{"id":10242,"date":"2017-12-15T17:03:14","date_gmt":"2017-12-15T21:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=10242"},"modified":"2017-12-15T17:03:14","modified_gmt":"2017-12-15T21:03:14","slug":"upp-says-national-vision-forum-a-rousing-success","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/upp-says-national-vision-forum-a-rousing-success\/","title":{"rendered":"UPP says National Vision Forum a rousing success"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"antig-1190092567\" class=\"antig-ecab antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-1088371186\" class=\"antig-before-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/medicalbenefitsscheme\" aria-label=\"ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:341\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/ce741a73-c70c-446b-af7f-da2abe2b62bb.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div><p>(PRESS RELEASE)<\/p><div id=\"antig-3081262293\" class=\"antig-content_5 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"level\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/level.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/level.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/level.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/level.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/level.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>An audience of more than 300 attendees filled Freedom Hall, while<br \/>\nthousands joined via Facebook Live, as the United Progressive Party (UPP) convened the first National Vision Forum last Thursday evening.<\/p>\n<p>The theme of the forum was &#8220;TALENTS: A New Perspective.&#8221; The discussion covered several issues related to national development. A number of UPP candidates made dynamic presentations that analyzed pressing issues facing the nation and outlined a number of policies and programs to address these problems and lead to greater job creation and economic stability.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2034236493\" class=\"antig-content_4 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-4237055156\" class=\"antig-content_12 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ablpag\" aria-label=\"IMG_0040\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0040.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0040.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0040.jpg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0040.jpg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_0040.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>There was also an opportunity for audience participation,<br \/>\nduring an intensive question-and-answer session that followed the presentations.<\/p><div id=\"antig-3674409394\" class=\"antig-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ReggaeInTheParkAntigua\" aria-label=\"lucanio\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/lucanio.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>Policy presentations were given by multiple candidates:<br \/>\n\u2022 Kyron Simon (St. John&#8217;s Rural South) on Cleaning Up Antigua<br \/>\n\u2022 Cortwright Marshall (St. Mary&#8217;s South) on Agriculture &amp; Linkages to the Economy<br \/>\n\u2022 Senator Shawn Nicholas (St. Philip North) on Education<br \/>\n\u2022 Dr. McChesney Emanuel (St. John&#8217;s Rural North) on Investments &amp; Job Creation<br \/>\n\u2022 MP Wilmoth Daniel (St. John&#8217;s City West) on Public Works &amp; Housing<\/p>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10244\" src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:267\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/http:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAROLD-LOVELL-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:267\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAROLD-LOVELL-1.png 267w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAROLD-LOVELL-1.png 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:910\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAROLD-LOVELL-1.png 910w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:373\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAROLD-LOVELL-1.png 373w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:640\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAROLD-LOVELL-1.png 640w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:681\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAROLD-LOVELL-1.png 681w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:959\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/HAROLD-LOVELL-1.png 1333w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 267px) 100vw, 267px\" \/><br \/>\nThese were followed by the main address by UPP Political Leader Senator Harold Lovell.<\/p><div id=\"antig-1247957790\" class=\"antig-content_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"500X500 (1)\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 500w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:150\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/500X500-1.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>&#8220;This forum was a rousing success. The interactive format empowered constituents from all corners of Antigua and Barbuda to not only contribute to our policy proposals, but to also participate in discussions with candidates who are vying to be their elected representatives.<\/p>\n<p>The UPP slate comprises a diversity of backgrounds and this forum allowed us to showcase our capabilities, rich talent pool and range of ideas. Our party has progressive values and we strongly believe that civic engagement is the only way to ensure that citizens can make educated choices as they participate in the democratic process&#8221;, said Senator Harold Lovell, Political Leader of the UPP.<\/p><div id=\"antig-1228633098\" class=\"antig-content_3 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/chtamarketplace.com\/\" aria-label=\"Social FaceBook Cover Desk_Mobile\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:711\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Social-FaceBook-Cover-Desk_Mobile-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:711\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Social-FaceBook-Cover-Desk_Mobile-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:111\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Social-FaceBook-Cover-Desk_Mobile-scaled.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:379\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Social-FaceBook-Cover-Desk_Mobile-scaled.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:285\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Social-FaceBook-Cover-Desk_Mobile-scaled.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:569\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Social-FaceBook-Cover-Desk_Mobile-scaled.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:711\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Social-FaceBook-Cover-Desk_Mobile-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"2560\" height=\"949\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-10245\" src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:225\/q:mauto\/f:best\/http:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:560\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 560w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:80\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 80w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:100\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 100w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:180\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 180w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:238\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 238w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:640\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 640w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:681\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 681w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:960\/h:720\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/upp.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Some of the solutions proposed include:<\/p><div id=\"antig-2600673341\" class=\"antig-content_6 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Broadband 1200x400_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Broadband-1200x400_1-1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p>\u2022 The UPP will repeal the job killing Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT). There will<br \/>\nbe NO re-introduction of Personal Income Tax (PIT).<br \/>\n\u2022 Farmers with 10 or more acres of land under active production will be eligible to<br \/>\nreceive land leases up to 25 years, enabling them to access loans to expand their<br \/>\nbusinesses.<br \/>\n\u2022 Within the first two weeks or less of the next UPP administration, there will be a<br \/>\nreduction in the cost of fuel at the pump that will truly reflect the price of crude oil on<br \/>\nthe international market.<br \/>\n\u2022 Fuel variation rates will be reduced and pegged to international market rates. Your<br \/>\nAPUA bill will come down.<br \/>\n\u2022 The UPP administration will allocate EC $7M yearly in grant subsidies from the<br \/>\nnational budget to strategic growth areas, including Antigua Sea Island Cotton,<br \/>\ncultural and artistic industries, agro-processing and fisheries, under the Enterprise<br \/>\nAssistance Programme.<br \/>\n\u2022 The UPP will create the Young Entrepreneurs Setup (YES) Program to provide free<br \/>\nbusiness training, assistance with formulating business plans, assistance with<br \/>\napproaching financial institutions and government credit guarantees. The old<br \/>\nParliament Building will be refurbished to accommodate the flagship YES program.<br \/>\n\u2022 Government services will be brought closer to your door steps &#8211; APUA, MBS and<br \/>\nSocial Security payments will be made on-line and in offices in select communities.<br \/>\nTwo areas already identified are Bolans and Liberta, and we are currently<br \/>\nevaluating two separate locations in the east.<br \/>\n\u2022 Reduce work permit fees back to 2014 (pre-election) rates.<br \/>\n\u2022 Convert the old Holberton Hospital into a state of the art Senior Citizens Center.<br \/>\nThis world class facility will comprise every concievable component: a media<br \/>\nviewing room, games room, fitness center and other worldclass features.<br \/>\n\u2022 All bonafide citizenship applications will be processed within six months.<br \/>\n\u2022 The UPP will build a modern center for the performing arts (showcasing steelpan<br \/>\nmusic, fine arts, etc.)<br \/>\n\u2022 Create an education empowerment zone in Coolidge &#8211; a 1.5 square mile area of<br \/>\nacademic institutions underpinned by a UWI-linked University with a new Faculty of<br \/>\nAvionics and Aviation Engineering. The Avionics sector will be developed with<br \/>\nAntigua as a hub.<br \/>\nSenator Harold Lovell also informed the nation of two large investments which reputable<br \/>\ninvestors have already undertaken to deliver under the next UPP administration:<br \/>\n\u2022 A US $300 million new hotel, realizing 1500 direct and indirect jobs. This agreement<br \/>\nwill be signed shortly after taking office.<br \/>\n\u2022 A massive investment in the export sector valued at US $122 million and 1185 jobs- direct and indirect. Discussions have already concluded with the interested investment group.<br \/>\nSenator Lovell also expressed concern over the mismanagement of the CIP and loss of visa free access to Canada, saying &#8220;My first trip abroad will be to meet with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to begin serious steps towards resuming visa free access to Canada.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Designed to facilitate citizen engagement in fine tuning the UPP&#8217;s Policy Platforms, the National Vision Forum met the key objectives of being diverse, open sourced, and powered by citizens.<\/p>\n<p>The UPP intends to hold a second NVF in January to address Tourism, Health and other areas of national development.<\/p>\n<div id=\"antig-1573786631\" class=\"antig-in-comments_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/@hadeedmotorsltd\" aria-label=\"Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 1000w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:75\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:192\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(PRESS RELEASE) An audience of more than 300 attendees filled Freedom Hall, while thousands joined via Facebook Live, as the United Progressive Party (UPP) convened the first National Vision Forum last Thursday evening. The theme of the forum was &#8220;TALENTS: A New Perspective.&#8221; The discussion covered several issues related to national development. A number of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":10243,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured-2","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>UPP says National Vision Forum a rousing success - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/upp-says-national-vision-forum-a-rousing-success\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"UPP says National Vision Forum a rousing success\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"(PRESS RELEASE) An audience of more than 300 attendees filled Freedom Hall, while thousands joined via Facebook Live, as the United Progressive Party (UPP) convened the first National Vision Forum last Thursday evening. 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