Informative, reliable, enriching!

Monday 6th February 2017 A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a

Vol.8 No.91 $2.00

TAX DODGERS

MUST PAY: PM

By Everton Barnes

Importers who used the prime minister’s

absence from the country last

December to get warrants approved

without paying the requisite government

taxes or duties will have to pay

these fees after all.

That’s the message contained in a

statement issued by Prime Minister,

Gaston Browne, while addressing last

Friday’s official launch of the Customs

Division AYCUDA Automated system

at the Multi-Purpose Cultural Centre.

Browne told the gathering that no

goods brought into the country for sale

should enjoy waiver of taxes or duty.

“I want to make it abundantly clear

that this has been the policy of my government

since 2014. However, I have

been told that last December during a

brief absence from the country, a few

warrants were actually processed with

waivers and I have since written to the

comptroller of customs to ensure that

those entities and individuals who have

gotten those waivers, pay ‘every red

cent’ outstanding,” he declared.

Browne stated that he is not a prime

minister who sends messages. “Whatever

I have to say, I pick up the phone;

I call or I write. So when individuals

come to you with their nefarious actions

and they say to you the prime

minister say…this prime minister does

not send messages!” he reiterated.

He also had a word of advice for

public servants and customs officers

who may from time to time be placed

in such situations.

“I want to make it clear to all public

servants. Customs officers should implement

the government’s policy without

fail; without fear of favour, because

ultimately you have recourse to this

prime minister,” PM Browne noted

He again repeated his instructions

to the comptroller of customs to collect

‘the government’s money’.

The prime minister highlighted this

issue he when announced the creation

of the Trusted Trader Programme by

the Customs Division which should become

operational by May this year.

“In this programme, the previous 3

to 4 years data of trading patterns and

compliance rates of traders will be analyzed;

the most compliant traders will

be given “Trusted Trader” status. Such

Prime Minister, the Hon., Gaston Browne

traders will often get fast-track service

and a green light for their cargo releases,”

he disclosed. However, he cautioned

that while this programme is in

effect, these traders can expect to have

unscheduled checks of their imports.

“Not only will we trust, but we will

certainly verify. So that you can be assured

that from time to time there will

be routine spot checks to ensure that

there is compliance. There will also be

routine audit as well to ensure full compliance,”

he emphasized.

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

Monday 6th February 2017

Customs Division upgrades systems

Editor’s Note

Caribbean Times is printed

and published at Woods

Estate/Friars Hill Road.

The Editor is Justin Peters.

Contact: Caribbean Times,

P.O. Box W2099,

Woods Estate/Friars Hill

Road,

St. John’s,

Antigua.

Tel: (268) 562-8688,

Fax: (268) 562-8685.

Visit us online at our website:

www. caribbeantimes.ag

We ask you to send:

Pertinent news items to

news@caribbeantimes.ag.

Advertisement inquiries to

accounts@caribbeantimes.ag.

Letters to the editor to

editor@caribbeantimes.ag

By Everton Barnes

The Customs Division has

introduced a new software

system –ASYCUDA World

– that is aimed at greatly improving

the efficiency of this

vital agency of the government.

The official launch of the

programme was held last Friday

at the Multi-Purpose Cultural

Centre at Perry Bay with

senior officials of the government,

donor agencies and customs

officers in attendance.

In his remarks, Comptroller

of Customs, Raju Boddu,

noted that in an ever changing

dynamics of business environment,

organizations need

to experiment with new digital

capabilities and accept risk

in pursuit of newer productivity

levels.

“With this in focus, Customs

Antigua and Barbuda

embarked on a sustained campaign

for modernizing operations

to facilitate trade and

investment and to contribute

more significantly to the Nation’s

economic advancement,”

he added.

The customs official also

urged the general public to be

patient with his department

during the implementation

period. “A lot of consultation

and a robust training effort has

gone in to preparation for the

implementation of the programme.

Like any other new

system, ASYCUDA World

implementation is also expected

to present some teething

problems. We crave for

the patience and understanding

of all the stakeholders,” he

explained.

Boddu said the upgrade

was made possible through

the assistance of several donor

agencies including the

European Union under their

EDF funding programme,

the World Bank which joined

hands to extend support in

terms of hardware and software

needs of the project and

with UNCTAD as the implementation

agency.

United Nations Conference

for Trade and Development

(UNCTAD) representatives,

Terrence Leonard, said

his agency’s key strategic

objective has been to support

developing countries like Antigua

and Barbuda to access

the benefits of a globalized

economy more fairly and effectively.

“The strategy has been to

provide trade and economic

analysis, consensus-building,

and technical assistance to ensure

that these developing nations

effectively utilize trade,

investment, finance, and technology

as vehicles for inclusive

and sustainable development,”

he added.

According to Leonard

ASUCUDA is now being

used in over 90 countries

and is considered the leading

software integrating customs

departments and divisions internationally.

The funding arrangement

for the ASYCUDA World

programme was negotiated

through the Office of the National

Authorising Officer,

headed by Dr Clarence Henry.

He too urged patience with the

adoption of the new system

noting that it forms part of

strengthening of the government’s

fiscal framework.

He anticipates that it will

speed up the clearance of

goods as well as contribute

to the expansion of trade and

commerce in Antigua and

Barbuda.

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Monday 6th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3

Potters family caught with drugs

By Joanna Paris

The Heritage Hotel stands in the heart

of Heritage Quay and over the years has

been a stable place for conferences and

other forums. It also serves as the ideal

location for business travellers seeking

a convenient and affordable hotel while

visiting the island.

Minister of Tourism, the Honourable

Asot Michael says this year the property

A Potters family is expected

before the court on Monday

charged with Possession

of Cocaine and Ecstasy.

55-year old Roan Jacobs,

along with his wife Colene

Jacobs and their son Kareem

Jacobs all of Potters were arrested

and jointly charged

with Possession of 377.9

grams of Crack-Cocaine; Possession

with intent to supply;

Being concerned in the Supplying

of Crack-Cocaine and

Possession of Ecstasy. Kareem

Jacobs was further jointly

charged with 31-year old

Alston Rodney also of Potters

with Possession of 92 grams

of Cannabis and Possession

with intent to transfer.

On Thursday, officers at-

Kareem Jacobs

tached to the Narcotics Department

and the Special Services

Unit executed a Search

Warrant on the Jacob’s family

home and found a large

quantity of Crack-Cocaine

and one Ecstasy tablet hidden

inside. The police also executed

a Search Warrant on a bar

in Potters called Magic City

Enterprise owned and operated

by Kareem and found a

quantity of Cannabis. Alston

Rodney, who was also found

on the premises was arrested

and taken into custody along

with the rest of the family. The

drugs were seized and taken

to the police station.

Both Kareem Jacobs and

Alston Rodney were remanded

to Her Majesty’s Prison

will be upgraded.

“In 2017 we will be improving Heritage

Hotel room stock quality with the

phased refurbishing of its rooms and public

areas and the relocation of the restaurant

to the ground floor of the hotel”, he

said in Parliament on Friday.

He explained that the intention is to

further develop the Heritage Hotel into

the Premier Business Class hotel in the

Roan Jacobs

Alston Rodney

until Monday; while both

parents were offered bail in

the sum of $2,500 each with

two separate sureties. They

are also expected in Court on

Monday.

Meanwhile, Ingrid Natasha

Gouldbourne of Jamaica,

who was charged for a number

of drugs related offences

in March of last year, was

sentenced to 4yrs in prison

on Friday. She appeared before

Justice Keith Thom in the

High Court and was convicted

and sentenced to 2 years for

Possession of Cannabis and

4 years on the charge of Importation

of Cannabis. Time

spent on remand was taken

into consideration. The sen-

Colene Jacobs

tences will run concurrently.

She was held at the V.C. Bird

International Airport with a

suitcase of Cannabis, weighing

49 ¾ pounds.

Tourism Minister unveils plans to improve Heritage Hotel

Ingrid Gouldbourne

sub-region. He noted that “this will add

greatly to our product offering and profitability”.

In 2016, the Minister revealed that

the hotel’s occupancy levels increased

significantly when compared to previous

years. The Hotel Occupancy figures

translate to an overall performance of

operating in a net positive position with

a net income in 2016 of EC$213,619.18.

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Monday 6th February 2017

Security of government data a priority

By Everton Barnes

Government is putting

much value on securing its

entire informational technology

network in an era

when hacking of sensitive

information has become a

major concern for countries

and corporations internationally.

Information technology

Minister, Melford Nicholas,

told the recent launch

of the custom division’s

ASYCUDA programme,

that not only has adopting

to new software been a

challenge within the government

service, but securing

or protecting these

systems also presents quite

a task.

“It is a concern when I

think of the vast array of

resources of government

that are coming on stream

almost on a quarterly basis.

As these IT assets are

important, we have to

be concerned about the

scourge of cyber-crime and

the risks associated with

managing these platforms,”

he stated.

He noted that the issue

of hacking is going to be an

ongoing challenge that has

to be managed to ensure the

systems’ availability, but

the integrity of the information

that are contained in

those systems at all times.

According to Nicholas

this matter is an area which

his ministry has already solicited

the support of international

partners to enable

it to have in place the type

of cyber security and governance

procedures needed.

Additionally, he wants

the support of the relevant

technical expertise to ensure

that across all ministries;

all functions of government

that these systems

are secured as much as possible.

The minister wants to

eliminate the possibility

for fraud or mischief as he

is of the view that not all

cyber-crimes are motivated

by fraudulent intentions.

Interest grows in

Barbuda airport project

By Everton Barnes

The proposed new airport project for Barbuda is attracting

the interest of a number of international groups.

One such entity is the BHM Group out of the Bahamas

that specializes in building runways, water catchments

and installing reverse osmosis plants on remote islands;

constructing roadways and highways.

Cabinet spokesman Lionel Max Hurst said the group

has an enviable record in the Bahamas and elsewhere as it

also arranges for financing, utilizing its firm’s other arm

in London, when the country seeking any of its engineering

and building expertise does not have a readily-available

source of funding.

Hurst reported that the BHM Group visited the Cabinet

Saturday to pursue the possibility of building the new

6,100 linear-feet runway that is proposed for Barbuda.

“The runway is to be built in proximity to the Robert

DiNero Paradise Found and the PLH Project by DeJoria,

in order to accommodate private jets which the owners

and their guests are likely to fly into Barbuda,” he revealed.

He noted that the Codrington airstrip is too short and

to close to houses to accommodate the private jets.

He said the BHM Group made a presentation to Cabinet

to construct the proposed runway, and it was very

well-received by the Members.

Hurst added thatthe Group will proceed to develop engineering

drawings that would meet the IATA standards,

and specific costs for each phase of the project. It will

then submit its bid for consideration.

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Monday 6th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 5

SJPC House of Restoration Ministries

expands food relief efforts

More than 170 vulnerable

individuals and families

received food relief under

the St. John’s Pentecostal

Church (SJPC) House

of Restoration Ministries’

Blessed to Bless food assistance

programme.

The programme, which

targets low-income individuals

and families and

also those with no source

of income, held an official

launch on Sunday January

29, 2017.

Apostle Stephen Andrews,

who serves as the

church’s senior pastor, said:

“We met our goal and beyond

that of feeding over

150 people. We think it

is significant; we think it

speaks volumes.”

Apostle Andrews said

he envisioned the idea of

expanding the church’s

food relief efforts to reach

more people in need and set

an initial target of feeding

100 individuals and households.

He asked the church

membership to support

the initiative by donating

fresh produce, contributing

non-perishable food items

and making monetary contributions.

One hundred

members also donated $100

each towards the cause.

Andrews also appealed

over the radio for public

support. To better identify

those in need, prospective

recipients were also encouraged

to complete a programme

application.

By meeting the recipients’

most immediate needs,

Andrews said the church

demonstrated the Christian

concept of using one’s

blessings to bless others.

“We feel we can assist

[the needy] by giving them

something tangible,” he

said.

The new food assistance

programme grew out

of the church’s Love and

Care Ministry – an existing

initiative that provides

relief, on a monthly and at

times weekly basis, to a few

individuals and families

requesting help from the

church.

SJPC’s new Blessed to

Bless assistance programme

has a much larger target recipient

group and will make

quarterly food distributions.

“We want it to grow and

to expand it on a monthly

basis, but as for now we will

do it every quarter,” Apostle

Andrews said. “But, we

continue to feed people on

a small scale on a monthly

basis.”

According to Heatherlyn

Millet, President of SJPC’s

Women’s Ministry, since

launching the appeal for

donations there has been a

surge in support from the

church membership, local

businesses, individuals and

government.

“We have had an overwhelming

response from

our membership and also

from private individuals

in the community,” Millet

said. “The government also

gave us a waiver of ABST

[Antigua and Barbuda Sales

Tax] on the goods purchased.”

Millet said that this programme

has since touched

the lives of single mothers,

pensioners, students and

many other vulnerable and

disadvantaged people.

“When we started, we

began getting requests from

members of the community,”

she said. “People were

asking if they could get assistance,

so we allowed our

members to reach out into

the community and identify

persons in need.”

The Blessed to Bless

assistance programme’s

launch is symbolic as it coincided

with the church’s

celebration of the biblical

Feast of First Fruits and the

jubilee year 5777, which

are significant dates on the

Jewish calendar.

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

Monday 6th February 2017

New promotions within the ranks

Well over 50 Police Officers of the

regular department within the Royal Police

Force of Antigua and Barbuda received

promotions earlier this week. A

list of 55 officers, from Corporals to Deputy

Commissioner of Police was published

amongst the ranks on Wednesday.

These promotions followed right at

the heels of an announcement made by

Police Commissioner, Wendel Robinson

during a Thanksgiving Service held at

the Multi-purpose Cultural Center on the

25th of January.

In his brief remarks then, Commissioner

Robinson hinted to the gathering

of almost 400 officers that promotions

would be made shortly. He however said

that he will remain mum until the final

list, which was before the (PSC) Police

By Joanna Paris

The rules and procedures of Parliament will

soon be guided by new and improved standing

orders.

Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs,

the Honourable Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin

has announced that the new Standing Orders

will be in place by mid-year or earlier.

“That important milestone would have

been made by the Gaston Browne administration”,

he said smilingly.

He said that last year, a number of select

committees met to discuss various issues,

an occurrence that the Attorney General explained

is necessary to ensure that the House of

Representatives truly address the concerns and

Service Commission is with him.

The list includes Assistant Commissioner

of Police Joseph Hughes, who was

promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner

of Police. Superintendents Nuffield

Burnette, Clayton Davis and Atlee

Rodney were all promoted to Assistant

Commissioners of Police. Meanwhile,

Assistant Superintendents of Police

Everton Jeffers, Clifton Cabral, Leonard

Cabral and Avil Jacobs were promoted

to the ranks of Superintendent; while Inspectors

Cecil Daley, Errol Paige, Ray

John, Roland Cuffy, James Tonge and

Samuel Joseph were elevated to the Assistant

Superintendent of Police rank. On

the other hand, Senior Sergeants of Police

Frankie Thomas, Logan Joseph, Devon

Graham, Theodore Horne, Mrs Louisa

By Joanna Paris

Attorney General and

Minister with responsibility

for Legal Affairs and Public

Safety, the Hon. Steadroy

“Cutie” Benjamin has indicated

that his department in

in the process of developing

a law to address the surge in

“runaways”.

Speaking during his contribution

to the 2017 debate

in Parliament on Friday, Minister

Benjamin, noted that the

increase in cases of runaway

teenagers, particularly young

girls from home is indeed a

cause for concern that must be

New standing orders coming soon

needs of the people of Antigua and Barbuda.

Minister Benjamin gave kudos to the

Speaker of the House Sir Gerald Watt QC,

for his call to modernize the Standing Orders

which have been in place since the country attained

statehood in 1967. He also said that the

country can look forward to an improvement

in the standard of debate in the House.

“We will make certain that we uplift the

level of debate in Parliament, so longer will

be have vacuous debates, but we will focus on

persons who represent their constituents, who

make certain that their contributions are relevant,

to make certain that laws are passed to

improve the lives of the people of Antigua and

Barbuda”, he said.

Benjamin-Quashie, Ms Brenda Jacobs,

Trevor Robins, Elvis Cordice, among

others, were promoted to the ranks of

Inspector of Police. Also making up the

list was a total of 14 Senior Sergeants, 19

Sergeants, and 2 Corporals.

Commissioner Robinson, in congratulating

the officers encouraged them

to continue strive for excellence, and to

keep the integrity of the police organization

held at the highest level. He also

cautioned that there is no room for failure

and that the safety and security of every

citizen is hinged on the dedication and

continued commitment of all within the

organization. Within the past 2yrs, well

over 400 promotions were made within

the rank and file, excluding the Fire Department.

AG pledges to address “runaway” situation

addressed with urgency.

He said that the proposed

legislation which is currently

being developed will also

have stipulations for persons

who wilfully house these individuals

with the knowledge

that there are appeals for them

to return home.

He boldly expressed that

these types of behaviour will

not be tolerated”.

“Something must be done,

something will be done”, he

said seriously. We shall make

certain that we keep Antigua

and Barbuda safe and sound

from all harm and danger, if

Antigua and Barbuda is not

safe, no investor will come

here, no visitors will come

here, this government want

people to feel safe when they

visit this country and we are

committed to that”, he noted.

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Monday 6th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 7

Newest edition of Mas magazine now available

With the second edition

of MIA (Mas In Antigua),

Myst Carnival extends its

efforts to promote not only

Antigua’s Carnival but Antigua

and Barbuda as a destination.

MIA, is a Myst Carnival

publication created as a

marketing tool to support the

growth and development of

Antigua’s Carnival.

It provides readers with

a multitude of reasons why

they should come to Antigua

for Carnival, and stay for the

destination. From the beautifully

crafted costumes, to

the pulsating rhythms of local

music, to the good energy

and vibe, to fun events, to an

unmatched mas experience,

Antigua’s Carnival stands

tall amongst its regional and

international competitors,

and continues to earn the

right to the be called ‘The

Caribbean’s Greatest Summer

Festival’.

Issue 1 of MIA was such a

tremendous success, that the

Myst Carnival creative and

editorial team felt the pressure

to deliver and even better

product for Issue 2. The

newest publication of the

magazine captures all the details

a prospective masquerader

needs to know to have

an exceptional mas experience,

while guiding visitors

to discover the activities that

unearth the island’s sacred indulgences.

Features like profiles

on the prolific history of

iconic jam band The Burning

Flames, and Hells Gate Steel

Orchestra, the world’s oldest,

continuously operating

steel orchestra, signifies the

cultural distinctiveness of the

Antigua sound.

The scenic images of Antigua’s

physical and cultural

landscape, plastered across

the pages of the magazine

will force any curious visitor

to imagine themselves

sipping a drink on one of the

island’s beaches, taking hikes

across picturesque locations,

enjoying delectable cuisines,

and of course playing mas as

they jam on the streets to the

island’s unique brand of soca.

MIA does an amazing job of

capturing the sights, sounds

and tastes of Antigua’s Carnival

and its culture.

Carnival 2017 promises

to be an unforgettable one.

Not only will Antigua be

celebrating its 60th anniversary,

but Myst Carnival will

also be stirring with excitement

as they celebrate their

10th year. With the recent

official presentation of Issue

2 to the Hon. E. P. Chet

Greene, Minister of Culture

& Festivals, at the Prime

Minister’s Office, and to Maria

Blackman, Marketing and

Communications Executive

at the Antigua and Barbuda

Tourism Authority at her

office, expect MIA’s Issue

2 circulation to amplify the

twin-islands visibility in the

upcoming weeks and months

leading up to Carnival.

MIA will be available at

most book stores, restaurants

and gift shops across the island,

and in circulation at

all the Antigua and Barbuda

Tourism overseas offices.

Digital copies are accessible

for download via www.mystcarnival.com,

www.masinantigua.com

and the MYST

app which is available for

Apple users at the Appstore

and at the Playstore for Android

users.

Myst Carnival thanks

the Festival’s Commission

and the Antigua and Barbuda

Tourism Authority for its

continued partnership and

support of MIA.

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Monday 6th February 2017

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Monday 6th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 9

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

Monday 6th February 2017

Antigua and Barbuda celebrate success

of 2017 Caribbean Travel Marketplace

Nassau, Bahamas –

Antigua and Barbuda is

celebrating the successful

participation of the Caribbean

Travel Marketplace,

the region’s largest and most

significant marketing forum

staged by the Caribbean Hotel

and Tourism Association

(CHTA) in Nassau, Bahamas

from January 31 – February

2, 2017 at Atlantis, Paradise

Found. The Caribbean Travel

Marketplace is the premier

annual event for more

than 1,200 Caribbean Hoteliers,

Tourist Boards, Tour

Operators and Attractions to

gather for high-impact oneon-one

business meetings,

knowledge sharing and networking.

The Antigua and Barbuda

delegation was led by the

Chairman of the Antigua and

Barbuda Tourism Authority

Board, Ricky Skerritt, with

CEO of the Tourism Authority,

Colin James, and joined

by Director of Tourism, US,

Kim Jack Riley and Director

of Tourism, Canada, Colin

Skerritt and Dean Fenton,

Sales and Marketing Manager.

As a key delegation,

From left: Frank J. Comito, CEO & General Director, CHTA, Joy

Jibrilu, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, The Bahamas, Colin

C. James, CEO, ABTA, Hon. Obediah H. Wilchcombe, Minister of

Tourism, Bahamas, Kim Jack Riley, Director of Tourism, US, ABTA,

Colin Skerritt, Director of Tourism, Canada, ABTA, Dean Fenton,

Sales and Marketing Manager, ABTA.

Antigua and Barbuda was able to connect in one place

with over 350 suppliers from

26 plus Caribbean countries

and met with the top tour operators,

airlines, travel agencies,

OTAs and media houses,

as well as the top travel

and trade publications in

attendance. The marketplace

is the best opportunity to

generate last-minute seasonal

business while setting the

state for long-term business

and enhancing the relationship

between Antigua and

Barbuda, hoteliers, buying

companies and leaders in the

industry.

Team Antigua and Barbuda

were also joined by

leading hotelier and industry

partners that included Cocos,

Blue Waters, Heritage

Bay, Carlisle Bay, Sugar

Ridge, and National Tours

who all had successful meetings

with their industry buyers.

These business opportunities

are critical to ensure

the destination continues the

momentum for growth that

was achieved in 2016 into

the new year.

Key tour operators from

Europe and North America

expressed confidence in the

country’s product and were

optimistic of the prospects

for growth for 2017.

Caribbean Travel Marketplace

affords tourism

suppliers the vital opportunity

to meet face-to-face with

wholesalers from around

the world selling Caribbean

vacation packages over the

course of two days of business

meetings as well as senior

Tourism officials from

attending countries. This

year that were even more

buyers, suppliers and countries

in attendance, representing

over 1,200 delegates.

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Monday 6th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 11

Caribbeantales announces call for submissions

The renowned CaribbeanTales Incubator

Program (CTI), now in its eighth

year, has hosted over two hundred (200)

producers from across the Caribbean

Region and its Diaspora. Sponsored by

Flow, the consumer brand of Cable and

Wireless (C&W), the CTI serves as a

funnel for the creation of original TV Series.

Launched in 2010, the CTI is a yearround

development and production hub

for Caribbean and Caribbean Diaspora

producers that helps to build the Region’s

audio-visual capacity. As such, it

offers selected producers the opportunity

to hone their creative and business skills

within an international marketplace environment.

It produces strong, compelling

and sustainable content that increases the

Region’s pool of world-class indigenous

film and television content destined for

the global market.

The CTI’s intensive eight-week program

includes seven weeks of online tuition,

and an intensive five-day workshop

in Toronto that culminates in a Caribbean

Pitch Breakfast at the TIFF Bell Lightbox

attended by high-profile industry

delegates.

There are several lucrative awards,

including up to $30,000.00 USD in production

funding for each of three (3)

successful TV series pilots, that will be

broadcast on Flow’s TV networks across

the Region.

CTFF - Your Caribbean film on the

international screen!

The CaribbeanTales International

Film Festival (CTFF), now in its twelfth

year, presents a multi-ethnic mix of exciting

and dynamic films that showcase

diverse, shared stories and cultures, and

celebrates the talents of established and

emerging filmmakers of Caribbean heritage

who practise their art worldwide –

in Canada and the Caribbean, across Europe,

the Americas, Africa, China, India

and the Middle East.

The Festival will hold its Media

Launch and Screening at the Royal Cinema

in early July. Throughout the summer

there will be community screenings and

related activities. The Festival’s main juried

program of feature films and shorts

will be held between September 6 and

September 20, 2017.

CTFF will program films of all

lengths and genres. Please note that films

considered for programming must be Toronto

Premieres.

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

Monday 6th February 2017

Friday’s Sudoku Solution

S U D O K U

CROSSWORD

Across

1. “Friends” character

5. “Star Wars” name

10. Multipurpose plant

14. Unused

15. Deprive of weapons

16. Oviform

17. Drugstore purchase

19. “Star Wars” name

20. Engage in polemics

21. Second or fourth wife of

Henry VIII

22. Word on a sale sign, perhaps

23. Dr. Jekyll creator’s monogram

25. Mountain goat’s perch,

perhaps

27. A-one stuff

34. Feel malaise

35. Do in a dragon

36. Film shots

38. Straight man in comedy

40. Your place or mine, really

43. “Gunsmoke” role

44. Moral principle

46. Cookie treat since 1912

48. Kind of brain

49. “Nutcracker” dancer

53. Lotion base

54. “--- Were a Rich Man”

55. Entry

58. Auto grille protectors

61. Remove marginalia

65. Lessen the force of

66. Pancake ingredient, perhaps

68. Where Kerman is

69. Bass-baritone Simon

70. Adams in “The Apartment”

71. Northern road crew’s supply

72. Brings in the sheaves

73. Trawling needs

Down

1. Costa ---

2. Nitrogen’s lack

3. Illegal coin

4. Tennis legend Pancho

5. Au --- (in gravy)

6. “Dragonwyck” author Seton

7. Rural structure

8. Combined meal

9. It’s of current interest?

10. Certain 3-D image

11. Word after get or break

12. It may be certified

13. Dramatic presentation

18. Positions of control

24. Filleted fish

26. Do one’s part?

27. Artsy gathering place

28. Hilarious joke tellers

29. Root or Yale

30. Org. responsible for aviation

safety

31. Innsbruck is its capital

32. Giraffe relative

33. First pope

37. Admonition to Spot

39. Bone connector

41. Broadway play about

Capote

42. Prefix with sphere

45. First name in baseball

ironmen

47. Bid

50. Second-story man

51. Read carefully

52. Pilots

55. Nile wading bird

56. Fictional home in Dixie

57. Footnote term

59. Lead-in to “boy!” or

“girl!”

60. Graduation

62. Adjuvant

63. Alluring dress feature

64. Barely manages

67. Twisty letter

---

Monday 6th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 13

Today’s weather forecast

Antigua and Barbuda

Sunshine along with some cloudy

intervals.

High - 80ºF

Low - 73ºF

Wind: East 16 mph

Sunrise 6.40 am; Sunset 6.01 pm

Friday’s Crossword Solution

HOROSCOPE

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb.

18). To be important and

known might be cool. But if

you could do something important

instead and never be

particularly well-known for it,

which would you choose?

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20).

Even if you think they know

what you want, it can’t hurt to

make it even clearer. Articulating

this will help you, too. As

you home in on the most specific

and essential elements of

your desire, a new plan comes

together in your mind.

ARIES (March 21-April 19).

The way to misery is absolutely

simple. Set up an expectation.

When it doesn’t happen,

voila! Misery! If, on the other

hand, you do not have an expectation,

good luck finding

misery. Happiness is wanting

what you have.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20).

Today begins an uptick in

support for you. Note the increased

encouragement, constructive

criticism, leadership

and resources around you, and

by all means, take advantage

of it!

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). People

may change their opinions

because more information

comes to light or the circumstances

shift — a change that

represents strength. But an

opinion that changes to conform

represents weakness.

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22).

It’s all going your way, so

don’t question it! Do nothing

to interrupt the energy flow

of a winning streak. Bonus

points: Be happy! These are

the good old days!

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23).

You’re getting good at something,

and as you improve, expect

to vacillate between humility

and egotism. All states

are helping you get better —

that is, unless you stay egotistical

for too long, which can

only end in stagnation.

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21).

Even though you intellectually

know better, you still forget

to set your goals solely around

the things you can control. For

example, the goal should be

about not how many pounds

you’ll lose but how many calories

you’ll consume.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21).

It’s as if today is a movie and

there’s an impressive cast,

A-list all the way. The other

characters will play their roles

much to your satisfaction, but

do keep in mind that they’re

only roles. Don’t mistake

the actor for the character he

plays.

CANCER (June 22-July 22).

An introverted mood rules the

day. If you have to be around

people, you’ll be happy to

stand back and watch them

converse, compete and posture

while you make your exit plan.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-

Dec. 21). Talk is depleting,

even the kind that never leaves

your lips. Self-talk uses up energy

you could be applying to

getting the job done. Silence

the board of directors in your

head, and focus on doing instead

of saying.

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan.

19). You’ve been able to float

lately, showing up here and

there with minimal commitment

and impact. That’s going

to end soon, though, as life

will bring a roll call. You will

have to make a decision and be

counted.

---

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

Monday 6th February 2017

Ahmani Browne Eric Williams Judah Ferris Sheldon Gomes

ABBA announces historic national

3x3 youth basketball team

The Antigua and Barbuda

Basketball Association

(ABBA) has selected

the country’s first ever Under

18 3x3 National Youth

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Team.

After hosting a successful

U18 3x3 National qualifier

tournament, ABBA is

pleased to announce the National

3x3 Youth Team selected

to represent Antigua

and Barbuda in the upcoming

International Basketball

Foundation (IBF) Lesser

Antilles 3x3 International

Youth Championships.

The Championship will

be held in Castries, Saint

Lucia on February 25th and

26th respectively.

Of the eight teams that

participated in the National

Qualifiers held in September,

2016, the winning

team, comprising of Judah

Ferris, Sheldon Gomes and

Eric Joseph, were victorious,

and formed the National

3x3 Youth Team in addition

to Ahmani Brown.

Brown, who represented

another team in the national

qualifier, was selected as

the 4th player to complete

the team of four to compete

against eleven other Caribbean

Teams in the upcoming

Championships.

President of the Association,

Daryll Matthew, is

ecstatic that Antigua and

Barbuda will be a part of

history, and equates this

competition to 20/20 Cricket.

“It’s fun, it’s fast-paced,

and it’s a new side of Basketball

that will be the next

big thing worldwide”, Matthew

states.

The competition will see

the likes of teams such as

Aruba, Barbados, Guyana,

Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent

and the Grenadines, Trinidad

and Tobago, France

(Guadeloupe, Martinique),

and the Netherlands (Curacao,

Saint Maarten).

ABBA 3x3 Coordinator,

Gemma Hazelwood, is confident

that the Antigua and

Barbuda Pitbulls will do

very well in the competition

as training preparations are

progressing smoothly.

The Association is encouraging

the general public

and stakeholders to

support the youths on their

journey to the IBF 3x3 International

Youth Championships

slated for February

25 and 26th.

---

Monday 6th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 15

The Antigua Girls High School invites all parents, old girls, past

teachers and well wishers, to its 131st Anniversary Service and

Prize Giving, on Wednesday 8th February 2017, at the Spring

Gardens Moravian Church, beginning at 8:30 am. Following

the service there will be an EXHIBITION OF WORKS at the

school’s auditorium. ALL are invited to view the creative works

of our young ladies.

Bring along your picnic blankets and folding chairs and enjoy a

relaxing evening on the lawn watching a movie or just mingling

with a bowl of delicious hot soup at the South Zone Planning

Committee of the Anglican Church's Pre-Lenten Water Night

and Movie on Friday, February 24, 2017 from 6 pm to 9 pm

at All Saints Anglican Rectory Grounds, Matthews Road, All

Saints. The contribution is only $10. Patrons will have a choice

of various types of soups. There will be Hot Dogs, Cupcakes,

Popcorn and a bounce castle. Beverages will also be on sale.

Tickets are available from Parish Priests and members of South

Zone Planning Committee.

The fundraising post Valentines for Antigua & Barbuda Diabetes

Association is now rescheduled for Tuesday 21st February,

2017 from 4:00-6:00pm.

Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will be having

their Education Week from the 03-10 February 2017 under the

theme : Increasing Learning Outcomes through tangible Investments

in Education.

The Antigua & Barbuda Social Security Board wishes to advise

all employers that have weekly paid employees that the new

rate of 11% for Government employees and 12% for Private

sector employees commences from February 6th, 2017. This

means that this week ending February 3rd should be calculated

at 9% and 10% respectively. Please be guided accordingly.

Upsets in Premier league

By Carlena Knight

A number of upsets were recorded on Saturday night at

the historic Antigua Recreation Grounds in the Antigua Barbuda

Football Association Premier League.

FLOW Old Road who came off of a convincing win last

weekend, fell to a struggling Liberta S.C. in the first encounter

of the double header day, defeating them 3-1.

With this victory, Liberta move up onto 15 points, one

point ahead of Harney Motors Tryum.

Meanwhile, Old Road remain on 28 points and 4th in the

standings.

Defending champions, Cool and Smooth AC Delco

Glenn’s Pet Paradise Green Bay Hoppers continued on their

downward spiral as they also were upset by Tryum F.C.

The feature encounter saw the champs being stunned by

1-0 margin by Tryum. With this loss, Hoppers remain on 31

points, tied with Grenades but with a better goal average.

Informative, reliable, enriching!

Think you have a good news story; did you witness

anything that is news-worthy; did you take that

valuable picture; things happening in your community

but there is no outlet or voice for you? You can

earn just by telling your story.

Call Caribbean Times at (268) 562 8688

Email: editor@caribbeantimes.ag

Or news@caribbeantimes.ag

Reach us now with that breaking news!

---

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

Monday 6th February 2017

Powell century helps Leeward

Islands thump Kent by 105 runs

Kieran Powell’s third century

of the tournament and

a three-for from Alzarri Joseph

helped Leeward Islands

open up a six-point lead in

the Group A table, following

a 105-run win over Kent in

Antigua.

Opening the innings, Powell

shared half-century stands

with Montcin Hodge and Nkrumah

Bonner for the first and

second wickets respectively,

guiding his team to 170 for 2

in the 37th over before he was

dismissed.

Powell’s 106 came off 111

balls and included five fours

and four sixes, and was also

his fourth consecutive fifty-plus

score. After Powell’s

departure, contributions from

Rahkeem Cornwall (43 off 28

balls) and Gavin Tonge (28

off 15 balls) pushed the score

to 275.

Kent were reduced to 60

for 4 by the 15th over before

Will Gidman and Alex Blake

(44 off 76 balls) added the

highest partnership of the innings

- 41 for the fifth wicket.

Once that stand was broken,

they suffered another slump,

Kieran Powell steers the ball deftly during his 106.

losing four wickets for 36

runs by the 35th over.

They were eventually dismissed

for 170 in the 40th

over. Apart from Joseph, who

took 3 for 62, Jason Campbell

and Akeal Hosein picked up

two wickets each, with Hosein

conceding only 28 runs

in his 10 overs.

Windward Islands eased to

a five-wicket win over West

Indies Under-19s, banking

on seamer Kyle Mayers’ 4 for

38 and Shane Shillingford’s 3

for 22. The pair ensured that

WI U-19s were limited to 207

for 9 after a first-wicket partnership

off 88 and promising

knocks from openers, Shian

Brathwaite (42) and Matthew

Patrick (45). Shillingford began

WI U-19s’ slide with the

wickets of Brathwaite and

Bhaskar Yadram before Mayers

cut through the middle order.

Windward suffered a

wobble in their pursuit, but

an unbeaten 67 off 78 balls

from Sunil Ambris - his fourth

half-century of the tournament

- saw the side home in

the 41st over. Shillingford’s

supporting role with the bat,

an unbeaten 25 off 16 deliveries,

helped him clinch the

Player-of-the-Match award.

(ESPNcricinfo)