MAKE ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA GREAT AGAIN?
By Yves Ephraim
This is a defining moment in the history of Antigua and Barbuda.
As an Antiguan and Barbudan, why do you not feel the need to assert your sovereignty as a people empowered to chart your own future and maintain your own values and culture?
Are you so weak of character that you would rather sell your birthright for a “mess of pottage” than defend it with your life?
Perhaps this explains why you show little concern when large swathes of land are gifted to foreign investors while pushing you to live in a ever shrinking small area of land.
Perhaps too, this is the reason why you do not seem to care whether you continue to have access to the beaches.
You do not seem to mind being a second class citizen in your own country.
It is obvious that you do not care what happens in Antigua and Barbuda because you can always jump on a plane and run off, abandoning what little property you have, to the US and other countries, instead of confronting the injustices here;
It is ironic, that the one thing that is usually sure to bring a people of a country together is the defense of their national sovereignty.
Generally speaking patriotism is tied to national sovereignty.
But not so with Antigua and Barbuda!
Do you think that the people of Ukraine, clearly not a match for Russia, would start having doubts about their sovereignty?
What is so different with Antigua and Barbuda?
Some of you think that the concept of sovereignty for a small country like Antigua and Barbuda is mere delusion since this sovereignty cannot be defended militarily or economically.
Others among you feel that this country’s long reputation of corruption and incompetence is so engrained that Antigua and Barbuda is beyond redemption.
Still, more of you believe that the geo-politics has already decided that our so called sovereignty is mere academic. And since our hemisphere is the hegemony of the US, Antigua should merely surrender and resign itself to being a quasi-colony.
This Antigua and Barbuda sovereignty conundrum has forced me to speculate what might have contributed to the lack of deep connection to Antigua and Barbuda and the rejection by some to be independent and non-aligned.
Using my own experience growing up here for my whole life, my first connection with Antigua and Barbuda was that of a full colony of Britain.
When Antigua and Barbuda became independent in 1981, we belonged to the Commonwealth and our Constitution gave us no special privilege above and beyond any other commonwealth citizens. In hindsight, we were given the impression that we were independent but queen Elizabeth was still head of state.
All development in our country were primarily focused on the ease and comfort it brought to the European and North American tourists and investors, at the expense of the indigenous Antiguans and Barbudans.
In recent times our country has been entangled with our Chinese benefactor with a level of indebtedness that forces you to question its sustainability. If we default we can expect all hell to break loose.
Now with our CBI program, the last vestige our national identify is now a commodity to be sold.
It is reasonable to conclude that Antigua and Barbuda was never ours, therefore you can be forgiven for your ambivalence regarding national sovereignty.
Why on earth would you want to die for a country that never put you first?
If we are truly honest with ourselves, Antigua and Barbuda was never developed for Antiguans and Barbudans.
There has been lots of talk of “Antiguanization” but never a sustained commitment to make you a master of your own economy.
After 44 years of independence, the results speak for themselves. How many Antiguans today head up any of the major local hotels?
Mind you this is not a fault of the hotels, it is a national leadership failing for not prioritizing Antiguan and Barbudans in their so called development plans.
Antiguans and Barbudans are mostly an afterthought.
Hopefully some “jabs” will fall your way. It is probably going to get worst now that a declaration has been made that there is not enough Antiguan and Barbudan labourers to meet demand.
Antigua was not developed with amenities for its people: we see this in the crumby road infrastructure.
You see this in the number of government agencies that have their employees working from home and therefore not consistently available to serve the public.
We see this by the scant attention to feeding ourselves through agriculture; we have been struggling for eons to fix the water issue in Antigua and Barbuda.
I can go on and on.
The only time some attention is given to Antiguan and Barbudan concerns is when an election approaches, only to stop abruptly thereafter.
It is clear to me that Antigua and Barbuda was never developed for Antiguans and Barbudans to earn a decent living here or to provide meaningful careers for our young and educated students.
Truth be told, Alan Standford did a better job at this than our government has ever done, in my opinion. And I am not particularly a fan of Mr. Standford.
The regulations act as a deterrent for Antiguans to go into business as opposed to being employed;
You cannot find the comforts of public toilets or parks, and for years your deceased love ones had to be dug up to make space for others.
Our police has ephemerally been underequipped to solve real crimes but seem more than equipped to teargas the people and go after individuals that are not sympathetic to the ruling administration.
This has been our history!
Antiguan and Barbudans can only find these amenities in other countries, since those other countries were built to serve the interest of their citizens.
This is why so many Antiguans and Barbudans live and work abroad. I would bet that the “derelict” problem is somewhat connected to the virtual abandonment by Antiguans and Barbudans.
Despite the appeal to get Antiguans and Barbudans to return, I predict futility. This was tried before and failed because nothing changed to make Antiguans and Barbudans first.
Some came and most quickly left!
If I had to describe Antigua and Barbuda, I would say that this country is designed for foreigners who want a temporary playground; a home for economic refugees or a place to retire.
It is a hostile place for indigenous businesses.
This is why we are perfect for US refugees/deportees.
If I must lay the blame for this confused state of Antiguans and Barbudans over the issue of national sovereignty, this must be set squarely at the feet of our leadership!
We want new leadership that:
1. Focuses on Antiguans and Barbudans First and investing in the homeland for Antiguans and Barbudans.
2. Engender a strong sense of patriotisms that strengthens our sense of sovereignty.
3. Empower the Antiguan and Barbudan people as far as possible to own their economy.
You need to start demanding more for yourself and elect leaders that make Antigua and Barbuda a HOME and not a neo-plantation. Maybe that would get Antiguans and Barbudans to care about their sovereignty.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
I dream of a day Yves Ephraim, when Antiguans are put first in all matters; whether it’s in health care; housing; concessions in business start-ups; and yes, equipping our police, defence forces, doctors and nurses to do their jobs properly in safeguarding the country.
Time and time again, we witness high-rolling millionaire lobbyists who have the ears (and dare I say pockets) of our politicians -; and they’ve always had more political clout than the suffering electorate.
It stinks to high heaven, and must be stopped!
This more than any other issue is the real reason why the citizens of this country is treated as third class.
One day we’ll get a government that doesn’t see us as raggedy TATTERDEMALIONS!
I always enjoy your letters to the editor sir 👍🏾
I was just saying last night that Royalton Hotel had so many foreigners, who entered the country just for that job is it sad. My niece in Bolans need a respectable job. I tried to open my office mainly to give her a respectable and professional job and the ABLP did everything in their power to delay and block. I expressed to her I will use the ABLP contacts I have to prove to her how much they care nothing for her and the entire family of mine who votes ABLP.
I want to show them who really cares for them, who will sacrifice for the. I will control about 40 votes in that parish, election is coming, and with their trust in me, they benefit from their votes.
But in your article, I loves these section:
You need to start demanding more for yourself and elect leaders that make Antigua and Barbuda a HOME and not a neo-plantation. Maybe that would get Antiguans and Barbudans to care about their sovereignty.
The only time some attention is given to Antiguan and Barbudan concerns is when an election approaches, only to stop abruptly thereafter.
Antiguans and Barbudans are mostly an afterthought.
After 44 years of independence, the results speak for themselves. How many Antiguans today head up any of the major local hotels?
Why on earth would you want to die for a country that never put you first?
Others among you feel that this country’s long reputation of corruption and incompetence is so engrained that Antigua and Barbuda is beyond redemption.
It is obvious that you do not care what happens in Antigua and Barbuda because you can always jump on a plane and run off, abandoning what little property you have, to the US and other countries, instead of confronting the injustices here.
And finally, I want to say none of the ABLP ministers care about anything for local Antiguans and Barbudans and Barbudans are in fact correct to dislike ABLP. I couldn’t understand why Barbudans don’t vote for ABLP until in recent years. They are not for locals. No actions taken considers the building of individual local Antiguan and Barbudan. It is about how they will stay in power and nothing more. There is zero love. Anything they do is from the government’s money and never from theirs or their heart.
How ironic it is that Yves Ephraim only contribute negatively about our/his country every time he posts. He is a pessimist since he only always see “doom & gloom” as it regards to the development of Antigua and Barbuda.
It is apparent from all his posts that he despises the current leader. I wonder how come he never uttered his views during the the ten years of the last administration. That’s the million dollar question.
What is he bringing to the table to build the economy? What has he didn’t other than his words of myopia?
My grandmother issued to say, “Nat tek me outta bread wen yuh ckyarnt gee bisqit”
When investors come, should we turn them away? How then do you generate a steady income for the masses?
We provide free education early childhood to mid to late teens. We recently added free tertiary education. Our country is 100, 000 people with approximately 30% being children. Every year we have a cadre of school leavers which is perennial as the grass. How does he propose that we cater to all their needs?
Many go off to college and never return, and probably shouldn’t as we cannot accommodate them all.
There are certain skillsets needed to balance our economy but young people sometimes choose career paths that are not synonymous with our country’s needs. So spread your wings and fly; we implore you. Pay us a visit sometimes.
Many Antiguans and Barbudans are not willing to take risks in opening their own businesses because they want a sure income to live their lives. And that’s okay tool a point, because every executor of an idea needs followers.
When I learn to the radio, people call into all the radio stations and the common theme is getting “jobs” and “backpay” and “overtime” and “scholarships”.
So instead of a few people getting together to pool their resources and create companies that can grow overtime, they watch the non-nationals emigrate to Antigua and strategically plan to build wealth whilst they’re complaining.
When I was 20 years old or thereabouts, I returned from the US and opened a hair styling salon as it was the easiest and passionate thing for me to earn a living, even with having a Bachelor’s in Business. Manny believed that I did so to “do hair only”, but rather it was make me self sufficient, an entrepreneur without having to depend on a government cheque. I employed 6 people initially and over my four-year stint, I employed and trained more 30 people.
I returned to the US 1993 to expand my practice and opened a salon in the Bronx whilst my salon in Antigua was still in operation. Unfortunately, I had to shelve the Antiguan salon as in those days, it was difficult to keep people/staff honest and accountable. You can only imagine the financial liability that I created for myself. I say no more on that issue.
I’m now in living the US, somewhat retired from that field having employed 174 people in the 37 years in all my salons over time.
I now practice consultancy, coaching, facilitating seminars, workshops and training, while contributing to my country and alma mater in many ways.
It always baffles my mind when I listen to people who believe that they have arrived because of their tertiary degree and speaks only ill of their country without making any substantial contributions to aid in the furtherance in the development of our country.
My disclaimer is that I will never suggest that every thing is hunky dorey in Antigua because I have had my challenges when dealing with government agencies and financial institutions and their ineptitude on many occasions. That’s a whole can of worms that I wish not to open this morning.
The consolation is that there are many local people who are doing well in Antigua because they’re purpose driven and not looking for handouts.
There are vocational services like The Harrison Center, ABICE, ABIIT, and recently created ABCAS, and to top it all off, UWI Five Islands Campus and two medical schools in Antigua known UHSA and AUA.
People need to get serious and start leveraging their options for opportunities. No one is going to have anything to you on a platter. You have to go out there and grab it.
The housing stock is booming beyond control.
The government is offering lands to locals to do business, Pensioners, Shell Beach and soon, Willoughby Bay. Apply within to see what you get to start a business.
Stop seeing the glass as half-empty and work to build a better future than the one you met.
Cheers
God bless Antigua and Barbuda.
@Ansen Ray, why don’t you write about the positives and highlight areas where Antiguans and Barbudans are in charge of the economy. Name a few high powered jobs where locals are in charge. You seem to an enemy of the truth
Comments are closed.