HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday 17 January 2024
The Cabinet meeting commenced with a prayer by a Minister of religion followed by a discussion relating to the repurposing of land across Antigua and Barbuda. Land lying fallow is to be put to profitable use whenever the opportunity arises, the Cabinet affirmed. That policy has operated ever since the sugarcane industry ended in Antigua in 1972.
- The Cabinet invited Dr. Edda Hadeed to its meeting to discuss Sickle Cell Anemia as a healthcare challenge in Antigua and Barbuda. The Doctor pointed out that pain management is one of the greatest challenges faced by those who have the full blown disease. Sickle Cell is inherited from parents and it is a blood condition with pain which affects all aspects of a patient’s life. During a crisis, oxygen is cut off in the blood; harm results to many of the organs within the body. One out of every five persons in Antigua and Barbuda carries the trait, and about 1,000 sickle cell patients rely on medicines to help them to manage the pain. The amount of morphine available in Antigua is determined by the Chief Pharmacist, who has responsibility to ensure that the morphine is used only by very sick patients. The Cabinet agreed that a clinic dedicated to treating Sickle Cell patients, will be established on the Old Holberton Hospital grounds. The primary objective is to arrange to treat the pain experienced by a patient during a crisis as quickly as possible, diverting the patients from the hospital; harm to the patients’ organs can be minimized by early pain management, the Cabinet was told.
- The Cabinet invited an expert in meditation and stress-free living to its meeting, accompanied by a Bishop of a Christian Church, upon the urging of the Attorney General who was impressed by the success rate of the expert. More than 10,000 centers around the world have been established by the institution which has dispatched the expert to Antigua and Barbuda; she was previously in Trinidad for six years. The expert explained to Cabinet the methodologies utilized to overcome anger and violence with meditation and other stress-free techniques. The expert sought some benefits to which the Cabinet readily agreed.
- The Cabinet invited the Head of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Committee to its meeting in order to determine how best to serve as many Antigua and Barbuda Youth with the limited financial resources available for scholarships. The Gaston Browne administration expended more than EC$23 million on the Prime Minister’s Scholarship Program in one year. The Cabinet determined that scholarship funds for students attending UWI Five Islands and UWI Mona will have their awards paid directly to the UWI rather than to the students. The Cabinet reiterated its policy towards its own employees receiving Prime Minister’s Scholarship monies; those who receive their monthly salaries while studying abroad may not also receive scholarship funds.
- I) The Cabinet agreed to the establishment and construction of a neurological clinic on the Old Holberton Hospital Site. The Clinic will treat neurological illnesses and will be led by an American named Myron Rolle; he will arrange the financing, the design, the cost of construction and will give an undertaking to treat nationals and residents of Antigua and Barbuda which will reduce their costs below the amounts that the patients coming out of the US and UK will pay.
- ii) The Minster of Health reported that the number of women suffering from cervical cancer has doubled in the last two years. The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is solely responsible; it is a sexually transmitted disease that strikes at women, causes cancer if untreated, and can be prevented by administering a vaccine before girls begin engaging in sexual relations. The Minister pointed out that vaccination, treatment and screening are the three steps that can be taken to reduce the impact of the disease significantly. It can be eliminated from the Antigua and Barbuda population in four years by aggressive application of the anti-viral drug.
iii) The Minister of Health reported that there is a crisis in kidney failures, judging by the number of adults whose reliance on dialysis has increased. Hypertension and diabetes are the two culprits. He again reiterated the need for a balanced diet, a reduction in the consumption of salty foods and sugary drinks, and the need for exercise. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is the major cause of death and amputations among the Antigua and Barbuda adult population. Changing diet and abandoning a sedentary lifestyle are two methods by which these dreaded diseases can be avoided.
- i) The Cabinet was informed by the Minister of Works that roller-compact- concrete-pavement will become the new method for road building. The pavement absorbs far less moisture than asphalt roads, to which Antiguans have grown accustomed, and will not develop potholes. Samples were shared with Cabinet members. Work on community roads will commence shortly utilizing this new technology.
- ii) Rehabilitation of the Magistrates’ Court on High Street is almost complete and the building may likely be ready by the end of January 2024 if no disruptions take place.
iii) The Cabinet agreed to complete the seating stand at the Bolans Playing Field which was stalled because of the lack of building resources and other challenges.
- iv) The Cabinet has received a request from a group out of the United Kingdom called the Caravelle Group, hoping to improve on the Cassada Gardens racetrack. The Head of the Cassada Gardens Racetrack is eager to improve the conditions there. The Cabinet is considering alternatives.
- i) The Cabinet expresses its condolences to the wife and family of the late John Jarvis, Chairman of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission at the time of his death. He was an outstanding servant of the people of Antigua and Barbuda having served as Chairman of the Carnival Development Committee, and a member of a plethora civic organizations that significantly impacted the nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
ii) The Cabinet also expresses its condolences to the wife, relatives, colleagues and friends of Dr. Patrick Lewis. A former Ambassador to the United States, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the United Nations (UN). he was a Consultant to the Honourable Lester Bird in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the decade of independence. A thanksgiving service will be held in Antigua. He died in Hampton, Virginia, where he lectured at the Hamp
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This useless commentary specifically leaves out the discussions and monetary matters which are discussed so that the people cannot track the enrichment strategies being designed and confirmed.
Meanwhile, the “ROCK”in St. John’s Harbor is still prohibiting the docking of an oasis class ship?
What is the likelihood of that being discussed in the “Kitchen Cabinet?”
So many promises. No delivery from the “Next Level” Government. Then again election politics and government are two different things. That’s what I heard.
I want to show the people who they say are my family look at the number 4, the one in which cabinet, the PM included, is helping this guy do something of national importance while refused to help me, an Antiguan to do endeavor that is of national importance importance. These folks who called themself my family, who attacked me for speaking up on how uncaring, insensitive, and small thinking these political representative they have are.
My plan was easier to begin, literally the only thing needed was the firearms, as my research already predicted a substantial increase in violent crimes in Antigua and that politicians will cover up how bad things are, and a lot of people will believe.
So, all I wanted was some reasonable kind of self and business protection. So, I can begin investigating allegations of qualifying crimes, gathering evidence, and submitting these evidence to various US crime victim funds board, USCIS, and other US social services for the benefits in which such victims and their qualified family members qualified.
Investigating and gathering evidence would put me at a higher risk of harm than the average person because it is mandatory in my professional capacity to provide reasonable, prudent and professional advocacy/representation to my clients.
These victims and family could get as high as $120,000.00usd, about $35,000usd in counseling session to deal with the trauma (even get such session in Antigua and the fund pays for it). Transportation to court, to return back to the US if crimes occurred in Antigua against a US citizen or LPR or if the crime was committed to an Antiguan and Barbudan while visiting or studying in the US. Such person can be provided with transportation cost to leave for safety or to travel to cooperate with the criminal justice system.
Also, if the victim is from Antigua and Barbuda, and the crime occurred in the US but victim is back in their home country or still in the US, that victim can get a U or T crime victim visa that allows you to work and live in the US that can turn into a greencard (LPR), then US Citizenship.
If a crime or terrorist act is committed against an LPR or US citizen while they are outside the US, and you are a witness to this crime, as an Antigua and Barbuda or as a person who is not a US citizen or LPR (let us say you are a hotel worker in Antigua and witnessed a US CITIZEN assaulted, battered, raped, domestic abused, or other qualifying crimes), you may also qualify for the US U visa that leads to a greencard and crime victim/witness money.
Not only that, separately, my firm would assist folks get a greencard based on their exceptional ability (with or without a degree) or based on their advance degree get US greencard and even help applying for US grants for millions of dollars based on them doing endeavors of national or international importance.
The ABLP, the political party of my family and formerly the party I supported, refused to do something as simple as requesting my application to be expeditiously decided (still pending today) and to be decided on the merit. There is no one more qualified than I am.
The Prime minister stated he cannot help me. At no time should your political representative say this. Even if you are trying to murder someone, they should say I will help, except, the help will be to show you that is not what you need to do but love your neighbor or solve it through a civilized manner.
My point is, any politicians who said I can not help you, is not deserving of any leadership and support. But in Antigua and Barbuda, it is the opposite.
On my office being open, had I been able to open it in Antigua, during such ceremony a vehicle would have been donated to the police force, $1 million donated to the village of bolans (now I am only considering $100,000.00), and other equipments already purchased would have been donated that includes car tracking devices, GPS bug, hear vision tactical cameras, night vision, additional metal detectors, additional laptops and desktops, bullet proof vest (modern and fashion suited type), motorbikes helmets as they requested, blank cds as they requested, flash drives as they requested, stun guns, pepper spray guns, weapon holster, poll cameras, walkie talkies, tablets and iPads, motion sensors, awards for good officers (watches, laptops, funds/money, etcetera), and numerous other things for the police, farmers and my village but as always, I can truthfully say that ABLP has ensured that I can not proceed at this time so I can provide the 5 to 50 jobs and the additional contributions I intended to make, especially to Bolans Village and the police.
All businesses of national importance should be facilitated. It should include mine, locals matter and utmost importance should be placed on them too but eventually one day, this will occur.
#2. The Cabinet invited an expert in meditation and stress-free living to its meeting, accompanied by a Bishop of a Christian Church, upon the urging of the Attorney General who was impressed by the success rate of the expert.
What is the name of the “expert”? What is the name of the Institution to which the “expert” is associated with? I am fed up of the constant, possibly deliberate lack of information.
We need to know the names and qualifications of these experts.
There is already an Antiguan neurologist who works at mount st John’s
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