prime minister spencer completes successful tenure as

The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission

Official Newsletter - Issue 131 -- January/February 2009

In This Issue1. Antigua and Barbuda wins Bronze Award on page 4

2. Prime Minister’s feature address at the opening of Mount St John’s Medical Centre on pages 6, 16 3. Government recoups US$12 million on pages 10 and 11 4. Election Day - March 12, 2009. Read Prime Minister announcement on pages 12 and 13

5. H.C. Dr Carl Roberts addresses Antigua and Barbuda National Association (London) on pages 18, 19 and 20

Prime Minister Spencer CompletesSuccessful Tenure as Chair of UN

Developing Countries GroupPrime Minister the Honourable Winston Baldwin Spencer has completed his one-year tenure as chairman of the mostinfluential group of developing countries within the United Nations, the 130 member Group of 77 (G77) and China, andhanded over the post to his successor during the Group’s annual hand over ceremony on the 26th January 2009.

In his farewell speech to the Group, delivered in his absence by Ambassador Dr. John W. Ashe, Antigua and Barbuda’sAmbassador to the United Nations, Prime Minister Spencer recalled that:

“A year ago, Antigua and Barbuda had the honour and the privilege of taking over the Chairmanship of the Group of 77for 2008. We accepted this enormous responsibility with pride and conviction, aware of the challenges and obstaclesthat developing countries face in their struggle to advance social and economic progress and justice for their populations

in a manner consistent withsustainable development. Wewere buoyed and embolden byyour many pledges of support,cooperation and solidarity.”

The Prime Minister applauded themembers of the group for theirsolidarity in the face of adversityand noted that the Group of 77and China developed andmaintained coordinated positionswhich advanced substantially theinterests of developing countriesin all the various processes.

Speaker after speaker praised theleadership of the Prime Ministerand his UN delegation and laudedtheir accomplishments duringwhat is widely regarded as one ofmost successful tenure in theforty-five year history of the group.

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The New Mount St John’s Medical CentreSee pages 6,16

Reform of InternationalInstitutions

The world today is a very differentplace to five years ago. Nonethelessmany of the International Institutionshave structures and policies whoseframework relate to a timeframebeyond that period. Four institutionsshould come under the spotlightduring any review. These are theUnited Nations (UN), the InternationalMonetary Fund (IMF), the WorldBank (WB) and the World TradeOrganisation (WTO).

In the short time allowed, I would notbe able to deal in depth with eachinstitution individually. Let me,however, make several observationswhich can and should be used todetermine the effectiveness and fit forpurpose of each of these bodies.

The world has become a tightly linkedeco-system. Each component of thisnetwork being affected and at thesame time influencing its surrounding

linked parts. Theinterdependence of therespective components isclearly demonstrated in thespeed by which the currentfinancial crisis spread withineach region and across theworld.

The campaign for change isnot to discard the fact thatsome organisations haveadjusted over the years. Infact at the UN, there hasbeen over twenty (20)attempts at reforming theworkings of various aspectsof the UN operations over thelast sixteen years. In the1992-94 period, the Blue-Ribbon Commission onGlobal Governance reflecteda concern “that the majorinstitutions (and especiallythe UN) must bestrengthened”.

When we talk of reform, whatreally are our intentions? Are werequesting an examination of themanagement of that institution?There is clear evidence that muchconcern exist about the cost, staffing,selection of key personnel and otherresource factors. Why then, we ask,should the Head of the IMF or WB berestricted to the citizen of a selectgroup of member territories? Are webeing guided by the oft invisiblyinscribed tenet that he who pays thelion share can demand the greaterpound of flesh?

The attack in Iraq in defiance of theSecurity Council raises manyquestion of the mandate of the UN asa safeguard of the fundamental rightsof the sovereignty of nations, and theinstitution to which any member statecan make its appeal if aggrieved.There that member can be assured ofa fair hearing and a speedy resolutionof its grievance with its neighbour. Insome of these institutions, the debatefocuses on who should be in the innercircle and who should be on the

periphery. Any reform should result inthe creation of new rules ofengagement developed in anatmosphere of open and inclusivedialogue.

The critical test of any moderninternational institution should includethe following:

· How it improves the quality oflife of the people of the world

· How it guarantees security,health and education for all

· How it reduces poverty andincrease self-esteem amongall classes of people

· How it is funded andgoverned

· How to keep fundamentalhuman rights at the heart ofits raison d’être

· How it ensures the protectionof the environment and finally

· How relevant and current isthat institution. (By this Imean how fairly does itreflect the make-up of today’sworld).

Let me finish by making just a fewbrief remarks on the four selectedinstitutions.

1. The IMF and WB wereformed to bring stability to aworld in the 1940s that is verydifferent to the interlinkedglobalised world of today.Though the objectives andideals were, and still may be,deemed laudable, the levelof discontent about many ofthe IMF and WB’s projectshas reached a resoundingwail. For every instancewhere there is a case ofsuccess, critics point to at

Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 131 - January/February 2009

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The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 131 - January/February 2009

Continued from page 1

Among the accomplishments citedwere (a) the launching of the first ever

“Development Platform for the South”;(b) further enhancement of theGroup’s flagship “Programme ofSouth-South Cooperation,” which wasfirst agreed in Havana, Cuba in 2000;(c) finalization of the Agreement on theEstablishment of the South Fund forDevelopment and HumanitarianAssistance; (d) strengthening of therelationships among variousinstitutions supporting the countries ofthe South including the coordinationbetween the Non–aligned Movementand the Group of 77 and Chinathrough the Joint CoordinatingCommittee (JCC) for the formulationand promotion of common strategieson relevant issues in particular thereform of the UN system; and (e)forging of a strong partnershipinvolving in particular the Group of 77and China, the Group of 24 and theSouth Centre especially in respect ofinternational financial and economicissues; and also with the otherChapters of the G77, with researchinstitutions of the South and withSouthern NGOs.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moonpraised the chairmanship of Antiguaand Barbuda and noted that

“…Antigua and Barbuda [had]…steadfastly guided the Group througha challenging year of multiple crises –from food security to energy to globalfinance.”

He thanked Ambassador Ashe, whomhe said “has earned profound respectfor his exemplary service to the Group.It has been a pleasure to work with him.”President of the UN General AssemblyFather Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann ofNicaragua said that “under Antiguaand Barbuda’s Chairmanship, theGroup of 77 has worked hard, withcalm and wisdom during criticaljunctures, to develop unified positionson a number of complex globalchallenges and aspects of UnitedNations reform.”

UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervispraised the ‘vigorous chairmanship ofthe Group of 77 and China for 2008”demonstrated by Antigua and Barbuda.But it was perhaps the representativeof Grenada, speaking on behalf of theCARICOM UN Caucus, who summedit up best when he observed that:

“We are immensely proud of theeffective and proficient leadership that[Antigua and Barbuda] demonstratedthroughout the many difficultcircumstances of the past year. Theunprecedented decline in the worldfinancial sector, dire food shortages,the ongoing challenge of climatechange and countless naturaldisasters, were among the plethora ofturbulent issues and concerns whicharose that Antigua and Barbuda wereable to address, and articulate with alucid and ardent voice on behalf of themember states of the Groups of 77and China.”

The Group of 77 is the largestintergovernmental organization ofdeveloping states in the UnitedNations and provides the means forthe countries of the South to articulateand promote their collective economicinterests and enhance their jointnegotiating capacity on all majorinternational economic issues withinthe United Nations system, andpromote South-South cooperation fordevelopment. It was established in1964 by seventy-seven developingcountries that were signatories of the

“Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries” issued at the end ofthe first session of the United NationsConference on Trade andDevelopment (UNCTAD) in Geneva.Although the members of the G-77have increased to 130 countries, theoriginal name was retained because ofits historic significance.

The chairmanship of the Group of 77 isrotated on an annual basis betweenthe three (3) developing countryregions, namely Africa, Asia and LatinAmerica and the Caribbean, that makeup the Group. In 2009, the delegationof the Republic of Sudan from theAfrican region will serve as chair of thegroup.

Antigua and Barbuda will continue toparticipate in the overall managementstructure throughout 2009 due to thefact that it will serve in the Group’s‘troika” as the outgoing chair.

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CCL SAYS‘THANK YOU’

Marlborough House, Pall Mall was the venue for thereception sponsored by the Commonwealth CountriesLeague (CCL) to say a hearty ‘Thank You’ to theCommonwealth High Commissioners’ wives, Committeemembers, Organizers and helpers.

2008 Commonwealth Fair was deemed a success by allwho participated. Exotic foods of the Commonwealthwere well displayed and consumed after the speeches.

Preparations have begun for the 2009 CommonwealthFair.

Pictured left to right at the reception - Chalene Roberts,Mrs Pauline Roberts, wife of Antigua and Barbuda’s High

Commissoner; Curlis Bart, Antigua and Barbuda HighCommission and Mrs Sharon Farquharson, wife of the

High Commissioner for The Bahamas


Antigua and Barbudawins Bronze Award

Antigua and Barbuda has won theVirgin Atlantic Bronze Award, for BestDestination Partnership in 2008.

The Award which was presented to thedestination during World TravelMarket in November was recentlyhanded over to Minister of TourismHarold Lovell.

"We are delighted to have received thisaward from our UK Partners", saidCarol Hay Director of Tourism for theUK.

"It shows that Virgin has recognized theefforts we have taken towardsensuring that our partnership is amutually beneficial one."

During 2009, Antigua and Barbudaplans to establish a number of newinitiatives with Virgin Atlantic and

Virgin Holidays.

One such initiative which is currentlybeing run features Antigua and

Barbuda and Virgin working along withTesco Supermarket (UK) on an in-store promotion to encourage travel tothe destination.

Pictured left to right - Cherrie Osborne, Marketing and Administration Manager, TouristOffice, UK - Mrs Sharon Peters, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism - Honourable

Harold Lovell, Minister of Tourism and Carol Hay, Marketing Director -UK and Europe

New TourismProgramme to offer

TrainingStakeholders within the tourism sectorare poised to benefit from a newprogramme geared towardssharpening their skills as thegovernment seeks to tackle the globaleconomic crisis currently affecting theindustry.

The programme is expected to targetowners, managers and otheremployees.

According to Minister of TourismHarold Lovell, the initiative's mainobjective is to capitalize andstrengthen the sustainability of smalland micro tourism enterprises whichwill improve the tourism sector andprovide an excellent opportunity toretain a recognized internationalcertificate.

The programme is being executed inconjunction with the Organization ofAmerican States (OAS), which hasexpressed its intention to providefinancial support.

Minister Lovell said the first trainingsession, scheduled to take place in thefirst week of February, will providetraining in hotel business operationsand management. The training seriescontinues with a second programmescheduled for February 16-20. Thiswill target food and beverage (F&B)supervisors, prospective supervisorsand line staff in the F&B department.

Participants who register to sit theexamination will be certified in theHospitality Department Training(CHDT) designation, which will beawarded by the American Hotel &Learning Education Institute.

The first two days of the five-daysession will focus on restaurantservice skills, and is thereforerecommended for F&B line staff also.

Within the third and fourth day they willspecifically target F&B supervisorsand prospective supervisors and thosewho would have received approval tosit the Certified Hospitality DepartmentTraining (CHDT) examination.

Participants who register to sit theexamination will have the opportunityto earn the Certified HospitalityDepartment Training (CHDT)designation awarded by the AmericanHotel & Learning Education Institute.

According to Cynthia Simon, managerfor tourism education, training andawareness in the Ministry of Tourism,

"the ministry considers ongoinginvestment in skills training andeducation a pragmatic action toensure that employer and employeecontinue to give the best possibleexperience to our visiting guests andthat we prepare ourselves for theeconomic recovery phase and beyond."

Source: WWW.caribarena.com

Sailing Week • 27th April to 2nd May 2009

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The international price of oil hasdeclined steadily over the past 7months moving from a high ofUS$147.00 per barrel in July 2008 tojust under US$40.00 per barrel atpresent. Although prices havegenerally been trending downwardsthere have been some fluctuations inthe price of oil in recent weeks. Therecent fluctuations notwithstanding,the general downward trend in priceshas indeed been a welcomeddevelopment. In direct response tothis, the Government has madeseveral adjustments to the retail priceof gasoline and diesel over the pastseveral months. At present, the retailprice for a gallon of gasoline is $9.95and diesel is 10.95.

Over the past two weeks it has beensuggested by the Antigua LabourParty in the media and elsewhere thatthe recent declines in the price ofgasoline is not sufficient to reflect thedownward trend internationally.Further, it was suggested that theprice of gasoline is lower in otherOECS countries, namely Dominicaand St. Kitts and Nevis, and thereforethis Government is placing unduehardship on the citizens of Antiguaand Barbuda. It is against thisbackdrop that I would like to brieflylook at price adjustments in Antiguaand Barbuda as compared to otherOECS countries from December 2006to present.

In December 2006, the price for abarrel of oil on the international marketwas approximately US$61.00. In thesame month, the retail price ofgasoline in Antigua and Barbudadecreased by $0.50 to $11.49 and theprice of diesel fell by $0.45 to $9.99.These prices remained unchangeduntil April 2008 when the price ofgasoline was increased to $12.95 and

diesel rose to $11.95. At this point theaverage price for a barrel of oil rose byalmost 80.0 percent to US$109.00. Inthe other OECS countries the averageprice for a gallon of gasoline anddiesel was $13.68 and $13.57respectively. In particular, the price ofgasoline and diesel in Dominica was$13.71 and $14.14 respectively. In StKitts and Nevis, where there are threedifferent entities that retail petroleumproducts, the price of gasolineaveraged $13.95 and ranged from$13.70 at Delta Service Stations to$14.12 at Shell Service Stations, whilediesel was retailed for $14.41.

The next price change in Antigua andBarbuda took effect in the month ofMay 2008. During the month of May2008 the average price for a barrel ofcrude oil increased to US$122.75 andthe retail price of gasoline and dieselin Antigua and Barbuda was increasedto $13.95 per gallon. At this price levelthe Government was subsidising theprice of gasoline and diesel by about$3.8 million per month. In the otherOECS countries the average retailprice of gasoline and diesel was$14.29 and $13.98 respectively. InDominica, the price of gasoline was$14.61 and the price of Diesel was$14.78. In St Kitts and Nevis theaverage price of gasoline was $15.71and the price of diesel was $12.75

Over the next two months (June andJuly) the international price of oilcontinued to grow at a rapid pacereaching record levels on a daily basisand peaking at US$147.00 in July2008. OECS countries continued toimport fuel at these high prices untilAugust 2008. During this period theretail price of gasoline and dieselremained fixed at $13.95 i n Antiguaand Barbuda while a number of theother OECS counties continued to

increase prices - on a weekly basis insome cases. In Antigua and Barbuda,the Government continued tosubsidise the retail prices of bothcommodities by more than $4.5 millionper month. During the month of Julyfor example the average retail price ofgasoline and diesel in the other OECScountries was $15.24 and $14.89respectively. In Dominica, the price ofgasoline was $15.69 and the price ofdiesel was $15.97. In St Kitts andNevis, the average price of gasolinewas $17.17, with prices ranging from$16.18 at Texaco Service Stations to$18.59 at Delta Service Stations, whilethe price of diesel was $14.55

In October 2008, with the internationalprice of oil declining but not yetreflected in the imported prices ofpetrol as a result of the time lagassociated with the refining process,the Government of Antigua andBarbuda began to reduce the retailprice of gasoline and diesel. InOctober 2008, the retail price ofgasoline and diesel was reduced to$13.65. The price of both 20commodities remained significantlyabove $13.65 in a number of OECScountries. In Dominica and St Kittsand Nevis in particular, gasoline wasretailed for more than $14.00 pergallon, and at Delta Service Stations inSt Kitts the price of gasoline was$16.81.

In a number of OECS countries theprice of gasoline and diesel hasdeclined significantly betweenOctober 2008 and January 2008. Atpresent the average price for gasolineand diesel in OECS countries is $9.81and 10.82 respectively. In Dominica,the retail price of gasoline is $9.09 andthe price of Diesel is $10.04. In StKitts and Nevis, the average price ofgasoline is $9.19 with prices ranging

StatementDr. the Hon. L. Errol Cort

Minister of Finance and the EconomyAntigua and Barbuda

12th February, 2009

Finance Minister Clarifies Government’s Positionon Fuel Prices in Antigua and Barbuda

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Salutations.Today is a proud and historic day forthe Antiguan and Barbudan people.The completion and commissioning ofthe Mount St. John’s Medical Centreis a goal that has been long deferred.Following, today’s activity, the MountSt. John’s Medical Centre medicalstaff will begin to welcome patientswho will be transferred from HolbertonHospital.

This will be a quantum leap in thequality of health services in Antiguaand Barbuda.

The transfer of patients from Holbertonto Mount St. John’s Medical Centrewill commence this week fromSaturday, the 21st February.

This Centre, Ladies and Gentlemen,has been planned, constructed andoutfitted for sustainable serviceexcellence for generations to come.

Today is very special as we gatherhere to witness and to celebrate theresult of a successful collaborativeeffort between Complant, theChinese contractors; the Governmentof Antigua and Barbuda, through theMinistries of Health, Finance andPublic Works; the Medical BenefitsScheme a Statutory Corporationthrough which the finances of thepeople have been channelled insupport of this project; and theAmerican Hospital ManagementCompany, our hospital consultantswho have been working with andunder the guidance of our local Boardof Directors; as well as all of theprofessional and technicalstakeholders at Holberton Hospital.

The completion of the Mount St. John’sMedical Centre is in delivery of what Isee as the Government’s obligation toimprove the quality of healthcare, andaccess to such health care asfundamentals for social and economicdevelopment in Antigua and Barbuda.This purpose-built facility, as you areaware, replaces a cluster of old

buildings which simply grew in anunplanned way and long ago becameinadequate to the needs of the society.The potential value of the on-sitehelicopter service for Barbuda, andother islands of the region, will not belost on you.

For most of us here this morning thiswill be a once-in-a-lifetime experience

– the opening of a healthcare facility ofthis standard and dimension.

It is accepted that a hospitalincorporates within its functional andstructural arrangements:· An office building· An eating establishment· A medical care agency and· A major educational and socialservice institution.

Most of all, the hospital is aninstrument of community health and avital part of the total public health andmedical care spectrum.

This encompasses prevention,diagnosis, rehabilitation, educationand research; and all of this mustrevolve around the patient who mustalways come first.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are acutelyaware of the fiercely competingdemands between what we want interms of healthcare – for example,state of the art care – and the cost ofdelivering that care.

Indeed it is a universal truism that thedemand for services will alwaysoutstrip our capacity to supply thoseservices.

As a result, we will always bechallenged to develop strategies andto find innovative ways in which wecan meet the burgeoning demands.In this regard we need to utilise all theservices available to us to help to meetthis demand.

For instance, Mount St. John’sMedical Centre proposes to develop a

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Hon. W. Baldwin SpencerFeature Address

Opening of Mount St. John’s Medical Centre16th February 2009

Her Excellency the Governor-General Dame Louise Lake-Tack GCMG, DST.J,flanked on the right by Honourable Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua

and Barbuda and on the left by the Honourable John Maginley, Minister ofHealth as they prepare for the cut ting of the ribbon to open the

Mount St John’s Medical Centre

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The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 131 - January/Febnruary 2009

Antigua andBarbuda

participates inmajor Gaming

ExpoThis year, the Caribbean jurisdiction ofAntigua and Barbuda made its firstappearance at one of the gamingindustry’s events InternationalGaming Expo at Earls Court, inLondon from January 27-29. TheFinancial Services RegulatoryCommission, Antigua and BarbudaInvestment Authority, LIME Antiguaand ACT were at the Antigua andBarbuda stand inviting delegates todiscover why some of the industry’spremier brands have made this islandparadise their home base. Thedelegation was led by Trevor Mathurin- Deputy CEO of the Financial ServicesRegulatory Commission who worksclosely with the Banking andInsurance departments along withKaye McDonald on all matters relatingto gaming.

"We are extremely proud to have apresence at ICEi in London this year,"said Director of Gaming Ms KayeMcDonald. "We have invested inbuilding a highly reputable jurisdictionand will be leveraging our competitiveadvantage as one of the few UK whitelisted jurisdictions. The industry is

aware of our unswerving commitmentto ensuring they have access to globalmarkets."

Investment Promotion Director of ABIAFitzmaurice Christian remarked that

“our focus will be on gaming companiesand supporting services such ashosting and payment processing. Inthe current challenging economicclimate, Antigua offers gamingoperators and support servicecompanies a unique opportunity togrow their business by locating someor all of their operations in our highlyreputable business friendlyjurisdiction. Additionally, we need todiversify our economy by bringing arange of industries to provide muchneeded employment for our people.These industries are less seasonal innature and so cushion the shocks fromtourism”.

LIME and ACT are playing aprominent role at the IGE by providinginformation on the capability of thecountry’s modern telecommunicationsinfra structure. The currentinfrastructure provides a high level ofredundancy with its two cable systems.Dedicated broadband internetservices are available that support upto GigE.

Aside from its economic and politicalclimate, modern telecommunicationinfrastructure Antigua and Barbudaoffers more experience than almostany other in the world:

- One of the first remote gamblingjurisdictions with a globally respectedregulatory system since 1997

- ‘WTO approved’ – Antigua’sdecisive win of the USA at the WorldTrade Organisation reinforces thejurisdiction’s standing as a committedand respected leader in the globalgaming industry

- UK Whitelisting – One of a selectfew from around the world to make thegrade with the UK’s tough DCMSregulatory environment, allowingAntigua-based operators to advertiseto the lucrative UK market

- Extensive expertise in call centreservices, financial services and e-Services provide an out-of-the-boxsolution.

Antigua and Barbuda was one of thefirst countries to licence, regulate andbuild an international remote gamingindustry – with tax incentives offeringthe most attractive businessopportunities of all the jurisdictions foroperators around the globe.

Ms Kaye McDonald and Mr TrevorMathurin talking with Investors

Space rented by the Antiguan and Barbudan delegation for display of products,interviews and discussions during the International Gaming Expo held in London

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His Excellency Dr Carl Roberts tooktime out of his busy schedule to attend

the Exhibition - pictured above withErica Lake, Investment PromotionOfficer of the Antigua and Barbuda

Investment Authority


least one case where theseinstitutions have caused tremendousdislocation and social disorder. Hereare just a few areas where there couldbe reform:-

a. The institutions needto be less intrusive

b. There should be awidening of thecriteria used tomeasure success

c. There should be morerecognition of thesocial impact of policyimplementation andassistance offered.

2. The UN needs to restore itscredibility. Once again thisinstitution has done muchgood work, but it is constantlybeing challenged to put downcriticism of its effectiveness inaddressing some of theworld’s current crises. Itsofficers are sometimesaccused of corruption andother humanitarian abuses allof which take away from itsacceptance. Here then are afew suggested areas ofreform :

a. Widen the representa-tion on the SecurityCouncil especially thepermanent members(currently 5) and thenon-permanent mem-bers (currently 10).

b. Limit the applicationof veto power by thepermanent membersto very specific cases.

c. Improve the perform-ance and effective-ness of its manysubsidiaries

d. Reduce waste andcorruption

3. The WTO is the onlyinternational institutiondealing with the global rules oftrade between nations. Itattempts to ensure thesmooth flow of trade betweentrading partners, to reduceprotectionism and safeguardthe rights of all parties to thetransaction. Here too are afew areas where reform isneeded:-

a. Reduce all attemptsto use size tocircumvent naturaljustice and decisionsof the disputesettlement tribunals.

b. Avoid at all costattempt to formexclusive mini-groups.

Let me end by leaving you with thisquotation:‘History has shown that the greatestdangers to international stability oftenarise from those nations whose realpower is inadequately reflected in therelevant sets of internationalarrangements and symbols of statustherein. Such nations can challengethe legitimacy of the system withactions as well as rhetoric. Much ofthe current call for a new internationaleconomic order flows directly fromsuch concerns, and a major need inthe current phase of institution-building is to bring developingcountries into effective participation inthe international system. First, seriousand sustained attention must be paidto their substantive concerns. In termsof broad objectives, this requires theinternational economic system toattach priority to issues of income andwealth distribution as well as the moretraditional goals of efficiency andgrowth. A second essential step is toprovide major developing countrieswith a role in the internationaldecision-making process whichcorresponds to their sharply increasedimportance to the system. A third stepis to go still further and bring selected

"newcomers" into the inner circles ofinternational decision-making.’

Quoted from: The TrilateralCommission (© 1976)

PRESSSTATEMENT

BYDr. the Hon. L ErrolCort – Minister ofFinance and the

Economy

Over the past several days, theresilience of the domestic bankingsector as well as the strength of theregulatory framework that governs thefinancial system of the EasternCaribbean Currency Union (ECCU)area was put to the test. Followingswiftly on the heels of anannouncement that the United StatesSecurities and Exchange Commission(SEC) had filed a civil complaintagainst R. Allen Stanford and theStanford International Bank,individuals who held deposits with theBank of Antigua sought to withdrawtheir funds from this institution.

This move by depositors causedsignificant liquidity problems for theBank that, if not addressedimmediately, could have resulted inserious consequences for thedomestic banking sector and for theECCU financial system as a whole.The situation clearly demandedprompt and decisive action in order toreassure citizens and residents whowere customers of the Bank ofAntigua that their deposits and otherfinancial interests in respect of theBank remained secure.

The first step towards developingand implementing a plan of action wasa meeting between the Government ofAntigua and Barbuda, the EasternCaribbean Central Bank (ECCB) andrepresentatives of all banks operatingin Antigua and Barbuda.

In addition, the Monetary Councilof the ECCB convened a specialmeeting to address the matter,consider a number of options and toagree on a plan of action that wouldfurther assure depositors that theirfinancial interests in the institutionwere protected and that the regulatory

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Antiguan graduateswith Ph.D in

Education andTheology

Whilst the eyes of the world werefocussed on Washington as BarackObama was inaugurated asAmerica’s 44th President, there wasanother ceremony taking place inanother capital city. Antiguan,Calvin Samuel, joined luminariesand Nobel Laureates such as formerArchbishop Desmond Tutu inbecoming a graduate of King’sCollege London, England’s fourtholdest university and one of the top25 in the world.

Having already achieved BA andMBA degrees Dr Samuel graduatedon inauguration day with a Ph.D inTheology and Education in aceremony held at the Royal FestivalHall on the south bank of the riverThames.

Dr Samuel, son of the lateCharlesworth Samuel, Antigua’sformer Minister of Agriculture, wasjoined by family members incelebrating his success, picturedhere with his wife Ramona andchildren Tiana (10) and Fletcher (8).

However, their celebrationswere inevitably tinged withregret that Charlesworth, alifelong advocate foreducation, had not lived tosee this day.

It was in 1993 that DrSamuel left Antigua and acareer in banking toundertake ministerialtraining at the NazareneTheological College inManchester, expecting toreturn to Antigua after fouryears to take up aministerial appointment inthe Wesleyan HolinessChurch.

However, upon completinghis undergraduate study in1997 he was offered ascholarship at ManchesterBusiness School to pursuean MBA degree, which hecompleted in 2000. Duringthis period he was also employed,for two years at ManchesterUniversity and then for a year atLondon Business School, as aResearch Manager. Uponcompletion of MBA studies he wasappointed the minister for Mitcham &St Helier Methodist churches inSouth London and was ordained thefollowing year, 2001.

Later that same year he began PhDstudies, submitting his thesis inJanuary 2008, only 10 days prior tothe death of his father.

Since 2005 Dr Samuel has beenNew Testament Tutor at Spurgeon’sCollege and Chaplain to FarringtonsSchool, a Methodist independentschool in South London.

Dr Calvin Samuel and family at King’s College,London where he attained his Ph.D


from $8.33 at Texaco Service Stationsto $12.24 at Delta service Station. Thecurrent price of diesel in St Kitts andNevis is $14.10.

With respect to Liquid Petroleum Gas(LPG) the price of this productremained unchanged in Antigua andBarbuda over the past five years andthroughout the oil crisis. At $20.95and $108.00 for the 20lb and 100lbcylinders respectively, Antigua andBarbuda has the lowest prices in theOECS for this commodity. At present,the average price for the 20lb and100lb cylinders of LPG in the other

OECS countries is $35.86 and$172.57 respectively.

In the month of July when theinternational price for oil peaked atUS$147.00 the average price for a20lb cylinder of LPG in the otherOECS countries was $40.27 withprices ranging from $30.00 in St Kittsand Nevis to $59.00 in Anguilla. InDominica, the price for the 20lbcylinder was $44.10. During the samemonth the average price for the 100lbcylinder in the other OECS countrieswas $192.89, with prices ranging from$175.00 in St Kitts and Nevis to$220.00 in Anguilla. The price for the100lb cylinder was $215.50 inDominica.

Price changes for gasoline and dieselin Antigua and Barbuda is partlycorrelated to the timing of purchaseand shipment. Thus, price differencemay exist between OECS countriesbecause of differences in timing withrespect to when stock becomesexhausted and new shipments arereceived. The Government willcontinue to monitor internationalprices and adjust the retail price ofgasoline and diesel accordingly toensure that the residents of Antiguaand Barbuda continue to benefit fromthe price reduction on the internationalmarket. In addition, we will continue toheavily subsidise the price of LPG asa part of the Government overall socialprogramme.

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Governmentrecoups US$12

million

The Government of Antigua andBarbuda today announced that it hasrecoup US$12 million dollars throughan agreement reached with one of thedefendants in a case filed in respect ofIHI matter for special damages in thesum of US14, 414, 904 plus interest aswell as general damages andexemplary damages for fraudulentmisrepresentation and misfeasance inpublic office.

The substantive defendants in theclaim are: Lester Bryant Bird - FormerPrime Minister, Asot Michael MP,Bellwood Services S.A. a Panamaniancompany, Patrick A. Michael Co. Ltd.an Antigua and Barbuda company,Bruce Rappaport, IHI Debt SettlementCompany Ltd., a Hong Kong company,and Debt Settlement AdministratorsLLC of Florida.

On the 10th February 2009 AttorneyGeneral Justin Simon QC announcedthat based on information provided byan investigation carried out by RobertLindquist, Mr. Rappaport, through hislawyers, agreed to settle the claimagainst himself and his company bypaying the government the sum ofUS$12,000,000 in respect of thegovernment's civil claim.

The Attorney General also announcedthat he will be handing over theLindquist Report into the IHI Matter tothe police for them to take thenecessary steps to file criminalcharges against the individuals namedin the report.

We present in full the statement asissued by the Hon. Attorney General:

“Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press.Citizens and Residents of Antigua andBarbuda.

Shortly after this Administration tookoffice, I informed you by way of aPress Statement that the governmenthad commissioned a financial forensicinvestigation and had secured the

services of Mr. RobertLindquist who had himselfled like-investigations inTrinidad and Tobagowhere over Seven MillionUS Dollars of illegalpayments to publicofficials had beenrecovered, and that hewas instrumental in thearrests and prosecutionsof persons involved in thePiarco InternationalAirport scandal in Trinidad.

It has been long in coming,but I can now advise you,the patient citizens andresidents, that I now havein hand Mr. Lindquist’scomplete andcomprehensive report onthe IHI Debt RepaymentScheme. The Reporttraces the payment by governmentfrom December 1996 of the monthlysum of US$403,334 out of theconsumption tax revenue paid byWest Indies Oil Company to thevarious persons in receipt of thesemonies, with details of the companiesthrough which the monies were sent,to what bank accounts, in whichcountries and how these monies werefinally disbursed. These monthly sumswere paid out of government fundspursuant to an irrevocable letter ofinstructions right up until February2006, when I obtained an Injunctionfrom the High Court in Antigua andBarbuda stopping the continuance ofthe payments, and freezing the bankaccount here in Antigua of anassociated Florida company calledDebt Settlement Administrators LLC.

It was a gigantic conspiracyengineered and effected by persons inhigh places to rob this country ofmillions of dollars right up to the year2021, a burden that would be carriedby your children and your children’schildren. Consider this. Thesemonthly payments were, by anAgreement dated September 11 1997,to be made over a period of 25 yearsbeginning December 31 1996(retrospectively nine (9) monthsbefore the Agreement was signed)and would have amounted to anaggregate payment ofUS$121,000,200. Out of that monthly

sum of US$403,334 coming out of theGovernment Treasury, onlyUS$199,740.25 would be legitimatelypaid to IHI Japan amounting to anaggregate sum of US$59,922,075over the 25 years. In simplearithmetical terms, US$61,078,125 inexcess of the total sum due IHI Japanwould have been misappropriated outof the Treasury and gone ‘ahgwasa’over that 25 year period.

You will recall that in March 2006 I hadadvised by way of Press Statementthat as Attorney General I had, onbehalf of the Government, filed in theHigh Court of Antigua and Barbuda acivil claim in respect of the IHI matterfor special damages in the sum ofUS$14,414,904 plus interest as wellas general damages and exemplarydamages for fraudulentmisrepresentation and misfeasance inpublic office. The substantiveDefendants in the claim are: LesterBryant Bird, Asot Michael MP,Bellwood Services S.A. a Panamaniancompany, Patrick A. Michael Co. Ltd.an Antigua and Barbuda company,Bruce Rappaport, IHI Debt SettlementCompany Ltd. a Hong Kong company,and Debt Settlement AdministratorsLLC of Florida.

This morning I have caused to beserved on all the defendants, throughtheir respective local Counsel, aNotice of Discontinuance which will be

Hon. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs,Justin Simon QC

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filed in the High Court in respect of twoof the defendants: Bruce Rappaportand his Hong Kong company IHI DebtSettlement Company Ltd. The effect ofthis notice is to inform the court andseek the court’s permission todiscontinue the civil claim againstthese two defendants only; the claimwill continue to proceed against theother six substantial defendants andwe expect that process to movespeedily towards a hearing date fromhere on.

The reason for discontinuing the civilaction against Bruce Rappaport andhis company IHI Debt SettlementCompany Ltd. is simply this: aftermonths of hard negotiations based onthe information provided by Mr.Lindquist in his report, Mr. Rappaport,through his lawyers, has agreed tosettle the claim against himself and hiscompany by paying to the governmentthe sum of US$12,000,000 in respectof our civil claim. I am pleased toadvise that the government is inreceipt of the payment. I will beadvising our Counsel in Miami to takesimilar steps in respect of the pendingMiami case whose status, as youknow from my recent Statement toParliament, is due for review in lateMay 2009.

You will no doubt recognize theimportance and significance of thisrecent development as thisAdministration seeks to recoverthrough a number of civil actions thevarious monies and parcels of landwhich we allege were fraudulentlyappropriated by certain members ofthe former administration for their ownpersonal gain and enrichment and tothe detriment and financial pain of thepeople of this country.


framework within the ECCU was morethan capable of meeting the challengethat was precipitated by the civil suitagainst the sole shareholder of the Bank.

These steps have ultimately led tothis moment where the efforts of allparties have culminated in the creation ofthis new entity - the Eastern CaribbeanAmalgamated Investment CompanyLimited (ECAIC). The ECAIC will takecontrol of the operations of the Bank sothat despite the ongoing issues in respectof the United States Securities andExchange Commission (SEC), the

institution will continue to functionnormally and engage with its customersin a manner to which they are accustomed.

As indicated by Governor Venner,the ECAIC is an amalgamation ofindigenous banks within the ECCUtogether with participation from theGovernment of Antigua and Barbuda.This means that the Government ofAntigua and Barbuda, the AntiguaCommercial Bank Ltd, the EastCaribbean Financial Holding CompanyLimited, the National Commercial Bank(SVG) Limited, the National Bank ofDominica Ltd and the St Kitts NevisAnguilla National Bank Limited are thenew shareholders of the ECAIC.

The formation of this new corporationwas the outcome of long and in-depthconsultations among the stakeholdersover the weekend and is indeedtestament to the ingenuity and creativityof our people. The delegationrepresenting Antigua and Barbuda duringthese consultations secured a fortypercent interest in the new entity – fifteenpercent of which is allocated to the ACBand the remaining twenty-five percentallocated to the Government of Antiguaand Barbuda.

Given the urgency with which action wasrequired, we were not in a position initiallyto afford members of the Antigua andBarbuda public the opportunity to acquirea share in this new entity. However, thisGovernment is determined to give thepublic a chance to own a stake in thiscompany and will therefore divest aportion of its twenty-five percentshareholding to the public of Antigua andBarbuda.

What we as a Government, the ECCBand the various indigenous banks havebeen able to achieve over the past fewdays is an incredible feat. In essence, wewere able to successfully avert a disasterand save the deposits and interests of thecustomers of the Bank. There are over$400 million in deposits at the Bank ofAntigua with nearly eighty percentrepresenting the deposits of the citizensand residents of Antigua and Barbuda.

The Government of Antigua andBarbuda is very grateful to the Governorof the ECCB for providing the necessaryliquidity to the Bank to allow it to continuefunctioning and meeting the demands ofits customers. Further, we are grateful forthe instrumental role played by the ECCBin identifying these strong indigenousbanks in the Organization of EasternCaribbean States (OECS) region that willinject the necessary capital to allow forthe continued viability of this institution.

Before closing, it must be stated that thisjoint effort on the part of the Government,the ECCB and the indigenous banksacross the region is a remarkablereflection of OECS unity and is a practicaldemonstration of the integrationmovement.

On behalf of the Government andpeople of Antigua and Barbuda, I wish tothank our brothers and sisters of theOECS region for their invaluablecontribution towards securing the stabilityof our financial space. This new entitysets the stage for the creation of a strong,indigenous, OECS bank which is rootedin several indigenous national banksacross the region that, on their own, arefinancially sound and resilient.

The Government of Antigua andBarbuda, under the leadership of PrimeMinister the Honourable Baldwin Spencer,wishes to thank the EXXB, and, inparticular, its Governor, Sir K. DwightVenner, for its unwavering assistance andfor supporting our efforts to assure thegeneral public and, in particular, thecustomers of the Bank of Antigua Limited,that their deposits with the institutionremain secure.

The Government also wishes tothank the Prime Minister and Minister offinance of St Vincent and the Grenadines,Dr. the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves andthe other members of the MonetaryCouncil for their support.

Further, I wish to thank the Antiguaand Barbuda delegation, headed by theFinancial Secretary – Mr. Whitfield HarrisJr. – who participated in the consultationsthat facilitated the formulation of this newinstitution. The delegation alsocomprised the Deputy Solicitor-General,Mrs Karen Defreitas Rait; TreasuryConsultant, Dr. Cleopatra Gittens; andMacroeconomic Advisor in the Ministry ofFinance and the Economy, Mr KevinSilston. Also forming an integral part ofthe delegation were the Chairman,Directors of the Board and Managementof the Antigua Commercial Bank andrepresentatives from KPMG EasternCaribbean, including the ManagingDirector.

Finally, the Government of Antiguaand Barbuda wishes to reiterate itsunwavering commitment to preservingthe stability of the domestic bankingsector, maintaining confidence in theECCU financial system, protecting theinterests of all who operate legitimatelywithin our financial space, and, above all,safeguarding the deposits of the peopleof Antigua and Barbuda.

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Fellow Citizens and Residents:

The General Election in Antigua andBarbuda is taking place in a globalenvironment of unprecedentedfinancial turbulence; and universaluncertainty.

As we pursue our varying paths topolitical office in this election season,it is possible for some to forget thatAntigua and Barbuda is connected to,and interdependent with, nations ofthe world, and the region, where theglobal financial meltdown is hittinghardest.

An early turnaround in thesecircumstances appears remote.

The California state government in theUSA, with a bigger budget and abigger economy than most of thenations of the world, is facingbankruptcy.

20,000 government workers inCalifornia are on the job loss list.

The failure of Trinidad and Tobago’sfar-flung CLICO-CL Financialconglomerate is a piercing wake-upcall for our country; as it is for othercountries of the Caribbean.

Breaking developments in the UnitedStates involving the Stanford Grouphave profound serious implications forAntigua and Barbuda.

By no stretch of political partisanshipshould this be seen as a matter forpolitical exploitation.

This is not a looming crisis.

The fallout threatens catastrophic andimmediate consequences.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bankis in touch with the Bank of Antiguaand the government and is currentlyputting in place a contingency plan.Therefore there is no need for panic. Ifever there was a reason, and a time

for the Antiguan and Barbudan peopleto pull together in solidarity, that timeis now.

Regrettably, immediately following thenews, today, of the US Securities andExchange Commission’s moveagainst Mr. Allen Stanford and hisassociates, the ALP candidates on theparty’s Hate Radio Station plungedrecklessly and foolishly into attemptsto make the Stanford matter a partisanpolitical cause.

It is imperative that all politicalaspirants and activists recognise thatcontinuing excesses at this time cancause untold damage to our country’sthreatened economic prospects.

This is quite apart from the wrongs thatmay be inflicted on victims of politicalmalice such as vandalism, slander,violence and arson.

This current scenario is particularlytroubling because arson in a pre-election period is not new to thiscountry.

A few months before the 1999 GeneralElection, Antigua was struck by aseries of fires.

The premises of Tim Hector’s Outletnewspaper were torched after thepaper reported that the thengovernment had secretly imported ashipment of grenades, launchers,ammunition, pistols, tear-gas guns,gas masks and other riot equipment.

Just days after that, a fire broke out atthe Ministry of Finance. Around thesame time, arsonists set fire to a stageerected for a UPP rally. Two monthsbefore the 1999 elections, firedestroyed the prison in St. John’s. Wecan take no comfort in any of this.Precisely because of the disposition toarson that has marked previouselections, the calls from the AntiguaChristian Council and the Police HighCommand for a violence free electionare quite timely, and quite important.

It is regrettable that in a statementbroadcast on Sunday, the leader of theOpposition party categorically rejectedthe Christian Council’s call for allelection candidates to sign a pledgeembodying a code of conduct for theelections.

The UPP candidates have nohesitation in committing to theChristian Council’s Code of Conduct.

I consider it critical that all publicfigures, and all others who have ourcountry at heart, should readilyendorse any initiative that can reducetensions and disruptions in theelection campaign.

In this context, the Government ofAntigua and Barbuda has beenfortunate in arranging a visit to Antiguathis week by the venerable Americancivil rights activist, Rev. Dr. JosephLowery.

Reverend Lowery will take part in aNational Interfaith Service at thePrecision Centre on Sunday, February

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GOVERNMENT OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDANational Broadcast

Prime Minister of Antigua and BarbudaHon. W. Baldwin Spencer

February 17, 2009

Honourable Baldwin SpencerPrime Minister of Antigua and

Barbuda

The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 131 - November/December 2009

22, at 4:00 p.m. I invite all to be in thecongregation at Sunday’s NationalInterfaith service.

Coming the month after thememorable benediction he deliveredat President Barack Obama’sInauguration, Dr. Lowery’s visit canpropel spiritual upliftment in ourcountry; and foster harmony in oursociety in this divisive election period.Ladies and Gentlemen:

Fellow Antiguans and Barbudans andResidents:

It is fitting to recall that the creation ofa new register of voters, and theintroduction of voter identificationcards, came only after theCommonwealth Secretariat’s call forelectoral reform after the 1999General Election.

To pre-empt the use of fear and acts ofpolitical malice in the election, and to

assist in ensuring that our GeneralElection will faithfully reflect the will ofthe Antiguan and Barbudan people, Ilong ago invited election observerteams from CARICOM, from theCommonwealth Secretariat, and fromthe Organisation of American States tobe early on the ground for the run upto the elections. Related to this, theDeputy Secretary General of the OAShas already visited Antigua. I amconfident that despite existingtensions, the General Election willproceed peacefully.

I am confident that the Royal AntiguaPolice Force will protect and serve usbetter than adequately.

I appeal to all in the society toparticipate fully and peacefully in theelectoral process.

Whatever happens on Election Day,we will all have to live, pray and work

together to overcome the dauntingchallenges facing our beloved country.The future of our country and the futureof generations yet unborn are in ourhands.

We have no option but to put asidepolitical differences and to cast asidepolitical extremists.

This is the framework in which we mustelect our next government.

In this regard, I have advised HerExcellency, the Governor General, toissue the Writ for a General Election tobe held in Antigua and Barbuda onThursday March 12th 2009.

Nomination Day will be February 25,2009.

May God guide us.

May God defend Antigua and Barbudain the face of all adversities.

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Eighth Meeting ofthe High-Level

Group onEducation for All

Oslo, NorwayThe High-Level Group meeting is anannual event that brings together top-level representatives fromgovernment, development agencies,UN agencies, civil society and theprivate sector. Its role is to reinforcepolitical will in order to accelerateprogress towards Education for All,strengthen partnerships, identifypriorities and mobilize more resources.

Against the backdrop of the financialcrisis, participants in this year’s EighthHigh-Level Group meeting (Oslo,Norway, 16 to 18 December) will putforth concrete recommendations thatfocus on four broad themes: the role ofeducation in meeting globalchallenges; equity and governance;teachers and financing education.

This High-Level Group meeting ishosted by UNESCO and theGovernment of Norway, and is the firsttime that the meeting takes place in adonor country, sending a powerfulsignal to the international community

on the urgent need for more sustainedand effective support to basiceducation.

According to the EFA GlobalMonitoring Report 2009 that willinform the meeting, persistentinequalities based on income andgender must urgently be addressed inorder to achieve EFA. Improvedgovernance, higher national spendingand increased international support tobasic education are keys to reachingthe most disadvantaged.

OSLO DECLARATION

“ACTING TOGETHER”

1. We, Ministers, leading officials ofmultilateral and bilateral agencies,senior representatives of civil societyand private sector organisations,gathered at the invitation of theDirector-General of UNESCO and ofthe Minister of Environment andInternational Development of Norway,in Oslo from 16 to 17 December, forthe Eighth Education for All (EFA)High-Level Group Meeting. We aredeeply grateful for the warmhospitality offered by the Norwegiangovernment.

2. This Eighth High-Level Groupmeeting takes place in the context ofa global economic slowdown spurred

by a financial crisis unprecedentedsince the 1930s. It will be imperative toprotect and insulate the world’spoorest children, youth and adultsfrom the worst effects of the crisis, asthey carry the least responsibility forthese events. The crisis should notserve as justification for any reductionin national spending and internationalaid to education. Instead, steadfastsupport for achieving theinternationally agreed developmentgoals, including the EFA andMillennium Development Goals(MDGs), is more vital than it wasbefore the crisis.

Reaffirming the centrality ofeducation for development

3. In this context, we reaffirm thateducation is a fundamental humanright, to be respected at all times. It isone of the most effective tools forachieving inclusive and sustainableeconomic growth and recovery,reducing poverty, hunger and childlabour, improving health, incomes andlivelihoods, for promoting peace,democracy and environmentalawareness. Education empowersindividuals with the knowledge, valuesand skills they need to make choicesand shape their future. Universalaccess to quality basic education andbetter learning outcomes are thedrivers to achieve the internationally

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agreed development goals, includingthe MDGs. As reaffirmed at theSeptember 2008 UN High-Level Event on the MDGs, sustained investment ineducation and health is essential forreaching the MDGs.

4. We therefore agree to better planand coordinate global advocacy effortsfor all six EFA goals. We task the EFAconvening agencies and interestedEFA partners to further develop a jointEFA advocacy plan of action andpresent its first results to the nextmeeting. We shall, for that purpose,welcome and work with all existinginitiatives, including the broad allianceof the “Class of 2015”.

5. Educational strategies need to beintegrated within broader anti-povertyand national development policyframeworks. The fact that childmalnutrition and ill health remain amajor obstacle to educational accessand achievement for the poorhighlights the intricate connectionsamong education, health and socialconditions. It underscores the need forstronger inter-sectoral policycoordination.

6. We accordingly request the EFAconvening agencies, to engage withrelevant UN agencies such as theWHO and the WFP as well asinterested EFA partners in order tobetter coordinate education, healthand nutrition initiatives in integratedprogrammes, targeting young childrenin poor communities in countries farfrom EFA. We commit to support suchinitiatives that should be countrydriven and backed by developmentpartners.

Making equity a priority ineducation: why governance matters

7. Since the World Education Forum in2000, many countries, including someof the poorest, have taken bold andcourageous actions, often supportedby the development partners, toimprove access to education.However, on present trends, 29 millionchildren will still have no access toprimary schooling in 2015. Wesubscribe to the conclusion of theInternational Conference on Education

held in November 2008 in Geneva thatinclusive quality education isfundamental to achieving human,social and economic development.Policies must therefore focus onreducing disparities based on gender,wealth, rural/urban and otherdifferences. To achieve greater equity,national governments and theirpartners must expand early childhoodcare and basic education; ensureaffordable learning opportunities atpost-primary levels and address adultliteracy needs.

8. Gender disparities are still deeplyentrenched in many countries andaffect both boys and girls. They areoften magnified by poverty and otherforms of social disadvantage. Girlsand women are disproportionatelyaffected by malnutrition, healthhazards and by gender-basedviolence including sexual harassment.Girls are especially disadvantaged incountries experiencing conditions offragility and during emergencies.Special measures are required toreach them and to promote anenabling learning environment.

9. Improving learning outcomes for allstudents is an imperative. To this endinterested national governments mustbe supported to develop indicatorsand contextualized instruments andstandards of quality for assessmentand monitoring and invest in qualityinputs and processes.

10. Governance reforms in favour ofdecentralization and the introductionof greater choice and competition ineducational provision must carryappropriate safeguards againstpossible inequitable effects on thepoor and excluded.

11. Capacity concerns are acute incountries experiencing conditions offragility. In such circumstances thedevelopment of individual,organizational and institutionalcapacities is of utmost importance forstrengthening weak governmentstructures and state legitimacy.Development partners should usemore flexible, timely and innovativemechanisms such as the proposedEFA-Fast Track Initiative (FTI)

“Education Transition Fund” to respond

to high-risk situations, in line withcountry-led approaches.

12. We call upon EFA partners tosupport national commitments toeducational equity, both with regardsto access, attendance and to learningprocesses and outcomes. This shouldinclude the development of well-defined and gender-sensitive targetsto measure equity, as well asindicators and monitoring tools to thisend. Joint knowledge and data sharingon equity in education should besupported by the EFA partners, led bythe convening agencies, to helpensure capacity building and improvedpolicy development, planning andimplementation.

Increasing financing and targetingthe most in need

13. In a majority of countries, progresstowards EFA since 2000 has benefitedfrom a commendable effort to increaseboth national public funding and aid tobasic education. However the recentstagnation in aid commitments and thecut in the share of national incomedevoted to education in somecountries are causes for seriousconcern. The global economicslowdown could aggravate this trend.If development partners were simply tofulfil their previous pledges, it wouldlead to a sharp increase in financingfor developing countries, which wouldin turn mitigate the impact of the globalfinancial crisis.

14. National governments anddevelopment partners must increasefinancing of policies and programmesthat promote the inclusion of allchildren and improve learningoutcomes for all. To this end, fee-freeprimary schooling should beimplemented as a basic right. In linewith the Accra Agenda for Action’s callfor aid effectiveness, nationalgovernments and developmentpartners should allocate educationalfunding where it is most needed andensure that it is more efficiently andeffectively used. Development aidshould be targeted at countriesfurthest from the EFA goals and inparticular to those experiencingconditions of fragility or receivinglimited external support. Furthermore,funds should reach the most

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Government ReceivesCARICOM Guidelineson Early Childhood

DevelopmentServices

On the 11th February 2009 theMinistry of Education received fromCARICOM the regional guidelines fordeveloping policy, regulation andstandards in early childhooddevelopment services.

The guidelines in booklet form, is thefirst of its kind created by theCARICOM Secretariat, and seek toalign and standardize early childhooddevelopment services throughout thecommunity.

During a brief presentation ceremonyCARICOM’s representative Patricia

McPherson said the guidelines weredeveloped in Antigua in 2006, and isan attempt to bring harmonization inthe early childhood sector in the region.

With the free movement of peoplebeing promoted, the guidelines arecritical so as to prevent a compromisein education she noted, adding that theguidelines, which will be used to shapethe national policy in individualcountries, are not an imposition, butwere compiled to help build capacity.Permanent Secretary in the Ministry ofEducation Eden Weston accepted thebooklets on behalf of the government.

In his remarks, he said the guidelinescome at an opportune time when earlychildhood is being mainstreamed, andminimum standards as they relate toearly childhood education are beingimplemented.

Chief Education Officer JacinthaPringle told representatives of the

World Bank, UNESCO, and UNICEFpresent at the handing over ceremonythat compiling the guidelines was amajor undertaking, but noted that withthis latest addition to the process ofadvancing early childhooddevelopment, “quality” all the way willbe the watch word.

The publication is supported byUNICEF and UNESCO, and includesmanagement and administrativerequirements for early childhood,developing the policy framework, andelements of the policy frameworkamong other topics.

CARICOM’s Director of HumanDevelopment Myrna Bernard saysfuture guidelines to be developed bythe CARICOM Secretariat will addresskey areas of implementation ofnational standards, governance andinvestment in the development of ECDservices.

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disadvantaged groups within thesecountries. We accordingly take note ofthe December 2008 Statement fromthe High-Level Event on FinancingEducation in Conflict Affected Areasheld in Doha, Qatar, calling for priorityto be placed on providing andprotecting education in thesecircumstances. To target those ingreatest need, existing financingmechanisms and other innovativeapproaches should be tapped drawingon civil society and the private sector.

15. We urgently call on nationalgovernments to allocate adequatedomestic resources (4-6% of GNP /15-20% of public expenditure) toeducation, on development partners toincrease official developmentassistance in accordance with theDoha declaration and on all EFApartners to prioritise investment inbasic education within a balancedapproach to the whole sector. Wefurther urge the development partnersto deliver on past commitments andensure the timely flow of adequateresources through various bilateraland multilateral aid channels includingFTI Trust Funds, through which theyassist the most EFA challengedcountries. In countries making

progress towards EFA we call ongovernments and the developmentpartners to better target those stillexcluded from education.Recruiting, training, deploying andretaining teachers

16. Without adequate numbers ofprofessionally qualified teachers,including female teachers, who aredeployed in the right places, well-remunerated and motivated,adequately supported, and proficientin local languages, we cannot offer theworld’s children quality education.

17. Globally 18 million new primaryteachers will be needed in the next 7years just to achieve universal primaryeducation. National governmentsmust strike a balance between theshort-term need to get teachers intoclassrooms and the longer term goalof building up a high-qualityprofessional teaching force.

Addressing the teacher gap requirescountry driven long-term strategiesand firm commitments. Policies mustencompass attention to professionaldevelopment opportunities, adequateemployment and teaching conditionsand greater participation of teachers indecision-making via social dialogue.

18. We urge national governments,with appropriate technical support tomap out their short and medium-termneeds for recruitment, deployment,training and retention of teachers. Wecall upon development partners tosupport national efforts in this area,working with governments, regionalbodies, civil society and teacherorganizations, to identify and meet theneeds specified, and providepredictable support to cover theassociated costs.

19. We endorse the creation of aninternational Task Force on ‘Teachersfor EFA’; a voluntary global alliance ofEFA partners working together toaddress the ‘teacher gap’. We invitethe Task Force to further develop theproposals contained in its Action Plan,based on the principles of nationalownership, and to report to the nextHigh-Level Group meeting. To thatend, it shall explore the possibilities forSouth-South and North-South-Southcooperation in relation to teachers,including the E-9 Bali declaration.Moreover, the Task Force shall focusparticularly on those countries furthestaway from reaching the EFA goalsand those with the largest teachergaps. We agree to set up a secretariat,supported by willing partners, to assistthe Task Force.


The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 131 - January/January 2009


referral system between primaryhealth care and specialist care toencourage appropriate and timely careand to reduce unnecessary queuingfor specialist care at the hospital.

Again, by establishing a commonelectronic health record system, thiswould greatly enhance medicalrecords storage, health care qualityand continuity of care across multi-disciplinary healthcare providers.

This would also assist continuousmonitoring of epidemiological changesin disease patterns and healthcareoutcomes.

Further, this would allow for betterplanning for future healthcareresources and facilities.

In essence, we contend that wherethere is a single hospital in a smallcommunity such as ours, that hospitalmust work cooperatively with otherhealth institutions through forward andbackward linkages, to bring the best inknowledge and care to the people.

And we hope to do this by bringing allhands on board; the doctors, theadministrators, the nurses, and theancillary staff; even as we solicit thegoodwill of the population in this quest.Ladies and gentlemen, the Mount St.John’s Medical Centre will be guidedby certain core values of dedication,integrity, excellence, health andvitality, wisdom and success.

Our caregivers are deeply consciousthat these values can only be achievedby unwavering devotion to the needsof our population, by nurturing trustand respect, by enhancing teamworkand communication, by ensuring equalopportunity and by transparency andprofessionalism.

The core functions will be thedelivery of quality secondary andtertiary services optimally configuredto provide equitable access to efficient,high quality and cost effective care inan affordable and efficient manner,and to provide a training platform forall of its health professionals.

It will not be lost on you, Ladies andGentlemen, that upon the

commissioning of the hospital anumber of benefits, real and potentialwill flow. A number of these readilycome to mind.

The brain drain from Antigua,especially of some of our well trainedand qualified nurses is likely tosubside.

The reason usually given for suchmigration is the issue of pay. However,research suggests that workingconditions is a more important factorthan pay; and in many cases, is aneven more critical reason forleaving. We are therefore of the viewthat the very excellent conditions Ianticipate at MSJMC may welldampen the desire to leave Antigua forless welcoming climes.

It is reasonable to assume that we will,over time, see an improvement in thelevel of service with the acquisition ofmore diagnostic equipment and theassistance of IT applications ineveryday caring procedures.

A number of highly trained Antiguanprofessionals living and practisingabroad, as well as other accomplishedCaribbean nationals, have expressedinterest joining Mt. St. John’s

Indeed MSJMC has already been ableto recruit a number of nationals whohave demonstrated excellence in theirpractices in hospitals in the USA andin the UK.

These additions to the existingprofessional teams, together withmodern diagnostic and treatment toolsand modalities, will reduce the needfor Antiguans and Barbudans to seekmedical treatment abroad.

With the introduction of effective andefficient forward and backwardlinkages between the levels of patientcare, primary, secondary, and tertiary,it is anticipated that the overallresources (much of which are housedat the hospital level) will be bettermanaged and utilised.

In this way, the new MSJMC will beused to its fullest as it seeks to supportcommunity units, nationwide.

Ladies and Gentlemen, that we havecome this far at this time, as I have

said before, is due to a finecollaborative effort by all stakeholders.But pulling all of this together,providing timely advice where needed,and keeping track of commitments anddeadlines and critical paths tocompletion, have been members ofthe MSJMC Board of Directors underthe Chairmanship of Mr. CottrilleGeorge. Accordingly I would like tothank Mr. George and all the membersof the Board for their leadership, hardwork and dedication.

I would also like to thank the Staff ofthe American Hospital ManagementCompany (AHMC) and their localadministrative staff who havemaintained their professionalism andcommitment to service during thesechanging times.

Of equal importance, I would like toexpress my appreciation to theDoctors, Administrators, Nurses,Allied Professionals and other staff atHolberton who have demonstratedtheir goodwill in fostering aharmonious atmosphere even in theface of understandable apprehensionthat inevitably accompanies change. Itwould be an injustice if the contributionof Minister of Health John Maginley inbringing this project to fruition was notplaced on public record.

This Minister deserves much credit forthe successful completion of Mt. St.John’s Medical Centre.

Ladies and Gentlemen;

In concluding, I challenge the Boardand the professional staff of Mt. St.John’s Medical Centre to add to theirobligations a responsibility for publiceducation programmes promotinghealthy lifestyles and vigilance inprotecting their health.

With this, and with the efficacy of carethat this institution will deliver, localdemand will be contained, and aimedat reducing the need local demand,and Mt. St. John Medical Centre canthen become the hospital of theEastern Caribbean countries.

I pray God’s blessings on all who workand are given care here.

May God Bless our nation.

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The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 131 January/February 2009

Draft organizationalstructure for Ministry

of Educationexamined at retreat

A two-day management retreat wasconvened on 19th January at theHospitality and Training Institute toreview the draft organizationalstructure of the Ministry of Education.

Facilitated by management consultantDr. Aubrey Armstrong, the retreatbrought together senior educators andplanners who discussed the proposedstructure, which was drafted toposition the Ministry to deal with therapidly changing global environment.

Among the objectives of the retreatwas to:

- Re-examine the changingenvironment in which the Ministryoperates

- Review and finalize the agreedorganization structure, and ensure keyparticipants - Understand their respectiveroles and

- Agree on the finalized structure.

Dr. Armstrong said a proper structureis crucial if the Ministry of Education is

to meet the demands of things takingplace in the environment, adding thatthere are new areas beingemphasized within the document, onebeing information technology.

“We are discussing how informationand communication technology couldbe used to enhance education in theregion. Also, we’re looking at howstudents can make maximum use ofthe new tool, and so we’ll beexpanding the structure with respect tothe information and communicationtechnology and knowledgemanagement elements.”

Another critical element Dr. AubreyArmstrong pointed out was supportand guidance to students, outliningthat “we have to remove the classbasis of the educational system, andmake sure it is not about where we arefrom, but rather where we are going.”

“Students who are being stressed athome need to be given support, so thecounselling and mentoring aspects ofthe support system must be examinedcarefully.”

The next phase of the organizationalstructure is its implementation, whichEducation Minister Bertrand Josephsaid should be ready sometime in 2010.

“I believe we will see arecommendation this year. What willhappen is it will have to go to Cabinetfor ratification once we have made a

decision on it. I expect it will go toCabinet during the course of this yearso it can be incorporated into thebudgetary proposals for 2010. Isuspect we will have a fullimplementation by 2010” he added.

Minister Joseph pointed out that thereview of the organizational structureis just part of the basic educationproject dealing with educationalservices. He revealed that the neworganizational structure will be amanifestation of what is happening atthe local, regional and global levels,especially in the transformation of theinformation age.

A new unit will be created within theMinistry of Education, the knowledgemanagement unit. The unit willincorporate technology into theplanning structure of the Ministry.Education Management InformationSystem (EMIS) and the EducationMedia Unit (EMU) will also be included.

Research along with testing andmeasurements will also bestrengthened to boost the newmanagement structure.

“One of the key elements in the deliveryof educational services is the overallmanagement structure, ensuring thereis a cadre of workers within theMinistry of Education who are properlytrained and strategically placed” theMinister said.

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Young manarrested andcharged inAustralian

murderOn 30 January, 2009, a 21 yearresident of Potters, Sylvester Lindsey(Born 18th September 1987) wasarrested and charged for the murderof Drew Joseph Gollan of Australia

which occurred in English Harbour onthe 22nd January, 2009. The individualhas been brought before the Court onfor the homicide. A pistol has beenseized which is believed was involvedin the offence.

Three other persons were detained inrelation to the murder. Investigation iscontinuing and we will further advise ifmore charges are to be laid.

The success of the investigation wasdue to a team effort between thePolice and Public. The Homicide andIntelligence Units of the Royal Police

Force of Antigua and Barbuda with theassistance of Crime Stoppers, themedia and the general public pulledtogether to help solve the case.

Numerous tips were received frommembers of the public to assist thepolice. It demonstrates that the level ofcooperation between the police andpublic is increasing.

The Royal Police Force of Antigua andBarbuda, thanked all who assisted insolving this crime.


Presentation to theAntigua and BarbudaNational Association

(London)8th February 2009

H. E Dr Carl B RobertsHigh Commissioner

A very good evening to one and all onthis special day of our Lord and Saviour,Jesus Christ. Greetings from my wifeand family and from the general citizensof our beloved homeland. I have beenasked to address you this evening onseveral areas of concern by members ofthis association and I trust you will alsoallow me to raise some concerns that Ihave.

Let me, in addressing a few of yourconcerns in the time allowed to me;provide some information about thesituation in Antigua and Barbuda whichsome of you, but not all, might havebeen made aware of through yourvarious channels.

The 2009 New Year brought into focusthe dire state of the world’s economywith devastating news bites being airedalmost on a daily basis. Economiesaround the world are in a tail spin. Manyof you will have been following the lossof jobs in the UK, the failure of several ofthe country’s long standing business andfinancial institutions. The names of thesefailed or failing institutions, which wereonce viewed as solid pillars of thiseconomy, will numb our minds and bringshudders to our bodies. Thisphenomenon is not limited to the UK.Similar events are happening in the USA,Japan, and many other developedcountries around the world.

The situation in Antigua and Barbuda isnot as dire as might have been expected,but that is no consolation. It could just bean issue of timing. The Government hashowever begun a programme ofstrategic and tailored activities toprevent the worst effects from impactingour economy. Some hotels have beenforced to reduce costs either byintroducing reduced hours working forstaff or even laying off staff. Minister ofTourism and Aviation, the Hon. HaroldLovell is reported as saying that the

United Progressive Partyand the Ministry of SocialTransformation, underthe Hon. Hilson Baptistewould be putting anumber of initiatives inplace to ensure that foodi kept on the tables of theunemployed.

Among these initiativeswould be a programmewhere individuals whohad lost their jobs withinthe tourism industrywould receive a stipendamong other provisions.Although the funds werenot allocated in the 2009budget for theUnemployment Benefit Programme,Minister of Finance Dr Errol Cort saysthat the $81 million loan that wasacquired to buffer the budget could beused to carry out such programmes.

The government must be complimentedfor its efforts to maintain the socialtransformation and developmentprogrammes it had in the pipe line. Chiefamongst these is the continuedprogramme of enhancing the healthcareservice being provided to the citizens ofthe country. At the opening anddedication of the latest Health Centre atFive Island, the Prime Minister had thisto say: “..My Government is committedto providing the best possible healthcareto the citizens of this country. Not onlyare we ensuring that we have anadequate community healthcare deliverysystem, but we have moved to completethe Mount St. John Medical Centre toprovide healthcare of an internationalstandard to our citizens.”

The PM went on the say that “.. in justunder four years, [we] have taken theMount St. John Medical Centre from anempty shell that the Antigua LabourParty Government had left andconverted it into a modern facility with185 beds that will provide full inpatient,diagnostic and physician services..” TheMedical Centre is expected to beopened shortly.

The spotlight of development has notonly been focused on Antigua. InBarbuda much work continues to bedone. Earlier in the New Year, theCentral Government of Antigua andBarbuda and Japan signed off on ahistoric agreement to construct a newFisheries Complex on Barbuda to the

tune of US $5 million. The project isbeing funded under the Japanese GrantAid Scheme, which provides a recipientcountry with non-reimbursable funds toprocure the facilities, equipment andservices for economic and socialdevelopment. MP Trevor Walker said itall with this statement; “…Barbudans arelooking forward to the project, as it willbenefit them all greatly; at present, theydo not have any proper facility on thesister isle for fishermen to carry out theirdaily work...” The Barbuda roadprogramme should have re-started andsignificant work has also been done onthe water and electricity services.

Two years ago, the Antigua and BarbudaInvestment Authority was establishedthrough legislation. They have been veryactive in supporting the concept of “One-stop” assistance. Investors from the UKand elsewhere are invited to review thewebsite which provided details of theincentives and other benefits offered byGovernment to those willing to dobusiness in our homeland. The HighCommission in the UK continues topromote Antigua and Barbuda as apromising investment destination andhas held discussions with severalpotential partners who have taken upthis offer. Unfortunately a Trade andInvestment Seminar which was plannedfor 2008 had to be postponed and is dueto be held later this year.

Unfortunately many social problemsaccompany a downturn in an economyand governments take actions whichhave far reaching consequences notonly locally but across the waters of theoceans. Here I refer to the repatriation ofseveral Caribbean Nationals who,having learnt a reputation for criminal

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His Excellency Dr Carl Roberts seated with members of theExecutive of the Antigua and Barbuda National Association -

London as he addresses members


activities, carry these acquired skills toour shores. The upsurge in violentcrimes, and murder at home, is a veryserious matter and a issue of greatconcern. The impact of the recentmurders last year and this year, hasbeen somewhat limited by the action ofa re-invigorated and re-equippedAntigua and Barbuda Police Force.Having cleared off long outstanding debtto many institutions, the force in nowable to call upon and benefit from theassistance of such partners as Interpol.Within a short period suspects havebeen caught and are now going throughthe legal system for each of the crimescommitted this year. The new radiosystem and other resources are payingoff.

Let me now turn my attention to the UKand the activities of the HighCommission. Over the last twelvemonths a number of our nationals havebeen denied entry into this country. Weran an article in the May/June issue ofour Newsletter (#127) which provideddetails of the new immigration guidelineof the UK Government. This was thoughtnecessary since quite recently several ofour nationals have been turned back atthe borders and denied entry into theUnited Kingdom.

The new Points Based System (PBS) isthe most radical rework of the Britishimmigration system in a long time,actually for 45 years. To quote frominformation provided to the HighCommission, this revision “revisesaround 80 previous entry routes to theUnited Kingdom into a five-tier structure.It is also stated that “for all those usingthe system, the PBS is fairer and simplerto use than the routes it replaces”.

The five tiers are as follows:· Tier 1 – highly skilled workers,

for example scientists andentrepreneurs;

· Tier 2 – skilled workers with ajob offer, for example teachersand nurses;

· Tier 3 – low skilled workersfilling specific temporary labourshortages, for exampleconstruction workers for aparticular project;

· Tier 4 – students;

· Tier 5 – youth mobility andtemporary workers, for examplemusicians coming to play in aconcert.

Tiers 1, 2 and 5 are now open and havebeen since 2008. Tier 3 is currentlysuspended and tier 4 is beingimplemented in a phased manner. [T1 –29/02/08, T2 – 27/11/08, T5 – 27/11/08].There is ongoing consultation witheducation institutions on T4 and we areawaiting further policy information on this.

Under this new arrangement citizens ofAntigua and Barbuda who desire to visitthe UK are classified into one of severalcategories. This does not apply to thoseof you who have applied for and beinggranted citizenship in this country whenit was offered some time ago. Thecategories are:-

1. General visitor

2. Child visitor

3. Business and special visitor

4. Private Medical treatment

5. Studying in the UK

6. Working in the UK

7. Transiting the UK

As Antigua and Barbuda is a non-visacountry, our citizens can visit the UK fora period of up to six months. Theyhowever must provide clear indication ofseveral details relevant to their stay inthe country. Apart from the informationrequired to complete the landing card,each visitor must clearly show thathe/she will return to their homeland, thatthere is enough money to cover theirstay in the country and a clearunambiguous address where they will bestaying.

To come to the United Kingdom as ageneral visitor you must be able to showthat you:

· only want to visit the UnitedKingdom for up to six months;

· plan to leave the UnitedKingdom at the end of your visit;

· have enough money to supportand accommodate yourselfwithout working, help frompublic funds or you will be

supported and accommodatedby relatives or friends;

· do not intend to chargemembers of the public forservices provided or goodsreceived;

· do not intend to study; and

· can meet the cost of the returnor onward journey.

· do not intend to carry outbusiness, sport or entertainervisitor activities;

· do not intend to marry or form acivil partnership or give notice ofmarriage or civil partnership;

· do not intend to receive privatemedical treatment during yourvisit , and

· are not in-transit to a countryoutside the Common TravelArea.

If you want to do business during yourvisit you also have to show that you:

· normally live and work abroadand you have no plans to baseyourself in the United Kingdom;and

· do not plan to work, producegoods or provide services in theUnited Kingdom.

Let me now touch on somethingwhich may affect those of you whohave been resident here forsometime without taking up thecitizenship offer. You may beconsidered a resident. A resident isanyone who has been givenpermission to stay in the UnitedKingdom without time limit. Areturning resident is one who left theUnited Kingdom and wants to comeback to live here again. This couldbe accommodated under thefollowing conditions:-

· If you were settled in the UnitedKingdom when you last left, youhave not been away for morethan two years, and arereturning to live herepermanently, you may return asa resident unless you weregiven public funds to pay thecosts of leaving the UnitedKingdom.

· If you have been away for morethan two years, you may stillqualify to return to live in the

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Continue on page 20

The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 131 January/February 2009

20

United Kingdom if, for example,you have strong family ties hereor have lived here most of yourlife.

· If you have been away for morethan two years, you must applyfor permission to return, knownas entry clearance. You shoulddo this at the British diplomaticpost in the country where youlive now. The entry clearancewill be in the form of a visa orentry clearance certificate. For

information about visas, see thevisa services website.

I have given you much information on awide set of issues. I have no doubt thatthe most prominent issue on your mindsis the upcoming elections in Antigua andBarbuda. That is also the case for me. Ican advise you of one crystal clear fact,that is the date of the next election hasnot been released by the Prime Ministeras of this time of speaking. He intends todo so shortly and as soon as he does,we will all be guided by the subsequentevents. I trust that the period of

campaigning leading up to the electionwill be free from violence and that theelection process will be free and fair.

Mr. Chairman, I believe that I havespoken for long enough. I want to leavesome time for questions so that wherepossible answers can be provided. I takethis opportunity to wish each andeveryone here present, God’s Blessingand safety in their homes. I wish the bestfor our beloved nation as it rides out thiscrisis and pray for continued goodfortune on all its citizens and residences.

Archaeologistsunearth remains ofthe ‘Great House’ at

Betty’s HopeThe ‘great house’ at Antigua’s first andlargest sugar plantation, Betty’s Hope,continues to be unearthed, asarchaeologists from the United States ofAmerica, over the past month, havebeen excavating some of the building’sderelict foundations.

The project’s director, Dr Georgia Foxfrom the Department of Anthropology atCalifornia State University, Chico, alongwith 16 students, have been excavatingthe building’s foundation, which,according to Dr Reginald Murphy, headof Antigua’s Archaeological andHistorical Society, are at least 60 feetlong and 30 feet wide.

Governor Christopher Keynell, whosewidow inherited the estate upon hisdeath in 1663, founded Betty’s HopePlantation in 1651. His widow, however,was forced to flee Antigua during theFrench occupation in 1666.

When the British reoccupied Antigua,Parliament annulled all land claims ofthose who had fled or been disloyal tothe Crown prior to the French occupationand in 1674 Betty’s Hope was granted tothe Codrington family, then residing inBarbados.

The estate remained under theownership of the Codrington family until1944, when the family sold Betty’s Hopeto Antigua Sugar Estates Ltd. While noone is sure as to what actually happenedto the ‘great house’, there is talk that afire destroyed it. Dr Murphy also said,there is talk that the house was

bulldozed during the Second WorldWar in order to use materials for otherthings, such as the rectory in NewWinthropes, which is made fromBetty’s Hope stone. Dr Murphy saidthe building’s foundation was firstdiscovered last year, “We went tosee what was left of it because wewere always led to believe that it wasbulldozed. Last year we found thatthe cobbled-stone courtyard wasmore or less still there, and we wentfurther in the bush and found a partwith a section of the wall. Werealized there was something there,

“Dr Murphy said. “This year they areexpanding inwards into the house tosee what’s left of the actual house.”According to the archaeologists, itseems like the whole ground floor isstill there.

So far an array of artefacts have alsobeen found at the site, including musketballs, pieces of ceramic, buttons madefrom bone and shell, a thimble, hardware,broken glass and bottles, animal bone,and children’s toys. “We found theinterior floor of a room, but we don’tknow what the rooms’ function was,because it’s underneath the dirt and wewon’t be able to start excavating it untilnext year,” Dr Fox said. Speaking of oneof their most exciting finds, he said, “It’sall floor tiles, red clay tiles.”

The archaeological team, which hasbeen there since June 21, wraps up thisweek and will resume excavations nextyear. Dr Fox pointed out there are anumber of reasons for excavating thesite, the first being they know so littleabout it. Secondly, the plantation whichoperated continuously for almost 300years, pre-and post-emancipation, has alarge paper trail, “so that makes it a goodcase study.” She added: “It was alsothe seat of government for two years forthe British and (we’re) looking at the

plantation from the point of view of howit operated on all different technologicaland economic levels, the daily lives ofthe people that lived here, the plantationowners and everybody in between. “Thebottom line, most archaeologists areanthropologists and what we areinterested in is human dynamics and theheart of it all, what were people doing intheir daily lives, and also to contribute tohelping understand the history,” Dr Foxsaid.

The project director said in the futurethey would really like to build “a muchmore fully developed museum. There ismuch potential here, and you know inthe Caribbean tourism play a very bigrole in the economy. Cultural tourism isdefinitely very popular now,” Dr Fox said.

Betty’s Hope is considered by the UnitedNations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organisation (UNESCO) as aWorld Heritage Site.

(Source: Museum of Antigua and Barbuda -Newsletter # 103)

A team excavating the great house at Betty’sHope. The pipe protruding from the ground to

your right is one of the original pipesremaining from the house

prime minister spencer completes successful tenure as

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