With the selection of a Labour Queen runner-up as Antigua and Barbuda’s representative to this year’s Jaycees Caribbean Queen Show, there is concern that partisan politics is intruding upon the national festival. CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHATS APP GROUP
On Thursday, the Cabinet announced that Brianna Anthony – who reportedly was first runner-up in the contest staged by the Antigua Labour Party last month – will represent the country in the regional competition, which has returned after a two-year hiatus imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This week’s Cabinet Notes say that Anthony, a Jennings resident, and her management team appeared before the Executive, which was “was very pleased with her presentation and that of her team.”
Accordingly, Anthony has been officially approved as the delegate to the competition.
However, a concerned resident objects, telling REAL News the Cabinet should not be deciding who the country’s representative in the Jaycees pageant should be and that such decisions are not the norm.
Selection of a queen has always been non‐partisan, she says, and she is calling for past Jaycees queens, past local queens and the public, in general, to protest.
She is also calling for residents to start a petition to the Jaycees organization.
“… We, the public, must tell them that Britanny Anthony is neither the procedural choice nor the public choice, and that the Antigua public protests,” she says.
Since a local queen show will not be held this year, the woman says that an application process and private judging should have been done.
“Carnival cannot become a part of the Labour Party’s political machinery,” she declares.
She adds that proceeding with Anthony could be at “the reputational peril of the JCI” — which is internationally recognized as a non-partisan service club.
Meanwhile, Harold Lovell, the Political Leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), says that this method of selecting a queen might be considered a small issue, but it touches on a big principle.
Lovell admits he does not know Anthony and has nothing against her; but he believes the Cabinet has done her a disservice by what could be perceived as a partisan — and not a national – selection.
This week, the Cabinet also came in for criticism when, by a reported ministerial decision, a young man was de-selected as Antigua and Barbuda’s delegate to the Commonwealth Youth Forum, 2022, to be held in Rwanda.
Jordaine Pemberton, a member of the National Youth Council, had been selected by the Department of Youth Affairs.
However, a Cabinet Minister is said to have pulled Pemberton and replaced him with another youth, who reportedly has only “observer” status.”
Commonwealth Youth Forum and now Jaycees Queen. What is next? Cabinet going pick a cricketer to play on the National Football Team?” an irate father asks REAL News. “They going too far now; too far!”
A teacher agrees that these latest Cabinet decisions are examples of “overreaching.”
“Why don’t they go and undo all the damage they caused the young people with this marijuana free-for-all? That is where the Ministers ought to put their energies and stop destroying the lives of people’s children,” she says in disgust. REAL NEWS
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Government can’t be parents for your children – stand up a deal with your children and your Marijuana argument. Pain killers legal that can’t harm your kids?
Since when the Labour Queen or contestant is the national queen?
She represent the Labour party not the whole Antigua? So other girls were interviewed ?
YES or NO? So is only Labour party people must get consideration in this place. SMDH
JCI you sure you know what you doing? Make sure you not breaking your own laws.
JCI, you mix up yourself in politics.
Why dont we look at this from a different standpoint.
Bear in mind that there was no queen show held except for labour queen show and it would be time consuming at such a short period to even consider doing applications and presentations to select a candidate to represent Antigua at the Jaycees Queen Show
I think it is admirable of the cabinet to select the 1st runner -up and not the winner to take part ..
I wonder if they had chosen the winner what would have been said..
Let us go out and support the representative regardless of whom that person is and rally around her to bring home the crown…
I wonder what the ABLP operatives would have said if UPP was in power and picked the young lady who was crowned Miss Sunshine. We wouldn’t hear the end of it.
Yes 🙂
This can only be viewed as being a political selection. If here is no queen show this year, to select antigua’s representative, then don’t send anyone.
That would be better than to have the young woman being seen as an ALP representative, where she will only be supported by her red tribe.
Chupes Jacqui need to find some work to do. Did we have a queen show for the past two years to select a queen? The last queen from 2019 from since had a child and that disqualified her from the show. Is it even possible to select and train a queen in less than 4 weeks? Y’all sickening with this political bs now.
Btw Jacqui you do know that the trainer for the queen show are big stinking ranking UPP supporters?
YALL WELL KNOW THAT CARNIVAL WAS COMING, SO THERES NO EXCUSE NOT TO HAVE ARRANGED THE QUEEN SHOW,
CAN U IMAGINE IF UPP HAD DONE THAT YOU WOULDNT HEAR THE END OF IT, BECAUSE ANTIGUA BELONG TO BIRDS AND BROWNS U USEFUL IDIOTS.
DONT WORRY, TIME LONGER THAN ROPE.
@ chupes: The UPP had a queen show and the delegates for ” Miss Sunshine” were all talented , articulate, lovely ladies!
Why weren’t they considered?
Oh I FORGOT: ABLP is only for ABLP. Not for ANTIGUA!
Joice, you sound tink tink. Go find sudden better in you house fu do. Are you sick tomach
Well said, them sick dam tomach. Everything a politics fu them. Them ah the devil at work. Look pan them, they nah hab none baby inna them eye tarl.
Jackie Quinn give back anything to Medical Benefits yet??
Dave Lester Payne submitted the RECEIPTS yet?? Or he file til open??
RAG-TAG QUEEN do better jack.
Once Asot pay back his millions to MBS for his tummy tuck, Maria pay back the Scheme JUST FOR HAVING A BABY AND ALL THE OTHER REPROBATES including ministers and supporters who received millions for medical treatment abroad then Jacqui who is a paying beneficiary is entitled to support.
YOU USEFUL IDIOTS.
IN THE MEANTIME WHEN WILL SHORTY AND THE PM FACE THE MUSIC FOR THE $3,000,000 ROBBED FROM THE PORT AND THE SIGNATURE FORGERY?
Maria Bird-Browne had her baby in Antigua.
Not overseas you idiot.
This queen “issue” will surely play a big role in the next General elections 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Meanwhile, Gladys Potter head EMPTY EMPTY even after knight cheated for her by telling her what to say. The icecream scooper til couldn’t answer.
UPP has bigger issues to fix internally than focusing on Queen show.
Scoop dem up and drive them off into the sunset on the Wilmoth Daniel STRIPPER POLE BUS 🚌
ABLP Has a massive issue. He is called ASOT MICHAEL. Poor Rawdon Turner, he has so much water to waste
Don’t forget the Prime Minister’s brother is a convicted rapist and the MP from All Saints was charged with rape. ABLP HAS INTERNAL PROBLEMS. What happen you fraid to talk about those
The PM’s brother is NOT a political candidate. Neither is he on Crusader Radio with criminal deportee or Campaign Manger and spokesperson.
IAN MAGIC HUGHES OF UPP CURSEADER RADIO IS A CONVICTED PEDOPHILE!!!!!!!
BEV, what that has to do with the price fish. Did you fix your man problem? If not, fix that first before you wash you stink mouth on anybody else. Keep Rawdon Turner name out you mouth, me a beg you. Fix your problems at home BEV before you start talking. I rest my case
Did they even run background checks??? Cause this girl from what I understand has an awful reputation. Politics and everything aside I can’t believe this is who will be representing us. I’m ashamed.
Your so messy.
I no this young lady for how long
And she hasn’t been in no issue with anyone
She’s a true reflection of a respectable lady.
If u know what that is?
Clearly you don’t.
Stop the hate and appreciate
My God go with you.
Some persons are overly reacting out of something positive for their country.
And for those who are not aware, before Ms Briana Anthony presents herself.
Other past runners up from queen of carnival was contacted before Ms. Briana Anthony.
And they respond was no because it was to soon and was not it shape.
So for all the negative thinkers get facts before getting high blood pressure
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