CABINET NOTES: March 13 2024

March 14, 2024

CABINET OF ANTIGUA MEETING LAST WEEK — OPM Photo: CABINET OF ANTIGUA MEETING MARCH 14

HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday March 13, 2024

The Cabinet began its weekly meeting with prayers rendered by a Minister of Religion.

The Cabinet began its substantive discussion with a briefing on Haiti. The Prime Minister indicated that Antigua and Barbuda’s position on Haiti is quite clear. It was communicated at the last meeting of the Heads of Government, during the first days of March 2024, in Guyana. At that meeting, he made it clear that Antigua and Barbuda would wish to see Prime Minister Henry of Haiti resign. Until he goes, the impact on negotiating a settlement is not possible, he said. When the CARICOM met again in Jamaica on Monday and Tuesday, Prime Minister Henry announced that he would resign upon the formation of a National Council.

The Prime Minister explained to Cabinet that it is not a requirement for every Prime Minister to be always present at these meetings. He also noted that to remain in Antigua after a week-long absence is a virtual requirement–providing his views are known and communicated to the body. The CARICOM is scheduled to meet by Skype tonight, Wednesday 13 March at 8:00 pm, to continue discussions on Haiti.

The Cabinet held a discussion on the war in Europe between Russia and the former Soviet Socialist Republic of Ukraine. Prime Minister Browne once again reiterated his previous call, a week ago, for Ukraine to sue for peace. The Catholic Pope has also recently called for Ukraine “to raise the white flag” and to seek to make peace with Russia though that larger state is the aggressor.

Henry Kissinger, the former U.S. Secretary of State, one year before his death, also proposed that Ukraine seek out peace with Russia in a war that Ukraine cannot win, and to end the human suffering.

The Prime Minister’s worldview is therefore consistent with those dispassionate thought-leaders in the world who deem war to be destructive and ultimately harmful to civilians and soldiers, economies and material well-being.

The Prime Minister informed Cabinet that negotiations with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) on the sale of the first aircraft to LIAT (2020) Ltd is about complete. A lease has been signed and that aircraft will allow LIAT (2020) Ltd to file for an Air Operator Certificate (AOC). He estimated that LIAT (2020) Ltd will take to the skies in April 2024.

Eight (8) officials from the Ministry of Finance, the Treasury, and the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) presented their monthly fiscal report to Cabinet. The report is intended to capture fiscal performance by the government in January and February 2024, in an attempt to manage better the gap between expenditure and revenue. No purchases of supplies or services are to take place without the express permission of the Financial Secretary; and, all providers of goods and services will only be approved if they have paid up their statutory contributions–Medical Benefits, Social Security and Education Levy. Payments can be made within seven (7) days. Suppliers who encounter delayed payments will each have a point-of -contact within the Treasury. An Oversight Committee has also been established to ensure that statutory bodies have the information readily available. Additional Forensic Auditors are required, the Cabinet learned, and they will examine reports submitted by contractors and suppliers. Cabinet has also determined that an amendment to the Customs Service Act will be required in order to make clear the objectives of the new policy.

Three (3) very bright and articulate lawyers from the Ministry of Legal Affairs were invited to Cabinet to address the request put forward to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), to declare that there is a lawful basis on which to pursue the developed countries for the liabilities stemming from global climate change. The document which they have prepared for the ICJ has drawn data from a variety of sources, in the first part, demonstrating how harm to island-States came about by the reckless dumping of unwanted gases and particulate matter into the skies for more than 100 years. The second and third parts of the document rely upon International Conventions and International Customary Law. The document is to be deposited at the ICJ on/or before March 24^th 2024. The Prime Minister congratulated Vanuatu and Tuvalu, two island states in the Pacific, for championing the cause that has brought island-States to rely upon the International Tribunal of The Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The SIDS4 Conference, scheduled to take place in Antigua from May 27^th – 30^th 2024, will also regard this approach as one of the deliverables that the Conference will uphold.

The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda began an examination of the accommodation needs of the delegates to the SIDS4 Conference. The Cabinet learned that the cost of a cruise ship to house hundreds of delegates is prohibitive; consequently, the expert who has been working on an alternative approach reported that Airbnb’s, houses and apartments have been categorized A, B, C.
A – level will cost up to USD$280 daily. ii. B – level will cost up to USD$250 daily. iii. C – level will cost up to USD$200 daily.

Arrangements are to be made with certified taxis that are within zones that are in proximity to the accommodation chosen by delegates. Private security and retired Police Officers are to supplement the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda and the Antigua and Barbuda Defense Force. The Glanvilles and Villa Polyclinics are to staffed and remain open 24 hours. Sir Lester Bird Medical Center (SLBMC) is to be on stand-by always during the days of the Conference.

The Cabinet addressed the issue of indiscriminate and disorderly vending in public spaces, especially in St. John’s. New rules governing vending are being considered, including securing a permit to vend, and permission to occupy certain spaces; and remaining clean according to the standards set out by the Central Board of Health. The object is to bring greater order to a helter-skelter arrangement that leads to un-tidiness.

8.i. The Magistrates’ Court on High Street is near completion. 8.ii. The refurbishment of the Boys Training School near Willikies is close to completion. 8.iii. A Health and Safety Officer is soon to be appointed at the Ministry of Works to increase workplace safety.

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