[IdeasTalk] Antigua Labour Party Dismal Failure
Kwame Nkosi Romeo
The Gaming Industry and Employment:
Antigua Online Economic Gambling Data absolute facts as regards the gaming industry is unquestionable, information from employment to licensees are sufficiently explicit to clarify all employment inaccuracy.[1]
The propaganda byAntigua Labour Party [ALP] political operatives that 3,000 people were employed in the gaming industry is untrustworthy. Because the reduction in employment from 2004 was not as gloomy as 2000 to 2003 when 1,469 people lost their jobs under the former ALP administration!
In addition in 2001 the unemployment rate was 11% . So, comparison should not be the distant past of the PLM era, but decades later under the ALP. [2]
Inflation:
Additionally under the former ALP administration, the rate of inflation was 3.3 in 1998 as pronounced by former PM Lester Bird in his budget speech on Wednesday, March 21 2001:
"Inflation in Antigua and Barbuda, as measured by the consumer price index, fell from a period average of 3.3 in 1998..."
Consequently, several years later, the consumer price index increased in Antigua, as in other Caribbean and developing countries facing a global crisis in 2004; and logical too in the U.S.
U.S.consumer price index (CPI) moved from 133.8 in 1990 to 201.8 in 2006 and today the CPI is 211.693, with an inflation rate of 4.03. Therefore if the U.S. basket of goods cost increase, the basket of goods would obviously increase in Antigua and Barbuda since oil drives trade; and all Caribbean countries are net food importers.
However, under the former ALP administration politicians were playing Desert Storm with the economy and the future was gloomy.
A Grim Outlook:
Remember, after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded article 1V consultation with Antigua and Barbuda on March 07, 2001, the IMF stated emphatically:
"Real GDP growth is estimated to have slowed to 3.5% in 2000 owing to weakness in the tourism sector"
And the grim reality of Antigua and Barbuda's fiscal deficit was terrifying. Our financial debt was the acceleration of our demise:
"Fiscal deficit rose to 9.4% of the GDP in 1999 from 5% in 1998. And in 2000 the Central Governmen's overall deficit is estimated to rise to 12% of the GDP"
Plus the offshore banking sector suffered a drastic reduction from 58 in 1997 to 22 in 2001, mostly due to a U.S. financial advisory imposed on Antigua and Barbuda in April 1999 and lifted on Monday July 16, 2001!
Realising Antigua and Barbuda government's inability to service its debt obligation, the directors of the IMF urged the government:
"To become current on its obligation to social security system, to avoid incurring arrears again, and to put the system on an actuarially sound basis"
From the problem of salary arrears of puiblic servants, to a never-ending crisis of the debt burden, money was scarcity. And as tourism weakened, the ALP incompetence was pellucid.
The Tourism Industry:
Within the period 1999 to 2001 Antigua tourism was weakened. Although World Tourism grew by an estimated 7.4% in 2000, the highest growth rate in nearly a decade, an almost double the increase in 1999, Antigua and Barbuda tourism was not progressive!
A minimum increase in 1999 and its downward trend was foreboding in 2000. It was inescapable that 2001 would not be as dreadful. The year 2001 had the lowest figures within a six month period from since 1996, and the lowest yearly figures in a decade.
A review of the arrival figure requires prudence, since prior to September 11, 2001, Antigua and Barbuda figures were dismal exposing former PM Lester Bird falsehood that the tragedy of September 11, 2001 was foremost responsible for Antigua and Barbuda dilemma.
With the exception of January 2001 (19,212 visitors), all other months leading up to August 2001 represented ALPs failure, a decline of 5.2% prior to the disastrous event of September 11, 2001. Had 9/11 not intervened, what would be Lester Bird smokescreen?
And to escape financial hell, former PM Lester Bird decide to play the devil with Antigua and Barbuda public assets, he would use it to finance the deficit.
Financing The Deficit:
As far back as 1988 it was documented that the 135-room Halcyon Cove Resort and Casino and Royal Antiguan Hotel would be sold [3] .And reiterated in his Budget Statement on Monday March 31 2003 - Financing the Deficit ,as he relate Antigua and Barbuda government s intention to follow the IMF policy to privatize public assets in order to reduce the excessive recurrent expenditure: [4]
"The government intends to finance the deficit by actively pursuing a policy of privatization of publicly held assets. Assets that have been earmarked for sale include the Royal Antiguan Hotel,Newport Holdings and West Indies Oil Company ltd"
And in his concluding remarks on April 11, 2003 in reference to the 2003 Budget ,was the selling of Halfmoon Bay Hotel [5], however, the questionable ownership of WIOC and Newport Holdings is still controversial.
Because Bruce Rappaport renege on his investment and was still able to own the WIOC. But investigations identified the under-hand 'sale' of 25% that ensured ownership switched from Antigua and Barbuda to Bruce Rapapport owning 75% an Antigua and Barbuda 25% ,with the treasury collecting zero!
The people of Antigua and Barbuda should always ensure that public assets are not sold to the financial stars, otherwsie Antigua lands will be in the hands of financial pirates!
The Sale Of Antigua Masonry Products and The Royal Antiguan Hotel:
Both deals never served the interest of the people, only enriched a few and that should never be allowed. Why should prized public assets be sold for pennies? There was silence by the opposition beacuse they too represent the IMF policy of privitisating public assets.
The power does not belong to the UPP or ALP, the people control that power and if we demand changes in government policy, no politician can sell our assets for $1 . We are soldiers of our country and guardian of its assets!
For this reason President Hugo Chavez manages the resources of Venezuela that benefits that country's development. The advent of PetroCaribe, promoting ALBA as an alternative, strengthening Social Programme in the Americas to assist developing countries; and even the developed U.S.A.
If we just continue to be workers, while the commanding heights of our economy is controlled by foreign companies, we will be enslaved again and there will never be any benefit for the people.
It is time that politicians wake up, and rather than privatize, invest in the economy. Caribbean politician should be thinking about running their own undersea Cable and establish their own telephone network. There are companies such as Seacom: http://www.seacom.mu/news/news_details.asp?iID=53 that can undertake that venture. So why do we continue the give-away policy : from beach lands to continuous concessions and our independnece!
And for standing up for your rights and belief you are under the scrutiny of McCarthyism or Post-9/11. So some countries are classified as terrorist and there is close to one million people on America's watch list!
Terror State
Is it only now Antigua is identified, and if so, why? Some people celebrate that Antigua is now on a so called watch list. Was Antigua a terrorist state when Outlet printery was bombed, Tim Hector's wife murdered, Mansoor building fire-bombed continuously?
Was Antigua a threat to U.S. internal security or to our security!
From McCarthyism to Post-9/11, from blacklist to watch list, there is no difference.[6] Many times small vulnerable countries suffer the consequences after fighting a battle: Antigua vs the U.S. gambling issue!
Was Antigua not blacklisted from April 1999 to July 16, 2001? Was Antigua a terrorist state because it was non-cooperative, and how did the Financial Action Task Force perceive Antigua during that era?
Did the U.S. not perceive that the same financial capability that funds terrorism has its genesis in money laundering! Antigua is a small vulnerable country, whereas the U.S. influence Canada to be taken off the that country's Torture list, Antigua does not possess that power.
So why should Antigua association with Venezuela be viewed as a threat! Should we be victimized by the U.S. because we have diplomatic relation with Cuba, Venezuela, China etc.
Victimization
But the nature of politics is to victimize; and it is a dreadful policy particularly in Antigua and Barbuda. From ordinary employees of Public Works during the late 60s to Tim Hector,Lloydston Jacobs, Lestroy Merchant all suffered because of their political views, and the jailing of former Premier George H Walter was by the dictates of political power!
One of the earliest case of mass victimization was the dismissal of Halcyon Cove Hotel workers in February 1976 by the former ALP administration, because the workers supported the Antigua Workers Union (AWU). The filing - United Kingdom (Case No. 857) The Antigua Workers Union 01 July 1976 of a complaint against the Antigua government.
Additionally, United Kingdom (Case No.920) Report No. 197 16 January 1979, the imprisonment,transfer and subsequent dismissal of Juno Samuel, President of the Antigua Union of Teachers (AUT) and seven (7) more teachers was dismissed in the public interest without compensation.
During the teachers demonstration, the riot squad came and some of the most noxious tear gas was used, it burnt your eyes and scorched your throat. A closer examination of the cannister had the sinister lettering of S.R.C.. - Space Research Corporation.
Educational System:
The of era of struggle was still alive, a new revolution had begun, and Tim Hector and Antigua Caribbean Liberation Movement was at the forefront of that struggle.
But Antigua and Barbuda educational system was not keeping pace with the changing times an it was ultimately highlighted in a UNESCO report:[ The EFA 2000 Assessment Country Reports Antigua and Barbuda]
"If we focus on the years 1995 to 1999, however, we will notice that that for three of the five years the overall pass rate hovered around the upper mark of 60%, but that there was a significant drop in 1996 to 50% and in 1999, this year to 45% " [7]
From 1991 to 1997 out of 17 countries Antigua average for English passes in CXC - Antigua rank 6 average 48.53%; and for Mathametics rank 13 an average of 32.47% [8] [9].
And to correct that failure ' The O.E.C.S. Towards A New Agenda for Growth ' April 7, 2005 identified the serious issue of education, remedial action and "the formulation of a long term vision" that will strengthen and sustain the education system to combat the fiscal challenges of the global market:[10]
"While none of these challenges is insurmountable, all will require political leadership and strong national support"
What will the election produce this time around, all politicians are working on the voters minds, but it should be based on issues and not narrow minded politics,
Some may use'ratta trap' and 'gutter snipe' politics as their method of propaganda, but whatever is forthcoming everyone should be prepared. Politics should be issue based and relate to the past as much as the present; an in that way the country will move forward.
So if the electorate refer to ALPs past policies as dreadful, its because they have lived it for decades an images of the past will always be remembered!
Best regards,
Kwame Nkosi Rome
aka Bombshell
References:
[1] http://www.antiguawto.com
[2] http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18316.htm
[3] http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1052/is_n25_v109/ai_6854562
[4]http://www.antigua-barbuda.com/business_politics/budget_speeches/budg...
[5]http://www.antigua-barbuda.com/business_politics/debate_2003budget.asp
[6] http://www.aclu.org/privacy/spying/watchlistcounter.html
[7] http://www.unesco.org/education/wef/countryreports/antigua_barbuda/ra...
[8]http://www.oecs.org/oeru/cxc_report/tableE.htm
[9]http://www.oecs.org/oeru/cxc_report/tableC.htm
[10]http://siteresources.worldbank.org/LACEXT/Resources/258553-1122984920...