HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday 22 January 2025
The Cabinet began its weekly meeting with the customary prayers and blessings from a minister of religion. He prayed God’s blessings as he read from the Book of Psalms.
1. It was reported to Cabinet that members of the Barbuda Council are acting to prevent the necessary work of removing unwanted vegetation from a building site called Louie Hill, just outside Codrington. The following Media Statement is released by the Cabinet:
MEDIA STATEMENT
The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda meeting today, Wednesday 22nd January 2025, has learned that certain elements within the Barbuda Council have acted to prevent work to begin at Louie Hill, Barbuda, where more than 200 homes, a mall, and other infrastructural works are to be constructed.
They have placed two government-owned trucks in the path of the excavator that has been authorized to commence the clearing of unwanted vegetation from land on which the new buildings are to be constructed.
In the interest of order and peace, the Cabinet took the decision to warn the Barbuda Council of the fundamental right which the Central Government exercises over crown land in Antigua and Barbuda. The Barbuda Council is reminded of the Privy Council’s decision recently rendered, which the Council initiated. The Cabinet wishes to ensure that no harm is suffered by anyone, and that no property is destroyed by the illegal action of the Council members.
The Cabinet continues to do its best to ensure that decisions taken by the Cabinet—to improve housing, to ensure legal ownership of land in Barbuda by those who reside there and those who were born on the island, and those citizens who qualify—are fulfilled. As Barbuda develops, no-one is to be left behind, the Cabinet repeated. As Barbuda is brought into the economy of Antigua and Barbuda in a meaningful way, resistance by those who wish to stand in the way of progress cannot be tolerated.
The continued resistance of elements within the Barbuda Council shall not be permitted.
–end–
2. The Cabinet held discussions on the likely impact of the Trump administration’s decision-making on the economy, the movement of people between the two countries, and the citizenship issue raised by the US President’s executive orders. While the Cabinet focused upon the assessment which Trump’s new policy directions would impact Antigua and Barbuda, Cabinet also agreed that the entire Caribbean region is likely to be equally affected. It was agreed that our Embassy in the USA will surely keep their fingers on the pulse of the domestic and international effects of the new administration, and that the CARICOM caucus would report to their Foreign Ministers and Heads.
3. The Cabinet invited three officials from the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) to its meeting to discuss the issue of water provisioning to homes, businesses, institutions and farmers. The General Manager, the Water Manager, and the Financial Controller came to the Cabinet prepared to answer many questions concerning the complaints by consumers of water supply issues.
i. The APUA General Manager gave the assurance that the Ffryes Beach Reverse Osmosis Plant will begin providing potable water next Friday, January 31. All the works necessary to expand the plant and to connect the supply lines have been completed. The pumps will be activated on Tuesday 28 January 2025: One will pump the water in a northerly direction as far as St. John’s; the other will pump in a southerly direction to meet demands in Johnson’s Point, Cades Bay, Old Road, and other communities in the South.
ii. The APUA is seeking to automate the valve switching system, which now takes several hours to activate manually, and hours more to re-direct water to another location. By turning to an automated system controlled from a single location, many valves can be adjusted within minutes, the General Manager explained. The investment is significant but necessary, the APUA official declared. Cabinet agreed.
iii. The Cabinet enquired about the encouragement to conserve water, by low usage and re-cycling where possible. Schools, for example, consume significant quantities of potable water; the Cabinet wished to encourage recycling of treated water for certain uses where potable water is not required.
iv. The APUA again repeated that the Water Division is a “loss leader”; in other words, it does not make a profit. The subsidy provided in 2024 totaled $27 million. At some point, the revenue from water is to be increased.
v. The Cabinet received a report concerning the Sembcorp Plant that is now 27 years old; and that the abandoned Tango Plant is being disassembled.
vi. Number portability has been in a test stage and will soon become available to the consumers who wish to switch their carriers but not lose their current cell numbers.
4. The Minister of Health reported to the Cabinet that the two positions once held by a single doctor at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center (SLBMC) have been divided among two very capable doctors. Dr. Shivon Belle-Jarvis has been appointed the Medical Director of the SLBMC. Dr. Vonetta George-Nanton has been appointed Chief Surgeon at the SLBMC. The SLBMC recently lost Dr. Albert Duncan, and these two experienced doctors will fill the responsibilities which the deceased doctor used to carry out.
5. The Minister of Technology reported that a pilot study on the electronic E/D cards is being carried out. Several suppliers made appearances before Cabinet in order to sell their systems. One of the possible suppliers will put their system to the test on the coming weekend when multiple flights land within a short time.
6.i. The Cabinet commended Minister Maria Browne, delivering as Minister of Works, for mobilizing trucks, backhoes, excavators, and cement trucks to deliver many improved roadways during December 2024 and January 2025. The roadwork continues with the same intensity in the months ahead, supported with resources to purchase supplies and to pay overtime to workers. The Cabinet was especially impressed with the work which was undertaken at night, since it was the least disruptive of traffic flows.
6.ii. The Cabinet applauded the Minister of Education for the groundbreaking of the new Five Islands Primary School, adjacent to the UWI-Five Islands Campus. The UWI’s expansion, to include the new school plant, is made possible by a loan of US$80 million from the Saudi Fund for Development.
7. The Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs met today with an eight-person delegation from Brazil, including the Brazilian Minister of Foreign Affairs, who flew into Antigua for a few hours. The Prime Minister thanked the Brazilians for their presence and went on to discuss a wide range of issues that are of mutual importance.
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Barbuda is now the economic savior of Antigua. Having been raped by government ministers in the past and left bare and barren they are now looking to it for salvation.
Dr Belle-Jarvis is going to be a great medical director. She heard my complaint and took the time to reach out to me. Not only that. She addressed my complaint with haste. Great work Doc!!! It is sad that it had to take the death of a foreigner to bring Antiguan greatness to the fore. Even more interesting is the fact that the previous MD also served in the dual role of chief surgeon. Let us not forget that he maintained his private practice abroad. Wow!!!
Congratulations Minster of education for what? For taking our primary asset, the children, into the landfill? The school is now closer to the flies and smoke of the landfill. Hope we are preparing for the consequences and the health sector is being equipped.
Minister of Works???? The decision to move PWD to St Peters was not hers. That’s above her pay grade. It was a political decision by the cabinet just like the one taken in the run up to the St Marys South by-election. The entire nation has seen through that. Gullible people will always be and even more so when the government gives then a few taxpayer dollars for their vote.
Wait, so when public works underperforms it is the director but when it does something it was created to do it is the minister to be praise?
Indeed congratulations to Dr. Belle & Dr. George!
Let’s hope that both doctors will restructure the medical operations at SLBMC and look more into the interest of the young doctors and medical practitioners who are aspiring to be permanent in the health care system.
At the same time let’s also hope that they introduce a committee for patients and family members can lodge complaints to, concerning perceived unethical practices that doctors, nurses or any other practitioner may have done.
@ Straight Shooter,
You’re shot is on target
First few Antiguans know little about Barbuda other than here-say but they have a lot of strong opinions. In fact they have little informed knowledge of what’s happening in Antigua
Post Hurricane Irma Barbuda’s housing stock is in far better confirm than Antigua’s. So where is this need for housing in Barbuda?
It’s interesting the many ways in which Gaston wants to bring Jamaican culture to Antigua and Barbuda. This is no exaggeration.
Review Gaston Brown’s Comments about the ALP win in the recent bi-election. Gaston stated that the S. Peter’s constituency is a “Garrison” for the ALP.
The Garrisons were the basis of political violence that dominated Jamaican political culture during the 80’s and 90’s. That has resulted in Jamaica bringing among the most violent countries.
Barbadians have rebuilt post Irma without mortgages, including a few unfinished small block homes built with Foriegn aide.
Many Barbudans are still functioning on temporary electricity for APUA has not yet provided permanent power.
This is a ALP political move against the people of Barbuda to create a Garrison that votes ALP.
Just like in Jamaica where the parties built houses and stock them with their supporters and any opposition who attempts to campaign in a Garrison was met with Mass violence.
Why isn’t the minister of Works, mobilizing trucks, backhoes, excavators, and cement trucks to deliver improved roadway in Barbuda, rather than using the equipment to confiscate a Barbudan family lands; which does not conform to the Privy Council ruling.