Caribbean Times 29th Issue - Friday 4th November 2016

Informative, reliable, enriching! 

Friday 4th November 2016 A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a 

Vol.8 No.29 $2.00 

PINCHERS, WCK HEADLINE 

ALL SAINTS TOURNAMENT 

Story on 

Page 3 

Pinchers (in green pants) will headline a star-studded line-up of regional and Antiguan and Barbudan artists to perform on the ‘We Are 

One’ concert on Sat 5 Nov, 2016 at the Mack Pond Sports Complex in All Saints Village, Antigua.

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

Friday 4th November 2016 

Port Chairman reports improvements 

By Everton Barnes 

Nearly two and a half 

years after the new Board of 

Directors was appointed at 

the Antigua Port Authority 

(APA), the chairman is reporting 

significant improvements 

in its operations. 

APA Chairman Senator 

Mary Clare Hurst said there 

have been marked improvements 

in efficiencies at the 

port resulting in a better 

Editor’s Note 

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Antigua. 

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managed port authority. 

“We have closed the financial 

gap of $5 million 

in our operations, paid off 

practically all outstanding 

debts, including the 90 security 

officers dismissed back 

in 2004, and we have also 

paid outstanding back-pay to 

the staff,” she reported. 

Hurst said the port has 

also seen increases in revenues 

by 12 percent while at 

the same time expenditures 

have been kept in check to 

match revenues. 

Additionally, she disclosed 

that after failing to 

submitted audited statements 

since 2005, the audited statements 

for 2006 to 2014 have 

been completed and will be 

tabled in parliament shortly. 

“I am very pleased that 

after not being able to submit 

audited statements for 


Elderly members of the society stand 

to gain from a decision of the Cabinet and 

which takes immediate effect. 

Social Transformation Minister, Samantha 

Marshall, disclosed that the Cabinet has 

decided to waive all duties for items sent to 

people 75 years and older by their families 

living overseas. 

“We recognize that many of these people 

have families who have migrated and who 

regularly send a number of items back home. 

Quite often, no money is sent to clear the 

items at the port and these individuals have 

to rely on what little pension they get to clear 

the goods from the port. 

“Now, we are putting an end to this,” she 

declared. 

many years, the new board 

have been able to bring 

these statements almost to 

the point of being current. 

This is another area where 

we have also improved at the 

port; the area of accountability,” 

she added. 

As it relates the equipment 

used at the port, Hurst 

said there have been improvements 

there as well. 

“We have repaired one of 

the cranes and we will be acquiring 

another shortly, and 

as we prepare for the Christmas 

season, the plan is to 

have two stackers operating 

on the inside – one manual 

and the other electrical – 

and the third one that uses 

diesel operating on the outside. 

This will significantly 

reduce the exhaust that has 

affected work in the warehouse 

and which has been a 

constant source of complaint 

from the staff,” she revealed. 

One troubling point for 

the port chairman is the complaints 

of thievery of goods 

imported into the country, 

particularly those that come 

in barrels. 

“I have issued apologies 

to those who have lost goods 

at the port and I have also 

assured them that we are 

taking steps to reduce the 

incidence of this practice,” 

Hurst stated. 

She said as a matter of 

policy an investigation will 

take place into the allegations, 

but already the port 

will be implementing measures 

to deal with the problem. 

These include increased 

surveillance of the port and a 

limiting the number of people 

entering the port who are 

not workers. 

Help coming for the elderly 

She said sometimes the elderly visit her 

ministry seeking waiver of duties but that in 

many cases they do not come. 

The decision, she noted, is to make it 

clear and across the board that all persons of 

that group will benefit from henceforth. 

According to Minister Marshall the list 

of the goods covered by the Cabinet decision 

will be sent to the Comptroller of Customs 

for immediate implementation. 

The extensive list of items include medical 

supplies such as wheel-chairs, walking 

sticks, special beds, shower rails, commodes, 

special toilets, adult diapers, bed pans, special 

medicines for diabetes, vitamins, energy 

drinks and others. 

All taxes due on these items have now 

been waived with immediate effect.

Friday 4th November 2016 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3 

Pinchers & WCK to perform in All Saints this weekend 

By Renio Abbott 

This weekend the All 

Saints community will host 

two events to celebrate their 

25 th Anniversary tournament 

at the Mock Pond playing 

field. Senator Collin James 

who is the Parliamentary 

Secretary of Sports, Culture 

and National Festivals, also 

the President of the Helping 

Hand Foundation and President 

of the Young Warriors 

Football club will be having 

a weekend of activities. 

This fundraising concert 

will be held at the Mock 

pond playing field and sports 

complex which are needy of 

refurbishing hence the reason 

of the concert and sporting 

event. James stated that 

the Young warriors football 

club will be the host of this 

weekend event, three teams 

from the community to include 

Sweet and All Saints 

will be a part of the tournament. 

The top football club 

from St. Kitts (Garden hot 

Spurs) will also be a part of 

this. 

The cost of this will be 

shared between the St. Kitts 

club and the Young warriors 

club of Antigua for the tickets 

expense and is asking the 

public to give a kind donation 

toward the meals and 

accommodation it could be 

$1. $5, $10 no matter your 

contribution a contribution 

box will be at the gate. 

The Saturday first gam 

e starts at 3pm All Saints V 

Young warriors, then at 5 

pm St. Kitts V Sweets. The 

Sunday at 4 pm the 2 losers 

will play against each other. 

At 6pm the grand finally of 

the two winners, the games 

will be free. 

The concert “we are One 

“ will be held on the Sunday 

where at 6 pm a matinee for 

children will take place, then 

at 8pm the adult component 

starts with the help of the 

Jamaican Sports and Culture 

Minister Oliver Bapcie 

Granger who was very influential 

towards his venture an 

early thank you also the government 

of Dominica 

The lineup are as follows 

Pinchers from Jamaica 

WCK from Dominica, 

M&M music, King Bankers, 

lady Melody, Mad Tiguan’s, 

Lion King, Zambi and his 

band, from Barbuda Queen 

Stabba, and Ikey john the 

admission for this event is 

children under 12 pay $10, 

Regular $35 , and VIP $100 

. tickets can be purchase at 

Town House Mega Store, 

Cool & Smooth ,Hakims, island 

Original ( Frank I Sport 

shop) Super Power, and Antigua 

Jewelers. 

All proceeds goes toward 

the reconstruction of the 

complex and field.



Nigerian group explores investments 

By Joanna Paris 

Representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, 

the Antigua and Barbuda Bureau 

of Standards, supermarkets, representatives 

from the private sector and the Inter-American 

Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture 

(IICA) are participating in a two-day forum 

focusing on “GAP Auditing Techniques”. 

Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and 

Good Handling Practices (GHP) are voluntary 

audits that verify that fruits and vegetables 

are produced, packed, handled, and 

stored as safely as possible to minimize risks 

of microbial food safety hazards. 

Director of the ABBS, Dianne Lalla-Rodrigues, 

explained that the Organization of 

Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) as part of 


A Nigerian team is currently in Antigua 

exploring possibilities for investments 

in the country. 

The team from the Nigerian Army 

Property Ltd (NAPL) is headed by Brigadier-General 

Umanu Mohammed and 

it comprises of five persons, all with different 

specialties. NAPL is the entity that 

handles resources set aside to take care of 

retired military officials in Nigeria. The 

company’s task is to invest into profitable 

enterprises for the benefit of the retirees. 

“The NAPL team is here to examine 

Antigua and Barbuda’s investment potential. 

The group is looking at the possibility 

of investing in a hotel property 

as well as to explore establishing trade 

routes between West Africa and the Caribbean 

with Antigua and Barbuda as a 

hub for direct flight from Nigeria,” Cabinet 

spokesman Lionel Max Hurst reported. 

He stated that the group met with the 

Cabinet on Thursday after first meeting 

with Prime Minister Gaston Browne in 

Dubai earlier. 

According to Hurst the team expressed 

frustration with communications 

links between the Caribbean and West 

Africa and noted that there are excellent 

By ABNAB 

At ABNAB, we have often 

been asked if all diplomas 

carry the same value. Recent 

queries have been about the 

weight of the Executive Diploma. 

A diploma, in broad 

terms, is a certificate or document 

issued by an educational 

institution to students who 

have successfully completed 

a particular course of programme 

of study. 

There are many types of 

diplomas used by educational 

institutions internationally, 

issued at various levels. For 

example, in some jurisdictions 

like the US, diplomas 

are issued by schools to students 

upon completion of 

their high school education. 

In Canada, diplomas are issued 

by two year colleges of 

arts and technology. In England, 

diplomas are awarded 

to 14 -19 year old students 

who have established their 

’work readiness’ in specific 

areas. In that jurisdiction as 

well, Higher Diplomas are at 

a level just below the bachelor’s 

level. Internationally, 

postgraduate diplomas are 

recognised certificates for 

certain courses beyond the 

ABBS hosts Standard Audit Workshop 

the 10 th EDF programme has identified the 

need to establish a certification framework 

for the region. 

She emphasized that training in GAP is 

essential to ensuring that the country’s farmers 

are in keeping with internationally accepted 

standards. 

“You are the persons that we are going to 

go out to the farms and go out to the various 

entities and literally audit or ensure that they 

do that which they say they are doing”, she 

said. 

The workshop’s facilitator is Sheryl Anderson 

representing the Bureau of Standards 

from Jamaica. 

The forum is taking place the ABBS 

Headquarters on Old Parham Road. 

possibilities for trade between the two areas. 

The Nigerian team will spend eight 

days in St John’s meeting with government 

officials, members of the private 

sector and bankers as well as visit places 

of interest as part of the tour of the country. 

Hurst also reported that the team has 

expressed an interest in establishing a 

direct air link between Nigeria and the 

United States with Antigua serving as a 

stop-over on the route. 

He said government welcomes any 

group that has expressed an interest in 

bringing direct foreign investments into 

the country. 

Do all diplomas carry the same value? 

bachelor’s level. 

In our region, diplomas 

are also issued at levels below 

as well as above the bachelor’s 

level. In the case of the 

Executive Diploma, focus is 

placed on the development or 

enhancement of workplace 

skills and competencies for 

professionals in business of 

industry. The programme is 

quite intensive and carries 

much weight. An example of 

this is the Executive Diploma 

offered by the University of 

the West Indies which can 

be used as matriculation into 

the Executive Masters programme. 

It must be stressed however, 

that the value of diplomas 

issued at any level, 

is also linked to the status 

of the institution that issued 

the diploma. If there are persons 

who have any doubts 

or concerns about the value 

or currency of a diploma or 

any other type of certification 

they have received, they can 

seek advice from the Antigua 

and Barbuda National Accreditation 

Board.


St. Kitts PM Harris meets Georgia’s PM 

Other photo shows Prime Minister 

Dr. the Honourable Timothy 

Harris seated next to Ms. Heidi-Lynn 

Sutton, Regulator in the 

Nevis Island Administration. 

TBILISI, GEORGIA — 

Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable 

Timothy Harris met 

today, Thursday, November 

3 rd , with Prime Minister Giorgi 

Kvirikashvili of Georgia 

to advance the cause of 

St. Kitts and Nevis. 

The Georgian leader 

warmly received the Prime 

Minister of St. Kitts and 

Nevis, and they exchanged 

pleasantries before Prime 

Minister Kvirikashvili introduced 

Dr. Harris to his 

Minister of Finance, Nodar 

Khaduri, and Minister 

of Foreign Affairs, Mikheil 

Janelidze. 

The two leaders explored 

areas of collaboration between 

both countries. Areas 

of interest include education 

and training in a range of 

subjects such as engineering, 

medicine and maritime 

studies, as well as support 

in the development of information 

and communications 

technology (ICT) 

platforms. Georgia, which 

has an emerging free market 

economy, has developed 

an excellent e-government 

platform that provides a onestop 

shop featuring over 400 

services. 

The leaders also discussed 

sustainable development 

goals; the workings of 

the Association Agreement 

between the European Union 

(EU) and Georgia, which 

DEERFIELD BEACH, Fla. – Four 

Authentic Caribbean beachfront resorts 

in the Elite Island Resorts portfolio 

have won prestigious 2016 Magellan 

Awards from Travel Weekly. The 

awards recognize the best organizations 

and individuals in a broad range 

of travel industry sectors. 

In the hospitality segment, two Elite 

Island Resorts properties earned Gold 

Magellan Awards, the highest award 

possible. St. James’s Club Morgan Bay 

in St. Lucia won in the Family Resort 

category, and The Club, Barbados Resort 

& Spa won in the Upscale Resort 

category. Also in the hospitality segment, 

Silver Magellan Awards were 

bestowed on two Antigua properties: 

The Verandah Resort & Spa in the 

Eco-Friendly “Green” category and St. 

James’s Club & Villas in the Beach Resort 

category. 

“Since our inception, our top priority 

has been to create a collection of 

resorts that best exemplify the essence 

of the Caribbean experience, with each 

offering a unique charm for discerning 

travelers,” said Steven Heydt, President 

of Elite Island Resorts. 

“These awards indicate that our industry 

colleagues recognize the exceptional 

quality of our resort properties, 

Pictured at left: Prime Minister Dr. the Honourable Timothy Harris 

and Ms. Heidi-Lynn Sutton, Regulator in the Nevis Island Administration. 

Pictured at right: Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili of 

Georgia at centre. Next to the Prime Minister of Georgia, in the 

foreground, is Nodar Khaduri, his Minister of Finance. Next to the 

Prime Minister of Georgia, in the background, is Mikheil Janelidze, 

his Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

fully entered into force 

on July 1 st , 2016; reforms 

made and being carried out 

by Prime Minister Harris’ 

Team Unity government and 

Prime Minister Kvirikashvili’s 

Georgian Dream government, 

and Russia-Georgia 

relations. Over the weekend, 

Prime Minister Kvirikashvili 

pledged to further 

strengthen economic and 

cultural ties with Russia. 

Ms. Heidi-Lynn Sutton, 

Regulator in the Nevis Island 

Administration, supported 

Prime Minister Harris 

at the meeting. 

Elite Island Resorts wins four 2016 Magellan awards 

and will reinforce our commitment to 

maintaining the high standards that 

keep our guests coming back.” 

Winners are chosen by a unique 

panel of outstanding professionals in 

travel and media. In determining the 

awards, entries do not compete with 

one another, instead they are judged 

against a standard of excellence based 

on the extensive experience of Travel 

Weekly. 

All of this year’s winners will be 

highlighted in the magazine’s October 

31 issue. A complete online list of the 

winners is available at www.travelweeklyawards.com/winners/.



Internet Gaming: The US- 

Antigua and Barbuda contention 

For over 12 years, the governments 

of Antigua and Barbuda and the United 

States have been involved in a contention 

over an award by the World Trade 

Organisation in favour of Antigua and 

Barbuda over internet gaming. 

In March 2004, an Arbitration Panel 

set up by the World Trade Organisation 

(WTO) found that the US had 

violated its commitments under the 

General Agreement on Trade in Services 

(GATS) to allow cross-border 

access to its market for internet gaming. 

The adjudication by a WTO panel 

that Antigua and Barbuda has been 

deprived of trade revenues, was upheld 

three times by Appeal Tribunals. 

What now exists is a contention 

over a satisfactory compensatory proposal 

from the US that would cause 

Antigua and Barbuda not to implement 

the WTO award it has been 

granted. The award authorises Antigua 

and Barbuda to sell US copyrighted 

material without having to pay 

royalties/fees, up to a value of US$21 

million a year until the US offers a 

proposal, acceptable to Antigua and 

Barbuda, either to settle the matter or 

to allow access to its market for internet 

gaming. 

At any time that the Government 

of Antigua and Barbuda determines 

that the discussions it has been holding 

with the US Trade Representative’s 

Office (USTR) are fruitless, it 

can notify the WTO of its intention to 

implement the judgement and to market 

US intellectual property without 

copyright up to US$21 million a year. 

Antigua and Barbuda has both a 

moral and a legal right to compensation 

from the US. It is the US that 

has violated its international treaty 

obligations; not Antigua and Barbuda. 

Indeed, in 2003, the Antigua 

and Barbuda government, under then 

Prime Minister Lester Bird, entered 

good faith consultations with the US 

to rectify the loss of trade revenues 

and the damage to the economy. Only 

after the US declined to provide compensation 

did Antigua and Barbuda 

reluctantly ask the WTO to arbitrate 

the matter. Successor governments, 

led by former Prime Minister Baldwin 

Spencer and present Prime Minister 

Gaston Browne, have demonstrated 

great forbearance over the years since 

2004. 

The Moral Right 

With respect to the moral right, 

a tiny country with a population of 

less than 100,000 people and a GDP 

of US$1 billion has found itself at a 

trade disadvantage, damaging to its 

economy, because, for over 12 years, 

the US with a population of 350 million 

people and a GDP of US$17,947 

billion has not found it possible either 

to reach an acceptable settlement or to 

allow market access. 

In addition to not compensating 

Antigua and Barbuda for its significant 

loss of revenues, jobs and economic 

growth, the US has collected the sum 

of US$1,209,312,776.91 (US$1.2billion) 

in fines, forfeitures and seizures 

from persons and operators in Antigua 

and Barbuda up to 2015. 

The US has also benefitted from 

a surplus of trade in goods from 

Antigua and Barbuda over the period 

2004 to 2014 in the sum of 

US1,892,400,000.00 (US$1.89 billion). 

By Sir Ronald Sanders 

Adding the trade surplus in goods 

to the sum the US gained from penalties, 

seizures and fines imposed on internet 

gaming persons and businesses 

that operated in Antigua, the US gain 

over the period of this controversy is 

US$3 billion. 

Over eleven years (2003-2014) of 

the internet gaming impasse, US aid 

to Antigua and Barbuda amounted to 

US$8.5 million or an annual average of 

seven hundred and seventy-six thousand 

dollars (US$776,669.00). More 

than 90% of this money went to military 

training from the US Department 

of Defence, primarily for counter drug 

trafficking. When this sum is deducted 

from the US trade surplus with Antigua 

and Barbuda, the US still benefits 

by US$1.88 billion. 

The Legal Right 

Antigua and Barbuda is asserting a 

legal right awarded to it by the WTO, 

the competent legal authority, empowered 

by 164 nations of the world 

and recognised by treaty, to provide a 

cont’d on pg 7


British PM publicly withdraws support for 

Commonwealth boss, Baroness Scotland 

Theresa May has delivered 

a hammer blow to Baroness 

Scotland by publicly 

withdrawing her personal 

support for the embattled 

Commonwealth boss. 

Pressed repeatedly if the 

troughing Labour Peer still 

commanded the backing of 

Number 10, the PM’s official 

spokeswoman refused 

to express confidence. 

She only said: “The PM 

supports the role of Secretary 

General of the Commonwealth 

and the important 

work the office does.” 

The shunning came despite 

Britain backing Baroness 

Scotland for the top 

£160,000 diplomatic slot 

last year. 

It also comes after days 

of embarrassing expenses 

revelations and it emerged 

the troubled Commonwealth 

HQ run by Baroness Scotland 

is broke. 

On Tuesday No 10 had 

heaped praise on the troubled 

Commonwealth boss 

saying she had a “vital role 

to do” and was “playing an 

important part” in taking the 

union of 52 nations forward. 

But this new blow from 

the British government will 

heap pressure on Baroness 

Scotland to quit her the diplomatic 

role. 

Other big hitters are Canada 

and Australia who stump 

up £3.3 million and £2 million 

annually. 

The spendaholic Commonwealth 

Secretary General 

is under fire after it 

emerged a “big contributor” 

to the 52 strong union of nations 

had stepped in to fill 

the financial black hole. 

Probed on whether the 

UK had “stepped in”, last 

night the Foreign Office 

said: “The UK’s contribution 

is being processed in 

line with our normal processes 

and the timescale for 

this has not been finalised.” 

“Therefore we are not 

in a position to make commitments 

about when payment 

should be expected.” 

Source: The Sun UK 

cont’d from pg 6 

legal and institutional framework for 

the implementation and monitoring of 

trade agreements (such as the GATS), 

as well as for settling disputes arising 

from their interpretation and application. 

In pursuing its right, Antigua and 

Barbuda, as the injured party, is doing 

nothing more than following the law 

and respecting the authority of the 

WTO. If Antigua and Barbuda is forced 

to implement the award of the WTO, it 

would be exercising a legal right just 

as the US has done in relation to many 

other countries when arbitration decisions 

have been made in its favour. 

What prospects for a settlement? 

Antigua and Barbuda remains determined 

to reach a settlement that 

rectifies its loss of trade revenues. Every 

diplomatic effort is being made 

to show the US that US$21 million a 

year is the paltry sum of .000001% of 

its GDP; indeed, the loss to the Antigua 

and Barbuda economy of U$$217 

million from 2007 to now is a mere 

.0012% of one year of the US GDP 

– in other words, it is nothing to the 

US; but it is significant to Antigua and 

Barbuda. 

Discussions with the US government 

are ongoing. The US wants to 

withdraw its international commitments 

under the GATS and to restrict 

its market for internet gaming to its 

domestic operators only. But it cannot 

do so until Antigua and Barbuda 

agrees; there is no likelihood of such 

an agreement until a settlement is 

reached. 

The US has been trying to guard its 

intellectual property from predators, 

and it would be troubled by Antigua 

and Barbuda exercising its legal right 

to sell US copyrighted material without 

paying fees. Antigua and Barbuda 

understands and sympathises with the 

US position. Therefore, if the government 

decides to implement the WTO 

award and to market US intellectual 

property without the payment of copyright 

fees, it would only be because it 

is forced to do so by the absence of 

an acceptable settlement. There is a 

growing possibility of this happening 

as the level of frustration rises. 

The US utilises the WTO dispute 

settlement machinery more than any 

other country; it values the Organisation 

and expects its decisions to 

be upheld. Therefore, given that the 

grave and serious loss to the Antigua 

and Barbuda economy since 2007 is 

.0012% of one year of the GDP of the 

US, it is entirely within the capacity 

and interest of the US to settle the issue 

in a mutually satisfactory way. 

Equity, fairness and the law would 

suggest that the US should bring this 

protracted matter to an end, particularly 

as it has a vested interest in 

preserving the standing of WTO decisions. 

And, as President Barack 

Obama has pointed out at the United 

Nations on several occasions right 

should not be ignored by might. 

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.



Drastic set to release “Where I’m From” 

It has been two years 

since Drastic has been 

abroad; but while he has 

been off island physically, 

his heart remains in his beloved 

homeland of Antigua 

and Barbuda. 

In recent times, the Artist/Grammy 

Nominated 

Songwriter/Singer has ventured 

out across the world 

working with Jah Cure - International 

Jamaican Reggae 

Artist, collaborating with 

top Nigerian Artist Niniola 

on the new single “Shaba – 

The Remix”, and the legendary 

Shurwayne Winchester 

of Trinidad who recently 

released the song “Oxygen”, 

written by Kamau Georges 

and Drastic. 

Drastic has also just released 

a music video, Dirty 

Dancing, which is fast becoming 

a sensation and 

gaining lots of love. 

As busy as he has been 

behind the scenes representing 

Antigua independently 

overseas, he continues to 

emphasize his love and patriotism 

for his homeland. 

The Artist depicts that truly, 

“home is where the heart 

is”, as he is set to release 

Where I’m From - a song 

from the heart produced by 

“Justin Nation” aka Jus Bus, 

and featuring Antiguan born 

Travis Philip, also known as 

Tha Shya, son of former 

Antiguan Calypsonian 

“Chalice”. Tha Shya is also 

Drastic’s cousin. 

Drastic says, “Where 

I’m From is my gift in song 

to the people of Antigua and 

Barbuda and all who can relate 

to the message. Where 

I’m From speaks about the 

blessings of God on our islands 

and calls for more love 

and togetherness among our 

people. It also supports the 

2016 Independence Theme, 

“Building an Economic 

Powerhouse Together” as 

it encourages Antiguans and 

Barbudans to “strive to be 

great” with “each endeavouring 

and all achieving”. 

Drastic wishes all Antiguans 

and Barbudans a happy 

and blessed 35th Anniversary 

of Independence. 

The Music Video Where 

I’m From will be released 

on 31st October, 2016 on 

Drastic’s YouTube channel - 

Youtube.com/DrazzyTV. 

It will also be available at 

Facebook.com/TeamDrastic 

at 6am on that day. 

Also, Drastic will shortly 

be releasing his highly anticipated 

mixtape #OFFSEA- 

SON Hosted by one of the 

TOP DJ’s in the WORLD 

- “Willy Chin” of “Black 

Chiney Sounds”. It will be 

available for FREE download 

digitally online on Datpiff.com 

Keep up to date with the 

Artist by liking his fan page, 

facebook.com/TeamDrastic, 

or by simply following him 

on Instagram, Snapchat and 

twitter @ThisIzDrastic.


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OECS businesses exhibit in Cuba’s 

largest trade fair FIHAV 2016 

From left: Translator Yanisber Reinosa Perez, Paula Calderon from Caribbean Awnings, Cathy Charles 

from Harris Paints, Ing. Jose R. Daniel Alonso, Director General of Development of the Cuban Ministry 

of Tourism and His Excellency Ambassador Dr. Charles Isaac, Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to Cuba. 

Havana, Cuba – Businesses 

from St. Vincent and 

the Grenadines, Antigua 

and Barbuda, Dominica, 

Saint Lucia, St. Kitts and 

Nevis and Grenada are participating 

in Cuba’s largest 

annual multi-sector trade 

fair, the 34th Havana International 

Trade Fair, FIHAV 

2016, running from the 

31st October to the 4th November. 

Director General of the 

OECS, His Excellency Dr. 

Didacus Jules said FIHAV 

was the principal venue in 

which OECS businesses 

could gain exposure to not 

only the growing domestic 

Cuban market but commercial 

linkages to more than 

seventy-five countries who 

were also participating in 

the global trade fair. 

“Through OECS Member 

State Ambassadors to 

Cuba working in collaboration 

with the Competitive 

Business and Trade Policy 

Units of the OECS Commission 

and with support 

from the European Union, 

we have been able to facilitate 

the participation and 

promotion of OECS businesses 

to the world. 

“The OECS has historically 

enjoyed strong relations 

with Cuba across a 

number of functional areas 

of cooperation including 

health and education and 

now with the Cuban Government’s 

desire to diversify 

international economic 

relations, we are positioning 

to ensure OECS businesses 

are supported to 

successfully enter the Cuban 

market. 

“We recognise that the 

non-state sector in Cuba 

is growing, as evidenced 

for example by plans to 

add before 2016, 3000 new 

hotel rooms to the flourishing 

tourism sector and the 

establishment of the ambitious 

Mariel Special Development 

Zone (ZEDM) 

intended to attract foreign 

direct investment. 

“This growth will invariably 

drive increasing 

demand for products and 

services across a range of 

sectors including for example 

high end building products 

such as paint, blinds 

and awnings to manufactured 

food items for which 

the OECS is uniquely 

placed both competitively 

and geographically to service. 

“We are confident with 

the passage of time and 

with the appropriate levels 

of support, OECS businesses 

can also replicate 

the success of Baron Foods 

Ltd. who will not only export 

to Cuba but will also 

be manufacturing there 

too” said Dr. Jules. 

Saint Lucia’s Ambassador 

to Cuba, His Excellency 

Ambassador Dr. Charles 

Isaac said Cuba in collaboration 

with OECS Heads of 

Mission had collaborated 

to facilitate the consolidation 

of the traditional relationship 

existent from one 

that has been traditionally 

based on political solidarity 

to the emergence of one 

based on trade. 

“In this regard we have 

had a Caribbean Business 

Forum organised by 

the Cuban Government in 

2015 attended by a number 

of businesses entities within 

the region including the 

cont’d on pg 11


India threatening to withdraw funding for 

Commonwealth over Baroness Scotland’s spending 

INDIA have hinted 

they could pull their Commonwealth 

funding after 

spendaholic Labour Peer 

Baroness Scotland left the 

organisation’s HQ penniless. 

The revelations will 

increase pressure on the 

embattled £160,000-a-year 

Commonwealth Secretary-General 

to quit after a 

slew of embarrassing revelations 

about her expenses. 

Indian government 

sources briefed local media 

that they have “concerns 

in how the budget is being 

spent” by the British boss 

and former Labour Cabinet 

Minister. 

The embarrassing slap 

down comes just days before 

Theresa May arrives in 

India on an official visit. 

Last week Baroness 

Scotland was forced to 

“lobby member states” 

to “expedite” payment 

of their membership fees 

cont’d from pg 10 

OECS. 

“Subsequent to this we had the participation 

of most of those entities in FIHAV 

2015 and now 2016 supplemented by a 

continual dialogue and engagement between 

business entities of the OECS and 

their Cuban counterparts. 

“Baron Foods as an example have just 

signed a contract for the first container 

shipment of condiments and sauces to 

Cuba. 

“We have continued to engage the 

process for other companies who are at 

to fill a massive financial 

black hole. 

An emergency meeting 

at the Commonwealth Secretariat 

— funded by grants 

from all member states 

— was called to discuss 

money troubles. 

Former Attorney General 

Patricia Scotland, who 

is the most senior political 

chief of the group, is facing 

mounting pressure to explain 

a £450,000 makeover 

of her grace-and-favour 

Mayfair flat and employment 

of expensive Labour 

cronies. 

She brought in celebrity 

interior designer Nicky 

Haslam to oversee the 

project, wasting £4,020 on 

a mirrored cupboard and 

£4,000 on new curtains. 

£5,000 was spent on a 

“vanity unit” and £2,000 on 

bathroom tiles. 

A devastating cache of 

documents leaked to the 

Guido Fawkes blog by 

a Commonwealth whistleblower 

reveals that 

Baroness Scotland’s was 

warned against the spending 

spree. 

Officials warned Baroness 

Scotland her lavish 

choices would “increase 

the total cost for the refurbishment 

from the original 

£230k to near £450k”. 

An aide wrote: “there 

are no spare funds in 

the budget”, so the extra 

spending meant “going further 

into reserves or cutting 

programme expenditure”. 

The expenses details 

came when Baroness Scotland 

was already struggling 

to explain why she had 

employed another Labour 

Peer on a £30,000 contract, 

ignoring recruitment rules. 

She was already under 

fire for hiring two former 

New Labour spin doctors 

£48,000 each for three 

months work. 

In a new escalation to 

various stages of market access negotiations 

and expect in the not too distant 

future, a number of other companies will 

have access to the Cuban market. 

“Cuban authorities have consistently 

emphasized their willingness to accommodate 

Caribbean business entities given 

the traditional good relations that have 

been maintained and supported over the 

years. 

“This is important as we are now provided 

a window of opportunity by the Cuban 

authorities to enter the Cuban market” 

said Ambassador Dr. Isaac. 

the row The Sun understands 

Baroness Scotland 

“has been lobbying with 

member states to pay their 

contributions, and has received 

assurances from at 

least one big contributor 

that they will expedite payment 

of the dues.” 

Along with Britain, 

Canada and Australia, Indian 

taxpayers are the largest 

contributors to the Commonwealth 

group. 

New Delhi newspaper 

The Wire reported Indian 

government sources claiming: 

“We are the fourth 

largest financial contributor 

to the Commonwealth. 

“We have concerns in 

how the budget is being 

spent.” 

Indian government insiders 

added that Baroness 

Scotland “was already under 

a cloud when she came 

in, so after that, when the 

reports about renovations 

are published, these compound 

our worries about 

her effectiveness.” 

A source told The Wire: 

“Remaining in the Commonwealth 

is a legacy issue… 

But, reducing funds 

is still a possibility if the 

situation persists”. 

Baroness Scotland previously 

courted controversy 

after refusing to resign 

as Attorney General in 

2009 after being exposed 

for employing an illegal 

immigrant.



Thursday’s Sudoku Solution 

S U D O K U 

CROSSWORD 

Across 

1. ‘’Where the Wild Things --- 

’’ 

4. Optimistic 

10. Ann or May 

14. Stout creator of Nero 

Wolfe? 

15. Cavern 

16. Litmus-reddening substance 

17. Cause of a blowup 

18. Start of a warning to mudslingers 

20. Apprehensive 

22. Nobel laureate Sakharov 

23. Split 

24. Memphis-to-Nashville dir. 

25. Chop finely 

28. Footrest 

31. Nativity scene setting 

32. Canoeist’s trudge 

35. Chronicle 

36. Part 2 of the warning 

40. Sucker 

41. Ache or pain, e.g. 

42. Flashing light 

45. Observers of the midnight 

sun 

49. Investor’s holding 

50. Lousy 

52. Irked 

53. Like some pools or sports 

55. On the up and up 

57. End of the warning 

60. Candle count 

61. Decorative water server 

62. Muzzle loader 

63. It’s either positive or negative 

64. One-seater race 

65. Praises mightily 

66. Cell’s protein producer 

Down 

1. Conductor Toscanini 

2. Milk curdler 

3. Scope 

4. Sounds of disgust 

5. Quarry 

6. Greet the king 

7. ‘’Training Day’’ actor 

Hawke 

8. Make amends 

9. Lincoln’s wife 

10. A --- point (example) 

11. With great poignancy 

12. Dainty dish of blackbirds 

13. Mag. bosses 

19. Racy role for Shirley 

21. Ratify 

24. It may require a fee 

26. Corp. bigshots 

27. Unit of energy 

29. ‘’The --- Squad’’ 

30. Begin a revolt 

31. Emulates Frosty 

33. Teller’s sub 

34. Looked slackjawed 

36. Swearing-in pledge 

37. Lifted 

38. Fried rice cooker 

39. Out of place 

40. Sound at a fish fry 

43. Cantankerous 

44. Hospital capacity 

46. Fuzzy yarn 

47. Territory explored by Lewis 

and Clark 

48. One of a noted sister act 

50. Crystals used in soap and 

glass 

51. Mealtime lure 

54. Storybook brute 

55. Granny, for one 

56. Lottery chances 

57. Waikiki wear 

58. Have the rights to 

59. Modern address


Today’s weather forecast 

Antigua and Barbuda 

Cloudy with occasional rain 

showers. 

High - 83ºF 

Low - 76ºF 

Wind: South South East 10 mph 

Sunrise 6.06 am; Sunset 5.34 pm 

Thursday’s Crossword Solution 

HOROSCOPE 

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). 

Of course it’s rude not to call 

people back, but it’s maybe 

worse to engage in the inevitable 

conversation that would 

happen were you to confront 

instead of avoid the person. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22- 

Dec. 21). Generally speaking, 

people don’t learn by 

talking. There’s great potential 

to soak up exactly 

what you’ve been wanting to 

know, but you’ll have to listen 

more carefully than the 

others to get it. 

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 

19). It’s funny about realizations. 

Sometimes they aren’t 

so “real” after all, especially 

if they come when tired or 

stressed or intoxicated. Write 

them down anyway, and see 

what they look like in the 

light of a different day. 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 

18). You can’t believe all you 

hear, or, in today’s case, all 

you experience firsthand. As 

for the commotion that topples 

uncontrollably over this 

day, history will balance the 

tale, reveal its layered interest 

and also its usefulness. 

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 

20). You’ll be drawn to the 

winding, shady path. First 

of all, it’s cooler. Secondly, 

there’s more mystery 

when you don’t know what 

or whom you’ll find around 

each bend. 

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). 

Take the pressure off. Save 

the hard goals for another 

day. When you go in with 

the intention of having fun, 

you’re more likely to hit a 

few of your other intentions 

along the way. 

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). 

You’re a giver. You would 

never shoo the breadbasket 

away without asking everyone 

else at the table if they 

wanted some. As for those 

who don’t share your good 

manners, well — today you 

should take that as a red flag. 

CANCER (June 22-July 22). 

Love can sneak up and startle 

or it can sidle up like it’s always 

been there. Love is sure 

to change tones over and over 

for anyone who stays in long 

enough. Does it really matter 

who says “I love you” first? 

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Maybe 

they won’t like you when 

you’re mad, but when you 

get mad the very last thing 

you care about is whether or 

not they like you. In this regard, 

and in many others, it 

all works out today. 

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). 

The best thing to strive for 

today (maybe the only thing 

worth striving for all week) 

is personal improvement. 

The worst thing to strive for 

is perfection, with approval 

coming in at a close second 

in the category. 

ARIES (March 21-April 19). 

Your elastic heart will go to 

the far reaches and then snap 

back home. Because as much 

as you are capable of loving 

those far away and very 

different from you, the ones 

close to you need you more. 

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). 

Very impatient people are 

the very definition of uncool. 

You’ll help yourself stay out 

of the category by planning 

ahead to avoid the obvious 

frustrations such as traffic 

and long lines.



Under 20 team praised for achievement 

By Marver Woodley 

All praises for the National under 

20 team should go to the team for its 

silver medal performance in the Caribbean 

Football Union’s (CFU) Under-20 

Tournament are the words being 

said by Head coach of the team 

George Warner. 

Warner, who returned from Curacao 

on Monday night before the 

team, noted that the players always 

had hope they could win the tournament 

and never gave up, even after 

the fatal blow to Haiti was dealt. 

According to Warner the team 

By Marver Woodley 

The interim President of 

Employment 

Dynamic Ad Sales Agent Wanted. Please email resume 

and brief cover letter to jobapplicationanu@gmail.com 

worked their socks off, working 

tooth and nail, continuously fighting 

throughout the tournament. 

They played some tremendous 

football. 

Although thy loss the advancement 

into the last four circle of the 

CFU tournament, automatically 

qualified the young Benna Boys for 

the final round of the CONCACAF 

World Cup Qualifiers slated for 2017 

in Costa Rica. 

Warner anticipates that preparation 

for the 2017 encounter, could 

get off to an early start but notes that 

the Antigua and Barbuda 

Draught Association, Trevor 

Cranston has hailed the 

organization’s first tournament 

as a success. 

The newly formed 

Draught Association held 

its Independence tournament 

over the weekend 

at the City Park on High 

Street, and according to the 

President although the turnout 

could have been better 

the players must be given time to recuperate. 

Meantime, Gordon Derrick, General 

Secretary of the Antigua & Barbuda 

Football Association (ABFA) 

and President of the CFU, highlighted 

the achievement of defender 

Vashami Allen who was the only 

other player, outside of the Haitians, 

to make it onto the tournament’s All 

Stars team. 

Antigua & Barbuda played their 

last game of the semifinals on Sunday 

against Haiti where they were 

defeated 4-0. 

Independence Draught Tournament hailed a success 

he suspects that the initiative 

will grow over time as 

the competition was highly 

competative. 

A number of Draught 

veterans competed in the 

tournament as they battled 

for the top three positions 

the winners of the 

first event are as follows; 

“Future Kid” Fredrick who 

played 12 matches and accumulated 

86 points came 

third, Anthony Tony Gums 

came second after playing 

12 matches as well and 

accumulating 89 points, 

while National Champion 

Bernard Wilier bagged the 

top position after playing 

12 matches as well and 

amassing an astonishing 98 

points. 

The Independence 

Draught tournament was 

sponsored by Joseph Martin 

of Photogenesis. The 

winners received plaques 

and monetary prizes.


Under the Distinguished Patronage of Dame Louise Lake 

Tack The Short Term Fund-raising Committee of the St. 

John’s Cathedral present The Annual Black Tie Dinner & 

Dance. Friday 25th November, 2016, 7:30 p.m. until. Grand 

Royal Antiguan Resort. Price $175.00 Entertainment by the 

Specialist Band, Chiki Hi-fi, door prizes, lots of surprises, 

including the Master of Ceremonies who is a Priest. Continue 

to support our efforts as all funds raised will assist the 

ongoing restoration work at our beloved Cathedral. 

The St. John’s Branch of the Mothers’ Union invites one and 

all to their Goat Water and Souse evening at the Dean William 

Lake Car Park St. John’s Street. Friday 18th November 

2016 3-6p.m. Tickets only $15ec. And can be bought from 

any member of the organization or at the Deanery Office. All 

proceeds in aid of their community outreach programs. 

The Helping Hand Foundation will be staging a fundraising 

post-independence concert on 5th November, 2016 at 

the Mack Pond Playing Field from 5pm – until. The show 

will feature top Antigua & Barbuda artists and performers 

alongside regional artists. Proceeds from the concert will go 

towards funding development programs in the communities 

of All Saints, Swetes, John Hughes and Old Road. 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

CLUB ELDORADO 

Notice is hereby given for the Annual General Meeting of 

Club El Dorado to be held on: 

Sunday 13th November 2016 

Venue : Paradise Café Market Street St Antigua 

Time: 4:30 PM 

ARTICLE 7- ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS 

The business to be discussed at the Annual General Meeting 

shall be as follows:- 

1. Minutes 

2. Matters Arising out of the Minutes 

3. Consideration of Financial Report 

4. Any other Business 

5. Election of New Committee of Management 

6. Appointment of Trustees 

Amendment to Article 24 Laws and Bye Laws 

1. All registered members of the Club are entitled to vote. 

Members MUST pay at least eight (8) out of twelve months 

contribution to be recognized as a financial member to be 

elected to office. 

Article 25 Laws and Bye Laws 

The Quorum at all meetings must be one fifth (1/5) of the 

general membership. 

On the 19th November 2016 the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism 

Cadets Corps will be hosting a Lunch and Fun Fair at 

the House Culture Parliament Drive. As the Tourism Cadets 

Corps is nearing the end of the 2016 Program, a cadet’s ability 

to effectively manage a project is an integral part of the student’s 

success in the program. The Tourism Cadets invite you 

to come and experience tomorrow’s Tourism leaders through 

song, dance, music and service on November 19th 2016, Old 

Parliament Building. All funds raised will go towards the 

graduation which is slated for December 16th 2016. 

All members of the public,corporate citizens, schools, 

churches and visitors are requested to support the 2016 annual 

poppy appeal, with their voluntary donations, to help 

the local national veterans and widows who are in need. This 

year`s Remembrance ceremony will be held on Sunday 13 

November 2016 at the Cenotaph/ War Memorial. For further 

information call the Chairman on 720-0058, the PRO on 

721-1970 or the Welfare Officer on 561-1062. 

The Ministry of Health and the Environment is in the process 

of moving to its new headquarters location on Lower High 

Street for the rest of the week. Members of the general public 

are asked to take note of this important information as normal 

operation may be interrupted between November 2nd to 

the 4th and work will be done on a minimum basis. We look 

forward to serving the public more efficiently from our new 

location on lower high street as of Monday November 7th 

2016. 

The Liberta Wesleyan Holiness Church invites you to its 

Harvest Fun Fair on Saturday November 26th, 2016, from 

12:00pm – 7:00pm on the church grounds in Liberta. There 

will be lots of attractions for the children including bounce 

castle, face painting, donkey ride. Other attractions include 

hat show competition, live music and entertainment. Come 

and enjoy an afternoon of food, fun, fellowship and the 

bountiful blessings from the Lord. An entry fee of $2:00 will 

be charged per person. All proceeds from the fair will go 

towards the building of the new sanctuary. 

All members of the Antigua and Barbuda Ex-Servicemen 

Association, are notified of the monthly general meeting 

on Saturday 5 November 2016 at 3 pm at the Association`s 

Headquarters on Prime Minister`s Drive. The three items on 

the agenda will be: The POPPY APPEAL 2016; The 35th 

National INDEPENDENCE CEREMONY on 1 November 

2016; The World War I (1914-1918) and World War II 

(1939-1945) REMEMBRANCE CEREMONY on 13 November 

2016. Please be on time or notify the Chairman on 

720-0058, the PRO on 721-1970 or the Welfare Officer on 

561-1062 of any apologies.



Kraigg Brathwaite leads 

West Indies to famous win 

SHARJAH - Kraigg 

Brathwaite became the first 

opener to be unbeaten in both 

innings of a Test, as he led 

West Indies to an absorbing 

five-wicket win over Pakistan 

in Sharjah - their first Test 

win outside the West Indies 

and Bangladesh since 2007. 

It was also West Indies’ first 

win in 14 Tests and their first 

under the captaincy of Jason 

Holder. 

Yet, resuming on 114 for 

5, with 39 runs to win, overnight 

batsmen Brathwaite 

and Shane Dowrich showed 

no sign of letting the occasion 

get to them. Brathwaite 

opened proceedings with 

a crisp drive to the cover 

boundary off Wahab Riaz on 

the first ball of the day. 

Dowrich smacked a 

half-tracker from Yasir Shah 

to the midwicket boundary 

in the next over. That set the 

tone as the pair took just 7.5 

overs to knock down the target 

in clinical fashion on the 

fifth morning. 

While neither batsman 

looked to force the pace, they 

Shane Dowrich embraces Kraigg Brathwaite after securing victory, 

were not afraid to put away 

bad balls either. Late cuts and 

drives through the off side 

featured prominently as the 

pair glided past the finish line 

with minimum fuss. Dowrich 

sealed the win, slashing 

a short ball from Mohammad 

Amir towards the third-man 

boundary for the sixth four of 

the morning. 

Pakistan’s bowlers were 

unable to create any pressure 

on a pitch that was still 

rather placid. Neither Wahab 

nor Amir got much swing or 

movement off the surface, 

and Yasir was ineffective and 

inconsistent in the two overs 

he bowled. The batsmen 

seemed to have little trouble 

in keeping the straight ones 

out and punishing anything 

that was too short or too wide. 

It was all a far cry from 

West Indies’ wobble the previous 

evening, as they slid to 

67 for 5 after a rather shaky 

29-run opening partnership. 

But Brathwaite and Dowrich 

scored unbeaten half-centuries, 

combining for a nerveless 

87-run stand to steer their 

side to a memorable victory 

and finish a tough tour of the 

UAE on a high. (ESPNcricinfo) 

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Caribbean Times 29th Issue - Friday 4th November 2016

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