caribbean-times-28th-issue-monday-14th-june-2016

Informative, reliable, enriching!

Monday 13th June 2016 A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a

Vol.7 No.28 $2.00

ABLP: 2 YEARS

AND COUNTING

By Everton Barnes

The activities over the

past week marking the second

anniversary of the Antigua

and Barbuda Labour

Party’s elections victory

have been described as successful.

The assessment comes

from ABLP General Secretary,

Mary Claire Hurst, who

said she was particularly

pleased with how well the

party base was mobilized for

the events.

The activities marking

the second anniversary since

the ABLP’s return to office

on June 12, 2014, included a

ceremony marking the start

of work on the party’s headquarters

building on the Old

Parham Road.

Other activities also included

a church service at the

St. Johnson’s Village Nazarene

Church on Sunday and

an instalment of the popular

Insight radio pprogramme

featuring Prime Minister

Gaston Browne and Attorney

General, Steadroy Benjamin.

The prime minister used

the programme to highlight

the achievements of his over

the past two years. These he

identified as the marked reduction

in crime, over $30

cont’d on pg 2

2 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g

Monday 13th June 2016

Repeal of the Barbuda Land Act coming

By Everton Barnes

The government is giving

serious consideration to

repealing the Barbuda Land

Act which it has described as

a hindrance to the development

of the country.

The announcement came

Sunday during a radio programme

Insight hosted by

Attorney General, Steadroy

Benjamin and also featuring

Prime Minister Gaston

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Browne. The programme

was part of activities to mark

the second anniversary of

the Antigua and Barbuda Labour

Party’s election victory

of June 12, 2014.

In response to a caller,

Browne announced that repealing

the Barbuda Land

Act is very likely as it was

both a deterrent to development

on the sister as well as

being un-Constitutional.

His comments come as

the Barbuda People’s Movement

has again gone to the

courts in a bid to stop the

proposed Paradise Found

development planned for the

now defunct K-Club properties.

The prime minister said

it is inconceivable that his

government that has been so

progressive on environmental

issues would allow any

development to wantonly

cont’d from pg 1

million dollars in new equipment for

the Mount St John’s Hospital, the stabilization

of the economy, on-time

payments of government salaries and

wages, regular payments to Social

Security, control of government expenditure,

reduction of debt to GDP,

on-going digitizing of government

services, the government’s housing

development programme, establishing

a venture capital facility at the Antigua

and Barbuda Development Bank

and much more.

During the programme, many

people called in to express their confidence

in the government and their

continued faith in the policies being

implemented by PM Browne and his

Cabinet.

destroy the environment of

the country. “We have allocated

some $100 million for

renewable energy, passed

the landmark Environmental

Management and Protection

Act, and have adopted other

measures such as the ban on

plastic bags.

“Nobody can question

this government’s commitment

towards safeguarding

the environment,” he declared.

The attorney general said

nothing is going to stand in

the way of the government’s

plans to develop both islands

in its stated desire to

make Antigua and Barbuda

the ‘economic powerhouse

of the Eastern Caribbean’.

“If this means repealing the

Barbuda Land Act, it will be

done!” he declared.

PM Browne has repeatedly

maintained that the Barbuda

Land Act passed by the

UPP Administration in 2007

contravenes Section 1 of the

Constitution of Antigua and

Barbuda “which states very

clearly that Antigua and Barbuda

shall be a unitary, sovereign,

democratic state.”

The prime minister said

that since Barbuda is part of

the unitary state of Antigua

and Barbuda as stated in the

Constitution, “provisions in

the Barbuda Land Act cannot

supersede the provisions

of the Constitution.”

Last October, parliament

adopted the Paradise Found

Act which puts the project

outside the scope of the Barbuda

Land Act.

The BPM is using the

provisions of the Barbuda

Land Act as a basis for

their court action aimed at

stopping the Paradise Found

project.

Monday 13th June 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3

Gaston greets the people

By Justin Peters

Over the weekend the

ABLP celebrated the 2 nd Anniversary

of assuming leadership

of the government, an

important milestone for the

people of Antigua and Barbuda.

The Prime Minister of Antigua

and Barbuda the Honourable

Gaston Browne took

to the streets of his constituency

to meet those that matter,

the people who trusted him

with the future of their village

and their nation.

In humble form, he started

his walk from The IT Centre

on North Street and made his

way through Booby Alley, a

maze of derelict housing occupied

by many generations

of Antiguans and Barbudans

who came from humble beginnings

just a he did. He was

well received as a brother and

a son of the constituency.

As the walkthrough progressed

he took the time out to

gather feedback from the denizens

of City West, many of

whom knew him as a young

man before becoming a businessman

and before politics.

The prime minister could

be seen engaging persons

from many walks of life,

young old and in between,

supporters and opposition

alike leading by example giving

inclusion to all, physically

embracing not only his admirers,

but also his skeptics.

Visits to the elderly and

shuti-ns were welcome as he

was answered with shouts of

“Browne” of “Gaston” showing

a high level of familiarity

with all those he came across,

drawing smiles and admiration

from children and respect

from adults who readily

shared their views with a son

of the village who has risen to

the position of leadership but

hasn’t erased his genesis from

his mind.

The meet and greet which

started at 3 in the afternoon

and lasted until well into the

evening with a small crowd

gathering and follow the honourable

Prime Minister past

the Adventist church in Rohan

Henry Street all the way down

to the very back of Villa and

back around to the ball courts

facing the new Dredge Bay

Housing Project.

4 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g

Monday 13th June 2016

APUA launches third internship program

By Justin Peters

The Antigua Public Utilities

Authority (APUA) is

the one of the largest employers

on the island. Many

local success stories started

at APUA and the nation’s

indigenous utility company

with the very factual slogan

“Necessary for Life” continues

to do facilitate the growth

of Antiguans and Barbudans

financially and academically.

The APUA Summer Internship

Program, which

started 5 years ago has grown

and has produced successful

professionals each year in

the fields of Civil, Electrical

and Mechanical Engineering,

Computer Programming,

Graphic Design, Marketing,

Human Resource Management,

Hydrology, Communications

and Networking just

to name a few.

The only program of its

kind in Antigua and the best

of its kind in the region, the

program takes young locals

who have completed senior

levels in local tertiary institutions

or are pursuing degrees

in international institutions

and affords them real world

experience in departments

that are deemed to best suit

their courses of study.

This year’s program for

example, is project based

and will see some of the interns

have the opportunity to

work at the recently commissioned

reverse osmosis plant

at Pigeon Point in English

Harbour. Opportunities such

as this has helped interns to

Joanna Paris

Prime Minister, the Hon. Gaston

Browne, said that he declared his assets

of $30 million dollars to the Integrity

Commission before assuming the Office

of Prime Minister.

As opposition forces continue to

question and create allegations as to the

source of the Prime Minister’s wealth,

the nation’s leader during the parliamentary

debate on Friday, made another

attempt to set the record straight.

He frankly stated that he is not obligated

to give the “detractors” any answers

but assured that he will continue

to be accountable to and transparent

with the public.

“I am not an overnight investor

and all of my companies would have

had well in excess of a decade of performance,

so it is not a situation where

companies are suddenly incorporated

into my assets.

“As Prime Minister I have not acquired

a single vehicle, I have been

using the ones that were used by the

former Prime Minister for the last 10

years”, he said.

decide on a career, often returning

to APUA as a full

time employee and being

rewarded as they climb the

ladder based on their expertise

and how well they apply

those skills within the APUA

infrastructure.

As one of the former interns

of 2013, Queens Young

Leader, and Chairman of the

Internship Committee, Mr.

Regis Burton who found a

home at eventually attaining

the position of HR Systems

and Employment Engagement

Officer will tell you,

once you are determined to

come to work on time and

focus APUA is the place for

you and interns are given

preference for available vacancies.

PM Browne declares assets to Integrity Commission

He also stated that he has transferred

some of the assets to his 27-year-old

son, a business man in his own right,

a decision that Prime Minister Browne

said “I have all right to do”.

Prime Minister Browne said that

most of his assets were acquired before

he got into politics and without any assistance

from the government.

He added that most of the resources

are in real estate along with some

heavy-duty equipment. He told the

House that he began his ventures at the

young age of 20.

Monday 13th June 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 5

Small hotels thank Hon. Asot Michael

By Justin Peters

Tourism has been a strong

revenue generator for Antigua

and Barbuda for many

years. With many more territories

outside of the Caribbean

engaging in offering their

own tourism product, however,

it has become more difficult

to maintain a consistent

level of visitors to the island.

The Honourable Asot

A. Michael, as minister of

Tourism, Economic Development,

Investment and Energy,

has championed the

cause of local entrepreneurs

working in and benefiting

from the tourism industry.

A recent Road Show

which took small hoteliers

to Trinidad to showcase their

products and attract visitors

to their properties and to

Antigua to enjoy the land of

By Everton Barnes

The building that serves as headquarters

for the Antigua and Barbuda

Disability Association has been

robbed, again.

President of the association, Bernard

Warner, in making the report

said the building, which is still under

construction, has been the target for

thieves at various stages of the construction

process.

According to Warner the latest robbery

was discovered Saturday morning

when members realized that a window

that was removed by thieves a week

earlier and which was secured by plywood

and nails, was ribbed away to allow

for entry into the building.

He said three folding tables and

six chairs were stolen. In the earlier

break-in, tables and chairs were also

removed.

Warner said the building, located

just off the All Saints Road near

the flower show immediately east of

the John I Martin compound, is nearing

completion and that the repeated

break-ins only serve to delay the opening

of the headquarters.

“The work of the association is affected

tremendously by these break-ins

because we are forced to replace the

stolen items, much of which are from

donations and our fund-raising efforts.

We are now forced to undertake more

fund-raising and seek additional donations,”

Warner explained.

The ABDA president said the association

recently purchased the tiles

and adhesive for the kitchen and he

Tourism Minister, the Hon., Asot Michael holds his painting.

365 beaches is a testament of and thoughtfulness that went

Minister Michael’s dedication

to the tourism industry. Humbled by the heart-

into making the trip a reality.

This proactive move yielded

most desirable results ter thanked his hosts for their

warming gesture, the minis-

with the local entrepreneurs generosity and encouraged

making the necessary connections

to help increase good fight and to continue

them to continue to fight the

occupancy at their establishments.

have, stressing that he un-

investing in tourism as they

So it is that they hosted a derstood and felt the hard

small ceremony at the Villas work that goes into keeping a

at Sunset Lane to show their small accommodation business

functioning at the appreciation for the foresight

exceptional

levels of the ones

on the island.

He was joined by cabinet

colleague The Honourable

Sir Robin Yearwood who

chairs the finance committee

responsible for authorizing

the funding for the road

show a cost estimated to be

just over $10,000, which he

expressed was well spent.

Colin James, CEO of the

Antigua and Barbuda Tourism

Authority as well other

officials from the Ministry

of Tourism were also present

for the momentous occasion.

As a token of appreciation,

Minister Michael was

presented with a painting

rendered by a local artist.

Graciously accepting the

gift, he joyously exclaimed

“I have to hang this on a wall

in the ministry”.

Disability Association building robbed again

disclosed that during the construction

that has been on-going for some time,

the thieves seem to wait until there is

a resumption of the work to break into

the building and steal items.

The association has lost windows,

doors and other items including the tables

and chairs during this time.

For this latest break-in, the police

were called, but according to Warner

they were not able to lift any fingerprints

from the scene.

A distraught Warner said he could

not understand why a building to serve

the disabled in the society would be the

constant target of thieves as he issued a

plea for the return of the stolen items.

He said the tables and chairs were

donated to the association a little more

than a year ago by Courts Furnishings.

6 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g

Monday 13th June 2016

PIT Amendment Bill debated and passed

Joanna Paris

On Friday, members of the Lower

House of Parliament, gave a nod of approval

towards the passage of the Personal

Income Tax (PIT) Amendment

Bill 2016.

The mover of the legislation, Prime

Minister and Minister of Finance and

Corporate Governance, Prime Minister,

the Hon. Gaston Browne in his introductory

remarks explained the benefits

associated with the removal of PIT.

He indicated that as a result of the passage

of the bill, effective June 30 th , PIT

will be totally abolished and added that

the parliamentary debate was just the

beginning of a long awaited process.

The nation’s leader further noted

that the abolition of PIT will give the

people of Antigua and Barbuda more

By Justin Peters

The professional, the

Vagabond, Superman, Ricard

Drue is one of the most

prolific Soca artists coming

out of Antigua and Barbuda,

something that has

been achieved through hard

work and a love for the art

and his fans. With his rise to

fame after his breakout hit

“Superman” and follow-up

chart toppers “Vagabond”

and “Professional” Ricardo

is here to stay.

Always extremely

thankful for all that he has

achieved, he remembers

where his road began and believes

in giving back to society

in any way that he can. It

is in the spirit of giving that

he decided to produce a fete

for children, about children

economic power to contribute to the

nation’s growth and development.

“The elimination of Personal Income

Tax is designed to empower Antiguans

and Barbudans and will also put

37 million dollars back in the pockets

of the people of this country. This just

one way to ensure that there is greater

equity in the system”, Prime Minister

Browne explained.

He highlighted the fact that 25%

percent of the working class has carried

the burden of paying the tax for the last

10 years and further outlined that the

elimination of PIT is a “promise made

and promise kept”.

Prime Minister Browne also said

that the Antigua and Barbuda Labour

Party (ABLP) has always been opposed

to the tax because of its unfair

and to benefit children.

ID Land as it has been

dubbed is the definitive

event for children this Carnival

season. With all of the

fetes that are hosted every

year, with the exception of

the children’s carnival parade,

preteens tend to be

wholly excluded from fetes.

The event slated for July

10th 2016, fills that gap and

will be hosted by TJ Da DJ

and will feature an explosive

lineup of local entertainers

such as Kid Viscous,

Baby Eve, Junior Rampler

(the reigning Junior Soca

Monarch, MnM Music, the

amazing Gurin Hunte the

Magician, Sprit Starz Cheerleaders,

the Good Vibes

nature.

Now that persons will have more

income available to them, the government

encourages persons to invest

wisely as the government seeks to pursue

a policy of entrepreneurship socialism.

“What we recommend, Mr. Speaker,

is for individuals to invest these

funds wisely, get a loan, invest in a

retirement property basically acquire

assets and not to take the funds and go

and splurge in a foreign country, invest

here”, the nation’s leader advised.

Veteran politician and Seniour Minister,

Sir Lester Bird, gladly voiced his

support for the abolition of PIT, which

he described a further step forward in

the economic development of Antigua

and Barbuda.

Soca artiste giving back to society

Band and the Antigua Dance

Academy.

The charity event is sponsored

by Digicel Joe Mike’s

G Productions Online, ID

Nation, Merryland and Vybz

FM.

100% of the proceeds

from ticket sales will go to

the Mount St. John’s Medial

Centre Children’s Ward.

Monday 13th June 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 7

Formal process towards CCJ underway

By Everton Barnes

The government has followed

up on its commitment

to see Antigua and Barbuda

delink from the Judicial Committee

of the Privy Council

(JCPC) as its final court of

appeal to acceding to the Caribbean

Court of Justice in its

Appellate Jurisdiction.

Last Friday, the government

introduced into the

House of Representatives two

pieces of legislation - the Constitution

(Antigua and Barbuda)

Referendum Bill and the

Constitution of Antigua and

Barbuda (Caribbean Court of

Justice) (Amendment) Act –

which is the formal signal that

the process towards adopting

the CCJ is fully underway.

“By introducing the two

bills in parliament, the government

is setting the legal

framework for the conduct of

a referendum that will seek to

The Department of Environment will

be conducting surveys within the McKinnon’s,

Yorks and Gambles communities

over the next two weeks.

This survey will assist with data

collection for the proposed “lntegrated

approach to physical adaptation and

community resilience in Antigua and

Barbuda’s northwest McKinnon’s watershed”

project.

This project focuses on increasing the

resilience of the communities to climate

change through three components:

1.Upgrade urban drainage and waterways

to meet projected climate change

impacts

abolish the JCPC as the country’s

final appeal court. As

this is entrenched in the Constitution

changing it requires

a two-thirds majority in the

House of Representatives and

a two-thirds majority of the

people who vote in a referendum

in order for it to be take

place,” he explained.

Further, Benjamin added

Joanna Paris

The Royal Police Force of Antigua and

Barbuda will be begin training a number of

new recruits shortly. Twenty three persons

have already been chosen for the exercise

with plans being made to swear in more individuals

ahead of the six month preparation

process.

This forms part of efforts, as the force

seeks strengthen its numbers to further curtail

illicit activities in the twin island nation.

In an interview with local media, Superintendent

of Police, Atlee Rodney, said that the

that the government is putting

things in place to ensure that

the measure is approved by

the people when they vote. He

said already several interest

groups have indicated a willingness

to work along with

the government in its public

education campaign designed

educate the public about the

JCPC and the CCJ.

2.Revolving Loans for homes in

McKinnon’s watershed to meet new

adaptation guidelines established in the

building code and physical plan

3. Adaptation mainstreaming and capacity

building NGOs and community

groups to sustain project interventions

Climate change has been on the forefront

of many discussions and its impacts

have deleterious affects on the communities,

particularly individuals who may be

classified as vulnerable.

This pilot project will focus on assisting

the vulnerable persons within this

community to adapt to climate change

through innovative means.

The AG said the campaign

will be launched in earnest

right after the annual Carnival

festivities with the referendum

likely to take place in

October this year. The National

Coordinating Committee

headed by Ambassador Dr.

Clarence Henry was appointed

to spearhead the public education

campaign.

Police recruits to begin training soon

training will be facilitated by local officers.

He added that the recruits will be trained

in several areas to include: basic drills, physical

fitness, criminal law and procedures, customer

service, sociology and police procedures

as well as handling domestic violence

and cybercrime.

Superintendent Rodney indicated that the

full training package in currently being prepared.

The law enforcement agency continues

to receive kudos from government officials

and members of the public for the increase

efficiency in its operations.

Department of Environment conducting surveys in

the McKinnon’s, Yorks and Gambles communities

Funding from this project will be

sourced through the Adaptation Fund,

and the surveys, along with the consultations,

which will follow, will add credence

to the project and assist with its

eventual funding and implementation.

This project is being developed with

the collaboration of the Directorate of

Gender Affairs, National Office of Disaster

Services, Development Control Authority,

APUA, and other key partners.

The Department of Environment

therefore seeks the collaboration of the

members of the McKinnons, Yorks and

Gambles communities as we seek to ride

the climate wave.

8 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g

Monday 13th June 2016

Burton gets six months in prison

By Alecia Mc Pherson

On May 29, 2016 Vera Donsalves

aged 74 of Yorks reported her son to

Criminal Investigation Department after

he shattered one of the windows on her

vehicle. It is reported that on the said

day at about 7:20 am, Eric Burton aged

52 of Villa went to his mother’s home

where he demanded that she open the

Alecia Mc Pherson

Prince Charming Graham

alias “DJ Prince” aged 27 of

no fixed place of abode is

before the court facing the

charge of Grievous Bodily

Harm. Kimarley Mc Donald

alias “DJ Skitta” aged 31 of

Joseph Road made a report

to the Criminal Investigations

Department that the defendant

stabbed him with a

knife to the left forearm.

Both the defendant and

complainant are Disc Jockeys

(DJ) and were both booked

ATTENTION ALL EMPLOYERS

AND SELF EMPLOYED PERSONS

The Antigua & Barbuda Social Security Board (ABSSB)

advises of its intent to commence criminal prosecution on

ALL non-compliant employers and self employed persons.

To this end, all employers and self employed persons, who

are in breach of their statutory obligation to Social Security,

are strongly urged to contact the Social Security office to

regularize their status between June 1, 2016 and August 31,

2016.

The ABSSB wishes to commend all employers and self

employed persons who have consistently complied with

their statutory obligation and encourages all employers and

self employed persons to ensure that moving forward every

attempt will be made to adhere to their Social Security obligations.

door and make him a cup of tea.

It is reported that he banged on the

door several times while making the demands.

“I am going to mash up the window

if you don’t give me the tea or open the

door”, he reportedly threatened.

Not having his request met, he picked

up a stone and threw it at the left rear

window of the complaniant’s Kia Picanto

which was parked in her yard, thereby

causing $750.00 worth of damages.

Charged with Malicious Damage,

Burton appeared before Chief Magistrate

Walsh at the St. John’s Magistrates

Court. He pleaded guilty and was convicted

and sentenced to six months at

HMP.

Graham in court for stabbing fellow DJ

to play at a party hosted on

January 4, 2016 at Tunnel

Bar located on Old Parham

Road. Apparently, a disagreement

ensued between the two

during their performances

which reportedly escalated

into a brawl.

The complainant ran

from the building to the

main road after the accused

pulled a knife from his pants

pocket, but moments later he

heard loud screams coming

from the party patrons and

turned to see the defendant

approaching while still brandishing

the knife, the complainant

attempted to run but

fell on his back. It is further

reported that the accused said

to the complainant “*expletive*

fu dead”.

The complainant received

a stab to the left forearm as

he raised his hands to block

multiple stabbing attempts.

Graham fled the scene

shortly after and Mc Donald

was taken to MSJMC

where he was treated for

his wound, a report of the

incident was later made to

the St. John’s Police Station.

Graham was subsequently

arrested and charged with

Malicious Wounding with

Intent to Cause Grevious

Bodily Harm. He appeared

at the St. John’s Magistrates

Court last week, the matter

is ajourned to July 11, 2016

when he will return to court

for committal proceedings.

Monday 13th June 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 9

Possible $3,000 fine shocks offender

Deborah A Parker

An English Harbour man

who failed to tell lawmen the

source of batteries he had

in his possession was fined

$300, when he appeared

before Magistrate Ngaio

Emanuel recently.

During the execution of

a search warrant at the home

of Devon Joseph at approximately

5:15am on May 21,

officers found three Global

Calcium batteries.

Joseph refused to respond

when he was asked by

the lawmen if he had bought

the items, or if he had any

proof of purchase.

With that attitude, the

lawmen seized the items and

Joseph committed

to stand trial

Alecia Mc Pherson

Walton Joseph alias “Duke” aged 43 of St. John’s Street

is now before the court after reportedly failing to deliver a

vehicle for which he received payment.

It is reported that the accused collected from Markon Mc

Neil of Point the sum of $6725.00EC payment for the importation

of a vehicle.

This arrangement was reportedly made during March

of 2013, several months later after trying to make contact,

the complainant was told that problems were

encountered while purchasing the vehicle.

However, the complaniant is yet to receive a vehicle or

have his money returned.

A report was made to the Criminal Investigations Department

and the accused was subsequently arrested and

charged in the matter. Joseph appeared before the St. John›s

Magistrate Court last week having been charged with

Larceny and Fraudulent Conversion.

He was committed to stand trial at the September›s

assizes in the High Court.

Deborah A Parker

A Dominican national expressed

shock when he learnt he could be fined

as much as $3,000 for praedial larceny.

The man who works as a chef was

hauled before the court for the theft of

a half bucket of mangoes recently.

Though he answered guilty to the

offence, he explained that he had actually

gone on the farm to look for

limes, for a sick woman, when he saw

the mango tree.

He said he did not pick the mangoes

from off the tree, but picked up

what was lying on the ground.

The first time offender was warned

by Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel that for

what he (the offender) described as a

‘childish’ offence, he could be fined as

much as $3,000.

With his eyes wide opened,

and leaning in the direction of

the magistrate the man repeated,

“$3,000....$3,000?”

To send out a strong message, owing

to the prevalence of the offence,

the young man was fined $1,500.

‘Mysterious’ batteries land man in trouble

instructed Joseph to visit the

Dockyard Police precinct

with the receipt for the batteries.

No such action was taken

and Joseph was subsequently

charged.

In court he told the magistrate

that he did not expect

‘these turn of events,’ hence

he did not collect a receipt

when he bought the batteries

‘off the streets.’

He was ordered to pay

the $300 fine forthwith, or

be jailed for seven days.

10 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g

Monday 13th June 2016

Reflections on Walter Rodney

36 years after his assasination

By Dr. David Hinds

I am writing this column on my way

from in Haiti, where I attended the 41 st

annual Caribbean Studies Association

conference. For six days more than a

thousand scholars from all parts of the

world of different generations who study

and teach about the Caribbean engaged

in scholarly exchanges about our region.

It is always uplifting to be part of any

meeting of our Caribbean family, but it

was especially uplifting this year because

we were meeting in Haiti. Despite its

persistent tribulations, there is something

special and magical about that country—

its people, its landscape and its rhythms.

The very fact that it was the vanguard of

Black and Caribbean freedom puts Haiti

at the center of our survivalist and freedom

trajectory. As Angela Davis, whose

rich and insightful address to the conference,

asserted ”whatever little freedom

we enjoy today we owe it to the Haitian

people.”

This was my second visit to Haiti.

The first time I landed on Haitian soil,

five years ago, I cried tears of thanks because

I knew that my Buxtonion, Guyanese,

Caribbean and Black identities, individually

and together, owe a great debt

to Haiti. Haiti is our living link to Mother

Africa and the mother of our Caribbean.

There were no tears on this visit, but I

wrapped my mind around Haiti and tried

to imagine what our Caribbean could be

if only we could begin as a people, together

and in our separate island-states,

to reach for our glory and love ourselves

again. As I watched the Haitian people go

about their daily business of surviving the

harshness of persistent neo-colonialism,

I saw and felt hope for our Caribbean. I

have never seen a nation of people bear

their burdens, our Caribbean burdens,

with such resilience. I never doubt the

beauty and dignity of Black people and

Caribbean peoples, but Haiti affirms this

feeling.

Acclaimed scholar-activist, Angela

Davis, gave a memorable address to the

conference linking race, class, nation,

history, oppression, survival and freedom

pioneers. When she got to the point

of her address that discussed underdevelopment,

she asked the audience who

she was thinking about and hundreds of

voices responded in unison—“Walter

Rodney,” followed by a generous round

of applause.

It is common place to hear Rodney’s

work quoted by scholars who speak

about him in elevated ways; after all he

belonged to the world—one of Guyana’s

most precious gifts to world civilization.

But when I heard that audience speak his

name that evening, I felt a rush of pride

as a Guyanese, as a comrade and a descendant

of Rodney and the Caribbean

, Black, African and Guyanese radical

tradition he contributed immensely to.

But I also felt a gush of pain largely because

Guyanese of the post-1980 generation

do not get to experience moments

like those when their country is lifted to

the mountaintop by the mere mention of

his name. There were several Guyanese

scholars at the conference to witness that

moment, but shamefully, there was only

one scholar from the University of Guyana—lecturer

and historian, Estherene

Adams—who presented a well-received

paper on another outstanding Guyanese,

Eusi Kwayana.

There is something wrong, very

wrong, when a country which has produced

intellectual titans such as Eusi

Kwayana, Walter Rodney, Clem Seecharan,

Alissa Trotz, Ivan Van Certima, Rupert

Roopnarine, Elsa Gouveia and Clive

Thomas could send only one scholar

from its university to the major academic

conference in and about our Caribbean.

How can scholars at UG effectively teach

our students when they are cut off from

communion with their colleagues in the

rest of the region and the world? We get

so carried away and wrapped up in our

political mess that we often do not realize

how disconnected we are from the rest of

the Caribbean and the world. In the process

we have become a little, isolated and

dangerous island that wallows in its disconnectedness.

As I think about Walter Rodney who

we assassinated 36 years ago on a Friday

night, I think about Guyana and its

slow but steady march towards the edge.

I think about some of the backwardness

I read on Facebook and the newspaper

blogs and I wonder if we can pull ourselves

back. The brutal murders and our

seemingly numbness to them; the national

hypocrisy when it comes to our

ethno-racial condition; the persistent

betrayal by our political leaders replete

with economic and psychological brutalization

of poor people—the doom varies

but it never goes away.

But in the end, we must press on.

Rodney had asked that should he be cut

down, his body should be used as a barricade

for the revolution. The revolution

which he started and for which he was

murdered by the hand of the State, is still

incomplete. Walter Rodney must live

again in Guyana as he lives in the global

space. As CLR James, another Caribbean

intellectual giant, would say—there is

always work to be done. Let us on this

June 13, whatever our politics, say thanks

to Walter Rodney for making us whole

while he walked our streets and for the

legacy of hope he has left us.

On this 36 th anniversary of Walter

Rodney’s assassination, I call on the

Government to fulfil its promise to have

the Walter Rodney COI report properly

cont’d on pg 11

Monday 13th June 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 11

Disaster management exhibition well attended

The annual disaster management

exhibition hosted

by the National Office of

Disaster Services (NODS)

on Thursday received good

support from members of the

public and those who were involved.

Participants from 13

groups along with NODS interacted

with mostly students

from several schools and used

the opportunity to educate

them on various aspects relating

to their respective fields.

The exhibition continues

to receive support from the

Fire Department, the Antigua

and Barbuda Red Cross, the

Department of Environment,

the Met Office, the Antigua

and Barbuda Defence Force,

the Health Information Division,

the Plant Protection Unit

and the Emergency Medical

Services (EMS).

Newcomers this year were

the Antigua Public Utilities

Authority (APUA), State Insurance

Corporation, ABI

Insurance, the Antigua and

Barbuda Credit Union League

and the Beach Safety Protection

Unit formerly the Lifeguard

Division.

Social Studies and Science

teacher Christa Christopher,

who attended the event with a

group from St Michael’s Primary

School, said the students

really enjoyed the exhibition.

“They learnt a lot. It was

very informative. The atmosphere

was great for learning

with a mixture of participants

and there was a nice flow to

the set up”, said Christopher.

This is the ninth year

NODS has hosted its disaster

management exhibition.

Plans are in the pipeline

to enhance next year’s event

with additional activities that

would generate greater interest

from the public.

NODS is expressing appreciation

to all those who

participated along with several

sponsors like the St John’s

Development Corporation,

Digicel, Inet and Kennedy’s

Club.

cont’d from pg 10

laid before parliament and be debated. I

hope that such a debate avoids the political

finger-pointing and instead focus on

the big lessons, in particular the banishment

of the use of the state and para state

institutions as a tool of violence against

political opponents and the citizenry in

general.

On this Rodney anniversary I call

upon the President to expand his promise

to inquire into the death of former

PPP Minister Satyadeyow Sawh and his

family to include all politically motivated

killings over the last four decades. I especially

call for inquiries into the deaths

of Ronald Waddell and Courtney Crum

Ewing—the families of these brothers

and all of Guyana need to know the circumstances

surrounding their deaths

I also urge the government to honour

Walter Rodney in the most non-partisan

manner by re-naming the University of

Guyana the Walter Rodney University

of Guyana. All Guyanese regardless of

political affiliation agree that Rodney

was one of our most brilliant scholars. It

would be a fitting symbol of the efforts

to regenerate the university and a living

monument to Rodney and the centrality

of education to Guyana’s national development.

I also call on the Ministry of Education

to introduce Rodney’s two children’s

books—Kofi Badu out of Africa

and Lakshmi out of India into the school

curriculum. Such a move would contribute

immensely to national cohesion,

particularly among the youth. Rodney’s

insights into our ethnic dynamics are invaluable

and should not be wasted.

Finally on this anniversary, I call for

a national stand against attacks on the independent

media. This is an area of our

politics that Rodney was most concerned

about. He saw the assassination of the

journalist, Father Bernard Darke in 1979

as a descent into barbarism. The recent

grenade attack on the Kaieteur News is a

stark reminder that there is still fear of the

“Open Word”

Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed

in this Op-ed are those of the

author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of Caribbean Times.

12 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g

Monday 13th June 2016

Golden Eye Calypso Review opens its doors

By Vanroy Burnes

The Golden Eye Calypso

Review Calypso Tent was the

first calypso tent to open its

doors for the 2016 Carnival

season on Friday night June

10 th at the newly renovated

Barrymore Hotel.

The Golden eye tent lead

and continues to lead by example

as the first tent to open

its doors every year.

A total of thirteen (13)

Calypsonians appeared on

the program with their 2016

songs backed up by the Specialist

Band.

The Calypsonians included

Baby Eve singing “What

You Go Sing”, Calypso Tempo

with “Don’t Go”, Lord

Shaky with “Mass in Hell”,

King Bandit with “Fight

for Reparation”, King Creole

with “Hitler”, De Arc

with “Antigua Black”, Willy

Wawa with “Ah wha if Me

ah Look”, Sassy with “Every

Body has a story”, Faithful

with “Backbone of Carnival”,

Stumpy with “Sooner or Later”,

Kaseba with “A diamond

is forever”, King Zacari with

“Who Say So” and Queen

Thalia with “My Guarantee”

and “This Tenor Pan is Mine”.

The Mighty ”Bab wire”

whose real name is Vaughn

Walter, Director of Culture

brought the Curtain down

with his song “1969”.

Minister of Culture Paul

Chet Greene and other members

of the Festival Committee

were amongst the fairly

sizable crowd. The tent is

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