By Yves Ephraim
Just recently, I met an old secondary school mate who happened to drop into Roti Hut, while my wife and I were helping ourselves to roti.
We had not seen each other for what seemed to be more than 20 years.
Despite our hair being predominantly gray, we were still able to recognise each other in an instant.
We fist-bumped and had a brief brotherly embrace.
Naturally, we interrogated one another about each other’s whereabouts for the last 20 years.
Having not seen my school mate for so long, I conjectured that perhaps he was living abroad.
Surprisingly, he denied living aboard and proceeded to inform me that he has been in Antigua and Barbuda all this time.
After a bit of small talk, our conversation naturally progressed into describing what life has been like living in Antigua and Barbuda.
That was all that was needed to open the can of worms.
Following that question, was the almost predictable sigh of the inevitable hopelessness that comes from knowing how this country has squandered all opportunity to be a place that Antiguans and Barbudans could proudly call home.
Home in the sense that you feel like you matter as an Antiguan and Barbudan.
As we continued our conversation, we both came to the conclusion that Antiguans and Barbudans have been demonstrating by their abandonment of this country, that they just cannot live here.
I am personally convinced, that at the root of the derelict property problem, are Antiguan and Barbuda families that have fled for a better way of life since this country provides no hope, if you are not politically connected.
I grew up in Point and Villa area and attended Villa School until I graduated to secondary school.
I remember having to navigate the loco-lines and can remember some of the families that once owned and occupied these now derelict homes.
Villa, in particular was a very well-to-do area, when I was growing up.
Quite prominent Antiguan and Barbudan citizens lived in Villa.
These were all middle class families that had the best chance of a good life in Antigua and Barbuda. They are all gone without trace!
I also recall the lovely grassy Blackburn park that used to come alive in the afternoons with all manner of sports and play.
It is uncanny to consider that the living offsprings who live abroad appear to have no desire to exercise their rights to these now derelict properties.
They seem to have abolutely no interest in their family assets, effectively suggesting that it is far more beneficial to relinquish property ownership in Antigua and Barbuda than to return to claim it.
That says alot!
If you had a family relative die and you discovered that you inherited a piece of real estate, despite probate, would you just ignore it?
You must agree that there is some deeper issue at play here.
I put it to you that Antiguans and Barbudans have abandoned this country because, for too long they have been treated as an afterthought and second class of citizens.
Antiguan and Barbudans, who have tried to make a contribution and expressed patriatism, are forever sidelined.
Antiguans and Barbudans are sidelined to the point, that it is only at the Annual Independence Food Fair where you find indigious Antiguan and Barbudan dishes. Each year the scope traditional foods dwindles.
If you go to Barbados you can find flying fish everywhere, even at hotels; If you go to Trinidad, you can find roti everywhere.
I dare you to list ten places in Antigua and Barbuda where you can get “ducana and saltfish” every day.
As an Antiguan and Barbudan farmer or land owner, if there is a land dispute between you and the government or you and a foriegn favoured class of people, you will lose every time.
If you ask your government for well kept parks for you and your children; running water on demand; good roads; reliable electricity; independent commission of inquiries; or just having access to your beaches, then your government sees you as “nuff and edge-up”, “Political”, “Deracinated Imbeciles” or “Losers”.
Your government has been taxing the life out of you all this time, and now that it is time for an election, it pretends to be concerned about high inflation by implementing a tariff reduction, that it failed to implement over 6 months before.
Your government is so desparate for you to feel the effect of the reduction, not for your own good but for its own chances at the poles.
It is almost contradictory that on one hand the government has no qualms to hike your taxes on vehicular licences but appears paranoid that you cannot see the immediate deduction in prices at the grocery stores.
It is not ironic, that this caring government has been fleecing this population with such high tariffs for all this time?
Can you imagine that government officials have been able to show how grocery items that used to cost almost $30 has now dropped to $16 after removing these onerous taxes?
That in itself is evidence of the hardships that the government has been deliberately inflicting on citizens.
Does that really sound like a caring govermnemt or a manipulative one?
Say what you want about Trump, the one thing we know, is that he is serious about making Americans first even though you may not agree with his methods.
I wish our leaders could have that level of commitment to Antiguans and Barbudans.
I have not been able to verify the source of this information, but is is widely held that Antiguans and Barbudans comprise about the third highest nationalities in population in this country.
I am inclined to believed this information by the actions of our polititians.
You have seen the the level of attention politicians pay to the votes of the “foreign” vote. This alone tells you the story.
In recent times, when there were violence acts against individuals of other “non-national” communities, our Attorney General was quick to meet with those communities and address their concerns.
I am still waiting for the AG to have a specific town hall meeting with Antiguans and Barbudans to hear concerns about the wave of crime being perpetrated against born Antiguans and Barbudans.
If you are an Antiguan and Barbudan, what evidence can you show to prove that your government cares about YOUR needs?
Can you imagine that politicians have to “import” Antiguans and Barbudans to attempt to change the outcomes of elections?
Don’t be fooled my friend.
After living nowhere else for over 60 years, when I examine what my government has actually done, I feel like I matter far less today.
I feel like my government hates me and other Antiguans and Barbudans like me, who simply want a country where I can freely and peacefully live, work and play for the rest of my life without having to run away to find these basic things abroad.
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I paused mid-way because as a born and bred Antiguans, 30 yrs younger, I could have written this. I’m tired. I lived abroad then returned home. And I feel hated here most even taking racism overseas into account. Nothing you do is enough.
This letter sounds so fatalistic. It is like a lament for a people who used to be. Yet the writer is not the only Antiguan and Barbudan who feels this way. The questions raised are quite genuine and thought-provoking. The answers to them can be found in many ways, but the primary one is
FOLLOW THE MONEY
We have leaders who would do anything for self-enrichment, even if it means marginalizing and impoverishing their fellow citizens. They are willing to ignore their past and even their heritage. To do this they would sell their mothers if it means a couple more bucks in their pockets.
Those who have no vested interest in the success or advancement of local (meaning black) people have read the playbook of our leaders and they have responded well. They see that they can line their pockets with chump change and reap the bonanza from it everlasting. Others come with empty pockets, see the game plan, and back in their trucks.
So is the Antiguan and Barbudan helpless to fight for his own cause? Not entirely. Just like the old saying that men lived better by keeping their women barefoot and pregnant, so it is with the average voters who are a majority. Our leaders have learnt the ham and turkey philosophy well. The young leaders are taking to this like ducklings to water. The whole strategy is to not educate the electorate politically beyond this way of thinking. The electorate has learnt its lesson well.
There is so much to be said about this heartbreaking letter.
I feel the writer’s pain. As I watch the destruction of Iran ostensibly to free the people of a bad leader and regime, I am not surprised to hear Iranians say they can suffer some pain if it means they can be relieved of the tyranny they have been living under from stifling leadership.
NUFF SAID, and no one else could have said it better. I have written in many of my comments that Gaston hates Antiguans and Barbudans, but the people are not recognizing it, he prefers foreigners because he uses them to stay in power. I honestly think he is sorry he was born here. It is now up to St. Philip’s North to start the revolution on March 16th
Probably the best I’ve read on this news portal. Everything written is correct, only the dumb and ignorant would not agree 100%. Chet Greene is the one in the ABLP who could save us from this ingrate but he too decides to cower
Yes, the ALP hates Antiguans, but Antiguans also hate Antiguans. Too many Antiguans suffer from low self-esteem.
Wow!
👀
This article is spot ob!
Gaston I hope you read this article, it is directed straight at your government.
Sad.
We must be rid of you..
Ham and turkey government!
Alex brown… we can only pray and hope..
Keep hope alike..
I always enjoy reading Yves Ephraim opinion pieces, articles and his spot on features like this one.
Without a shadow of a doubt the indigenous born and bred Antiguans have been totally ignored by this current government and are also treated like third class citizens.
I’ve returned to the country to live – and also – invest using my prior knowledge from travelling and residing abroad. What’s really disturbing is that since my return, nothing much of note seems to have changed for the betterment of the indigenous populous.
Antiguan author Jamaica Kincaid highlighted in one of her forthright books about the neglect of the country where there were more vehicles than decent housing.It’s still seems the same in 2026!
And Ms Kincaid’s was written decades ago.
On point once again Mr Ephraim 👏🏾
Really could not read this diatribe and not think of Onion’s song (written by Dr Ramsey) stand up for Antigua. Yves needs to travel because what he is doing is akin to taking blessings for granted. Yes there are some challenges here but he fools himself in thinking its not worst elsewhere. Absent from his rant is the progress this country has made (listing a few): More scholarships are now available, A landed campus is now here, Electricity is more reliable, Telecommunication especially overseas calls are now more affordable, Medical care is now better, access to legal help is now provided by the state, children are now provided school meals, textbooks and schools are better equipped. People like Yves remind me the man who hid his talents, their purpose is to bring curse on us all
@ Mr. Byam
You are so right, we do not seem to understand the things that are in our collective best interests. ALP/ABLP has been a blight on this country since I have been following politics and most of us are still oblivious to that fact
The writer makes a lot of sense, but one problem in Antigua is that Antiguans are imho too political. Everyone waits around for the government or politicians to solve every problem. People should form more local community groups and non-profit organisations to help create the society that we want. That would also amplify the voices of individuals and cause the sitting government and other politicians to pay more attention to what the people really want.
If a community wants well-maintained parks they could create a volunteer organisation and recruit members of the community to rotate responsibilities for upkeep. Community events don’t always have to be sponsored by the political rep for the area. Water issues can be alleviated by community non-profits that help neighbours set up their emergency water systems in their homes better. Community gardens can help with food security. Idle young people can volunteer time to such community projects. The government does not have to do it all. Also, newcomers to Antigua should be welcomed, within region, and properly integrated into communities so that everyone can get along in peace. But, are people really willing to roll up our collective sleeves to work together to create good communities or are we just going to remain as keyboard warriers forever?
@ Tenman,
You are nothing but a darn demagogue. You continue to make the case of who you are.
I Don’t expect any better from you and all the others who benefiting and defending a corruptive regime.
You seem to have cut the philosophy classes in ethics and reason while you were in Texas and NJ.
For you, Antigua is sweet can’t done.
The gangster type political system is all right so long as you are at the trough,
Address the issues the writer raise, rather than casting dispersion.
I will not allow you to get away with your ingenious nonsense.
Yves Ephraim is standing up for Antigua and Barbuda; while Cornell is attempting to protect the trough from which you are feeding
@Just Saying one of the major things I learned from being in the US, was how much I love A&B. Could not wait to get home, and wanted to kiss the runway when I landed, after completing my undergraduate. If you knew me, you would know much of my assets were derived before 2014. I chose a field, like Yves where these was much demand. The current government should be hailed for its decision to put A&B first and not enrich Digicel *foreign telecoms)at the detriment of some who had contracts with them. Hearing them cry demanding that private interest be held more important than the interest of the majority of A&B, clearly shows they have no love for A&B. Hearing Yves demand that private interest should be allowed to keep us all back, shows he has no loyalty to A&B (eg His support for the foreign telecoms, his attacks against actions being taken to remove derelicts buildings). Interestingly these moves (compulsory acquisitions for public good) have been what has helped developed countries to progress yet watch the haters try to tie our hands, yet still demand progress. Cry all you all want: While the dogs bark, this wagon continues to move on (Its Cornel not Cornell)
@Just saying, outstanding retort … 👏🏾
The majority of the payroll of the govermeny are Antiguans, The majority who have the right to vote are Antiguans, the majority of the Population are BLACK ANTIGUANS. Who have the power then? BLACK ANTIGUANS guys, just damm wake up and stop being lazy.
Who stop Antiguans to make ducana and salt fish and sell it? We have sweet potatos in all supermarket and salt fish also. Nobody want to do private initiative and sell it? Who don’t want to cook then?
Most of Antiguans wake up everyday complaining but not willing to change their situation, they want others use the money of others do it for them.
The Only thing Antigua don’t ask Goverment to do is a Church..Look at us collecting money to build a nice and huge Church, wait..Lots of churches islandwide..Who paid for it? US..Ohh but if we ask 5% in the community to build a park for our kids to have a place to play and enjoy..We are going to say NOOOOOOOO..That is goverment matter. If we want to collect some money to paid to clean our neigborhood or paint the school or clinic near us, we are going to say NOOOOOOO. But if a pastor say lets collect more money to repaint the church we say YEEEEAAAH, lets collect more money because my salary need to be more or I need to import a new vehicle to address faster the word of God..We are going to say YEEAHH. We are becoming so hypocrites about our problems, that we don’t want to solve a single one
As usual, the Tinman keeps missing the big picture..his narrow-mindedness would never allow him to see further than his big toe.
This article is on point in so many ways, so many..I for one have called Antiguan’s economy ” the fringe economy” and many are still baffling about what that means.
Everything is on the outside, while the middle calapes. It’s a direct referendum on the people who are leading Antigua.
I have also contend that Antigua should have been 15-25 years ahead of almost every other island in the Caribbean, from the amount of money and exposure that have come to these shores over the years, especially since 2012 following the US economic recovery from the worst financial collapse in its history, but these leaders have looted and stollen the peoples purse.
So no surprised here from the Tinman, because he is also blinded by that greed.
Hey Tinman, you are not the only one who have done well, but many of us have a better and cleaner heart than yours, and are not as cold as you..many of us would love to really see people do as good as we have done.
You sound and talk like a selfish bastard..none of us are going to the grave with anything but the clothes on our backs, so keep sounding like the jackass that you are.
Why are you people responding to Tenman. I have never read anything from him that really makes sense, his reasoning is always the complete opposite to commonsense. Remember if sense was common everyone would have some
@ TENMAN: JUST A REMINDER. IF THOU ART RICH,THOU ART POOR.FOR LIKE AN ASS WHOSE BACKS WITH INGOTS BOWS.THOU BEAREST THY HEAVY RICHES BUT A JOURNEY,AND DEATH UNLOADS THEE.
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A RICH OR A POOR MAN TAKE HIS WORLDLY GOODS WITH HIM IN THAT BOX?
I read this story and this sentence spoke volumes to me..
“After living nowhere else for over 60 years, when I examine what my government has actually done, I feel like I matter far less today.”
Of course, being the politically charged country that we are, Yves and most commenters are conveniently laying blame at the current government as if the current government was been in office for over 60 years. While I do understand that government is continuous and we feel compelled to lay the blame at the feet at the current PM, I wonder why the writer didn’t identify that this has been going on for decades and not only now.
The door also swings both ways:
Nationals feel compelled for whatever reason to go abroad to live, work, and have children.
Non-Nationals choose to come to the Caribbean (Antigua) for a different life than they are accustomed to.
We also need to examine ourselves, because what the “government” is accused of doing, we as Antiguans do the exact same thing to our own people. We think that just because we have a little money that we can treat people like s**t, but we think it’s OK because we are Antiguans. Let a non-national or for lack of a better term….a “non-black person” do it and we have a problem (as we rightfully should).
While I do appreciate and understand that this is the writer’s “personal” views that may be shared by many, I wonder why he would include information that he has not been able to verify. Again, in a highly charged political environment I think it was a deliberate and reckless act.
Air your personal views of course…it is after all your right, but don’t do like mainstream media and try to sway, guide, or pull people into political agendas.
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