The Cabinet meeting commenced with a prayer by a religious minister. The priest prayed for God’s guidance of the Cabinet members.
1. The Cabinet sought answers from the Commissioner of Police regarding any further updates on the Chantel Crump murder case. The investigations are continuing. Meanwhile, the Government has accepted that an emergency message-sending system that will allow all cellular phone-users to receive an alert, whenever report of a missing child is filed with the police. The messaging system will be named the “Chantel Alert”. The Cabinet expressed its continued sorrow to the family, friends and fellow students, and has agreed to cover the funeral expenses.
2. The Cabinet held a discussion on the outrageous and invasive request filed in Federal Court in the USA, requesting information on the Bank Account of several persons, banks and entities in Antigua and in the United States, regarding the Alfa Nero Sale. The law firm that has agreed to appear on behalf of the defendants in the case, describes the request as “a misuse of the Courts in the United States,” and the system of Justice. The cost of defending this frivolous request for all kinds of records—despite the fictitious and unjustifiable claim of the whereabouts of Ten Million United States Dollars—is substantial. The defense will be required to spend tens of thousands of dollars. The Attorney General explained that if the lawsuit is not defended, a default judgement will be entered against the defendants and the cost would then be even greater. The lawsuit has been described as a fishing expedition and the court in the United States is likely to quash the subpoena that has been filed by the Russian Citizen who claims ownership of the vessel.
3. The threat by the Trump Administration to declare the Cuban Medical Brigade as equivalent to “Human Trafficking” is not supported by the payment method and the contractual arrangement into which the Governments of Cuba and Antigua and Barbuda have entered. Nevertheless, the Cabinet has made a decision to pay the Cuban Medical Brigade of Doctors and Nurses 100% of the contractual amount and to have each doctor or nurse receive the entire payment rather than a portion; statutory deductions will also be made from each pay package, as is done for every worker in Antigua and Barbuda. This approach has been communicated to the US Government Officials and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda awaits the US Government’s response.
4. Cabinet agreed to review its rental of private properties policy following an examination of the amount owed to a single landlord. The Government will accelerate the construction of the Government Headquarters building to be built at the southwest corner of Factory and American Road. Cabinet further agreed that it will aim to construct a sufficient number of buildings, over a period of time, to satisfy its own needs.
5. The Cabinet invited the Director of Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre (SLBMC) (Ag.), Dr. Shivon Belle Jarvis, to give a report on her findings since assuming the post. The Director, who was Head of the SLBMC Pediatrics Unit, noted that the neonatal mortality-rate for Antigua and Barbuda is relatively lower than several other islands in the Caribbean. The Antigua and Barbuda rate is 5.4 deaths per one thousand live births. Antigua and Barbuda has surpassed its 2030 SDG goal of no more than 12 per one thousand. The Director spoke of the need for increased staffing and replacement equipment at the SLBMC. The Cabinet agreed to provide 800,000.00 USD for the most acute equipment needs. In order to provide more nurses, the SLBMC will provide incentives for young men and women to pursue careers in nursing. Those who are enrolled in UWI Five Islands Nursing Programme will be offered scholarships of a greater amount than that of other disciplines which are already saturated. The SLBMC will also encourage students who are in Fifth Form and are planning to select a career, to be encouraged by monetary incentives to choose nursing. The proposal is to have a short, medium and long-term plan since it takes four years to grow new nurses. The director provided a capital-assets-needs list; a second CT Scan Machine is among the equipment that will be immediately purchased. The Doctor was applauded for her integrity, high level of efficiency, and for bringing very useful changes to the SLBMC.
6. The Cabinet invited the Director of Signature Flight Support Services who provides a Fixed Base Operation (an FBO) to make a report on the replacement building that it wishes to construct on vacant land near Runaway 10. The land is the Crown’s and the FBO is seeking to purchase it and to have concessions granted. The Cabinet considered a long-term lease and concessions that would be in keeping with constructing a new enterprise. Each month, the FBO makes a considerable payment to the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) in order to satisfy corporate tax liability which is assessed annually. The IRD regards Signature as a good corporate citizen.
7. i. The Minister of Heath informed that four new pieces of legislation will have their first reading at the next sitting of Parliament. They are: the Mental Health Bill; the Abandonment of the Elderly Bill; the Licensing of Nursing Home Bill; and, the Sugary Drinks Bill. They are all aimed at improving healthcare in the nation.
ii. The Medical Benefit Scheme has agreed to set aside 1 Million United States Dollars to purchase vaccines in the event of a serious outbreak or a pandemic. Both the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have suffered a decrease in contributions since the United States has signaled its intent to withdraw from these regional and international organizations and to end the funding that it once provided. Antigua and Barbuda needs to be in a state of readiness.
8. On Saturday 22nd March, World Water Day will be celebrated globally. The New Reverse Osmosis Plant at Ffryes Beach will be commissioned on that day, and a ceremony is planned beginning at 2:00 pm at the Fryes Reverse Osmosis (RO) Facility.
9. The Annual Sports Awards will be held on Saturday, 22nd March, starting at 6:00 PM at the Royalton Resort. This event is by invitation only and was rescheduled following the tragic passing of Chantal Crump.
10. The Cabinet invited Michael Freeland and Joel Rayne to provide each with alternatives to their present employment in Government. Mr. Michael Freeland will be appointed to the Senate on Friday 21st March; and, Mr. Rayne will likely be appointed as Deputy Commissioner of Sports within a short time. Both expressed delight at their appointments and their thankfulness for the opportunity provided.
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Thing are dreary and gruesome in the nation right now yet they have a man who resembles Christopher Lee presenting Cabinet notes, time for a younger beautiful lady
Note number 2 is invasive and outrageous. Since when?
Was it not invasive and outrageous when Gaston Browne was on his radio station reading out people’s personal banking information?
If he has not secret why is he going at such lengths to block the request?
Is there money that his salary cannot account for?
Is the ghost of Asot Michael coming to bite Gaston?
We he answer Asot’s question about the source of his funds?
Note 10 government offering alternative and promotions to its internal combatants.
Is that how tax dollars is used to reward comrades?
Rayme will be deputy commissioner of sports. Who is the Commissioner of sports?
Is the Commissioner working or getting paid?
Cabinet Reports is a weekly insult to Antiguans and Barbudans
1. Ten days ago the AP report of the missing fund Request for Discovery was a sue-able of fence for deformation of the PM and his family.
This week it’s frivolous. Antiguans accept it as always
2. Cabinet was blessed by a Minister of the Gospel who don’t have the balks to say “NO I can’t bless a group who is sleazing, stealing and dealing
3. The lawyer defending the case is a secret in as much as he will be paid with public funds. Is the Country bring supenead or is it individuals?
4. The Attorney General has no basis for saying the lawsuit to obtain information will be squashed. It will not be and he knows it.
He knows there is no entity that will step forward and correct his ridiculous statement.
5. The claimed owner had a name. You can call her the Russian claiming ownership of the Alfa Nero all you want. That plays in Antigua but not in US Courts.
6. While we are fully aware of the attorneys representing the owners of the boat; we don’t know who is representing the Country.
7. This is not like the Eastern Caribbean Courts. We will know shortly the firms representing Antigua and Barbuda. Each entity bring sued will have to have their own lawyers.
8. This will be interesting for Max Hurst Gaston Browne Cutie Benjamin and Anthony Astephan will not be able to control the narrative in this one.
9. Buckle up folks you are in for a ride and a rude awakening. Save your money for your taxes will be going through the roof in this one.
10. Next stop: see you in the dessert heaven UAE, in the Middle East
Most of these Cabinet Notes shows a lack of respect for the people intelligence.
It’s only in non democratic countries or countries where the democratic process is not working where a Government can issue such statements and the people accept them.
GOD HELP US, not all the people are being fooled only the Lickspittle Brigade, I am still giving Gaston the benefit of the doubt so I need this to play out in the courts, but it’s going to take a long, long time and he knows that, we might even have a general election before it hapens
On other words, they want to tell us we’re going to have to pay a lot of money to defend Gaston, Maria and Darwin.
Aryu tek aryu nuffness. Not me! Pay outta aryu pocket.