Caribbean Times 89th Issue - Friday 9th September 2016

Informative, reliable, enriching! 

Friday 9th September 2016 A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a 

Vol.7 No.89 $2.00 

POLICE TO APPEAL 

SERPENT’S CASE 

Algernon “Serpent” Watts, right, with D. 

Gisele Isaac. 

The Prosecutions Department 

within the Royal Police Force of 

Antigua and Barbuda has placed 

on record its intention to appeal the 

magistrate’s decision in the case of 

Algernon “Serpent” Watts on behalf 

of the Commissioner of Police. 

Section 191B (1) (b) of the Magistrate’s 

Code of Procedure Amendment 

Act of 2004, make provision 

on the point of law for the Director 

of Public Prosecutions to appeal the 

court’s decision with respect to the 

the dismissal of a charge against an 

accused person in committal proceedings. 

In this case the Police Prosecutions 

Department is convinced that 

the statements disclosed in the casefile 

contain sufficient evidence to 

commit the defendant Watts to stand 

trial for offence(s) disclosed. Furthermore, 

the Director of Public Prosecutions, 

upon examination of the evidence, 

gave the Police Prosecutions 

the Fiat to proceed with committal 

proceedings. 

The Prosecutions Department is 

also making the case that under section 

48 (1) of the Magistrate Code of 

Procedure Amendment Act of 2004, 

the Committal Magistrate has the 

power to make such order for the alteration 

of the charge by the substitution 

of another charge of an indictable 

offence of a like kind to the offence 

charged as he thinks necessary in the 

circumstances of the case. 

The Police maintain that a Prima 

Facie case against Watts was made 

out sufficient to justify his committal 

to stand trial in the High Court. 

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

Friday 9th September 2016 

Making MSJMC more efficient 

By Everton Barnes 

Senior managers at the 

Mount St. John’s Medical 

Centre MSJMC) have 

revealed that there is an 

over-supply of beds at the 

health institution and they 

are currently implementing a 

number of measures aimed at 

improving overall efficiency 

at the country’s public hospital. 

The Medical Director of 

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By Joanna Paris 

The Potworks Dam now has the welcoming 

amount of 100 million gallons of water. 

Speaking during the weekly Cabinet press 

briefing on Thursday, Minister of Information, 

the Hon. Melford Nicholas indicated that the 

country’s executive is very pleased with this 

divine development. 

He told the press that the Minister with responsibility 

for Utilities, the Hon. Robin Yearwood 

also expressed happiness with the level 

of the water mark where one of the country’s 

largest water catchment is concerned. 

MSJMC, Dr. Albert Duncan 

and the Chief Medical Officer, 

Dr. Rhonda Sealy-Thomas 

this week briefed the Cabinet 

on the improvements and 

the existing challenges that 

are being addressed, in the 

twelve-month period since the 

Director assumed his function 

on September 1 st last year. 

The Medical Director reported 

that there is an issue 

of over-capacity at the hospital 

with 184 beds but only 

between 68 to 75 patients 

occupying beds on any given 

day. “There is overcapacity of 

100 beds that may be required 

in the event of a national 

emergency. However, the deployment 

of the nursing and 

support staff and the administrative 

personnel must be better 

organized,” the Director 

suggested. 

According to Dr. Duncan 

the hospital employs 78 

doctors and 186 nurses; not 

all doctors are on staff, many 

are consultants. However, the 

Cabinet was informed that the 

old model of male wards and 

female wards had to be abandoned 

in order to maximize 

the nursing staff complement 

and the deployment of doctors. 

“There are now male 

rooms and female rooms, all 

on the same floor, allowing 

for improvement in the use 

of the hospital staff. There is 

also a complete review of the 

inventory system to be completely 

computerized, allowing 

the doctors and nurses to 

be informed of the supplies 

that are (or are not) available,” 

he explained. 

The re-supply of necessities 

will be vastly improved, 

the Cabinet was told, when 

the system is completely computerized. 

The medical director also 

announced plans to re-organise 

other areas of the hospital’s 

operation. He told the 

Cabinet that with a payroll of 

567, as many as can, will be 

retrained in order to meet the 

demands of a modern healthcare 

facility. The Director also 

reported on reduced waiting 

time in the Emergency Room 

of the MSJMC. In hospitals 

in North America, he noted, 

waiting time can be up to three 

hours; the Director reported 

that average wait time in the 

MSJMC Emergency Room is 

about 3 hours. The object is 

to reduce that wait time to as 

little as two hours, on average. 

Dr. Duncan also reported 

that the Operating Room is 

the nerve center of any hospital 

and every effort is being 

made to improve the tools, 

supplies and other needs of 

the operating room. There are 

three operating rooms at the 

MSJMC. 

“There are scores dialysis 

patients at the MSJMC, 

with an increase of 6 patients 

annually. Renal transplants, 

planned for this year, will 

likely be postponed until the 

MSJMC can undertake the 

first transplant without any 

impediments to success,” the 

Director reported. He added 

that cardiology, neurosurgery, 

pediatric surgery and technical 

applications of radiology 

are commonplace challenges. 

More trained radiologists are 

required. 

100 million gallons in Potworks Dam 

“The amount of surface water certainly 

will allow them to be able to distil at the water 

treatment, some of that surface water will be 

put back into the grid, so this is definite great 

news”, said the Information Minister. 

He further indicated that the government 

plans to continue work to clean the land but 

admitted that the recent rainfall will delay efforts 

since it is now covered in water. 

The V.C Bird International Airport recorded 

4.5 inches of rain but there are reports indicating 

that some areas recorded as much as 7 

inches.

Friday 9th September 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3 

Royal Antiguan owners get ultimatum 

By Everton Barnes 

The owners of the Royal 

Antiguan Hotel have until the 

end of this month to demonstrate 

their seriousness about 

upgrading the resort or face a 

takeover by the government. 

This comes as the Cabinet 

reviewed its decision regarding 

the Resort at its weekly 

meeting on Wednesday. The 

Cabinet noted that since it first 

announced its intention to acquire 

the property for a public 

purpose, in March 2016, nothing 

has happened. 

“The current owners have 

made many promises and 

The body of young 

Prince returns home 

A week after passing away at the Hospitalier Universitaire 

de Martinique, the body of young burn victim Jayden Prince 

arrived at the V C Bird International Airport this afternoon. 

Following a two-hour delay, the remains of the three-year 

old landed at 2:47 pm and in the presence of his father, Eddy 

Prince, one of his uncles and the Permanent Secretary of the 

Ministry of Health Walter Christopher, the black draped coffin 

was removed from the Regional Security System (RSS) Air 

Wing, which transported his mother home two days before him, 

and loaded into the hearse. The RSS has a history of assisting in 

any way possible when tragedy strikes citizens of the Caribbean 

region. 

Then under escort from the Royal Antigua and Barbuda 

Police Force, the remains of the young Jennings resident were 

taken to the Barnes Funeral Home where his mother was taken 

two days earlier. Both Jayden and his mother, Gayan Williams 

were among a family of five who were forced to rush from their 

home in the wee hours of the morning in late August because of 

a fire in the house. Williams and young Prince sustained second 

degree burns and were flown out of the country to Guadeloupe 

and Martinique respectively where they both died. 

have not kept their word to 

spend a considerable sum of 

money to upgrade the property 

and to employ more workers,” 

Cabinet spokesman Lionel 

Max Hurst has reported. 

He recalled that the hotel 

was constructed in 1988 

and soon after hosted its first 

CARICOM Conference. The 

hotel was sold to a new owner 

by the United Progressive 

Party shortly after its 2004 

victory at a fraction of its value. 

The owner paid US$12 

million, promised to pay an 

additional US$6 million and 

to spend US$12 million on 

improvements. 

“The ABLP administration 

is persuaded that the 

new owners spent little on 

improvements. In fact, the 

number of employees at the 

hotel has plummeted. Even 

the UPP Ministers acknowledged 

that the UPP had been 

“hoodwinked” by the buyer,” 

Hurst revealed. He said the 

government has been trying 

to get that same owner to invest 

in the hotel’s upgrade but 

nothing has happened. Lots of 

promises but no action. “The 

Cabinet agreed that if by the 

end of September 2016 and 

there is no tangible action by 

the owner, then the Government 

will move to acquire,” 

Hurst declared.



Sandals prepare to host HTP in October 


The Sandals Grande Antigua Resort 

and Spa is getting set to host its annual 

Hospitality Training Program in the next 

four weeks. 

The training takes place four times 

per year and is an opportunity for young 

persons between the ages of 18 and 30 

with little or no working experience, to 

receive training in the hospitality industry. 

The application process is aimed at 

attracting suitable individuals who have 

a desire to pursue careers or receive additional 

training in the hospitality sector. 

By Alecia McPherson 

27-year old Prince Charming 

Graham of no fixed place 

of abode, and girlfriend 30- 

year old Senda Ishmael alias 

“Star” of Barbados appeared 

yesterday at the District ‘A’ 

Court facing separate charges 

after they refused to comply 

with lawmen. 

Graham a known DJ, has 

been wanted in connection 

with a report of grievous bodily 

harm caused against a fellow 

DJ. The stabbing incident 

reportedly took place on January 

5th, 2016 at the Drunken 

Skunk Night Club on Old 

Parham Road; on March 8th, 

2016 the accused turned himself 

into Police. The police 

officers conducting investigations 

into the incident applied 

for search warrants to search 

each defendants’ premises 

By Deborah A. Parker 

A Hispanic woman charged with receiving will go to trial 

in January. Marina Santana was charged with the mentioned 

offence, after she failed to tell investigators how she had come 

by thousands of dollars in jewellery. 

Reports are that another female was on her way to the Dominica 

Republic, with the said items, when she was stopped at the 

VC Bird International Airport. 

The woman allegedly told investigators Santana gave her 

the items to sell. As it turned out, the items were stolen goods. 

Santana had her matter committed to the January 2017 

criminal assizes yesterday, when she appeared before Magistrate 

Ngaio Emanuel. 

Speaking to Caribbean Times, Public 

Relations Manager of the Sandals Grande 

Antigua Resort and Spa, Kyle Christian, 

indicated that the management and staff 

is looking forward to welcoming the 25 

successful applicants. 

He added that the program has received 

rave reviews and feedback over 

the years and also acts as a stepping stone 

for persons who have no work experience. 

“This programme will basically give 

young people without experience in the 

industry the opportunity to be trained and 

to learn skills in various departments to 

include customer service, housekeeping, 

for a ‘brown ratchet knife’, 

the weapon reported to have 

been used in the incident. Both 

accused, however refused to 

give police their address. 

Both were remanded at 

Her Majesty’s Prison when 

they first appeared at the 

District ‘A’ on March 11th, 

2016 each charged with obstruction 

of justice, Ishmael 

was also charged for giving 

false address. Graham incurred 

an additional charge of 

photography, food and beverage and other 

areas”, Christian explained. 

The participants will also receive additional 

training to develop their “soft 

skills” to include: resume writing, how 

to be successful in an interview, etiquette 

and general rules of effective communication. 

September 19th is the deadline for interested 

persons to submit their applications 

either via drop off at the resort or by 

emailing sattraining@grp.sandals.com. 

The training will be facilitated by the 

resort’s Training and Development Manager, 

Matara Murphy and is expected to 

begin during the first week in October. 

One deported, one sentenced for obstruction 

Hispanic woman charged 

for stolen jewellery 

indecent language after using 

a string of lewd words against 

the lawmen. 

Yesterday Graham was 

convicted and sentenced to 

six months in prison on each 

charge, with time spent on 

remand to be taken into consideration. 

Sentences will run 

concurrently. Ishmael was 

convicted, reprimanded and 

discharged on both charges 

and ordered to be removed 

from the state, immediately. 

Man gets seven days in 

jail, for beating father 

By Deborah A. Parker 

A Liberta man will spend the next seven days in prison, 

after he was found guilty of battery, in District B yesterday. 

Ajade Evans, earlier this year battered his father. 

Evans, on one of his court appearances, mentioned that 

his father had been threatening his girlfriend. 

As such, tension developed between the two men, before 

the physical altercation. 

Magistrate Ngaio Emanuel told the Offender that kind of 

behaviour was unacceptable, bearing in mind the commandment 

to honour one’s mother and father.


Antigua and Barbuda to benefit from a 

Global Fund project to address HIV/AIDS 


The government of Antigua and Barbuda 

continues to demonstrate its commitment 

to increasing the country’s room 

stock. Another hotel project is earmarked 

to begin within the next year. 

The Vice President of Corporate Affairs 

and Business Development of Karisma 

Hotels and Resorts visited Cabinet 

on Wednesday to offer the firm’s expertise 

in the management of the soon to be 

constructed facility. 

According to Government’s Spokesperson, 

Lionel “Max” Hurst, the hotel 

will be built at The Valley Church Beach 

Antigua and Barbuda is 

among six Caribbean islands 

to benefit from an OECS 

Multi-country Global Fund 

Project to address the HIV/ 

AIDS epidemic. 

The sub-regional group 

received US$ 5.3 million dollars 

which is to be spent over 

a 3 year period to address the 

issue of HIV/AIDS as well 

as Tuberculosis within the 

Organization of Eastern Caribbean 

States (OECS). 

According to the AIDS 

Program Manager Delcora 

Williams although Antigua 

and Barbuda is classified as 

a high income country thus 

lessening its chances to qualify 

for global funding, the 

twin island state will still be 

able to access the US$5.3 

million. 

“The OECS received 5.3 

million dollars which we 

are supposed to use and carry 

out our activities. So the 

OECS commission is here 

to assess the Ministry and 

our organization to ensure 

that we are ready and able to 

carry out our activities”, Williams 

said. 

During a meeting at the 

Inland Revenue Conference 

Room on Monday and Tuesday, 

Williams said that the 

occasion marked the second 

such time that the twin island 

state has received such 

a huge financial boost from 

the Global Fund. 

“This is the second time 

Antigua has received global 

funding. We got financial 

backing in 2005 which lasted 

until 2010 and so now we 

are going into a new phase of 

funding and this one is slated 

to last for only three years”, 

Williams stated. 

Meantime Project Coordinator 

for the OECS 

Multi-country Global Fund 

Project James St Catharine 

said that the two day workshop 

in Antigua Barbuda 

was held to ensure the successful 

implementation of 

the project. 

“Our aim is to really go 

through with a fine tooth 

comb what are the details of 

the project, what the entitlements 

of each of the different 

partners that are participating 

and what we expect the 

results to be, so that has been 

the real essence.” 

“And in addition to that, 

St. Catherine remarked, 

“there are some legal obligations 

that will have to be fulfilled 

and we are here to help 

with that also. One of those 

obligations is to go through 

what are some of the capacities 

which the country possesses 

to see if it is adequate 

for the project to be implemented”. 

Apart from Antigua and 

Barbuda, the other countries 

accessing the funds are St. 

Kitts-Nevis, St. Lucia, Dominica, 

St Vincent & the Grenadines 

and Grenada. 

Another five star property coming soon 

and will require a firm that can help to 

design and then to manage the property 

following its construction. 

During the weekly press briefing on 

Thursday at the Office of the Prime 

Minister, Information Minister, the Hon. 

Melford Nicholas, said that the government 

is satisfied with the expertise that 

the company has to offer. 

“We were satisfied that not only is 

this investor valid and worthy but following 

the discussion, we are happy that 

the investor not only brings new capital 

as part of the joint venture with the government, 

but they will bring on a significant 

amount of marketing expertise and 

eco- systems, which will only ensure that 

once the property comes on stream, the 

challenge of being able to fill hose hotel 

beds will be met”, Minister Nicholas indicated. 

The Karisma firm owns a number of 

hotels in Eastern Europe, Europe, the Caribbean 

and Latin America, 

The group also has a 15-year track 

record, managing more than 33 million 

guests annually at its various properties 

around the world. 

Upon completion the property is expected 

to boast at least 400 rooms.



CDF team visits Antigua and Barbuda 

A team from the CAR- 

ICOM Development Fund 

is in Antigua and Barbuda to 

discuss the status of the projects 

that are being financed by 

the agency. 

Led by CDF’s Chief Executive 

Officer, Rodinald Soomer, 

the team also includes the 

Director for Regional Development, 

Lenox Forte, and 

Programme Specialist, Errol 

Babb. 

On Thursday, the team attended 

a meeting of the Project 

Management Committee 


The government of Antigua and Barbuda 

is committed to putting the necessary measures 

in place to ensure that the country’s 

Forensic Cyber Lab, becomes a center of excellence 

within the Caribbean. 

Attorney General, the Hon. Steadroy 

“Cutie” Benjamin, top members of the Police 

Force of Antigua and Barbuda, the Head 

of the Forensic Lab, Gordina Hector-Murrell 

and other specialized officers met on Thursday 

to discuss how this can be achieved. 

Minister Benjamin commended Hector-Murrell 

for the excellent work that she 

has been doing to date. 

He noted that the Head of the Forensic 

Chaired by Ambassador Dr. 

Clarence Henry to discuss the 

CDF Country Assistance Programme 

at the Office of the 

National Authorising Officer. 

“We are here primarily 

for two reasons; firstly to 

pay a courtesy call on the 

Prime Minister, Hon. Gaston 

Browne to discuss matters of 

mutual interest relating to the 

CDF’s assistance to Antigua 

and Barbuda, especially now 

that we are in the second cycle 

of our operation,” he stated. 

He said the second reason 

is that it provides an opportunity 

for an exchange of views 

with key stakeholders on how 

Antigua and Barbuda would 

like to see its relationship with 

the CDF within the context of 

how to better integrate into 

“the CARICOM Single Market 

and Economy (CSME) 

which is the core mandate of 

the CDF”. 

While here, Soomer, who 

has been in the position for 

approximately a year, said he 

is also familiarizing himself 

More focus to be placed 

on Forensic Cyber Lab 

Lab is recognized all over the region as a 

highly qualified and trained individual in her 

field of work. 

The Minister pledged his government’s 

support to provide the necessary equipment 

necessary, the Lab to run smoothly. 

Efforts will also be placed, on finding a 

new home for the lab where officers will be 

able to operate in a well-controlled and spacious 

environment. 

The pledge by the Minister was welcomed 

by all participants. 

Head of the Forensic Lab Gordina Hector-Murrell 

said without the necessary 

equipment and software technology, the facility 

cannot function to its fullest. 

with the two projects which 

the CDF financed in this first 

cycle. They are the improvements 

to downtown St John’s 

including the taxi dispatch 

area, and the Learning Resource 

Centre at the Antigua 

State College. 

“We just came out of a 

PMC meeting that focused 

on the progress of the two 

projects and we have made 

some decisions that will lead 

to the acceleration of the implementation 

of both projects,” 

he noted. During the 

exchanges Ambassador Henry 

welcomed the CEO and 

expressed satisfaction with 

the cooperation. “The CDF 

remains a proactive agency 

on the infrastructure projects 

and we began the first stage of 

the identification of new programmes 

to be pursued in the 

second cycle,” he observed. 

Among the stakeholders 

present were the CEO of 

the St. John’s Development 

Corporation, Principal of 

the State College, Chairman 

of the Board of Education, 

President of the Antigua and 

Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association, 

the Ministries of 

Tourism, Finance and Education.


All aboard for reducing flood 

risks in Antigua and Barbuda 

The issue of flooding has 

been brought to the forefront 

in Antigua and Barbuda as a 

result of the recent passage of 

a tropical wave on Monday 

September 5 th , 2016. 

But wait – weren’t we just 

in a drought? 

Antigua and Barbuda is 

still experiencing a “meteorological 

drought”, which 

measures dryness compared 

to normal rainfall levels. Climate 

change impacts project 

that the Eastern Caribbean 

will have lower rainfall on average, 

but also stronger downpours 

– so our rainfall will 

come at greater extremes. This 

means we must manage our 

water resources for drought 

and our land for flooding. 

Areas that are especially 

vulnerable to flooding in Antigua 

and Barbuda are low-lying 

coastal areas with clay-like 

soil and large drainage basins 

called “watersheds”. Waterways 

are naturally occurring 

channels that help concentrate 

water runoff. Ghauts or seasonal 

waterways are the primary 

features within our watersheds 

that drain water from 

upland zones into larger bodies 

of water downstream, such 

as a pond, swamp or the sea. 

As an example, the passage 

of the tropical wave on Monday, 

and the large amounts of 

rainfall received, has resulted 

in the previously empty 

Potworks Dam being filled 

to roughly half of its capacity. 

These waterways tell the 

story of our interconnectivity 

between upstream and downstream; 

land and sea. 

This interconnectivity 

means that while we all benefit 

from positive actions, we 

all suffer from negative actions 

as well. Many times we 

think of our property as ‘our 

piece of the rock’ to do with as 

we please. However, changing 

‘our piece of the rock’, 

without careful consideration 

of how this impacts land or 

livelihoods downstream, can 

lead to detrimental impacts. 

For example, littering and pollution; 

diverting natural watercourses; 

backfilling ponds; 

building too close to waterways; 

and the introduction 

of invasive plant species can 

all contribute to downstream 

flooding. 

Sometimes innocent actions 

can lead to impacts that 

extend far beyond what one 

can initially envisage. So, 

how are we in Antigua and 

Barbuda taking action to better 

manage our lands and reduce 

flooding risks? 

The Department of Environment 

is seeking to formalize 

the protection of waterways 

so that timely and 

sustained management of 

important waterways can begin; 

thereby preventing future 

flooding. Many persons, businesses 

and even Government 

entities filling in ponds, and 

this can no longer continue. 

Due to the current drought status, 

many believe we do not 

need the ponds anymore. The 

Environment Management 

and Protection Act (2015) 

makes it illegal to fill in a 

pond without the permission 

of the Department. If you see 

anyone doing this please contact 

the Department of Environment 

immediately. If you 

do not, the next rain can cause 

flooding on your property. 

The recently enacted Environment 

Protection and 

Management Act (EPMA), 

2015, protects and manages 

waterways for flooding. The 

EPMA 2015 may designate 

certain watersheds as protected 

in order to ensure that waterways 

are managed to handle 

extreme rainfall events, 

particularly in light of climate 

change. Therefore areas that 

have historically experienced 

flooding, such as at Creekside, 

Pigotts/Fitches Creek, and 

Woods waterway, may all be 

designated under the Act for 

special management via the 

Department of Environment 

with relevant agencies, businesses 

and communities. 

For the past few years the 

Department of Environment 

has engaged communities in 

the development of projects 

within Cashew Hill, and more 

recently, the McKinnon’s 

waterway (from Woods to 

McKinnon’s Pond) that will 

address flooding and other 

issues. These projects will 

be enacting the policies and 

actions that will make real 

change, and improve the lives 

of the residents of Antigua 

and Barbuda. As we wade 

through the water ankle deep, 

and push water out of our 

homes, remember those upstream 

and downstream, and 

help to keep our waterways 

free of debris so that together, 

we will ride this climate wave. 

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Rotary Club to host Wellness walk 


On Saturday (tomorrow), 

the Rotary Club of 

Antigua will be hosting a 

walk in commemoration of 

Caribbean Wellness Day, 

recognized each year on the 

2nd Saturday in September. 

Past President of the 

Club, Cordell Josiah, explained 

that Caribbean 

Wellness Day was established 

in Port of Spain in 

2008 at a CARICOM Heads 

of Government Summit, 

which focused on chronic 

non-communicable diseases. 

Harlem, New York - In 2017, from 

July 28 to August 8, the Caribbean’s 

Greatest Summer Festival, Antigua’s 

Carnival, will mark another milestone 

with its 60 th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee 

Celebration. 

Over the weekend in New York 

City, the Antigua Barbuda Festivals 

Commission, (ABFC), embarked on 

its first 60 th anniversary roadshow at 

the Antigua Day Celebration at the 

Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem. This 

was done in an effort to bring awareness 

to, and promote, the diamond celebration 

scheduled for Carnival 2017. 

During the annual Labour Day 

celebration concert, with a crowd exceeding 

5,000 patrons, the Minister 

of National Festivals, Hon. E.P. Chet 

Greene, in conjunction with members 

of the ABFC; Antigua’s Soca 

and Calypso Artistes, and an All Star 

Band, comprising of members from 

“The whole idea was 

to encourage citizens of 

the Caribbean to take their 

wellness seriously by exercising, 

by eating right, by 

doing all of these things that 

are important to a healthy 

lifestyle”, said Josiah. 

The activity will be centred 

on the theme “Healthy 

Children in Healthy Environments”. 

President of the Club, 

Evangeline Allen, noted 

that this Saturday is also 

significant for the charitable 

organization, since it 

will symbolize the club’s 

44 th year of existence. 

She encouraged everyone 

to support the worthy 

cause. 

“You are going to get 

your money’s worth. We 

are going to have a warm 

up at 4:30 so we want persons 

to show up early. The 

warm up will be for at least 

25 to 30 minutes. We want 

to leave promptly at 5pm”, 

said Allen. 

The walk will begin at 

the Rotary Club Headquarters 

then will go north on 

Nugent Avenue, left unto 

Old Parham Road, right on 

various Bands in Antigua, left a great 

and “festive” impression at the annual 

splashdown concert. 

Performing at the concert were pioneering 

calypso icon, Sir Rupert “King 

Swallow” Philo; reigning Groovy 

Monarch, Ricardo Drue; Soca Diva, 

Claudette “CP” Peters; MNM Music; 

Laurena Davis; Danski; Supa Mario, 

and 2016 Junior Monarchs, Deh 

Mightee BC, Baby Eve and Pscyho. 

In his speech at the concert, Minister 

of National Festivals, Hon. E.P 

Chet Greene announced one major 

promotion for Antigua’s Carnival 

2017, “Bring a Friend Home for the 

60 th ”. 

This promotion offer of complimentary 

admission tickets for all Carnival 

shows is for “the accompanying 

guest(s) of every Antiguan and Barbudan 

citizen visiting for Carnival 2017, 

who is not a citizen.” 

the roundabout, right unto 

Cross Street, left unto Dickenson 

Bay Street, right unto 

Fort Road, then unto Anchorage 

Road. 

Once persons get to the 

Sandals Grande Resort and 

Spa, they will be asked to 

make a left, pass Runaway 

continue onto Fort Road 

and return back to the Rotary 

House. 

Allen said that a number 

of prizes will be distributed. 

The package includes, a 

t-shirt, a water bottle, light 

refreshments and water 

along the route. 

Festivals Commission promotes 60 th Carnival 

Anniversary at 2016 Labour Day Celebration 

In addition to this promotion, seven 

lucky persons were awarded packages 

for the 2017 festival, which included 

two airline tickets courtesy of 

the Government of Antigua & Barbuda 

via the ABFC, and five costume 

packages compliments Myst Carnival, 

DumzTree Carnival and Xklusive 

Carnival. 

As the countdown begins for the 

60 th Diamond Jubilee, the local, regional, 

and international promotions 

of the summer festival will be taken 

a notch higher. In 2016, for the 60 th 

Celebration, patrons were urged to 

“Experience Greatness” as this was 

merely a teaser to the 2017 festivities. 

However, as the ABFC gears to 

host the 60 th Anniversary of Antigua’s 

Carnival, everyone is invited to “Celebrate 

Greatness” at The Caribbean’s 

Greatest Summer Festival – Antigua’s 

Carnival.


VACANCY 

The St. John’s Development Corporation is a statutory body within the Ministry of Tourism. SJDC is responsible 

for city of St. John’s, the Cruise terminal also managing of Heritage Quay Complex, Public Market, 

West Bus Station Complex, Vendor’s Mall, Vendor’s Square Complex, Syndicate place, East Bus Station, Antigua 

& Barbuda Exhibition and Cultural Center and the Fort James Development Project. 

SJDC invites applications for the position of Human Resource Manager 

Position Requisites: 

• Develops organizational strategies by identifying and researching human resources issues; contributing 

information, analysis, and recommendations to organization strategic thinking and direction; establishing human 

resources objectives in line with organizational objectives. 

• Implements human resources strategies by establishing department accountabilities, including talent 

acquisition, staffing, employment processing, compensation, health benefits, training and development, records 

management, safety , succession planning, employee relations and retention, retirement, compliance, and labor 

relations. 

• Manages human resources operations by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, 

and disciplining staff; planning, monitoring, appraising, and reviewing staff job contributions; maintaining 

compensation; determining production, productivity, quality, and customer-service strategies; designing systems; 

accumulating resources; resolving problems; implementing change. 

• Develops human resources operations financial strategies by estimating, forecasting, and anticipating 

requirements, trends, and variances; aligning monetary resources; developing action plans; measuring and analyzing 

results; initiating corrective actions; minimizing the impact of variances. 

• Accomplishes special project results by identifying and clarifying issues and priorities; communicating 

and coordinating requirements; expediting fulfillment; evaluating milestone accomplishments; evaluating optional 

courses of action; changing assumptions and direction. 

• Supports management by providing human resources advice, counsel, and decisions; analyzing information 

and applications. 

• Guides management and employee actions by researching, developing, writing, and updating policies, 

procedures, methods, and guidelines; communicating and enforcing organization values. 

• Complies with local legal requirements by studying existing Labour laws and new legislation; anticipating 

legislation; enforcing adherence to requirements; advising management on needed actions. 

• Updates job knowledge by participating in conferences and educational opportunities; reading professional 

publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations. 

• Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and 

different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments. 

• Conflict Resolution and the ability to manage fast pace and dynamic high stress situations. 

Qualification: 

• Minimum of Bachelor degree in Human Resource 

• A minimum of 5 years experience in similar organization. 

• Strong verbal and written communication skills 

• Knowledge of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour code 

• Ability to manage upwards of 200 employees. 

All applications should be emailed to sjdcag@gmail.com, no later than September 23, 2016.



Council of Legal Education meeting successful 


Antigua and Barbuda’s 

hosting of the 48 th Meeting 

of the Council of Legal 

Education, which took place 

at the St. James Club has been 

hailed a success. 

The meeting took place 

from August 29 th to September 

4 th . 

The organizing committee 

headed by Attorney General 

the Hon. Steadroy “Cutie” 

Benjamin held a follow up 

meeting on Thursday and 

from all reports Antigua received 

an A plus for its handling 

of the event. 

Benjamin said that the 

positive feedback from members 

of the Council of Legal 

Education is overwhelming. 

He said that he is pleased with 

the work done by the organizing 

group, which was able to 

work together in achieving 

such a daunting task. 

The Minister commended 

the team on behalf of the 

government and further mentioned 

“any special activities 

that will be planned nationally 

of any sort will be handled by 

this team right here.” 

During the week of activities, 

lawyers from around 

the region including Antigua 

and Barbuda attended a the 

11 th annual lecture in the Dr. 

The Hon. Lloyd Barnett O.J 

Topic Law in Society presented 

by President of the 

Law Association Trinidad Mr. 

Reginald Armor SC. 

Minister Benjamin delivered 

the welcome remarks, 

during the opening ceremony, 

where he reiterated his call for 

the establishment of a School 

of Law in Antigua, a venture 

that is still high on the agenda 

of the Gaston Browne led administration. 

The week packed agenda 

climaxed with a cocktail reception. 

The Council of Legal Education 

is the body responsible 

for the administration of legal 

education throughout the region. 

The organization’s vision 

is to be a world leader in higher 

education through innovation, 

creativity and relevance 

in a system of practical legal 

education, which is rooted in 

history as Caribbean people.

Friday 9th September 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 11



US and EU in harmful tax competition 

Over the last few weeks, 

a trans-Atlantic war of words 

has been going on between 

the US Treasury and the European 

Union Commission 

(EC) over what amounts to 

‘harmful tax competition’. 

That’s the infamous 

phrase coined in the Organisation 

for Economic Cooperation 

and Development 

(OECD) when, in the late 

1990’s, over 30 small states, 

including ones in the Caribbean 

were targeted as ‘tax 

havens’. 

The argument then was 

that countries with low or 

no tax regimes, in which EU 

and US companies operated, 

were depriving the EU 

and the US of taxes on those 

companies. 

Before it was absolutely 

rejected – particularly by the 

George W Bush administration 

in the US – the OECD, 

urged on by its EU members, 

wanted to set tax rates globally 

so as to avoid tax competition. 

Amazingly, competition 

in other areas where they 

enjoyed advantages over 

developing countries was 

promoted, but in financial 

services, where small countries 

were beginning to make 

a mark, competition was rejected. 

Small countries, around 

the world, had to comply 

with the OECD’s tax guidelines, 

including automatic 

provision of tax information 

of US and EU companies 

and persons, or face 

sanctions. Those sanctions 

started with the black-listing 

of countries described 

as “uncooperative” but they 

extended to the threat of cutting 

off banking relations 

– something that is being 

witnessed now with the socalled 

‘de-risking’, a process 

by which US and EU banks 

have been withdrawing essential 

correspondent banking 

relations from banks in 

several regions of the world, 

particularly the Caribbean. 

Over the period since the 

late 1990’s when the OECD 

introduced its concept of 

‘harmful tax competition’ 

and created rules that the developing 

world was forced to 

adopt, the financial services 

sector of the Caribbean, especially 

the off-shore sector 

has struggled to survive. 

The off-shore sector collapsed 

completely in some 

countries and declined considerably 

in others, resulting 

in loss of revenues and employment, 

and setbacks to 

their economies. 

Against this background, 

the spectacle of the EU fighting 

with one of its member 

states, Ireland, over tax 

competition and then the US 

weighing-in to protect its 

own tax revenues, is an interesting 

development in the 

saga of ‘harmful tax competition’. 

The cause of it all is that 

ubiquitous company, Apple, 

whose products adorn 

hip pockets and handbags, 

office desks, home studies 

By Sir Ronald Sanders 

and even bedrooms in many 

parts of the world. 

To minimise on its tax 

payments, Apple established 

its European operations in 

Ireland, a member state of 

the EU, for several good reasons, 

principally a low corporate 

tax rate of 12.5%. 

However, the EU, where 

the average tax rate is 22%, 

has been investigating 

whether Apple’s tax arrangements 

with Ireland, which 

allowed the company to pay 

very little tax on income 

earned throughout Europe, 

amounts to state aid. 

The Irish government denies 

that allegation, saying 

that its tax structure applies 

to everyone and is law in Ireland. 

This has set-up a major 

confrontation within the 

EU. The first dispute will be 

whether tax competition is 

allowed between members 

of the EU or whether they 

are obliged to adhere to a 

harmonised tax structure. 

The second argument 

will centre on who is the offender 

if the rate applied to 

Apple amounts to state aid. 

Was it Apple or the Irish 

government? 

Therefore, who has to 

pay the US$19 billion in unpaid 

taxes that the EU claims 

is due? 

Not Apple, according 

to its Chief Executive Officer, 

Tim Cook. He calls the 

EU investigation “political 

crap”. 

And, not the government 

of Ireland which says it has 

done nothing wrong. 

Into this minefield, steps 

the US government in the 

cont’d on pg 13


Do accredited universities 

give out honorary degrees? 

By ABNAB 

There have been many questions 

raised about honorary degrees with 

many persons wondering if accredited 

universities issue such awards. 

Yes, many accredited universities 

chose to award honorary degrees; honorary 

doctorates in particular. It is important 

to remember however, that the 

award is, as the name implies, an honorary 

one. 

The recipient did not qualify for the 

award by passing any prescribed examinations 

and in fact might not have 

even attended that particular university. 

Traditionally, universities have used 

the award to honor outstanding members 

of the community who have made 

significant contributions to society in 

their particular field of endeavor. 

Awards are also given to persons 

whose lifetime achievements have impacted 

the lives of many individuals. It 

is awarded as a mark of esteem – for 

the cause of honor or honoris causa 

(Latin). 

Persons are often confused when 

addressing someone with an honorary 

doctorate. Universities establish their 

own criteria for the award of honorary 

doctorates and have their own specific 

guidelines concerning the use of the title 

‘Dr’. 

Some allow the recipient to use the 

title generally, while others specify that 

it be used only within the circles of that 

particular educational community. 

Others may require that whenever 

the title ‘Dr’ is written in reference to 

a recipient of an honorary doctorate the 

abbreviation for honoris causa (h.c.) be 

written next to it. 

An honorary doctorate awarded by 

an accredited university, while obviously 

not having the same standing as 

an earned degree, can be regarded as a 

prestigious award. 

Regrettably, many “Diploma Mills” 

also offer honorary doctorates and 

therefore create skepticism about the 

value of such awards. 

cont’d from pg 12 

form of the US Treasury 

ostensibly to prevent a US 

company from being taxed 

unjustly by the EU since it 

went into Ireland on the basis 

of a declared tax structure 

and administration. 

The US government has 

warned the EU that any attempt 

to collect alleged unpaid 

back taxes not only 

from Apple but also from 

two other US companies, 

Starbucks and Amazon, 

would be overstepping its 

powers, making it ‘a supranational 

tax authority’. 

This last statement is especially 

interesting given 

that the US has long applied 

extra-territorial laws in pursuit 

of its own interests, and 

its 2010 Federal law, the Foreign 

Account Tax Compliance 

Act (FATCA), enforces 

the requirement for United 

States persons including 

those living outside the US 

to file yearly reports on their 

non-U.S. financial accounts 

to the Financial Crimes Enforcement 

Network. 

Governments are required 

to sign an Inter-Governmental 

Agreement with 

the US to make FATCA operational 

or the financial institutions 

in their countries 

will suffer significant financial 

repercussions. 

The US Treasury intervention, 

although it is 

couched in language that 

calls for the preservation of 

certainty and clarity in tax 

administration from the EU, 

really goes beyond that. 

It is really concerned 

with collecting taxes from 

companies, such as Apple 

and others, that are required 

to pay their taxes in the US. 

While under double-taxation 

agreements, companies 

can offset US taxes 

against taxes paid in an EU 

country, if the EU proceeds 

to demand US$19 billion in 

alleged unpaid taxes from 

Apple, the US share of taxes 

from the company would be 

considerably diminished - if 

there is any tax left to collect 

at all. 

So, in the end, this confrontation 

between two allies 

in the tax campaigns 

against everyone else boils 

down to money. Essentially, 

to whether the US or the EU 

gets the bulk of the taxes. 

And, then there is another 

consideration: a US Treasury 

White Paper says that 

the EU’s demand for retroactive 

tax payments “sets an 

undesirable precedent that 

could lead other tax authorities, 

particularly those in developing 

countries, to seek 

large and punitive retroactive 

recoveries from both US 

and EU companies”. And, 

of course, that must never be 

allowed to happen. 

In any event, a battle 

seems to be set up between 

the EU and US on harmful 

tax competition. Dwarves 

have been forced to capitulate 

in similar fights; it will 

be interesting to see how the 

giants fare against each other. 

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.



New website makes it easier to donate to 

the CIBC FirstCaribbean walk for the cure 

CIBC FirstCaribbean is issuing a 

call to its walkers/runners in this year’s 

CIBC FirstCaribbean Walk for the 

CURE to register on-line registration 

through its fund-raising website http:// 

cibcfcibwalkforthecure.causevox.com/ 

which was launched yesterday. 

Participants in the annual Walk for 

the Cure can use the site to register for 

the walk and invite their friends and 

family to sponsor them. Walk Co-Chair 

and Managing Director of Customer 

Relationship Management & Strategy, 

Trevor Torzsas noted that the website 

will allow the walk to move to a different 

level of fund-raising; “It is as simple 

as sending an email out to all those you 

think might like to contribute to Cancer 

detection and care in the Caribbean! 

With this website we can expand our 

reach considerably! We hope this will 

drive the amount we are raising to support 

cancer patients in the region, into 

record levels yet again!” 

The walk takes place in the 16 countries 

in which the bank operates over 

the first weekend in October. Including 

this year’s totals to date, the event has 

raised over $1,000,000 US for the care 

and support of persons affected by cancer 

in the Caribbean, since it started five 

years ago. 

Each country has its own page on the 

new fund-raising website, setting out the 

walk details, the sponsors and the minimum 

donation amount, which equates 

to the participant’s registration fee. The 

bank is also encouraging each participant 

to become fund-raisers for the 

walk. On setting up their account participants 

can send an email to all their contacts 

encouraging them to support the 

venture, and can post similar messages 

to their social media pages. Payments 

and donations are made through Paypal. 

From left: CIBC FirstCaribbean Country Manager Glen Smith, Ms.Salma Crump, MSJMC, 

Mrs. Eunetta Bird, Breast friends and Mrs. Julia Joseph, the bank’s Walk for the Cure 

co-ordinator. 

Torzsas noted that the bank has raised 

just under $ 300,000 US around the Caribbean 

with six weeks still to go. The 

funds were raised through the efforts of 

CIBC FirstCaribbean staff around the 

region and the overwhelmingly generous 

support of the walk’s sponsors. 

In Antigua, this year’s 5 th Annual 

Walk for the Cure will be held on Saturday 

1 st October, moving off at 5pm from 

the bank’s High Street branch. 

Once again this year, the bank has 

teamed up with the Breast Friends Organisation 

and the Oncology Department 

of the Mount St. John Medical 

Centre. These organisations will share 

fully in the funds raised from the walk. 

At a Press Conference held at the 

bank to launch this year’s Walk for the 

Cure, Antigua Country Manager Glen 

Smith appealed to everyone including 

members of the corporate community 

to get involved either by participating in 

the Walk or by donating. 

He noted that practically everyone 

has a family member or friend or knows 

someone who has been affected or by 

cancer. 

Also speaking at the function was 

Mrs. Eunetta Bird, President of Breast 

Friends and Ms. Salma Crump, Head 

of Marketing and Communications at 

Mount St. John Medical Centre. 

Mrs. Bird congratulated the bank 

for its involvement and said that her organization 

has benefitted greatly from 

the contributions made over the past 4 

years. She said that the funds received 

from the bank have assisted persons 

with the cost of radiation treatment, laboratory 

and diagnostic tests and the supply 

of oxygen. 

Ms. Crump was also high in her 

praise for the bank’s Walk for the Cure 

and says that MSJMC is encouraging 

staff and others to participate in the 

Walk this year. 

Last year, the Breast Friends Organisation 

received approximately $17,000 

and the Oncology Department $10,000 

which were the proceeds of the Walk locally 

and from regional sponsors.


Thursday’s Sudoku Solution 

S U D O K U 

CROSSWORD 

Across 

1. Pre-birth period 

6. Riot queller 

10. Lifeline locale 

14. “___ by any other name ...” 

15. Unholy figure 

16. They’re big in Australia 

17. Chefs’ protectors 

18. Street sign 

20. Flat-bottomed rowboats 

22. One behind the wheel 

23. Take it easy 

24. Take seriously 

25. Parisian article 

27. Novel ending? 

29. Searches for water 

34. Goldberg and Field played 

them 

36. It’s straight from the 

horse’s mouth 

38. Brown tone 

39. Third man 

40. Per ___ 

42. Places for flowers 

43. Series of ornamental loops 

45. Shakespearean option 

46. They have a queen but no 

king 

47. We wouldn’t have givers 

without them 

49. Stamp-of-approval letters 

51. Thirsty 

52. Medical suffix 

54. Contained herein (Abbr.) 

56. Window deicer 

60. Henry Hudson’s skill 

63. Pedestrian safeway 

65. Graph heading 

66. Mare’s meal 

67. Prefix for lateral or librium 

68. Licorice-flavored seed 

69. Govt. investigators 

70. Quarters 

71. Latvians 

Down 

1. “The ___ of God” 

2. Song from “Turandot” 

3. Traffic jam 

4. Path start 

5. Secondhand transaction 

6. Flirtatious woman 

7. “Without further ___ . . .” 

8. Thicket 

9. Pleased as punch 

10. Small Chinese dog 

11. Mideast prince (Var.) 

12. Debussy’s “Clair de ___” 

13. Fr. title of respect 

19. Makeovers 

21. To extremes 

24. Odious 

25. Not appropriate 

26. Region from the Nile to 

the Red Sea 

28. Pavilion 

30. Friday on TV 

31. Highway sign 

32. Where to get down? 

33. Flip, in a way 

35. Fruit of the blackthorn 

37. Small lumps 

41. Image-maker’s tool 

44. Takes a spill 

48. Drunk as a skunk 

50. Twenty Questions category 

53. Basra native 

55. “Crazy” singer 

56. William Wallace, for one 

57. Stuff 

58. Learning by memorization 

59. Part of the NAACP 

60. Tomba’s transportation 

61. Home in the woods 

62. “Here ___ nothing!” 

64. Big brute



Today’s weather forecast 

Antigua and Barbuda 

Showers in the morning, then 

partly cloudy in the afternoon. 

High - 85ºF 

Low - 79ºF 

Wind: South East 10 mph 

Sunrise 5.54 am; Sunset 6.13 pm 

Thursday’s Crossword Solution 

HOROSCOPE 

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). 

Sometimes you feel like an 

extra sipping coffee in the 

background, and you’re good 

with the ambient role. However, 

don’t too get comfortable 

there. This is just a break before 

your next scene. 

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). 

There are people around you 

who are underrated and under-appreciated 

time and 

again. You’re the one who 

sees how brilliant and special 

they are, and you’ll help them 

see it, too. 

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). 

To appease the powers that 

rule tomorrow, a sacrifice must 

be made today — not just any 

sacrifice though. It doesn’t 

matter if it’s something hard 

or easy to give, it only matters 

that it’s the right thing to give. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22- 

Dec. 21). Like a homing pigeon, 

you’ll explore vast distances, 

traveling far and wide 

to complete your mission, 

which, at the end of the day, 

always wraps up in the same 

place. 

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 

19). You expect much of yourself 

and often deliver on these 

expectations. Frustration is 

natural, but immature. As for 

self-directed anger... who has 

time for the drama? Quietly 

pull it together and try again. 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 

18). Money is a motivator, but 

not a big one. Your true desire 

is for knowledge, experience 

and wisdom. More than money, 

this what will ultimately 

help you move beyond your 

limitations. 

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). 

There is no greater thrill for 

you today than the excited 

buzz that comes with putting 

something in the world that 

wasn’t there before. Bonus: 

Your creativity will delight all 

around you. 

ARIES (March 21-April 19). 

By taking only one or two actions 

a day toward a goal, you 

will land in a significantly different 

future from the future 

you’d have were you to take 

no action at all. Go back to 

the plan you abandoned and 

rework it into smaller chunks. 

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). 

Your loved one’s happiness 

needn’t come at the expense 

of your own. Keep looking for 

a mutually satisfying arrangement. 

This can be struck without 

either party feeling at all 

compromised. 

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). 

Though you’re not trying to 

be and don’t want to be, you 

can’t help it: You’re charming, 

and they are under your 

spell. The attention is not to be 

squandered. You’ve a responsibility 

to use your distracting 

qualities for good. 

CANCER (June 22-July 22). 

Your sense of connection extends 

joyfully to all you touch 

and even what you don’t 

touch. You can feel the energy 

of the people who paved the 

roads you drive on, the man 

out walking his dog and the 

bird soaring above it all. 

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’re 

not shallow or small-minded; 

nor are you the least bit petty. 

It is therefore hard for you to 

imagine the mindset that some 

are coming from, but try. Otherwise, 

they will surely catch 

you off-guard.


Persons from the St. Paul's Community - (English Harbour, 

Cobbs Cross, Piccadilly, Liberta) who attend the LIberta 

Clinic for Medical services can now do so by means of a 

Courtesy Transportation provided by Parliamentary Representative 

- Hon. E.P Chet Greene. Persons who need this 

service can call 771-0323 or 774-6428 or leave your information 

at the Branch Office back of the Yasoso Bakery or 

at the Liberta Clinic. Services for the filling of prescription 

from the Medical Benefit Scheme Pharmacy - All Saints and 

other pharmacies are also available. 

Plans for the 35th Independence Anniversary Celebrations 

are currently underway. The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals 

Commission is welcoming members of the general public to 

submit ideas for a theme to be used for Antigua and Barbuda’s 

Independence 2016. Submissions can be done via email 

at abfestivals@ab.gov.ag, or hand-delivered to the Office of 

the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, located on 

the first floor in Pigotts Mall. The deadline for submission is 

Friday 16 th September 2016. 

The National Vocational and Rehabilitation Center for Persons 

with Disabilities on Factory Road will be reopened 

on Monday 12 th September 2016 at 8am. All concerned are 

asked to take note of this very important information and we 

look forward to a productive and exciting working relationship 

for 2016 and beyond. 

The National Vocational and Rehabilitation Center for Persons 

with Disabilities on Factory Road will be reopened on 

Monday 12th September 2016 at 8am. All concerned are 

asked to take note of this very important information and we 

look forward to a productive and exciting working relationship 

for 2016 and beyond. 

The Department of Environment (DoE) is seeking to formalize 

the protection of waterways, under Part IV of the 

Environmental Protection and Management Act (2015), in 

order to achieve timely and sustained management of our 

waterways. The DoE, through the Minister of Environment, 

will be establishing a Watershed and Wetlands Management 

Committee who will manage watersheds and hydrological 

features, inclusive of ponds, drainage systems, and ghauts. 

The Environmental Act of 2015 provides for the mapping 

of all hydrological features, as well as policy measures and 

actions to remedy problems that are contributing to flooding 

and public health concerns. The public is hereby advised that 

this protection will be afforded to ponds, drainage systems 

and ghauts on both public and private lands. These measures 

will serve to improve drainage and reduce incidences of 

flooding. 

Plans for the 35th Independence Anniversary Celebrations 

are currently underway. The Antigua and Barbuda Festivals 

Commission is welcoming members of the general public to 

submit ideas for a theme to be used for Antigua and Barbuda’s 

Independence 2016.Submissions can be done via email 

at abfestivals@ab.gov.ag, or hand-delivered to the Office of 

the Antigua and Barbuda Festivals Commission, located on 

the first floor in Pigotts Mall. The deadline for submission is 

Friday 16 th September 2016. 

Island Boys edge out 

Stingers in Tapeball 

Premier league 

By Carlena Knight 

Kenneth A Gomez and 

Sons Island Boys edged out 

Orange Limited Stingers by 

7 runs on Wednesday night 

in the EZ Kool Radiator Services 

Island Sanitation Ceco 

Pharmacy Hall Construction 

and Lees Landscaping 

Tapeball Premier league at 

Dredgers. 

Batting first Island boys 

made 92 for 9 from 10 overs 

with Boston Thomas making 

41 runs. 

Ntini Olliviere of Stingers 

took 3 wickets. 

Stingers were constricted 

to 85 for 5 from 10 overs 

with Zus Valmond making 

26 runs and Ntini Olliviere 

contributing 25 not out. 

AUA School of Medicine 

and Medicare Pharmacy 

PMS forfeited to Pelican Safari 

East Side Breeze. 

Aska dominates 

boxing competition 


Yakita Aska, local boxing sensation dominated the just 

concluded Clash of the Iron Pro-am boxing competition at 

the Multipurpose Sports Complex in Road Town, Tortola. 

Aska who hails from the Conra Gym, defeated Shomari 

Chimmery of the USVI after he failed to answer the bell at 

the start of round 3. 

Aska will now turn his attentions to the Caribbean Boxing 

Development tournament in Barbados from December 

4th -10th.



National volleyball 

teams named 


The senior men’s and 

women’s teams have named 

their squad who will contest 

the Preliminary round of the 

Volleyball World Cup Qualifiers 

this weekend at the 

YMCA Sports complex. 

Five youth males will 

make their debut in the senior 

team with a number of 

returning veterans to battle. 

Itero Jenkins, Dave 

Rouse, Erwin Mathurin, 

Amoy Lee and Adrian Constant 

will join Olsen Joseph, 

Paul Richards, Michael 

Hamilton, Kylon Cabral, 

Collin Thomas, Yashid Auguiste 

and standby, T’mar 

Seaman while in the women’s 

team, newcomers, Tyke 

Hawkins, Josanne Lewis 

and Morgen Halstead will 

accompany Kwanisa Carr, 

Vanessa Burke, Nyota Peters, 

Neheemer Wilson, Tessa 

Payne, Joel Thomas, Rosie 

Simon, Gizelle Araz and 

Annett Beazer. 

Both coaches Carl Williams 

(male) and Lewis Harris 

(female) are confident 

about their chances in the 

event. 

Admission is $5.


Should Windies cricketers be interviewed? 

By Javid Goodwin 

After assessing the performances 

of the West Indies 

team and players over the 

past decade or so, a thought 

came to mind. Should the 

players go on a job interview 

with the selectors before 

even being considered for 

the selection? 

Let’s consider major 

sports in the US. 

After players would have 

showcased their talents in 

College – in American Football, 

Basketball and Soccer, 

they go through a series of 

evaluations before the draft. 

One of those evaluations is 

an opportunity for the teams 

to get to know the player 

better and evaluating him 

the best way they could as 

an individual. 

The owners of these 

teams understand that they 

will be spending huge sums 

of monies on these individuals 

and therefore require the 

best evaluation to determine 

whether the risk is worth it. 

Work ethic, character 

judgement, ambition, talent 

and upside are the major 

considerations to the investment. 

With this in mind, 

shouldn’t our West Indies 

players be subject to a job 

interview before they are 

considered for the job? 

Most of us who work 

had to be evaluated and in 

most cases interviewed before 

being hired. Therefore, 

the same should be applied 

to our players. Talent alone 

does not secure the job. A 

player may have talent but 

no ambition. Also a player 

may have talent and ambition 

but is not a team player. 

These are some of the factors 

that can cause a player not to 

achieve his fullest potential. 

What if a player thinks 

he is good enough to play 

at the highest level but has 

no desire to put in the work 

to become better or great? 

What if the player has an 

inflated understanding of 

his talent? What if he is not 

Curtains to fall on 

Village Netball League 


The curtains will come down on the 2016 Village netball 

on Saturday at the YMCA sports complex. 

The event which is in its second year was put on by the 

Concerned Netballers group and will feature an all-male 

game, as well as, a 3 a side competition starting at 6:00 p.m. 

A BBQ fundraiser will be held at 5:00 p.m. just before 

the closing ceremony in which all teams are expected to be 

present in uniform. 

The funds will be used towards an All-star trip, later this 

year, in which a squad will be chosen from the league to 

represent. 

a team player? Aren’t these 

important? 

Were Jason Holder and 

Carlos Brathwaite interviewed 

before given the 

job of Captain? If so did 

they give a realistic assessment 

of themselves? Did 

Jason Holder indicate that 

he would have a difficulty in 

maintaining his place in the 

side based on his development 

so far? Did he indicate 

that this would also present 

him with future problems 

when he has to drop players 

based on form? Did he 

think his leadership would 

be compromised? Hmmmm. 

Food for thought. 

I for one would love to 

hear a youngster say in an 

interview that he wants to be 

the best player in the world 

whether it’s as a batman, 

bowler or all-rounder. Not 

only do I want to hear that 

but I also want to established 

from him how he plans to 

achieve that. His answer to 

the question will give insight 

to the player being selected 

to represent the millions of 

passionate people who follow 

Windies cricket. 

If such a system does not 

exist, let us hope that the 

WICB can consider a more 

comprehensive approach to 

the selection of the team.



Former WICB officials call 

for forensic audit of board 

Former presidents and officials 

of the West Indies Cricket 

Board have urged CARICOM 

to conduct a forensic audit of 

so.” 

Asked for a reaction, the 

WICB told ESPNcricinfo that 

it has hired global consultants 

the board in order to save West PricewaterhouseCoopers and 

Indies cricket from “absolute 

and total downfall”. 

Six former officials - Ken 

Gordon, Pat Rousseau, Anthony 

Deyal, Charles Wilkin, 

Bruce Aanensen and Imran 

Khan - have claimed that the 

KPMG to conduct the audit 

operations. “We maintain an internal 

and external audit system 

with PWC and KPMG respectively. 

You may refer to them 

for any additional inquiries you 

may have,” a WICB spokesperson 

said. 

current WICB administration 

Former WICB president Ken Gordon: ‘We must reinforce the message 

that West Indies cricket belongs to the people of the West In- 

under Dave Cameron has seemingly 

become “untouchable”, for an audit in July and has 

Gordon first made the call 

dies, not to the WICB’. 

and not doing anything would renewed his plea in light of 

lead to the “inevitable demise” 

of cricket in the Caribbean. 

“We must reinforce the 

message that West Indies cricket 

belongs to the people of the 

West Indies, not to the WICB,” 

Gordon, WICB president from 

the WICB’s refusal to accept 

the latest CARICOM reform 

proposal and the controversial 

removal of Darren Sammy as 

captain of the West Indies T20I 

team. 

Rousseau, who served as 

and has proposed as the mechanism 

a forensic audit of the individual 

boards which own the 

WICB and of the WICB itself. 

There is a deep threat of the 

absolute and total downfall of 

West Indies cricket. It’s a process 

tical about CARICOM’s unity 

considering the emergence of 

factions within the regional 

body. In June, Antigua Prime 

Minister Gaston Browne had 

stated that he would categorically 

reject the CARICOM’s 

2006 to 2008, said. “It may be which is fully underway president of the board from 

call for dissolving the WICB. 

timely to call for a forensic audit 

of the organisation. We need 

to lift the clouded veil which 

now surrounds that body. Answers 

are required and this can 

be a first step to return to the 

transparency required of a body 

1996 to 2001, said all sporting 

bodies need to be carefully 

monitored. 

“There should be an assurance 

that there is certification 

by an independent group that 

proper governance procedures 

and at this stage seemingly inevitable.” 

Wilkin, a former chairman 

of the board’s governance committee, 

suggested that unless 

the board heeds the calls for 

change, CARICOM governments 

Imran Khan, a former 

WICB communications officer, 

also felt the CARICOM’s refusal 

to give the WICB access 

to certain grounds could have 

an impact. “Two things need 

to happen: mass fan boycott, 

which is a major beneficiary of should “refuse permis- 

are followed at all times. I 

and CARICOM governments 

regional resources and private 

sponsorship. 

“Many lovers of the game 

have said to me, ‘What can 

we do that would make a difference?’ 

The WICB seems to 

be untouchable. I say to them 

and to all cricket lovers who 

would commend to all the governments 

in CARICOM that 

they create special legislation 

that brings all the sporting associations 

under an obligation to 

observe good governance principles 

and to protect the finances 

of the association.” 

sion for use of the stadia and 

refuse them access to regional 

cricket grounds”. 

“The real leverage which 

CARICOM has, if it seriously 

wants to force the WICB to 

change, is the control of most of 

the stadia used for international 

refusing the WICB access to 

grounds which they own or 

control or have influence over,” 

Khan said. “CARICOM can 

no longer delay taking decisive 

action to rescue to the regional 

game from the cauldron of 

incompetence from which it 

are concerned, let the call for a 

forensic audit be loud and clear. 

Deyal, WICB’s corporate matches,” Wilkins said. “The 

secretary between 2006 and WICB will not be able to host 

boils. To not act is to contribute 

to the further deterioration 

We need to save our cricket and 

this has to begin with getting 

the WICB right. It would be entirely 

legitimate for CARICOM 

to fund such an exercise and I 

urge that they consider doing 

2008, supported Gordon’s call 

and also urged for an audit of 

country boards. 

“I strongly support the call. 

Mr Gordon has made a strong 

case for following the money 

touring teams if the CARICOM 

governments refuse permission 

for use of the stadia and the 

various other permits required 

under local law.” 

Wilkins said he was skep- 

of the regional game and to be 

complicit in its inevitable demise.” 

(ESPNcricinfo)

Caribbean Times 89th Issue - Friday 9th September 2016

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