Prime Minister Gaston Browne says EC$150 million of taxpayers money went down the drain as a result of the Wadadli Power Plant deal.
Browne made the comments on Pointe FM after it was revealed that APUA had abandoned the plant as a source of electricity. He said the United Progressive Party is to be blamed for the millions of tax dollars lost.
“190 million just went away,” Browne said.
“But it doesn’t stop there, we have seen a situation where the UPP just continued to waste the country’s monies. And I just cannot countenance how any sensible person in this country could entertain the likes of Harold Lovell,” he added.
The Prime Minister said, “$150 million dollars because it never worked, it never generated a single dollar in profit, that was a total loss plus the 40 (million) we had to pay APC that’s $190 million”
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What a DISGRACE !!! I saw the interview with Lovell on OBSERVER RADIO on Darren Matthew Ward Program. Lovell did not want to be there. Lovell was FUMBLING over the questions Lovell was not looking normal. He looked very HIGH. Hon. Gaston Browne start the INQUURY. Some Upp Ministers must pay for this CORRUPTION. I am receiving calls from all over the world on this issue. What a LEGACY for BALDWIN SPENCER .HAROLD LOVELL et Al. SHAME ON UPP. THE WADADLI POWER PLANT.
This is why I hate politics. Your government is in power and what are you going to do about it? Why cast blame now?
Lovell was cool, calm, collective, and reassuring. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the narcissistic ramblings we have been getting from the PM the past week. He is now hinting at severing public servants if vaccine skepticism continues. Wannabe dictator clown. WPP should be the least of Gaston’s worries right now.
The WADADLI POWER PLANT … An Inquiry should have been called by Hon.Gaston Browne for years ago. Now Hon. Gaston Browne it is not too late. Let Us get the INQUIRY on the way. MASSIVE CORRUPTION is centered on this project. Now We are faced with $190,000,000 DEBT. Somebody must pay. Not fair for my KIDS. UPP owe Us an APOLOGY.
@MIDST. is the YIDA agreement fair to your kids? What about the ‘give away’ of lands and property to the Chinese? You dont seem to mind those. I want an inquiry too but 9ne that will determine once and for all, the ones who are really responsible for bringing that pmant to a halt
And why you think that inquiry hasn’t been called? Do you think Gaston Browne has found a soft spot? I’ll say again, WPP should be the least of Gaston’s worries right now. This is another one of his trademark diversionary tactics. NO ONE, apart from you *** lickers are buying it.
According to Gaston Browne – PM, “190 million just went away.”
Went away where, Gaston Browne – PM, did it take a one way flight, with Branson into space?
Could it be, that the present Ruling Arm, of Our Government, in exchange for the IHI, and other investigations which shed #Light on the then ALP(ABLP) in a negative way, were reluctant and still is reluctant, to call for INDEPENDENT auditing firms, to do forensic audits, on Our Government agencies which would show, EXACTLY where, things such as the 150 million dollars went?
Now, do we realize, the effect and impact, that QWERTY BOARD, aka #WhiteCollarCrimes have on our Nation.
Perhaps the people of this country should call for a Commission of Enquiry…… The Tax payers during 2004 & 2014 should know “” A way their monies garn,” when claims were made that NEW RUSTY, OIL LEAKING GENERATORS were bought from the Chinese to supply the nation with electricity…..Those persons of the previous administration need to understand that TAXPAYERS need proper accountability for their earned dollar, when spent. Running a country’s affairs is not about moving big wearing jacket & tie in highly tinted air conditioned vehicles… Its not just echoing the sentiments to the nation to ” BAND YR BELLY & WEATHER THE STORM” And certainly, it is no way similar as running a sweetie shop!!
Agree with you that investigation needed. We also need one for IHI. All the bandits are still around.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “Afrocentricity … is a way of answering all cultural, economic, political, and social questions related to African people from a centered position. … Indeed, Afrocentricity cannot be reconciled to any hegemonic or idealistic philosophy. It is opposed to radical individualism as expressed in the postmodern school. But it is also opposed to SPOOKISM, CONFUSION and SUPERSTITION.” – Dr Molefi Asante, Afrocentricity, The Theory of Social Change!
In this the International Decade for People of African Descent 2015 -2024, 186 years from Emancipation, 69 years from Adult Suffrage, 53 years from Statehood in Association, 39 years from Independence, What does the 1st November mean to you and your family with “Covid and Rona” running rampant and decimating the Political Economic, Socio-Cultural, Technological, Legal and Environmental (PESTLE) Space! Consider the following question, “Why have People of African Descent resident on Antigua and Barbuda been shut out of their own development?”
This mere Voice in the wilderness stated before the WPP was completed and on many occasions since that the the WPP was not built to satisfy the Contracted Specifications! Put it however you wish this mere voice has always been clear that it was a “Rip-Off!” “Slaughter of The Lambs!” “No Value For Money!” Of that it was abundantly Clear!
Some have argued that GoAB, The Ambassador, Bureaucrats, Professionals and Technicians, given the conditions of the “blood in hotel lobby” press conference, that the People of African descent had not fully
developed their own capacities in relationship to the global PESTLE and therefore they were outside of the normal development patterns of the world economy which was being dominated by Chinese advancement!
As the ancestors would say “There is more in The MORTAR than The PESTLE!” GoAB, “We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow.” – Lord Palmerston: speech, House of Commons, 1 March 1848! Oh Gad! Have Mercy Pon Us!
Others, guided by an Afrocentric East Star, would would look to the questions of location, control of the hegemonic global economy, marginalization, and power positions as keys to understand the Underdevelopment of People Of African Descent resident on Antigua and Barbuda by this failed Chinese Project!
Clearly, GoAB did not protect the Interests of the People of African Descent! GoAB did not express its outrage to the Peoples Republic of China! GoAB did not use the Legal Disputes Resolution Mechanisms provided in the Contract to take The Contractor To Court and Realize its Value for Money!
The People of African Descent Resident on the Rock, some sat back and enjoyed the gross injustice, theft and failure while some on “bended knees” prayed to some unknown most merciful saviour to “make everything right” while the Arab Traders continued their Strategy and Tactical Initiatives of “Antigua Power Control”! Why do we continue to act in the Interest of others and not in our own self Interests! Will we awake with the development of Gated Runaway Beach and McKinnon’s Pond and the Sixth Yacht Marina at Side Hill!
“What natural responses would occur in the relationships, attitudes toward the environment, kinship patterns, preferences for colors, type of religion, and historical referent points for African people if there had not been any intervention of colonialism or enslavement (or Imperialism and Supremacist thinking by others)? Afrocentricity answers this question by asserting the central role of the African subject within the context of African history, thereby removing Europe from the center of the African reality. In this way,
Afrocentricity becomes a revolutionary idea because it studies ideas, concepts, events, personalities, and political and economic processes from a standpoint of black people as subjects and not as objects, basing all knowledge on the authentic interrogation of location.” – Asante!
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “I was wondering it I could shape this passion just as I wanted in solid fire. I was wondering if the strange combustion of my days the tension of the world inside of me and the strength of my heart were enough.” – Martin Carter: SHAPE AND MOTION ONE!
This Failure is a National Shame! Not UPP! NOT ABLP! All of the People! “All Are Involved! All Are Consumed!” The Government is Us! The Bureaucrats are us! The Professionals are US! The Technicians are US! We of African Descent failed the Ancestors and their Struggles to be Masters in our own Land! “There is no forgiveness when one who claims a superiority falls below the standard.”
“For the people the party is not the authority but the organization whereby they, the people, exert their authority and will. The less confusion there is, the less duality of powers, the more the party can fulfill its role as guide and the more it will become a decisive guarantee for the people.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
Since 1951, the year of Adult Suffrage, when the People of African Descent attained the right to vote for the Executive Administration of their choice without let or hindrance, the People have elected two intertwined Governing Philosophies, notwithstanding the noises, dissonance, colourful manifestos and individual peccadilloes of the politicos which are more similar than divergent, to legislate and administer their affairs! That is evidence that the People while maintaining their Agency recognize that Government under the Executive Political Structure and System is Continuous! The people in exercising their Agency expect that GoAB, no matter the artificial colour of Blue or Red, will always act to protect their Interests and will pursue, to all corners of the World – West, Middle East or East, every effort to right the wrongs inflicted upon them by any other Nation and People, be it the old colonial buccaneers or the new neo-colonial privateers! Lest We Remember! Under State Capitalism, The PROC ranks first in the world in total number of billionaires and second in millionaires — as of 2018, there were 658 Chinese billionaires and 3.5 million millionaires! In terms of Purchasing Power the PROC is number 1 in the World! Now do you see why the DON secured some 21 licences and trademarks in the PROC for his daughter, one of which, “Believe It Or Not” was for Voting Machines! “Now I lay me down to sleep I pray the lord my soul to keep! Pity My Simplicity!” And The Diasporan in NYC an mi gud fren Tabor foolishly tout Barbudan Separation!
“Neither stubborn courage nor fine slogans are enough.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth! This mere voice in the wilderness believes that The People of African Descent expected that they should have received Value for Money with the WPP Project!
Until others like Mi Gud Fren Tabor, the legal luminary who has taken up residency on Redonda with his foolish and misguided support for the Barbuda Council’s Bid for Separation, understand that whatever happens in our Nation, no matter which temporary executive represents the good, bad and ugly of our political, economic, socio-cultural, technological legal and ecological (PESTLE) space, is done on behalf of the Peoples Granted not Abdicated Agency – The 93,000 of whom are People of African Descent, National Growth and Development and Building a Caribbean Civilization will be a mere fleeting fancy! One lesson which Covid has taught All and which Some have learned is that these Small Island Development States (SIDS) are not viable as individual states (1 from 10 equals 0)! You may wish to continue with the Red and The Blue but as Martin Carter said: “All are involved, All are Consumed!”
A Power Plant and Equipment which should have been able to exist for 25 to 50 Useful years if the Boilers and Generating systems were routinely overhauled and refurbished every 3 to 5 years fell apart within a year of operation when the Chinese Company who designed and built it were maintaining it! At home that would not have been tolerated by the PROC Government! They do not countenance corruption! Many have felt the searing lead! If the UPP did nothing accountable, it was the responsibility of the ABLP to address this legally and diplomatically! If they did, more power to them! Maybe some Country WoMen and Rastas know something, which many of the People of African Descent don’t! Both UPP and ABLP were given and represented the Peoples Agency! Their Shame in doing nothing is our Shame! To fail to recognize that condemns us to a sterility of thought and Values that will not advance National Growth and Development and the building of a Caribbean Civilization!
“The national bourgeoisie discovers its historical mission as intermediary. As we have seen, its vocation is not to transform the nation but prosaically serve as a conveyor belt for capitalism, forced to camouflage itself behind the mask of neocolonialism. The national bourgeoisie, with no misgivings and with great pride, revels in the role of agent in its dealings with the Western, Middle East and Eastern bourgeoisie. This lucrative role, this function as small-time racketeer, this narrow-mindedness and lack of ambition are symptomatic of the incapacity of the national bourgeoisie to fulfil its historic role as bourgeoisie. The dynamic, pioneering aspect, the inventive, discoverer-of-new-worlds aspect common to every national bourgeoisie is here lamentably absent. At the core of the national bourgeoisie of the colonial countries a hedonistic mentality prevails—because on a psychological level it identifies with the Western, Middle East and Eastern bourgeoisie from which it has slurped every lesson. It mimics the Western, Middle East and Eastern bourgeoisie in its negative and decadent aspects without having accomplished the initial phases of exploration and invention that are the assets of this Western, Middle East and Eastern bourgeoisie whatever the circumstances. In its early days the national bourgeoisie of the colonial countries identifies with the last stages of the Western, Middle East and Eastern bourgeoisie. Don’t believe it is taking short cuts. In fact it starts at the end. It is already senile, having experienced neither the exuberance nor the brazen determination of youth and adolescence.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
I cannot believe this place is that far beyond repair. Something na right. You can’t get no engineer from overseas for a 6 month contract or supm. Maybe Scotland Yard can have a look when they never come….
We have Baldwin Spencer and his distinguished Finance minister to “thank” for this. What a legacy!!!!
Truth Be Told you really have the engineers from APUA who went to China to evaluate the generators to “thanK” for this. Apparently they were duped by the seller of the generator and this may not come as a surprise given the corruption that exist in China with manufacturers of all kinds of products, with pharmaceuticals being a big one. I am sure you have heard of the case of plastic crystals being added to rice. You will also have Prime Minister Gaston Browne to partly thank for this. Government is continuous. Prior to the 2014 general elections the ALP campaigned all over the island, particularly Molwyn Joseph and Max Hurst, stating that the generators were old. You need to review the comments of Gaston Browne chiding his comrades for their comments. The point I wish to leave you with though is that since the issue of the generators was such a hot political matter, the least the ALP administration should have done when they became government in 2014 was to thoroughly investigate the matter. They did nothing and for that Gaston Browne should be the last one to talk. If the UPP administration was culpable in some way, the ALP administration is doubly culpable. Tell Gaston to stop pointing fingers and get to the bottom of this case of corruption and deception by a Chinese company.
CHARLES TABOR YOU REALLY GOT GAULD!!
Sometimes I wonder how he can be a lawyer but then I remember that lawyers are some of the most wicked set of people in the world. They will say anything the client wants to hear as long as the price is right. That principal seems to apply to politics as well.
Can you read or do you have any common sense? Read the comment again and tell me if you understand anything.
Tabor I’m sure you heard about the phrase “Leadership Matters”, or the Box stops with the Minister. Like I said time and time again, Lovell never ever takes responsibility of things that go wrong under his watch. Or even if he himself had something to do with it. A real leader takes responsibility and doesn’t throw subordinates under the bus. Although the PM has publicly stated why he doesn’t want an investigation and on the Saturday radio show he took that responsibility once again, against the wishes of some of his Cabinet members he said he killed the issue. I don’t agree with him at all. And you can now see why. You guys have the gall now to call his bluff to call an inquiry. And furthermore Clarvis was so bold to come and talk nonsense about the ABLP not having done the maintenance why the plant went down. Had he Brown done what was needed perhaps some of these guys would be put to shame and perhaps some would face jail time. Anyone buying a new plant and it does not perform in the first few months would have returned it back to sender and taken the company to the international court in France. They short of this is they have been ripped off with their eyes open. That is what happens when you have no experience as to how to do things. These things I know embarrass the Chinese government and they have their hands full fighting corruption. And many high ranked government officers are in jail for that. I only wish that Gaston will come back on his stand and allow for a full investigation as to what went wrong so that we the public can finally get the facts on what really transpire. And I know his concern is not to muddy the Chinese relationship, but he needs to understand that the public needs to have this thing put to rest. We need to understand what went wrong and where. And it can be done behind close doors. It doesn’t have to be a public spectacle like the MBS inquiry.
@Sideline. Let me give you a bit of truth. ABLP does not care whether: engine old or new; we have to pay back 150 million or not; how much land we give Chinese or not etc. They just want political mileage out of this and have their supporters talking, without thinking, until next elections.
We know that they presided over the plant for 6 years! Longer thsn under UPP. Am I to believe they put in yeoman effort to have the plant running yet it failed? If so, is that really governance? No effort to contact the manufacturers to see what exactly is going on? And while at it, tell us if the engines are old as touted during the election? I want an enquiry because I want to know if the engines were indeed old, or if ABLP allow a set of new engines to be destroyed for lack of proper care or for political mileage.
what a set of retards in so called leadership as our custodians.One set was voted out for incompetence, another that protested and campaigned against the purchased of those used Genset did no enquiry /investigation when they took over power to clean the mess and let some heads roll. These senseless ppl enjoy screwing the people of this island with unnecessary burden.You now coming to us your second term in the 11th hour with this unthinkable news.Same APUA GM in charge ,what is the use of the minister for APUA? seems we have another inept and incompetent govt still doing business with the chinese companies, sleeping with the new colonizer and selling us out. You better get them to compensate,replace the genset or write off the debt:let some heads roll., we cannot take anymore burden coupled with the pandemic.
Both UPP and ABLP are complicity and the personal assets of both cabinets should be forfeited to cover the losses.
ABLP in opposition had many large screen televisions all over the country touting the engines are old they got into the position of power and did absolutely nothing about it.
So both cabinets should be held personally liable for this conversion of the people’s resources.
I do not normally agree with Mr Tabor, but this time he hit the nail squarely on the head. This disaster may have happened during the UPP’s tenure, but it does not absolve that ALP in any way. Molwyn Joseph, in particular, went around showing pics of the power plant and vowing to thoroughly investigate the matter. Since getting elected, not a peep.
Similarly, the very same Molwyn Joseph professed to have all of the facts on the fencing scandal, and ppl were going to jail. Instead, the UPP minister at the heart of the fencing scandal is now an advisor to an ALP minister.
Ah-u tink dem ppl easy? Politicians ah wan special breed!!
Galileo and Melchesudec you are two voices of reason and I could not agree with you more. However, I will differ with you and go further to say that if both administrations are complicit in this China generating plant corruption rip-off, the ALP is certainly more blameworthy. Gaston Browne said that the Chinese officials told him that if the generators were not new they would compensate us. Gaston sat down for 6 years on that information and did not initiate an investigation. Now he is pointing fingers. Now, to underscore how they LIE, they (including Max Hurst) are now saying because we were dealing with a private company in China nothing can be done now. The ALP government is more responsible, along with the engineers at APUA,
I agree with you. I clearly remember Gaston Browne telling Serpent on the phone that he would expose who got paid to say the engines were old. Regardless of who did or did not get paid, the engines were categorically old and most likely were discards from cargo ships. It was repetitively said on Fire and Steele that the engines should be sent back to China with a demand for a refund as was apparently the identical case in East Timor. To the best of my recollection and for reasons unknown Gaston Browne would not say that the engines were old, and it has to be assumed that in 2014 Molwyn Joseph and Max Hurst were instructed to shut up on the issue…also assuming that there was some sort of plan. Even the plant built by the Chinese to accommodate these bordering on “antique” engines looks like a rusty, falling apart derelict building that is an eyesore on the Crabbs landscape…all in all typical of substandard Chinese construction on this island.
@ TABOR
You will agree with my DOG if it barks at ABLP. You are a ONESIDED person. Tabor You should learn how to analyse and draw proper conclusion. That is first Law school !!!!
for the present fiasco with the Wadadli power plant. Start the investigation now Gaston and stop pointing fingers at others.
@ CHARLES TABOR
I CANNOT believe that you are calling Hon. Gaston Browne and ABLP name into this FIASCO. Tabor when will you blame Harold Lovell , Baldwin Spencer et Al for this DARN WADADLI POWER PLANT ? I have never heard you blame your UPP for anything. UPP is wrong Tabor will blame Hon. Gaston Browne. Something is definitely wrong with you Tabor. Were you trained at the same Institution with KNIGHT,SERPENT ,CLEON ATHILL et Al. Something is definitely wrong with you BLUE KOOLAID DRINKERS. Hon. Gaston Browne will investigate and I hope that Some of your UPP Ministers will end up in JAIL.
By the way Tabor…Did you see or hear the Interview with Harold Lovell and Darren Matthew Ward last Friday ? Lovell was confused. The interview was a total DISASTER. He could not answer a simple question about the WADADLI POWER PLANT. DISGRACEFUL.
@ TABOR
I have read your contributions to this topic. I am at a loss to understand why would you be blaming ABLP for this WADADLI POWER PLANT . Tabor you should know better. I would advise you to SHUT YOUR MOUTH because YOU SOUND awful . UPP is 100% at fault. UPP should call a Press Conference and OPOLOGISE to ANTIGUANS and BARBUDANS !!!! $190,000,000 mistake by UPP . WOW.
So TENMAN HUGHES and all other apologists and propagandists for Gaston Browne and the ALP administration; if according to Clavis Joseph, former Chairman of APUA, the generators were new, ask Gaston Browne where the hell do we go from here. Tell him to start the long overdue investigation so we get answers. Gaston you were inept and tardy on the watch like the engineers at APUA.
So our biggest concern is whether the engines were new or old??? Our concern ought to be that we pissed away scarce resources and now our granchildren will be saddled with a debt of $71M. Someone should be held accountable for this.
I listened to Lovell on the radio and he slyly raised the possibility that maintenance could be a factor in the non-performance of the power plants. That is just a straight-up lie. We all know that those engines had problems from day 1.
Unfortunately, it appears as if the sitting administration will not investigate the matter, and this makes them no better than their political adversaries
@Dadliman. . ‘We all know that those engines had problems from day 1’. Speak for yourself because I did not know that. And I venture to say neither did you. You probably heard ABLP said so but who in their right mind would believe Max Hurst et al.
I however concur with your last paragraph although not for the same reason as you.
@Zackie: If u didn’t know that the engines didn’t work from day 1, it’s because u didn’t want to know. Even without the noise emanating from Max Hurst and Molwyn Joseph on Fire & Steal (pun intended), u could just drive by the plant and see that the stacks were not expelling any smoke. We can probably count on one hand how many days all of the engines worked as intended.
The bottom line with those engines is that Baldwin allowed Shoul to do as he pleased, and he (Baldwin) never had the balls to reign in Shoul.
TARL MAN!! You gone totally MAD!!
Those Engines were bought brand spanking new.They were made specific for APUA.I listened to Gaston Browne as Prime Minister in this matter of the Engines.He did say the Engines were new.He even said,the Cabinet authorized a certain amount of money to help APUA to maintained those Engines.APUA used the funds to do other things than for what it was given to do.Look around Antigua at all the Real Estates owned by the Government.Are they maintained.A lack of maintenance on anything is a huge contributor to its demise.In my opinion,this is not a political matter.It should be investigated from the top down.An independent inquiry into this matter.Is this another enrichment scheme for the insiders,like Cabinet Ministers.
TARL MAN!! You gone totally MAD!!
CARSON it is quite obvious you did not hear Clarvis Joseph, former Chairman of APUA, giving a most comprehensive account on Voice of The People this afternoon on the Wadadli power plant saga. His explanation completely debunk all the nonsense we have heard from Gaston Browne and Max Hurst. CARSON let us assume that the plants were obtained new with a useful life of 15 to 20 years. That being the case, how then are we in this position with a useless set of generators? This means that the engineers at APUA must be called upon to give an explanation on the maintenance of the generators. More, importantly this issue of the generators was a hot political issue with Molwyn, Max Hurst and Gaston Browne making all sorts of pronouncements on the generators while in opposition. They got into government and then turned their backs on the generators. I say the ABLP is also to blame for the situation we are in today. Gaston himself agreed that the idea of breaking the power generation monopoly in the country was a great idea. That was the reason the generators were secured. Tell Gaston to now mount an investigation into the generators from their inception to when they were abandoned by the APUA. When that is done we will know conclusively who is to blame. Notwithstanding that fact, I can safely say that the ALP and Gaston Browne is not without blame so tell Gaston to stop pointing fingers. Moreover, if he wants to point fingers tell him to look into a mirror and point his fingers there.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “The Afrocentric method considers that no phenomena can be apprehended adequately without locating it first. A phenom must be studied and analyzed in relationship to psychological time and space. It must always be located. This is the only way to investigate the complex interrelationships of science and art, design and execution, creation and maintenance, generation and tradition, and other areas bypassed by theory.” – Dr. Molefi Asante, Afrocentricity, The Theory Of Social Change!
Mi Gud Fren, The problems at the WPP Design Build Project were never about Maintenance! Even before the project had reached the stage of Substantial Completion, the Alarm button had been activated on the Boilers and “Gensets”! Prior to Substantial Completion and long before Commissioning of the Plant, the Problems of deterioration had already set in! The Plant was never properly commissioned as it should have been by an external independent Professional Agency! Here is a tid bit for you my dear Brother! The design/build contract for the Plant did not include the transformers and digital computer systems for load transfer to the existing grid! Can you Dig It! An Electricity Generating Plant was being designed and built with no systems to transfer its produced electricity load to the Grid! Any Professional worth his salt would have recognized that defect at the Functional Design preparation or Schematic Design Phase, long before Working Drawings were being prepared and not when the Plant was under construction! A similar situation occurred with the Design and Construction at the VCBIA Terminal Facility! That Facility increased by 33% in Size! Do you realize the Cost resulting from the Change Order to correct the Design and Construction at the Terminal Building! Additionally at the WPP after the installed Equipment was realized to be of poor quality and did not meet the specifications, a Change Order was effected to provide Maintenance of the Plant by the Design/Build Company! At that point it was not salvageable a word which is used deliberately!
“Neither stubborn courage nor fine slogans are enough.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth! The Board Chair did not nor does not have the competencies to speak with any clarity and professional authority about the WPP! The Ambassador was like the Board Chair another “Day Trader!” The then PM had not a clue and could not extricate his “Honourable BS” from the “Blood in the Hotel Lobby!” Full Disclosure, Had the opportunity to report to a Tertiary Education President, who when his colleagues and peers would visit his Campus would take them on a tour of the Co-generation – Electricity, Heating and Cooling – Plant! The Chief Engineer, a former Naval Engineer, and his staff of Power Engineers, kept the Plant spotless and running like a Swiss Watch! Not a drop of oil or dirt was to be found on the machinery, distribution pipes, floors, walls or ceilings!
The Bureaucrats, Professionals and Technicians employed by APUA to carryout the WPP Project lacked the Capacity, were out of their depth and were found wanting! Hence they were all taken to the cleaners by the unscrupulous Design/Build Contractor! The Project Manager was totally ill prepared, and to this date still is, for such a huge and complex task! On a good day his colleagues will quietly whisper their concerns! They were all presented with Teachable Moments and Learning Opportunities yet to a man up to and including this day, It was and is a lesson which they have not learned! Sadly, This group of Professionals from GM to Electrical and Mechanical Engineers to Project Manager suffered no consequences for their in-competencies, the loss of $150 Million and the Eternal Shame to the People of African Descent resident on Antigua and Barbuda! They are folks who go to work for a Pay Check and not to advance APUA’s stated Vision, Mission, Values and Strategy much less GoAB’s Policies and Mandates, National Development and Growth or a Caribbean Civilization!
This mere voice in the wilderness is no fan of the World Bank, The IMF, The Breton Woods Bandits and their Modus Vivendi and Operandi! The following statements should provide some guidance for future large APUA and other GoAB Developments! “In a set of industries where monopoly provision is likely to remain the usual model –including transport infrastructure as well as water and sanitation alongside electricity distribution—the role of government remains vital whether services are provided privately or publicly. If there is an attempt to attract private investors, in a set of industries where payback periods are long, the institutional environment covering prices and the broader investment climate will be a key to attracting finance. If infrastructure remains in the hands of the state, then the quality of the government institutions managing the infrastructure stock will be vital to determining outcomes. In short, the impact of infrastructure governance remains regardless of the ownership or management control of assets.” – World Bank Document, Infrastructure Governance and Corruption: Where Next? A New Pragmatism in Infrastructure!
The “blood in hotel lobby” press conference was pure metaphorical and literal BS! It poured more Bunker C Oil on the burning flames from the Boilers and “the hotel lobby” without answering the question of whether the Plant had been built to specifications and whether the People of Antigua and Barbuda were receiving “Value For Money” as the “Worl Boss” would argue later! In less than a year from substantial completion, the WPP which was being maintained by the very Chinese Company that built it fell apart with inoperable Boilers and “Gensets”! Even with some Maintenance Routines, such a Brand New Plant should have lasted close to 25 years! With Good Maintenance Routines and overhaul of Boilers, Gensets and Turbines every 3 or 5 years up to 50 years!
The People of Antigua and Barbuda were taken for a ride along the “Old Silk Road” by the SOE of the PROC! GoAB did nothing to right the wrong! On this I stand to be corrected if evidence is provided to the contrary!
“…in certain (Nations) the party is organized like a gang whose toughest member takes over the leadership. The leader’s ancestry and powers are readily mentioned, and in a knowing and slightly admiring tone it is quickly pointed out that he inspires awe in his close collaborators. In order to avoid these many pitfalls a persistent battle has to be waged to prevent the party from becoming a compliant instrument in the hands of a leader. … The nation should not be an affair run by a big boss. … The influential circles, who in their blind irresponsibility are more concerned with safeguarding their lifestyle, their cocktail parties, their paid travel and their profitable racketeering, have abdicated in favor of a leader and occasionally discover the spiritual void at the heart of the nation.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
I hope Tabor have read and understood every word you have written above. He should be ashamed to have referred to the garbage that Clarvis was allowed to have spilled on the airways on Observer Radio. Clarvis should have been such ashamed to have been at the helm of this great ripoff. We have been made the laughing stock of the Caribbean when it comes to this. An inexperience government ripped off by a Chinese company for over US$50 million as they went out to purchase a power plant.
We should never ever again allow a set of incompetent persons take over the reign of this country and bring s much shame to us.
@Sideline. This is not the first time that I read of you referring to the former administration as incompetent but the facts says quite different. Could an incompetent govt rollout so many social programs, all of which have been ‘cogged’ by a competent ABLP? If we believe that St Kitts govt is competent and the evidence suggest this, having given two stimuli during the pandemic. Then, can you say that ABLP is a competent govt when they cant even offer one?
See, its easy to hate a party and its members but constantly claiming incompetence does not make it so and sensible people can see right through that crap.
Sometimes it is really tiring talking to dummies. What intelligence is needed to rollout a social program that you have not put the funding in place. Just giving away money and you don’t know how it will pay for itself. That is what those programs like School Meal, School Uniform are. Eventually the Treasury will have to find the money for them. And the fact that everyone one qualifies for them tells me it is not a social program. Cause the financially well of have no need to get free school uniform for their children. Unlike what the ALP had put in place under the Education Levey is first determine a revenue stream and then build a program around it. Same as Medical Benefit. They have their own revenue stream. Then their is the flawed benefit program call People’s Benefit Program that does has it own source of income but the criteria was so flawed, people started to quarrel among one another how come he got and how come she got. Cause the criteria although with good intention was to aid the financially challenged and the disabled. That is so wide that an elephant could walk through it. And I told Baldwin personally that he needed to close the loopholes of this program but he didn’t listen as usual. Who is a disabled person and why you think a disabled person need financial assistance. You can be rich but have lost one arm or a leg in an accident. That alone qualifies you to get $215 each month from the PDV program. Economically challenged was to be any household living on an income of $800 or less per month. That group is large. and especially the pensioners who have a pension of only $400 a month. And because there is catch in it that it has be the entire household income, some children still living with their parents are moving out and stop assisting their parents, while others whom everyone knows have children that are well off but live alone are getting the card. so the inept UPP could not even roll out a good system. You had the president of the disabled community working for the government and at the same time getting a card and also being part of the committee getting a stipend. And to make matters worst his spouse who is also a disabled person also been given a card. That is what you call a good rollout of a social program. Then they have the Senior Citizen Utility Subsidy Voucher program. A giveaway of $100 per month to any senior citizen. And what is this trying to achieve, to assist the elderly with the payment of their utility bills. Now do ALL elderly people need assistance with their utility bills. Certainly not me. But just the fact that I’m a senior citizen I qualify. And oh yes you also need to have paid into the social security. Cause you need to have your social security pension card to register. So Mr. Harney and Mr. Aziz Hadeed who are Senior Citizens and have a Social Security Pension Card can go and register and get $100 vouchers each. What sense does a program like this makes. Giving money to all and sundry, and having no clue where the money must come from in this time when we cannot buy any oil anymore from Venezuela. And you know what they did when they were in office. They run the PDV Carib office Bankrupt. Yes it was Bankrupt until we were able to have Venezuela write of $200 million dollar of our debt. And to date I wonder how long they can keep having these freebees program going on. Someone has to pay the bill some day. A social program is all well to ensure we assist the least in our society but not when you have a big loophole when everyone can walk through it. Then it becomes just giving away of money. Something not even done in the developed world.
You know what good social program is Social Housing. Building good quality houses for those that can normally not afford it. That is what this government is doing with National Housing. You are giving people lifetime equity and taking them out of poverty and the environments that comes with it. Like what the PM is doing for the people at Boobey Alley. And I can go on and on about the incompetent of the UPP but I guess you won’t want to hear all of that. It would drive you crazy.
Are the owners of the APC and the Government Office Park one in the same.I am just connecting the dots.Putting the jigsaw puzzles together.All of those BOOT arrangements must come to an end now.What good are they serving the people.When the contracts end things just continues with a renewed one as in APC,in 2018.
I have read and listened to all the contributions to the WADADLI POWER PLANT on ANR. I did not know that ANTIGUA Produced so many FOOLS. I have only ONE question to ask. Who bought The WADADLI Power Plant ? Obviously the answer is UPP.
How the Hell Tabor and others are blaming Hon.Gaston Browne and ABLP. Something is definitely wrong with TABOR and the Others. It is a burning shame to read some these contributions. TABOR expect better from You. I cannot believe you are being lead by Others. Show Leadership. You must be fair in your discourse !!!!
@Mr. J
Are you saying that UPP knowingly bought junk? Gaston should be blamed because if people in his government knew the country was ripped off he should have called an enquiring and stopped Paying. Something is wrong here. Either the plant was new and was left to deteriorate to kill competition, or the plant was old and somebody was paid off to shut up.
Mr.J.S.Prudhomme I do not know how much fairer I can be in my position on the Wadadli power plant national fiasco. Yes, the plant was bought under the UPP administration. It would appear in the purchase of the plant the engineers of APUA were duped by the Chinese manufacturer. Please notice that I said it would appear which means we do not know as a fact. This position therefore requires that an investigation is necessary to establish the facts. The ABLP has been in power for the greater life of the power plant and as a responsible government should have dealt with the matter in a more serious and professional manner. In light of the politicization of the issue prior to the 2014 general elections, one would have expected the ALP government after coming to power to deal with the issue. They did not and for that is complicit and absolutely blameworthy in the power plant national crisis. Again, I say therefore that engineering heads should roll at APUA and the ALP government and Gaston Browne need to provide answers and stop pointing fingers. This is a national crisis spanning both administrations and we need compelling answers and not ALP partisan nonsense.
why not let put pressure on the Gaston Browne administration to have that inquiry. I’ll support you on that. I mean if the UPP is calling for it and the ABLP supporters are also calling for it I don’t believe Gaston will have a choice. I mean whose interest is more important that of the Chinese or that of the Antiguan and Barbudan people who till this day are still left wondering what really went wrong. But please note I do not buy the throwing of the Engineers under the bus. The box stops with the leaders. The Board the Minister and the Cabinet and ultimately the PM, Baldwin Spencer
@Sideline. You are prejudging by suggesting where the buck stops. We dont know that and, that is what the enquiry will determine. I hate to disappoint you however that Gaston would rather lose your support than have a full enquiry.
Dont hold you breath!
Zackie in any organization we know where the box stops. And yes sad enough people who are in leadership and never want to take the responsibility should not be in leadership position. Gaston told us he takes full responsibility for not having an enquiry. I doesn’t agree with him on that, but I don’t vote on one issue only. But if he wants to make my day is when and if you start the investigation.
My only disagreement with this statement is that engineering heads should roll. Political heads need to roll as well – on both sides of the political fence.
This disaster is a shining example of square pegs in round holes. Shoul’s expertise is in selling cheap trinkets. He, under no circumstance, should have been the lead on the purchase of a power plant. Thanks to Baldwin Spencer for that. And now, thanks to Gaston Browne for doing nothing about the raping of the public purse. Pointing fingers and doing nothing is NOT an option. Someone needs to be held accountable for this disaster
Totally agree with you on this
Thank you Mr.Clavis Joseph for so eloquently explaining the situation about the generators. Anyone to be blame for that situation with those power plants are the managers of APUA and the engineers.The engineers went to China to source the plants , they did not know what they were buying.So they bought pigs in bag.Didnt Gaston say that he did not see anything wrong with the generators and in his estimation they are new generators .He also said people were telling him to say they are old generators and if they continue he would call names of people who are fabricating the story about old generators.I hope Observer radio would play back the tape with what Mr.Clavis Joseph has to say about the generators.Pls note Mr.Clavis Joseph was a former Board member of APUA.He has lots of details..Pls call an inquiry into the generators.From UPP to now with ABLP.We need to see beyond colours in this country, and see only Antigua.Its all about Antigua for me the land of my birth.
That is why Clarvis should never have been made chairman of this company as he has no clue about anything and when things go wrong he simply does not excepts the blame. He throws the staff under the bus. But that is not how it goes when you are the chair of a board. You take responsibility. When I was in the same position leading a company of which I knew nothing I ensure that I got external professional advise. I didn’t only relay on what my managers had to tell me. And I learn that through my entire professional life. When the CFO provide financial reports to the board and you are not a financially savvy person you take those financials and get advice from a external consultant to educate you. If you have to build a house you hire persons to oversee the work of the contractor, cause when you don’t the contractor will give you a six for a nine. So for Clarvis to make those statements he did yesterday on the radio shows his ineptness as a so called well educated individual. And if I’m correct he was also one of the Directors causing the ABIB fiasco that Gaston Browne had to go clean up for him and costing the tax payers over 300 million dollars to pay back. So his record is well known. Not to mention his questionable record at Caribseas, and that at the WICB. He can be seen as one of the failures of the UPP behind the scene. They don’t run for office but when their party in power they take control and run it in the ground.
@ BLACK MAN
Stop chatting FOOLISHNESS.
Never thought I would ever share a sentiment with ‘lawyer’ tabor! But I do. The one sentiment I share is that there is need for a thorough investigation of the WPP matter. But I would caution him though. Be careful for what you ask, you just might get it. There is no way that the UPP and its Ministers at the time, including the racist from Barbuda, can escape conviction on charges of corruption and malfeasance in public office. This should include the then Ambassador Shoul who proudly highlighted his own role in the acquisition of the old engines. I remember the late Winston Derrick was practically ostracized by his own party(UPP) because he kept demanding answers concerning the said plants. Via the medium of his radio station – Observer 91.1 – he kept bemoaning the possibility that his children and grandchildren would be burdened with the repayment costs for this odious daylight robbery. He was right on point. His children and grandchildren and yours and mine – every taxpaper – will have to bear this burden. Derrick cared. We seem not to. Unfortunately, Derrick died in what many consider to be most mysterious circumstances (murder most foul?) during the height of the public outcry for truth regarding the blatant rip-off.
Mr. PM, while I acknowledge the generosity of the Chinese in helping Antigua and Barbuda achieve its developmental goals, they cannot be let off the hook so easily. After all, Mr. P. M., you and some of your Ministers did question the authenticity of the claims made by then PM Spencer, Shoul et al. You too will be judged by the way you handle this matter. Your people are not prostitutes. We are not willing or prepared to suffer this level of callous disregard and insults to our national integrity from the Chinese in exchange for financial gain. At the very least, whether before, during or after the commencement of an Enquiry into the whole sordid UPP/WPP mess, the Chinese Embassy should be made to offer a public apology to the people of Antigua and Barbuda. They should then offer to write off the $150 million that, by your assessment, have been defrauded by Chinese operatives acting under the “leadership” of the UPP administration. We need remedial action soonest!
I agree with you but on the latter, I do not believe the Chinese government can be hold responsible for the action of a private firm. But China should assist us in getting to the bottom of this saga. They have tarnish the good name of China and the relationship with Antigua and Barbuda people and this need to be brought in daylight. And although I don’t want to believe there was any corruption involved from our side I do believe we were taken for a ride because of our ineptness. Like stealing candy from a child.
And the PM must really rethink his stand on this. Diplomacy yes, but you cannot sweep this thing under the carpet. And we laborites should start putting pressure on him for that.
Always passing blame. Regardless of party, if nothing is maintained, it will go to rack and ruin. The PM is not good for this country.
Look at the lands he’s selling for a steal to the Chinese.
Hope you start learning the Chinese language now..
Both pokitical parties should be ashamed of themselves for this saga. Cabba nah betta than yabb. Those engines were not new and I cannot believe Mr Joseph had the nerve to go on the radio and tell such a bold face lie. This current administration is to blame because the engines were the heart of their campaign and yet 6 years after they were elected they did nothing about it. The former administration try to pull one over the people by trying to sell the old engines as new. Both parties should be made to pay for them. Not the taxpayers of this country.
Yup
And another sad thing you see in our politics is that not a drum is heard from the people who called themselves Concerned Citizens. I guess they are only concerned when there is some political mileage for the party they support. Other than that they are as silent as a lamb. Deafening
I am done with those so called concerned citizens. I don’t see them picketing calling for justice for ANDREA HUGHES or SUSAN POWELL. Both are women. ANDREA HUGHES killer is still walking free. SUSAN POWELL was gun down in her workplace in broad daylight. And up to this day not a word.
They are nothing more than political prostitutes that is why you cannot hear from them on those cases. There is no political mileage for them to gain
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