An Antiguan aviation consultant with connections to Africa is raising concerns about Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s hasty plans to launch the Nigeria-based carrier branded Antigua Airways – adding to the concerns already voiced by the United Progressive Party (UPP).
The consultant, who is based in the United States, refers to reports from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which indicate that Nigeria is currently withholding US$450 million in revenues earned by international carriers operating in that country.
Emirates is the latest international carrier to suspend flights to Nigeria due to its inability to repatriate monies it is owed.
As the nation tackles a severe dollar shortage, Nigeria has restricted access to foreign currency for investors, and IATA’s Vice President for Africa and the Middle East – Kamal Al Awadhi – has described talks with Nigerian officials to release airline funds as a “hectic ride.”
Accordingly, the UPP is raising concerns about the viability of the hasty airline deal to establish direct connections between the Caribbean and West Africa.
“PM Browne has admitted that the venture is risky. Amid the challenges that major airlines are facing in repatriating funds, why has he been so quick to jump into this deal?” asks Harold Lovell, Political Leader of the UPP and a former Minister of Tourism and Aviation.
“Under the ALP, we have had too many failed projects, and one of the main reasons is the lack of due diligence. The PM needs to slow down; do some independent research; and carefully weigh the risks involved,” Lovell cautions.
A formal agreement was signed between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Nigerian publishing and printing firm Marvelous Mike Press Limited earlier this month.
The Administration claims that Antigua and Barbuda will earn 20 percent of the profits in this venture, which, reportedly, will be financed by African investors.
Under the arrangement, planes are to be leased and the airline’s flight crews will be subcontracted. Service is expected to begin in mid October, although details about the flight schedule and bookings system have not been published.
Meanwhile, a local businesswoman is asking why the Government is allowing Antigua and Barbuda’s name to be used on what is a Nigerian venture. She notes that if the venture fails or otherwise “goes bad, it is our name – not Nigeria’s – that will be tarnished.”
Other residents are asking why no one has heard from Sir Robin Yearwood, the sitting Minister of Aviation, on this deal.
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As he jumps up shirtless in the band, will the NAZARENE CHURCH release a statement to clarify its relationship with UPP’S Kelvin “Shugy” Simon??
Is he a member of the NAZARENE CHURCH??
Is Chester his BFF?
Everybody knows this is a scam. The story just does not add up. The big established airlines are pulling out, because they can’t get their money out. But we are forming an airline to try to in to that ants nest? We just have to be patient. It will all be revealed.
Caribbean NAZARENE College in Trinidad 🇹🇹
Is Shugy taking the NAZARITE VOW?? That’s y he refuse to cut his beard???
Samantha beginning to lose weight and you are beginning to lose a little more your mind. Shugy for St Mary’s South. Putting the Labourites out of sleep.
JUSTICE FOR NIGEL, PLEZZZZZZZZ
Alister Thomas and UPP are really dumb, why put this information out in the public and expose your information source.. Will this be the new police standard that we can expect if they are elected into office?
What the hell are you saying? What source did UPP put out there? All of the information about airlines having problems getting money out of Nigeria is public. It’s in the international news everyday.
ALISTER THOMAS SAID THE WARNING IS COMING FROM A VERY REPUTABLE INTERNATIONAL GROUP OF INFORMATION COMMISSIONERS, A GROUP THAT HE IS APART OF… NOW YOU KNOW THE FACTS
REVIEW THE VOP TAPE AND LISTEN TO THE RATTLE.
HE GOT DID THE INFORMATION AND DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. EVEN BEFORE HE HAD A CHANCE TO SPEAK WITH THE UPP HE THOUGHT THE BEST THING WAS TO PUT IT IN THE PUBLIC. HE WAS LIKE A KID IN A CANDY SHOP
What you expect from Alister “inTERllectual” Thomas???? He admits to hearing voices that wake him up from his sleep telling him to beat Gaston 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
One big PAPPYSHOW 🤡
@Mel: Go back into your underground bunker. Did you just awake from your dream. What source did they expose? Before this new so called venture with Nigeria. There was a man from the same Nigeria. He was supposed to be investing millions into LIAT among other things. He is the owner of AIR PEACE,NIGERIA. They were going to fly from Nigeria to Antigua. What has become of that? That so called Nigerian Investor was Indicted in Georgia in the United States of America. He was charge with Bank Fraud,Money Laundering and Falsifying of Documents. Now we are back with this new Nigerian so called Investor again. What is the love relationships between Gaston Browne Administration and Nigerian Investors. Who are getting kickbacks from those failed Non Investments. We had an Antigua Airways before under Lester Bird. One day we woke up and it died a sudden death.
Aloster said on VOP that the information he is releasing came from *A GROUP OF INFORMATION COMMISSIONERS WHICH HE IS A PART OF*…
Now you know the fact, please update your coconut.
“..UPP ADVISES…” not MR. IMF and WORST FINANCE MINISTER talking about “ADVISES”
The ECCB “ADVISED” you King Lyadd Lovell Limpy Joe about the PRECARIOUS POSITION OF ABIB and you REFUSED TO LISTEN!!! You and your buddy Everette didn’t take heed. And we all know what happened to ABIB UNDER LOVELL’S WATCH!!!!
You have NO MORAL AUTHORITY to “ADVISE” anyone or to ever be a part of the governance of this fair nation.
Send somebody else to deliver that message. That person may be EMPTY HEAD like Glady Potter 🍦 🍨 🍦 but at least they have no political blood on their hands.
MR. IMF ROMANTIC RHYTHMS WADADLI POWER CAN’T ABST HOTEL RIPOFF ABIB COLLAPSER BANKING-SECTOR COLLAPSER ANTI-UWI FIVE ISLANDS CAMPUS BAICO COLLAPSER ETC
Smh@
You forgot to mention Gaston’s 26 Failed PROJECTS
You forgot to mention that most of Gaston’s investors are in jail Peter Virdee, Saab Moran, Xiao Jianhua
You forgot to mention that under Gaston Browne Antigua came last in the Caribbean re CIP
You forgot to mention that Mr Weston told us that many reputable hotel chains did not choose Antigua but went to Dominica and Grenada
You forgot to mention that while in opposition Gaston Browne supermarket in Jennings failed
You forgot to mention that Gaston Browne worked for Swiss American and that bank failed
You forgot to mention that Gaston Browne is associated with a Bank that is being sued
You forgot to mention that Gaston Browne pulled down his pants and showed his bottom to the world!
GASTON! ABSOLUTELY THE WORST PRIME MINISTER EVER!
Hi JJJ aka ANNA SALOME
🥱 even Stevie Wonder can see you GRASPING AT STRAWS like your “SPENT FORCE” leader, King Lyadd Lovell Limpy Joe.
I am sure you very well know what bank Swiss American turned into.
You used to work at Bata on high street selling rubber slippers and Bata “failed” because of you!
Antigua ranked #5 in CIP rankings (which the PM says “We do not pay attention to those rankings. They are generally PAID FOR OR PROMOTED BY INTERESTED PARTIES to boost their CIP business in certain states).
“Associated” with a bank that is being sued? Now that is the reason why Kevin don’t keep company with you anymore, because you’re “associated” with that “undercover group”
PM Browne wears pants. What you expect him to pull down a dress? 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Reputable hotel chains like SANDALS that Lovell allowed to HOLD UNTO OUR ABST MONIES??? $100,000,000.00+
Peter Virdee ASOT MICHAEL buddy??? That’s exactly why he’s not on the Labour Party slate. Good governance is what the PM is championing
While in opposition PM invested in REAL ESTATE instead of having a pity party and GRUDGING other neargah
GASTON BROWNE THE BEST PRIME MINISTER EVER!!!!
As far as I understand it, this is a private investor from Nigeria willing to put up his money and start an airline with the name Antigua and flying mainly to Antigua but to other places as well. All that will happen is that Antigua will be a gateway for Nigerian to travel to the rest of the world. If the business venture fails, the government loses nothing. If it succeeds, we gain everything. So UPP and un-named airline consultant thanks for your concern, but perhaps you need to talk to the owner of the airline and let him know your concern.
LIES LIES LIES. CORRUPTION! The airline industry is not that simple. Large airlines are pulling their service from African markets, why are we going in with such great haste? When and how will this service be marketed? This is bobol. A printing company is launching an airline in two months? Do we need plane loads of African fraudsters on our soil?
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