger’s article 13. Romance novelist Christina 18. By way of, for short 19. Canine support 24. Diverse 25. Film genre 26. Industrialist Cyrus 27. Attach, as a corsage 28. Big business 30. “Enigma Variations” composer 31. ‘60s-’70s L.A. Philharmonic music director 32. Chip maker 35. Hesitant sounds 37. Software users, often 39. It’s a family affair 40. Like some snowsuits 46. Sea that’s a lake 48. 1994 Jodie Foster film 49. Scoreboard offering 50. Whitewater figure 52. Likelihood 53. Worth thinking about 54. European hot spot 56. Inventor who had his ups and downs? 57. CBer’s term 58. Lose shape, in a way 59. “Caribbean Blue” singer 61. “Told ya!” 20 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 9th January 2015 Employment Driver needed; must have experience. Heavy Vehicle License & Police Record required. Apply in person @ The Furniture Gallery, Airport Road. 462-1452 Service Barbuda Express is sailing everyday except Mondays & Wednesdays. Tours available 4 days a week, For more info and reservation, please call 764-2291. You may also visit our website http://www.barbudaexpress.com. Thank you to ABI Insurance for saving me hundreds of $$$$$ on my Motor Vehicle, Home and Life Insurance. Family, Friends, Business Associates and others, call ABI Insurance 484-6400 for GREAT SAVINGS or visit us on Redcliffe Street. Please feel free to contact us at 484-6429 or 484-6425 All members of the Antigua and Barbuda Ex-Servicemen Association are notified that, the AGM will be held Saturday 10 January at The Red Cross HQ, on Old Parham Road at 3.00 pm, and not at the Association`s HQ. The annual subscriptions are also due for 2015. Please be on time or notify the Secretary on 561-1062 of any apologies. “The life you save could be someone you know” Antigua & Barbuda Red Cross Is Offering Certified FIRST AID/CPR Training Course Mondays and Thursdays 5:00pm to 8:00pm Starting on Thursday January 12th, 2015 For Further Information: Call Tel # 462 0800/ 771-8253 “The Inter-School Recycling Competition starts again in January 2015! Interested schools may contact the Environment Division at 562-2568 by January 10th, 2015. Remember Recycling is a good habit! Pick it up!”If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 464-8157. The Antigua & Barbuda Red Cross in collaboration with the American Red Cross has a First Aid App to launch. The Antigua & Barbuda Red Cross wants the residents of Antigua to know the importance of the App and the long term benefits to our Society. What you can do in case of an emergency or life threatening condition. It also has the Red Cross history, activities, sponsors, and quizzes. We would like the general public to be aware of the App and feel free to download same, if you have an android device such as a phone or a tablet kindly use the Android link and you can use the iOS link for your iPhone device. iOS devices: 3cu.be/shareatg Android devices: 3cu.be/shareatg If you have any questions contact Mr.Martin 723-7258 or email redcross@candw.ag or todtom27@yahoo.com Thank you for your attention and I look forward to your continued support. Friday 9th January 2015 caribtimes.com 21 DEAR LADY X HOROSCOPE I have been dating a widower for a year. While he was eager to jump into the dating pool, he still has a mini shrine of his late wife’s ashes and belongings in their house. I can’t bring myself to have dinner or sleep over there with that overt presence. He recently told me he’s saving her remains to be intermingled with his when he dies. It was among a long list of her afterlife instructions he described. He’s in good health. I figure he has 25 years -- or more -- life expectancy before the big event. Realistically, shouldn’t I expect more than second best in his world? Is there a time limit for grieving, or does the deceased get to control her hubby from the other side? -- WAITING AND WONDERING DEAR WAITING AND WONDERING: Realistically, this has less to do with what you should “expect” than conclusions the widower must arrive at on his own. Ask him in a nonconfrontational way how he feels about carrying out all of his deceased wife’s wishes -- and whether he thinks it is fair to himself or you. Be prepared to discuss it without becoming emotional. His answers will tell you everything you need to know about a future with him. P.S. If your relationship with him is good, why not focus on the present and not worry about what happens to his body when he’s gone? However, if this is a deal breaker, then don’t invest any more time. Thursday’s Crossword Solution ARIES (March 21-April 19). You will have greater than normal powers of discipline, but don’t make yourself forgo the things you want and need. Go easy on yourself! Before you deprive yourself, decide what to use as a replacement. Think about all you’ve overcome. Things that used to bother you don’t anymore. What used to scare you has no emotional charge to it whatsoever. Love has made you immune in some way. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). You’ll be tempted to say too much. When in doubt, hold back. You’ll be admired for your discretion. Your action will say enough and bring results where words failed. SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Don’t waste your time dwelling on past mistakes. If you disappointed yourself, chalk it up to experience. You probably did the best you could under the circumstances, and next time you’ll do better. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). You have extraordinary powers of perception. You believe there is more going on than your eye can detect, and by the end of the day, a mystical experience will prove your theory. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22Dec. 21). When you have a feeling that the world is about to contradict your best expectations and validate your worst one instead, it’s time to get rid of those expectations altogether. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Before you get busy, consider the possibility of doing absolutely nothing. Stillness can be deceptively productive. It is possible that you’ll attract all you need through stillness. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You are self-sacrificing, but only for those few special people who have your heart. There is nothing you won’t do to make them smile, and when they are happy, you are happy. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You make better choices when a certain someone is there to encourage and support you. The love in your heart warms you from head to toe like hot chicken broth on a cold day. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Avoid those who seem unapproachable or standoffish. It’s not your job to warm everyone up today, and your time will be better spent on the genuinely nice people. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You’ll be asked to make a sacrifice in the name of love. It’s probably a small concession, but it will set the tone for the future, so go carefully into this. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’ll determine which sacrifices were worthwhile and which ones not to make again. Tonight, you really don’t need anything from your romantic counterpart, and that is what makes the situation so appealing for both parties. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). 22 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 9th January 2015 caribtimes.com Friday 9th January 2015 23 Celtics, Liberta win in ABFA First Division By Vanroy Burnes Celtics who still sits second to last on the ABFA first division point standings and seems certain to be relegated to second division beat bottom of the table Sea View farm that is also certain of relegation 2 goals to 1 Playing at the Radio Range field, Celtics went ahead as early as the third minute by Sharry Galloway followed by Elliot Donawa in the 17th minute. However Sea View farm manage to pull a goal back on the stroke of full time 80th minute by Kenroy Carr, the win lifted Celtics to 10 points, while Sea View Farm remains on 7 points. In the other match played, Liberta beat Glanville’s at home by a goal to nil. Shea Walsh scored the lone goal in the 70th min- ute. Liberta now move to 27 points, while Glanville’s remains on 25 points. In the lone second division match played Police finally got their act together to get their ground in match conditions after their two last matches were not played due unprepared ground; however they played to a 3 all draw against Bendals. Ajarni Colbourne scored all 3 goals for Police in the 13th, 34th and 41st minute, while Audwin Joseph scored twice for Bendals in the 62nd and 67th minute while Emanuel scored the other. The second division continues on Friday with 3 matches. Garden Stars versus Villa Lions at Liberta, Pares against West Ham at Pares and St. Johns United versus Swetes at King George. Antigua & Barbuda Softball Association increases registration fees for one year By Vanroy Burnes The Antigua & Barbuda Softball Association has increase registration fees for teams, Clubs and Players, but only for the year 2015. In a release issued by association it was noted that the increase would only be for the 2015 and it has outlined the reason for the increase. The Clubs and teams will pay a registration fee of $200.00 9 January 2015 while the players are asked to pay $60.00 ECD per Player. The Association said the increase in a fund raising drive to assist in the preparation and participation in the West Indies Women Softball Cricket tournament later this year. A total of $50.00 will go to the Association, $5.00 will to the Female National team participation, $5.00 will go towards a fun –walk Until 10 January 2015 event at a date to be decided and $5.00 will go towards the staging of a Bingo tentatively set for the opening of the 2015 season. The Registration period for Clubs and teams runs from November 15th 2014 to January 15th 2015, while for the players Registration runs from November 15th 2014 to January 31st 2015. Registration forms can be down loaded at www.absca.webnode.com 12 January 2015 24 c a r i b t i m e s . c o m Friday 9th January 2015 West Indies to unleash firepower CAPE TOWN, South Africa - A reinforced West Indies outfit takes on South Africa, without some of its leading players, in the first of a three-match Twenty20 International (T20I) series at Newlands on Friday. “It’s a format that we have done well in and we are looking to continue in that way. We are very confident,” declared Captain Darren Sammy. “We have won a world cup three years ago and we believe we have some of the best players in the world in that format. We have shown how well we can play.” West Indies , who are without the ICC’s No. 1 and No. 2-ranked T20 bowlers, Samuel Badree and Sunil Narine , are packing more fire-power than they did when they lost to the South Africans two-nil in the three-test series which concluded this week. Chris Gayle’s return is expected to be a massive boost while Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons will bolster a batting line-up that struggled against Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander in the Test series. “Are you ready for me?” Gayle asked the media as he walked past journalists at the end of the third Test. He missed the Test series with a back injury but was previously playing for a South African franchise, the Lions, in the local T20 tournament, scoring the competition’s first hundred and finishing the fifth-highest run scorer overall. West Indies, on paper, look the better side, with the likes of Gayle, Simmons, Pollard, Russell, and Sammy being renowned the world over for their prowess in the 20-over format. South Africa, however, will be without the services of AB de Villiers, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander Chris Gayle and Dwayne Smith chill out during training in Cape Town and Steyn, their best bowler. The Proteas will rely heavily on skipper Faf du Plessis who has described West Indies as “the dominant T20 team in the world at the moment”. David Miller is expected to provide some fireworks in a batting order that looks weak while their pace attack will be led by Kyle Abbott, Wayne Parnell, and Marchant de Lange. West Indies and South Africa have not met in T20 cricket since 2010 and the visitors have only won one of their six encounters in the shortest format, at Port Elizabeth back in 2007. First ball is 6PM (12 noon eastern Caribbean Time/11 am Jamaica Time). West Indies Squad: Darren Sammy (c), Denesh Ramdin (wk), Kieron Pollard, Chris Gayle, Andre Fletcher, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Sheldon Cottrell, Ashley Nurse, Jason Holder, Lendl Simmons, Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Smith, Andre Russell. Caribbean Times is printed and published at Woods Estate /Friars Hill Road By Kimon Drigo who is also the Editor and resides at Sugar Factory. Contact P.O Box W2099, Wood Estate /Friars Hill Road, St.John's Antigua/ Tel: (268) 562 - 8688 or Fax: (268) 562 8685.Email: editor@caribtimes.com/Advertising: advertising@caribtimes.com/www.caribtimes.com
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