(Jamaica Gleaner)
Stuck in Jamaica following the closure of the island’s borders as part of measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19, Akilah Southwell, an Antiguan, and first-year law student at The University of the West Indies (UWI), was homesick.
When news came that her government organised a LIAT flight to take her home, Southwell was relieved and told The Gleaner yesterday that she would rather be quarantined in her country than to remain in Jamaica any longer.
As a result of restrictions here including the closure of its borders, 20 Jamaicans were also stranded in Antigua. They were allowed entry into the island yesterday in an apparent quid pro quo.
“It’s been approximately two months of quarantine. The experience being here was very lonely. I felt stuck like there was nowhere to go. I prefer to be at home with my family, especially in a crisis like this.
“I wasn’t locked up in my room and can’t leave campus, but we tried not to leave the campus. It was more self-quarantine, a personal choice. I am extremely excited to go home. You can’t see my face properly but I am smiling because I am excited,” she said while donning her mask.
As she waited anxiously in Jamaica, her family provided financial and other kinds of support as best they could from home in Antigua.
The law student said that more than 40 students might have been stranded in Jamaica and expressed gratitude to her government for stepping in.
Also among the group was Stevika Foster, a first-year medical student at The UWI, who shared that she began to panic after realising the COVID-19 pandemic would not be over quickly.
“When I first heard about the pandemic, I thought I could wait it out if it’s a month, but then I realised it was not a month and we would be in quarantine for a while and the cases were just rising. I got scared and was ready to go home,” Stevika said.
The Gleaner spoke to her mother, Naomi Foster, last night, who is anxious to see her daughter. She explained that after arriving in Antigua by plane with the other students, Stevika will have to take a ferry over to Montserrat.
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Thursday the minister of education from St Kitts was on Observer and the detractors of ALP were quick to sing the virtues of of what is happening in St Kitts while at the same time becoming critical of Mr Michael Browne. Today now the Government of Antigua was successful in bringing students back home from Jamaica. In following the blogs from St Kitts they are singing the praises of Antigua while at the same time questioning what they perceived as the inaction by their minister in bringing the 50 plus kittian students back to St Kitts from Jamaica. How do you explain that?
The people have a right to be critical of Michael Browne.As the Minister of Education.He should have been fired for spending millions of taxpayers money on the E Books.What has become of that fiasco?Was it swept under the carpet?Who made monies from that transaction?Who got richer from that scheme?And you have the nerve to defend him.He was supposed to be graduated in 2014 with a double Doctorate Degrees.He did say not even Dr.Eric Williams did it.He was trying to what Dr.Eric Williams,former Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago could not do. Ms.Browne tell us about those Doctoral Degrees.That we the people paid you to do.When you should be doing the work of the people who are paying you.You would be doing down in History as the worst Education Minister in the History of ANTIGUA.
Mikey Browne should be fired forthwith.
Bugsy while I cannot argue with your criticism of our Minister of Education Michael Browne, I just wish to make some clarification to your position. Minister Browne has not only passed his place in comparing himself with one of the region’s finest scholars in the person of Dr. Eric Williams (the late Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago), but he has also lied about Dr. Williams when he said on several occasions that Dr. Williams tried to get into Howard University to do a double doctorate and he was unsuccessful, but he Michael Browne was successful. First to begin with, Dr. Williams completed his Doctorate in 1938 at Oxford University in England and in 1939 became a Professor at Howard University where he taught for years before returning to Trinidad to enter politics. So for Michael Browne to say that Eric Williams could not get into Howard is the like of the century. Secondary just for the education of Michael Browne a JD (Juris Doctor degree) is not a doctoral degree. It is the first degree of law studies in the USA. So even if Michael Browne was doing a JD degree at Howard University as well as a PhD in Education as he says, that is not a double doctorate. Michael Browne in not knowing that basic difference is certainly unfit to be a Minister of Education. As you rightly said as well only in Antigua and Barbuda you can have a Minster of Government paid by the public and being away from public duties for years. This situation is unbelievable and a burning shame.
How do you explain a situation whereby one commits and crime and because of friend and company they get away? Doesn’t that bring shame to the justice system?
We have been sensitized from the start of Gaston Browne’s rule as PM that we are living in an economic powerhouse. On a weekly basis when Max Hurst and Melford Nicholas give their cabinet briefings they often refer to Antigua as an economic powerhouse. However, now that the world is in a crisis with the covid-19 pandemic we are all realising that we are in fact living in an economic poorhouse. Apart from the lack of a stimulus package for residents and citizens of Antigua and Barbuda our students are left stranded in the various islands and territories where they are engaged in higher education. The government had no means of bringing them to the comfort of their homes and to their loved ones without going cap in hand to corporate Antigua. Some of these businesses have been on lock down without revenue or reduced revenue for approximately one month.
Can somebody please explain what is an economic powerhouse as I can’t see any semblance of powerhouse status in Antigua except for a select few. Maybe I am missing something
Hon Gaston Browne and his team were building an economic powerhouse. Nature ie covid has impacted the plan. We will rebound post crisis. Our economy will thrive. You to will reap the benefits over the next eight years as there is no way UPP will ever make the goverment.
@Just Saying
Explain an economic powerhouse? Will Antigua have to declare bankruptcy before this crisis is over because it can’t repay its mountain of debt. And the government is broke and is trying to borrow more. America can be an economic powerhouse from borrowed money, but then they can print their own money.
Clean reliable water and electric. Not having to waste so much water when the pipes are turned on to get rid of the dirty water coming out of the pipes that the homeowners have to pay for. Proper roads. The people talking about economic power should concentrate on making Antigua look like one first.
Just saying I suppose you are a sensible, rational thinking person. Prime Minister Gaston Browne in the 2014 election campaign said that he would make this country an economic powerhouse. Granted he did not then give a timeline. Today he is now saying that that slogan was just a vision and it will take at least 35 years to build an economic powerhouse. It was just a ploy to win votes and if you believe otherwise you are more of a fool than I thought. In your response please attack the message and not the messenger.
Just saying when you talk about committing crimes please think about the Attorney General and many other members of the government (and former Cabinet member) that I am sure you know. Please also think of the Odebrecht scandal and ask our Prime Minister some questions about it. Make that your assignment and stop talking pure nonsense.
@Tabor It is my Sabbath. I will respond to you at length 12:01am tonight.
Just Saying i am happy to know it is your Sabbath nevertheless you were on the site. Keep your faith in Christ and don’t be distracted. However, when you are ready to respond attack the message and not the messenger so that I will feel free to respond to the usual nonsense from most of you.
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