Caribbean Times 4th Issue - Thursday 23rd February 2017

Informative, reliable, enriching! 

Thursday 23rd February 2017 A n t i g u a a n d B a r b u d a 

Vol.9 No.4 $2.00 

GROUND BREAKING FOR 

NEW BARBUDA AIRPORT 

By Everton Barnes 

A ground-breaking ceremony 

to mark the start of 

work on the new airport for 

Barbuda takes place on Saturday. 

Prime Minister Gaston 

Browne will be accompanied 

by senior government officials 

as well as two of the key 

investors who will contribute 

towards the cost of developing 

the airport. 

Government spokesman 

Lionel Max Hurst said 

American movie icon, Robert 

DeNiro who along with 

Australian billionaire, James 

Packer, will develop the Paradise 

Found Project as well 

as John Paul Dejoria of the 

Peace, Love and Happiness 

resort project will be part of 

the official party traveling to 

Codrington. 

During the ceremony, both 

DeNiro and Dejoria will symbolically 

present to the prime 

minister the cheques marking 

advance payments for the 

lease of the lands upon which 

they will develop their respective 

projects. 

That money – US$5 million 

each - has already been 

paid into the government account 

to allow for the start of 

work shortly after the ground 

breaking exercise. 

The project will include 

a new terminal building and 

a runway long enough to accommodate 

private jets. 

Meanwhile, Hurst said all 

the steps necessary to declare 

Barbuda a port of entry have 

been completed. This is for 

both sea vessels and aircraft. 

One of the benefits of this development 

is that goods that 

are landed in Barbuda will be 

cheaper. However, in anticipation 

that this may take some 

time to become reality, Hurst 

said the government will 

eliminated all ABST on food 

items and certain household 

goods imported into Antigua 

and transshipped to Barbuda. 

He said the Comptroller 

of Customs has already been 

notified and steps will take 

place immediately to make 

this operational. One noticeable 

step will be an increase 

in the number of customs and 

immigration officers based in 

Barbuda. There will also be a 

larger police presence on the 

island. 

The chief of staff of staff 

said the Defense Force has 

also been alerted as the coast 

guard will play an important 

role in patrolling the waters 

around the two islands. He 

reported that a new radar system 

will also be deployed to 

assist with identifying vessels 

traversing the waters around 

Antigua and Barbuda. That 

system is expected to be operational 

by the middle of 

March.

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

Thursday 23rd February 2017 

Cabinet deplores wanton attack 

on Prime Minister’s character 

The Cabinet of Antigua 

and Barbuda during its weekly 

sitting, today expressed 

their condemnation of slurs 

on the character of Prime 

Minister, Gaston Browne, by 

persons opposed to the government. 

“Cabinet ministers accept 

that they and the Prime 

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Minister, by virtue of their 

positions, are open to scrutiny 

and criticism”, Director 

General of Communications 

Maurice Merchant said. But, 

he added, “Cabinet Ministers 

consider that there is a line 

between genuine criticism 

and smears, and they are of 

the firm view that the line has 

been crossed by the recent attempts 

to denigrate the Prime 

Minister’s standing”. 

Merchant stated that 

“Cabinet Ministers deplore 

the willingness of certain 

sections of the media to allow 

themselves to be used in 

what is clearly a campaign 

by members of the United 

Progressive Party (UPP) to 

degrade the Prime Minister 

whose performance has put 

the nation’s economy on an 

outstanding growth path, exposing 

their own failure in 

government.” 

Weighing in on the issue, 

veteran politician and senior 

Minister, Sir Robin Yearwood, 

declared that the tactics 

are obvious. “They believe 

that if they can discredit 

the Head of Government and 

leader of the Labour Party, 

they will weaken the party 

and the government, but 

those tactics will not work 

against the reality of solid 

performance.” 

Remarking on the Prime 

Minister’s visit to the Five 

Islands Primary School, his 

inspirational talk to third and 

sixth Graders and the St. Valentine’s 

Day gifts he presented 

to the students through 

their principal, another senior 

Minister, Molwyn Joseph, 

said “the Prime Minister’s 

objective was to motivate the 

young people in whose circumstances 

he was born and 

grew-up.” 

“To suggest that the obvious 

admiration of the prime 

minister by the students of 

the school was due to their 

being ‘plied with gifts’ is an 

unforgivable insult to the intelligence 

of the young people,” 

Joseph declared. 

Both senior ministers, 

speaking on behalf of their 

colleagues, said that the 

Prime Minister and the entire 

government remain focused 

on delivering economic 

growth and social development 

for the people of Antigua 

and Barbuda. 

“No amount of alternative 

facts and false assertions will 

change the reality that, under 

the Prime Ministership of 

Gaston Browne, the country 

is on the move”, the ministers 

said.

Thursday 23rd February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 3 

EMS successfully completes Training Course 

The Emergency Medical Services 

(EMS) within the Ministry of Health 

and the Environment recently concluded 

a 12-week ‘Emergency Medical Technicians 

Basic Training Course.’ This was 

held at the Antigua and Barbuda Transport 

Board’s Lecture room. 

The course attracted twelve (12) 

trainees comprising prisoner officers, 

personnel from the Antigua and Barbuda 

Defense Force (ABDF), Public Safety 

Communication Network (E911), as 

well as five (5) civilians who were later 

employed as EMTs at the EMS. 

The course was presented in two 

parts - theoretical and practical and also 

included a ride-along rotational assessment 

in which all the trainees were assigned 

to a crew and ambulance during 

various shifts. 

The Head of the EMS, Mr. Shawn 

Greenidge said that the department is 

working diligently to have all courses 

accredited in the not too distant future. 

Greenidge said that the division is 

currently in discussion with the United 

States National Registry and the University 

of Technology in Jamaica in order 

to obtain international accreditation for 

the courses. 

A two-member team from the United 

States Registry will be on the island 

shortly to conduct checks and evaluation 

in order to have the courses structured, 

verify qualifications and to assess 

the training standards of instructors. 

According to Greenidge, five (5) personnel 

of the EMS will be travelling to 

the John F Kennedy Medical Centre in 

New Jersey next month where they will 

be certified as Instructors by the National 

Association of Emergency Medical 

Services Instructors (NAEMSI). 

The entire trip will be sponsored by 

Cool and Smooth. 

Greenidge had high praises for his 

staff, participants and sponsor. 

“I wish to express deep appreciation 

to the entire EMS staff. You have 

executed your duties with such professionalism 

and commitment. To Cool and 

Smooth, special thanks to you for your 

financial assistance as a good corporate 

citizen,” Greenidge remarked. 

The Director further stated that the 

EMS is committed to its mission to 

provide the very best pre-hospital care 

and emergency training to Antigua and 

Barbuda while fostering a strong relationship 

to protect the health, safety and 

welfare of the community.



CIU ventures into new markets 


The Citizenship By Investment 

Unit, which oversees 

the Citizenship by Investment 

Programme (CIP), 

says it is looking at new 

markets for investment into 

the country. 

Chief Executive Officer, 

Chisanga Chekwe, made 

the disclosure following a 

recent trip that saw him visit 

several countries in Africa, 

the Middle East and China. 

But according to the 

CEO Nigeria is showing 

much potential as a new 

market for the CIP. He 

noted that the country, the 

most populous in Africa, 

has a large middle class 

and a purchasing power of 

approximately US$20 billion 

annually. Additionally, 

he revealed that studies 

showed that Nigerians have 

surpassed Saudi Arabians 

as the top spenders in one of 

the most expensive areas of 

London. 

He noted that China remains 

the main source of 

applications under the programme, 

and while Chekwe 

believes that this would remain 

so for the foreseeable 

future, he is of the view that 

it is in the country’s interest 

to diversify and to explore 

new markets. 

Chekwe said the Antigua 

and Barbuda passports are 

highly valued internationally 

because they provide 

visa-free entry into over one 

hundred and thirty countries. 

He noted that Henley 

and Partners, the internationally 

respected firm that 

specializes in this area, now 

ranks Antigua and Barbuda’s 

CIP as number three in 

the world and number one 

in the Caribbean. 

He said this is because of 

its robust due diligence protocols 

that are some of the 

most thorough anywhere. 

He announced that there 

are no plans to loosen the 

screening process nor in his 

words ‘cheapen’ the Antigua 

and Barbuda passport. 

Last year, Antigua and 

Barbuda raised approximately 

US$100 million 

from the CIP and according 

to Chekwe already the signs 

are there that this year will 

be a good one as well. 

Efforts intensify to 

combat Anti-Microbial 

Resistance (AMR) 

By Joanna Paris 

Antigua and Barbuda will be receiving international assistance 

to counter Anti- Microbial Resistance (AMR) and 

establishment of a Public Health Laboratory. 

AMR is the ability of microorganisms like bacteria, viruses 

and parasites to resist antibiotics and antivirals. 

To further combat AMR, the Ministry of Health and Environment 

has been in discussions with the Fleming Fund in 

England and other leading British medical officials about the 

possibility of setting up a Public Health Laboratory facility 

here. 

Minister of Health and Environment, the Hon. Molwyn 

Joseph said that the Fleming Fund is an institute that works 

to strengthen the surveillance of drug resistance and laboratory 

capacity in developing countries. 

“Last November, my delegation met Mrs. Penny Walker-Robertson 

of the Institute and she in turn introduced us 

to Professor Neil Woodford, Head of the AMR Unit at Public 

Health England and Ms. Nadine Shetty. Both Professor 

Woodford and Ms. Shetty are scheduled to come to Antigua 

in May for further discussions”, he said. 

The Minister also expressed thanks to the country’s High 

Commissioner in the UK, Karen-Mae Hill, whose interventions, 

he said, facilitated the contacts with the British medical 

fraternity. 

cont’d on pg 5


AUA collaborates with Special Education Unit to train 

teachers in classroom management techniques 

Antigua primary school teachers 

recently completed a 4 week, 12 hour 

class in Classroom Management Techniques 

sponsored by the Ministry of 

Education, Science and Technology 

and presented by American University 

of Antigua college of Medicine. 

Dr. Joy McGehee, Associate Professor 

at AUA COM, taught the class for 

approximately 20 general and special 

education primary school teachers. 

Participating schools included Greenbay, 

Villa, and Mary E. Pigott Primary 

Schools and the Adele School. Dr. 

McGehee holds a Ph.D. in Special Education 

and has 30 years of experience 

training teachers at the university level. 

The Cultural Development 

Division in collaboration 

with the Ministry of Education 

presents the third 3 rd 

National Secondary Schools 

Theatre Festival under the 

theme “The Power To Create 

And Innovate Remains 

The Greatest Guarantee Of 

Respect And Recognition,” 

from March 5 - 11, 2017. 

The aim of the festival is 

Additionally, she has many years of experience 

as a special education teacher 

and supervisor in K-12 schools. 

The class focused on behavior management 

techniques which are known 

to build positive behaviors in students 

while eliminating undesirable behaviors. 

Each class participant was asked 

to develop a behavior intervention plan 

for changing undesirable behavior in 

one student and received a classroom 

management booklet. AUA COM donated 

approximately $1,000 U.S. in behavior 

management supplies for participating 

schools. 

Ms. Joy-Ann Harrigan, Education 

Officer-Special Needs in the Ministry 

to give students and teachers 

of Theatre Arts in Secondary 

Schools throughout Antigua 

and Barbuda the opportunity 

to express, share and participate 

in creative cultural experiences. 

Ten schools inclusive 

of Barbuda and a guest appearance 

from Montserrat 

Secondary will showcase astonishing 

theatrical performances 

in Drama and Dance 

with thirty-nine awards being 

awarded to students for 

their creativity and talent. 

The Festival schedule of 

events is as follows; 

Sunday, 5 th March with 

a Parade and Opening Ceremony 

at the Dean William 

Lake Cultural Center. 

Monday, 6 th March, Theatre 

Arts workshop focusing 

on Drama and Dance at the 

Multipurpose Cultural Center 

at 9:00am 

Monday, 6 th March, Evening 

of Dance commencing 

at 7:00pm. 

Tuesday, 7 th March, Pares 

Secondary School and All 

Saints Secondary School 

8:00pm. 

Wednesday, 8 th March, 

Antigua Girls High School 

of Education, Science and Technology 

is collaborating with AUA’s faculty 

members, Dr. McGehee, Dr. Deborah 

Russ and Ms. Sumita Balooja, AUA 

Public Relations Coordinator to plan a 

program of teacher training across several 

disciplines to include such topics 

as Differentiated Instruction, Accommodations 

in the classroom, Curriculum 

Modification, Behaviour Modification 

for Students with Special Needs, 

and Collaborating with Parents. American 

University of Antigua College of 

Medicine is proud to partner with the 

Ministry of Education in providing the 

best possible education to Antigua’s 

families. 

Cultural Division hosts National 

Secondary Schools Theatre Festival 

cont’d from pg 4 

“The United Kingdom has been at the forefront of the 

global fight against AMR. It is estimated that globally, 

700,000 persons die each year of drug resistance to illnesses 

such as bacterial infections, malaria and tuberculosis”, 

he added. 

The government awaits the arrival of a team from England 

later this year to examine ways of enhancing the 

country’s AMR policy, strengthening surveillance methods 

and laying the groundwork for the establishment of a Public 

Health Lab in Antigua and Barbuda. 

and Ottos Comprehensive 

School at 7:00pm. 

Thursday, 9 th March, Jennings 

Secondary School, 

Clare Hall Secondary 

School and Princess Margaret 

School at 7:00pm. 

Friday, 10 th March, Sir 

MC Chesney George Secondary 

School and Montserrat 

Secondary School at 

7:00pm. 

Saturday, 11 th March, 

Awards Ceremony. 

All the nightly performances 

will be at the Dean 

William Cultural Center 

tickets for the Festival can be 

purchased from the participating 

schools and the Cultural 

Development Division 

on lower Nevis Street children 

$10.00 adults $15.00 

nightly.



Regional health official visits Cabinet 


The Director General of 

the Pan American Health Organization 

(PAHO), Dr. Carissa 

Etienne, accompanied 

by four other officials of the 

PAHO and the Chief Medical 

Officer, were invited to 

address the Cabinet on pertinent 

issues. 

Cabinet spokesman, Lionel 

Max Hurst said the head 

of the PAHO congratulated 

Antigua and Barbuda for the 

achievements made in expanding 

the services being 

offered by the Mount St. John 

Medical Center (MSJMC). 


The Director of the Pan American 

Health Organization (PAHO), Dr. Carissa 

Etienne has been commended for 

her outstanding work as head of the 

important entity from none other than 

the country’s Health and Environment 

Minister, the Honourable Molwyn Joseph. 

While speaking during a meeting of 

the Caribbean Country and Sub-regional 

managers which is currently taking 

place at the Verandah Resort and Spa, 

Minister Joseph spoke on the country’s 

behalf and expressed thanks to Dr. Etienne 

and her team for assisting the twin 

island state in the area of health care 

delivery. 

“I say to you and PAHO – a warm 

and hearty thank you for the support we 

have received over the years especially 

over the last two and a half years. And 

to you personally, Madam Director. 

The doctor made mention 

of the two kidney transplants 

that took place at the institution, 

and the interest expressed 

by OECS countries 

to utilize the MSJMC transplant 

capabilities. She congratulated 

the Government 

for its forward thinking. 

However, according to 

Hurst the PAHO head cautioned 

against Non-Communicable 

Diseases (NCDs) that 

cause 85% of all deaths and 

58% of that quantum are premature 

deaths in Antigua and 

Barbuda. 

Antigua and Barbuda 

was congratulated for 100% 

achievement in immunization 

of children; the country 

is number one in immunization 

achievement in the 

PAHO, which is all of the 

Americas and the Caribbean. 

She credited the government 

and in particular the 

Ministry of Health for the 

low level of Zika infection in 

Antigua and Barbuda due to 

the aggressive steps taken by 

the Ministry. 

The health official also 

views the complete elimination 

of mother to child transmission 

of HIV, syphilis and 

Minister of Health, the Hon., Molwyn Joseph 

It is such a great pleasure for us to be 

your host on your official visit to Antigua 

and Barbuda – a fellow citizen of 

the OECS and one who has climbed 

the mountain top to sit at the peak of 

this prestigious institution, one that 

has made such a great difference in the 

other communicable disease 

during childbirth, in Antigua, 

as directly related to the policies 

put in place by the current 

administration. 

The PAHO head also congratulated 


for the placement of the 

Cancer Center that has treated 

208 cases of breast cancer 

and 100 cases of prostate 

cancer. 

The number of maternal 

deaths during childbirth, in 

Antigua, in the last two years, 

is zero. The PAHO official 

found that record to be outstanding. 

Minister Joseph commends PAHO 

Director for outstanding work 

quality of health care provided to millions 

of people in the Americas”, said 

the Health Minister. 

As Dr. Etienne’s five-year tenure 

at the helm of PAHO nears the end, 

Minister Joseph without emphasized 

that “without contradiction your term 

as PAHO Director has led to greater 

awareness of the Caribbean region 

among global medical and health officials. 

No longer is this region seen as 

just a mere extension of the Americas, 

but as an area with its own unique characteristics 

and challenges”, Minister 

Joseph further highlighted. 

He also noted that the PAHO Director 

has significantly lifted the morale of 

the OECS and CARICOM Community, 

“demonstrating once more that size of 

nation, density of population and level 

of economic wealth are never determining 

factors in reaching the highest 

pinnacle of accomplishment”.



As countries across the region continue 

to devise creative ways to educate 

persons about the importance of 

healthy eating and physical activity, the 

Director of the Pan American Health 

Organization (PAHO) has advocated 

for physical education to be mandatory 

throughout primary and secondary 

schools. 

State Insurance Corporation 

kicks off Spellbound 2017 

The State Insurance 

Spellbound competition 

kicked off with a grand 

opening ceremony on 13 th 

February 2017. Mr. Clephane 

“Terrific” Roberts, 

who returns as the series 

moderator for 2017, welcomed 

the audience in his 

usual flamboyant style and 

built anticipation for another 

exciting series. Mrs. Alvacea 

Burton, Education Officer 

Zone Two, gave welcoming 

remarks and stressed the importance 

of the spellbound 

competition, in strengthening 

the language skills of 

our young students. She then 

went on to declare the 2017 

State Insurance Spellbound 

competition officially open. 

Ms. Dornalyn Beazer, 

Public Relation Manager at 

State Insurance Corporation, 

expressed the profound delight 

felt by her organization 

since they have been sponsoring 

the Spellbound competition 

from its inception. 

She stated, “It has been a 

tremendous thirty-four (34) 

years sponsoring the spellbound 

competition and State 

Insurance is only Forty (40) 

years old. Isn’t that amazing?” 

Dr. Carissa Etienne has suggested 

that if Caribbean governments are truly 

to overcome the challenges associated 

with Non Communicable Diseases 

(NCD’s), physical education and activity 

must begin at an early age. 

“In many of our schools, physical 

activity ceases after the third grade. We 

need see active programmes throughout 

high schools and throughout the 

Ms. Beazer also challenged 

Ms. Alicia Knowles, 

Education Officer of the Education 

Broadcasting Unit 

(Ag), to seek the involvement 

of former Spellbound 

participants by encouraging 

them to give back by appearing 

on the show and sharing 

their experience as past 

spellbound contributors. 

This could serve as a means 

of encouraging and motivating 

this year’s participants. 

The opening ceremony 

was immediately followed 

by the first encounter which 

was between the Golden 

Grove Primary, Grace Christian 

Academy, J.T. Ambrose 

Primary and Pares Primary. 

The two top schools from 

each encounter will move on 

to the next round. 

The Spellbound encounters 

will be aired on ABS 

Television every Thursday 

at 6:00 p.m. 

Past Spellbound participants 

who are interested 

in contributing to the 2017 

Spellbound series, may contact 

the Education Broadcasting 

Unit (EBU) via 

email educationbroadcastingunit.ag@gmail.com 

or 

ebuminofedu@live.com or 

562-7204/562-7205. 

PAHO Director makes a call for physical 

education to be mandatory in schools 

primary schools. We need to ensure 

that they are public places that are safe 

and secure for people to exercise. You 

don’t need a gym to exercise, you do 

not need to pay money to exercise”, she 

stressed. 

Dr. Etienne went further to encourage 

employers to make the provisions 

necessary for employees to exercise 

and live heathier lifestyles.



Antigua and Barbuda hosts PAHO’s 

With the health and wellbeing 

of the region high on 

the agenda, the Annual Pan 

American Health Organization’s 

(PAHO) Caribbean 

Country and Sub-regional 

Managers Meeting got underway 

at the Veranda Resort 

on Monday. 

The exercise, which is 

being held here for the first 

time, brings together PAHO’s 

Regional Country Managers 

from across the Caribbean 

Community (CARICOM). 

It is focusing primarily on 

the impact of Non-Communicable 

Diseases (NCDs) in 

the Caribbean and the Pan 

American Region as well as 

PAHO’s inter-programmatic 

work and continued partnership 

with regional member 

states. 

Minister of Health and 

the Environment, the Hon. 

Molwyn Joseph addressed 

the delegates yesterday 

(Tuesday) and noted that PA- 

HO’s mission of combating 

diseases, promoting equity 

in health and improving the 

lives of the people of the 

Americas is alive and well in 


“Here in Antigua and Barbuda, 

we have solid evidence 

and can attest to the fact that 

this mission is alive, bright 

and vibrant and forms the 

foundation of the collaboration 

between your institution 

and the Ministry of Health 

and the Environment. You 

continue to be an invaluable 

and an indispensable asset 

to us, as we strive to develop 

a culture of wellness in 

our twin island state and to 

establish a healthcare system 

which provides the best possible 

care for all our citizens 

and residents,” Joseph said. 

Minister Joseph also 

touched on the country’s recent 

history-making kidney 

transplant program, noting 

that it was not just a success 

for his country alone but for 

the OECS region on a whole. 

“This was the first kidney 

transplant operation in the 

OECS and even though Antigua 

and Barbuda was the 

trailblazer in this regard, the 

congratulatory messages and 

commendations from our 

OECS brothers and sisters


egional Country Managers Meeting 

have been heartening and are 

indicative that our success 

is viewed as a regional success,” 

he stated. 

Officials from the World 

Health Organization (WHO) 

and the Caribbean Public 

Health Agency (CARPHA) 

are also attending the meeting. 

Chief among them is the 

PAHO Director, Dr. Carissa 

F. Etienne of Dominica. 

While addressing the 

gathering, Dr Etienne said 

that technical matters, strategies 

going forward as well 

as regional health updates 

are high on the agenda at this 

year’s meeting. 

“Over the next few days, 

we will discuss technical 

and managerial matters; we 

will update ourselves on the 

health situation in Antigua 

and also the health situation 

of all of the countries in the 

sub-region. We will address 

strategies to confront the 

challenges that our countries 

experience and we will 

have the opportunity as well 

to improve and enhance the 

technical corporation that 

we will deliver to our member 

states and strengthen our 

planning process,” Dr Etienne 

disclosed. 

Minister Joseph earlier 

noted that having Dr Etienne 

in the country will give his 

fellow cabinet colleagues the 

opportunity to hear directly 

from a renowned public 

health official on the serious 

risks that NCDs pose to individuals 

and to countries. 

“The Cabinet of Antigua 

and Barbuda will receive you 

and will have the rare opportunity 

to hear directly from 

you and other senior PAHO 

officials on global and regional 

health issues including 

the fight against NCDs. 

And let me pause here, because 

if there is one challenge 

facing all of us, it is 

the fight that we must wage 

against NCDs,” Joseph said. 

Apart from hosts Antigua 

and Barbuda, some of the 

other countries in attendance 

include Barbados, Trinidad 

and Tobago, Jamaica, Haiti, 

Guyana, Suriname, the United 

Sates, Venezuela, Belize 

and a host of Eastern Caribbean 

Countries among others. 

The five-day event will 

conclude on Friday.



Sandals Foundation revives Red Cross 

medical equipment loan programme 

On behalf of the Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross, its Director General Elvis Murray-Watkins 

(far left) and President Michael Joseph (second left) accept ten wheel chairs from 

the Sandals Foundation presented by: (left to right) Sandals Grande Antigua General 

Manager Gaurav Sindhi, Hotel Manager Leighton Josephs, Human Resource Manager 

Veronica Carlos and Public Relations Manager Kyle Christian. 

With the donation of 10 wheelchairs 

from the Sandals Foundation, the Antigua 

& Barbuda Red Cross has been able 

to resuscitate its Medical Equipment 

Loan Programme which aims to improve 

independence for the disabled. 

Through the programme, the Red 

Cross will loan, for a fee, wheelchairs to 

those who need it on a monthly basis. The 

revenue generated will be used to repair 

and replace the wheelchairs when they 

have outlived their use, ensuring the sustainability 

of the programme. President 

of the Red Cross Michael Joseph said 

the initiative had become defunct years 

ago but the organisation was committed 

to reviving it, as it provided a necessary 

service to those with mobility challenges. 

“The Red Cross has had a medical 

equipment loan program for a number of 

years and we have helped many people. 

This program has always been a quick 

and easy way for persons with disabilities 

and different health issues to have 

access to proper equipment for everyday 

use at a reduced cost,” he said. 

“However, due to inadequate funding, 

our medical loan program has been 

discontinued for a number of years as we 

could no longer afford to maintain it.” 

Joseph noted that the Red Cross is 

making deliberate moves towards fulfilling 

its responsibility of being a more 

sustainable entity. He said the donation 

of wheelchairs thanks to the Sandals 

Foundation has helped them revamp the 

medical equipment loan program to meet 

the needs of the most vulnerable in our 

society. The Sandals Foundation Director 

of Programmes Heidi Clarke expressed, 

“Losing your independence must be a 

frightening experience for those who just 

want to move around and do things for 

themselves. We are happy that with this 

donation of wheelchairs we can help to 

restore some amount of independence for 

persons who simply wish to get back to 

their normal routine.” 

The programme is expected to begin 

loaning the wheelchairs shortly. 

(From left to right): Antigua and Barbuda Red Cross Director General Elvis Murray-Watkins, 

President Michael Joseph, Sandals Grande Antigua General Manager Gaurav Sindhi, 

Human Resource Manager Veronica Carlos and Public Relations Manager Kyle Christian. 

One of ten wheel chairs donated by the 

Sandals Foundation to the Antigua & Barbuda 

Red Cross to restart its Medical 

Equipment Loan Programme.


Wednesday’s Sudoku Solution 

S U D O K U 

CROSSWORD 

Across 

1. Pal 

5. Police attacks 

10. In the middle of 

14. Whetstone 

15. Civic group (abbr.) 

16. Make well 

17. Machu Picchu dweller 

18. “My ____” (The Who song) 

20. And not 

21. Whip 

22. Squirrel’s treats 

23. Get up 

25. Impersonator 

26. Rocker ____ Turner 

28. Ripened 

29. Approvals 

32. Baseball position 

35. Encourage 

36. Pilaf ingredient 

37. Actor/Director ____ Eastwood 

39. Earnest request 

40. Mideast country 

41. Assembly 

43. ____ Gibson of “Braveheart” 

44. Actor ____ Penn 

46. Way out 

47. “A ____ of Two Cities” 

48. Warn 

51. Sarcastic writing 

54. Fraudulent scheme 

57. Shad delicacy 

58. Fortuneteller’s offering 

60. Smoked meats 

61. Assistant 

62. Vulture’s claw 

63. EMT’s word 

64. Brashness 

65. Mink wrap 

66. Hamilton bills 

Down 

1. Beijing’s country 

2. Respect 

3. Not discriminating 

4. Give ____ break! (2 wds.) 

5. Craze 

6. On a cruise 

7. Fails to exist 

8. Gentle animal 

9. Skin abrasion 

10. Movie star 

11. Naturalist John ____ 

12. Wrinkle remover 

13. Lions’ homes 

19. Scored on serve 

21. Twist 

24. Warning alarm 

25. Spy 

27. NBC’s rival 

28. Chinese, e.g. 

29. Eliminate completely 

30. Sharp 

31. Bachelor party 

32. Physically fit 

33. Give a job to 

34. Aquatic plants 

35. Fourth month 

38. “Raiders of ____ Lost Ark” 

42. Midterm, e.g. 

44. Calcutta dress 

45. Votes in 

47. Ocean currents 

49. Nero, e.g. 

50. Exams 

51. Resorts 

52. Diva’s offering 

53. Williams and Koppel 

54. Farm structure 

55. Lacking warmth 

56. English princess 

59. Make a doily 

60. DDE’s predecessor



Today’s weather forecast 


A mainly sunny sky. 

High - 80ºF 

Low - 71ºF 

Wind: South South East 6 mph 

Sunrise 6.28 am; Sunset 6.12 pm 

Wednesday’s Crossword Solution 

HOROSCOPE 

PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). 

Things are about to get busy 

again. If the arrangement isn’t 

working, this is the moment to 

have a talk, change the agreement 

or decide on a different 

kind of relationship. Do what’s 

needed, and do it quickly. 

ARIES (March 21-April 19). 

Everybody needs somebody, 

and you’re the somebody who 

is so needed now that somebody 

else seems fastened to 

you. Being needed so intensely 

could bring up mixed feelings. 

TAURUS (April 20-May 20). 

Money isn’t inherently emotional, 

but somehow it will 

end up being a hot-button topic 

today. You’ll be the reasonable 

one; you know to separate 

your own value from the monetary 

one in question. 

GEMINI (May 21-June 21). 

There’s something you want 

that requires a lot more attention 

than you planned to give 

it. Until you can lend full focus, 

it will remain out of reach. 

The question now is: How 

badly do you want it? 

CANCER (June 22-July 22). 

You’re not the casting director 

for every scene in the 

grand play of life. But when 

you do have the power, use it. 

Surround yourself with nice 

people and you won’t have to 

teach people to be nice. 

LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You 

don’t befriend anyone just 

because you think it will take 

you places. However, there are 

some special friendships that 

generate such a fantastic energy 

that you can’t help but soar 

upward, regardless of your 

original intention. 

VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). 

Hesitate and you will lose the 

opportunity, or worse, cast 

doubt in the mind of the one 

who’s doling it out. Today’s 

one of those times to just say 

yes. You’ll learn all you need 

to know along the way. 

LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). 

Higher learning will be featured 

in your day. This may be 

costly in values of time, energy 

and money, but you’ll never 

be sorry, as your richer life 

will eventually reflect all the 

potential benefits of the effort. 

SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). 

As it is with everyone, your 

powers of magnetism ebb and 

flow. They are flowing now. 

You may notice that you’re 

getting special treatment. Enjoy 

this, and don’t give into 

the temptation to play with 

your power. 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 

21). Today you’ll be reminded 

of the inherent tally inside every 

relationship. Don’t worry; 

everyone involved knows the 

score, and life is about to settle 

a few things up. 

CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 

19). You belong to many 

groups, though one stands out 

as being more central to your 

well-being lately. You’ll put 

your focus there, and you’ll 

become an even more effective 

member of that team. 

AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 

18). Those who obsess over 

others don’t have quite enough 

going on in their own inner 

circle. You can help that. Actually, 

this is a good opportunity 

for you to gain support for 

your cause.


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. 

All registered members of the Antigua Barbuda Amateur 

Bodybuilding & Weightlifting Federation please take note 

that Election for the post of Vice President will be held on 

4th March, 2017 at the ABI Financial Building, 2nd Floor, 

Redcliffe Street, St John's, Antigua at 6:00 p.m. sharp. 

The Antigua and Barbuda National Training Agency (ABN- 

TA) is in the process of forming Industry Lead Body (ILB) 

Committees for national endorsement of Level I Regional 

Occupational Standards: 

Occupational Standards specify the standards of performance 

that individuals are expected to achieve in their work, 

and the knowledge and skills they need to perform their job 

effectively. 

National endorsement will facilitate certification of individuals 

who work in various areas according to the requirements 

of CARICOM. 

Industry Lead Body (ILB) Committees will be formed for 

national endorsement of the following Level I Regional 

Occupational Standards: Carpentry, Masonry, Electrical Installation, 

Plumbing, Data Operations, Housekeeping Operations, 

Crop Production, Office Administration, and Cosmetology. 

Please note if your area of expertise is not listed, you are 

still invited to be a part of this discussion to get the process 

started. 

All individuals, institutions and organizations who are interested 

in participating in this process are invited to a meeting 

on Monday 27th February 2017, at the Multipurpose Cultural 

Center commencing at 5:00 p.m. 

You are kindly asked toconfirm your attendance by Thursday 

23rd February 2017. For any further information please 

call 562- 6685. 

Do you want to improve your posing techniques? The ABA- 

BWF invites all athletes & prospective athletes to a posing 

workshop on Saturday 25th February 2017 from 12-4pm at the 

Xtreme Health & Fitness Gym. For more details contact us at 

268 7640102/7285909. 

Event: Breakfast Forum 

Date: Thursday 26th January, 2017 

Time: 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. 

Venue: Grand Royal Antigua 

Speaker: Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of OECS 

Topic: “The Survival of the OCES and Developing 

Countries in a Global Economy” to include: 1The effects of 

Cuba on the OCES, and 2The de-risking of correspondent 

banking services in the OECS and the wider Caribbean by 

U.S. Correspondent Banks. 

Price: E$150.00 

Please contact the Federation’s Secretariat at (268) 462-0247 

to register. 

Specially invited guest: The Hon. Prime Minister of Antigua 

& Barbuda or his Designate from the Ministry of Finance. 

VACANCIES at OSEC (effective February 22, 2017) 

The following vacancies are registered at the One Stop Employment 

Centre: 

AUTO MECHANIC 

4-5 years experience in a similar role 

MARINE MECHANIC 

4-5 years experience in a similar role 

BARTENDER 

2-3 years experience 

If you are currently registered at OSEC and interested in a 

listed vacancy, kindly contact OSEC. If you are NOT registered 

with OSEC you may call the centre for more information 

on registration requirements. Our centre is located on 

Old Parham Road in the Ryan’s Building, next to Antigua 

Motors. OSEC telephone numbers are 5628533/34/35. 

DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS is Monday 27th 

February, 2017. 

TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE ANTIGUA AND BARBU- 

DA SCOUT ASSOCIATION Notice is hereby given, in 

accordance with Section IV(4)(b) of the Constitution, that 

the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING of the Antigua and 

Barbuda Branch of the Scout Association will be held at 

Government House (located on Independence Avenue) on 

Thursday 23rd February 2017 at 5:00 p.m. All Members are 

invited to attend and to be punctual. Members are reminded 

that subscriptions for 2017 are now due and payable. 

All Saints Anglican Church Mothers Unions invites everyone 

to its annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Sale on February 

28, 2017 from 3-6pm at the parish hall of All Saints Anglican 

Church at the All Saints. The variety of pancakes includes 

Dumps Pancakes, Sweet Potato Fritters, Vegetable 

Pancakes, Pumpkin Fritters, Plantain Fritters and Sweet Potatoes 

& Carrot Fritters. Pancake diiners will also be on sale.



Beach Benna Boys lose again in 

CONCACAF Beach Championships 

By Marver Woodley 

The Antigua and Barbuda Beach 

Benna Boys, Beach Soccer Championships 

campaign beings on a losing note. 

The players arrived in Nassau, Bahamas 

on Monday for their first encounter 

of the CONCACAF Beach 

Soccer Championships, and although 


Even after the Antigua 

and Barbuda Football Association 

Premier Division 

is over the uncertainty for 

some teams are still in high 

gear. 

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they started off their campaign in high 

spirits, it was quickly cut down as they 

loss tragically 8-2 to Trinidad and Tobago 

in during their opener. 

Playing at Malcom Beach Soccer 

Facility yet again, luck seemed to be 

even further away as they were crushed 

7-2 by USA last evening. 

One such team in particular 

is Sugar Ridge SAP, 

after failing to excel during 

their previous games have 

left them near bottom of the 

standings. 

The team which has been 

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a prominent figure in the nation’s 

top flight will have to 

battle for the last meaningful 

spot in the Division during 

the play offs. 

In a backward movement 

SAP will have to challenge 

the 3rd and 4th place finishers 

of the First Division 

to determine if they will be 

By Carlena Knight 

Antigua Barbuda International 

Institute of Technology 

(ABIIT) upset Antigua 

Grammar School in 

the Senior Boys Division 

of the Cool and Smooth Inter-school 

Basketball League 

on Tuesday afternoon at the 

JSC Sports Complex. 

ABIIT edged out AGS 

49-44 with Teyon Lake leading 

the charge with 17 points 

and Anthony Barker assisting 

with 11 points. 

Tyreke Lewis of AGS 

had 14 points while teammate, 

Damani Edwards assisted 


Their next encounter will be against 

the US Virgin Islands later today at the 

same venue, hopefully they will be in 

better form to enter the next round of 

matches with a win under their belts 

and represent Antigua and Barbuda 

proud. The traveling team is currently 

in Group C of the competition. 

SAP’s fate to be decided during playoffs 

demoted or remain the 10th 

team in the standings. 

It has been a rather poor 

season for the once upon a 

time Champions who ended 

their run in the 8th position 

with 18 points, with only 

one victory and 6 defeats in 

their second half of the season. 

ABIIT upset 

Antigua Grammar 

With this victory ABIIT 

move to third in the standings 

with Ottos Comprehensive 

in first position and 

Antigua State College in 

second. 

Ottos Comprehensive 

pushed their record to 4-0 

and elevated to the top of the 

standings after edging out 

Trinity Academy, 55-51. 

Lincoln Weekes was the 

leading scorer with 25 points 

while Javon Simon assisted 


Trinity’s Shamoy Carty 

had 25 points while Mico 

Scotland chipped in with 17 

points.


United presses on for top flight promotion 


Wadadli Events Services 

All Saints United 

have kept their hopes alive 

for automatic promotion to 

the Premier Division of the 

Antigua and Barbuda Football 

Association 2017/2018 

By Carlena Knight 

All Saints Slam trumped 

One Stone Original, 73-67 

in Division 3 action on Monday 

night at the JSC Sports 

Complex. 

Raheem Stevens was the 

leading scorer for the victors 

with 19 points, 7 rebounds 

and 5 steals and was assisted 

by John Rolland with 14 

points and 6 rebounds. 

Adrian Constant also of 

All Saints Slam grabbed 10 

rebounds. 

One Stone’s Nigel Ferguson 

had 15 points while 

season. 

United was in fine form 

on Wednesday when the 

crushed Freemans Village 

4-nil, Bernardo Melford 

netted twice while 

Keron Richards and Mikey 

Lewis strikes once each too 

teammates Shoy Southwell 

and Bryan Edwards assisted 

with 13 points and 5 assists 

and 10 points and 16 rebounds. 

Franklyn Roberts 

grabbed 11 rebounds while 

Jason Browne had 9 points 

in a losing effort. 

Ottos Coolers continue 

their dominance as they defeated 

LJ Northside Stingerz 

3, 74-36. 

Lincoln Weekes led the 

charge for his team with 18 

points. He was assisted by 

Danny Perez with 15 points 

increase their tally and stay 

underneath Swetes the season’s 

current winners. 

Swetes however not in 

need of a win defeated Ottos 

Rangers 5-1 to add to 

their goal tally. Aston Villa 

who are also contending 

Young female Antiguan receives 

invite to WI training camp 


A local female Antiguan Cricketer will 

join the ever-growing West Indies Female 

cricket team for their upcoming camp 

here in Antigua. 

Shawnisha Hector along with Akeira 

Peters of Grenada will join the team but 

as uncapped players during the training 

camp which will run from March 7-20 at 

the sir Vivian Richards Cricket Stadium. 

The announcement of the duo’s inclusion 

of the 20-member team was released 

yesterday on the organization’s website 

after being selected by the West Indies 

Cricket Board’s Selection Panel. 

As younger Antiguan cricket legends 

in the making have risen Hector has proven 

to be one in her own right, as she is 

just 17-years-old. The right-arm fast 

bowler was a member of the Leewards Islands 

team in the regional Women’s Tournament 

last year, and her first call-up to 

the international training squad. 

Meanwhile, Peters is a 23-year-old 

left-handed allrounder and was part of the 

training squad ahead of last year’s tour by 

England, but was not selected for the series. 

and Javon Simon with 13 

points and 5 steals. 

Maikol Florian contributed 

10 points and 7 steals. 

Malcom Henry of Stingerz 

had 13 points and 7 rebounds 

while teammates, 

For Sale 

for a promotion was in fine 

form as well when they defeated 

Bendals 4-1. 

A day prior English Harbor 

played all of the right 

moves to defeat St John’s 

United 2-1 with both goals 

coming from Orson Floyd 

the lone goal for United 

was form Raymond Taylor. 

In the other games, Young 

Lions held Willikies to a 

1-nil win while, Urlings defeated 

Blue Jays 2-1, the final 

game of the day however 

was not played as Pares 

did not show up to their 

encounter against Jennings 

United. 

The game swill continues 

today when Potters 

Tigers take on Point West 

Ham, Five Islands challenge 

Hill Top, Lion Hill face off 

against Fort Road while in 

the lone Second Division 

game Sea View Farm will 

take on Garden Stars. 

All Saints Slam trump One Stone in Division 3 

Conliffe Clarke and Adrian 

Bird chipped in with 9 

points and 10 rebounds and 

8 points respectively. 

Robert Spencer grabbed 

12 rebounds in a losing effort. 

Payless Shoes Antigua - Old Parham Rd anounces its Big 

Buy 1 Get 1 Half Off on Shoes, Clothing & Accessories & 

up to 25% off on Household Items.. Don’t miss it. Why Pay 

more when you can Payless at Payless Shoes Antigua.



National 3x3 youth basketball team 

departs for St. Lucia this weekend 

The Historic National 

3x3 Youth Basketball Team, 

comprising of Judah Ferris, 

Sheldon Gomes, Eric Joseph, 

and Ahmani Browne, 

is set to depart this Friday to 

compete in the International 

Basketball Foundation (IBF) 

Lesser Antilles 3x3 International 

Youth Championships. 

The competition, slated 

for Saturday 25th and Sunday 

26th, February 2017 

will be held in St. Lucia, and 

will feature other countries 

such as, Aruba, Barbados, 

Guyana, Saint Lucia, Saint 

Vincent and the Grenadines, 

Trinidad and Tobago, France 

(Guadeloupe, Martinique), 

and the Netherlands (Curacao, 

Saint Maarten). 

The young men, who 

will represent Antigua and 

Barbuda, were afforded this 

opportunity after emerging 

victorious in the National 

3x3 Qualifiers held last year. 

Meanwhile, Ahmani 

Brown, who represented another 

team in the National 

Qualifiers, was selected as 

the 4th player to complete 

the team. 

After months of intense 

practice, the team is confident 

that they will make 

their country proud, and return 

home with nothing less 

than the Gold. 

The Antigua and Barbuda 

Basketball Association 

(ABBA) is encouraging the 

general public and stakeholders 

to support the youths 

on their journey to the IBF 

3x3 International Youth 

Championships slated for 

this weekend.

Caribbean Times 4th Issue - Thursday 23rd February 2017

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