Dear Editor,
I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the recent development of Antigua Barbuda Broadcast Services (ABS) formalizing relations with the China Media Group (CMG). While diplomatic ties and international collaborations are often viewed as positive steps, it is crucial to consider the implications of such partnerships, especially when it comes to fundamental values like freedom of the press.
The announcement of ABS TV/Radio’s collaboration with CMG, as reported by State Media, has raised eyebrows regarding the potential impact on journalistic integrity and the free flow of information. Communist China, notorious for its strict control over the media and suppression of dissenting voices, poses a significant threat to the principles that underpin a democratic society.
China’s track record in restricting freedom of the press, censoring content, and silencing dissenting opinions is well-documented. By aligning with a media group closely tied to the Chinese government, there is a risk that ABS may find itself compromising its commitment to unbiased reporting and journalistic independence.
It is essential to recognize that media organizations must uphold the principles of transparency, accountability, and freedom of expression. Aligning with a nation that systematically restricts these principles raises questions about the autonomy of ABS TV/Radio and its ability to serve as an unbiased source of information for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
While diplomatic and economic relations are crucial for global cooperation, it is imperative to be cautious when engaging with entities from nations with a track record of suppressing fundamental freedoms. As citizens, we must remain vigilant and vocal in safeguarding our democratic values, including freedom of the press.
I urge ABS TV/Radio, as well as the government officials involved, to reconsider this collaboration with CMG and prioritize partnerships that align with the principles of a free and independent media. Our democracy relies on a vibrant and unfettered press, and we must ensure that our media organizations remain true to these ideals.
Sincerely,- Mr Buffong
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
First of all ABS is not transparent, or accountable. Let’s be clear about that. Our supposedly tax payers station is an ALP propaganda machine.
However, I agree with the error of aligning with any Chinese media.
People, I’m not sure the DAWG has much of a choice. He has landed Antigua and Barbuda so deep in debt to the Chinese who knows if the Chinese are not calling the shots.
We failed to remove this idiot from power last January and those of us who saw this coming stood up. Alas, there are way too many greedy, corrupt,
selfish people in this country and we can only watch.
@Watching…the Chinese are screwing the Nation royally with a #Stingray_Lance(it doesn’t come out the same way it enters the body. It has to be removed surgically and meticulously).
Our government(s), the PIMPS & SIMPS are providing…
(I)….the playboy and playgirl mansions.
(II)…the #betty_boops in Daisy_Dukes made of Lycra, stepping out on six(6)in stilettos(like dem cyant mash ants).
(III)…the pee_wee Herman’s in their polyester hip_huggers looking like, they’re Liberace Altar Boys holding his candle sticks.
The majority of the People are under the #INDOCTRINATED SPELLS of RELIGIONS and their money making, for profit institutions and their #Name_Brand Subsidiaries.
The ironic thing with these BRAND NAME RELIGIONS, they’re the same ones for centuries #WHO’RE vilifying the CHINESE and her BRAND of RELIGION, yet, here are the same Chinese on your property, in your face raping you and your family/flock/parishioners royally and you’re channeling the #Ostrich_Family to come and rescue you. They need to get their heads out of the sand, and shed the BBL – Brazilian Butts!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
The way the President of China expresses his happiness with the Prime Minister of Antigua (does not matter of which party), scares me. I must question deeply his morals which I witnessed when he told me, a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, who intended on returning to Antigua, to provide jobs to those I considered family at the time and my community that he cannot help and had his minion contact me saying the same thing, “do you see why the Prime minister should help citizens of the country”.
These behaviors are the same kind of behaviours of tyrannical leaders, leaders that are anti-democratic. They think they have no moral and legal obligations/duty to each and every citizen of the country.
A question to UPP and ABLP ministers, former and current, list all your income made while in office beyond those coming from salaries. That is the most vital question the folks should ask all of them, and the higher that number is beyond those coming from salary shows how much that person should not qualify for public office. From income that did not exist prior to entering offices.
However, the locals, especially those who were told to me to be family members, are too stupid to comprehend they deserve better.
When they see wrongs, their response is, well the other party did that too. So the wrongdoers never get sanctioned and held accountable for their abuse of power, neglect of their duties and corruption. Because they know their ignorant and dunce supporters will say, well the other party did that too.
Focus on the wrongdoers and hold them accountable. Stop justifying their actions by saying the other party did it too. When one person do wrong, deal with it, deal with each wrongdoer. Do not say the other do it to which reduces the big problem into it is no problem.
However, you God’s wisdom to comprehend this and an education. Which people who talks like that clearly do not have. How dunce can you be to believe the words of a politician over an educated family member who have memorized the law in which he was asking your leader for the help.
You have to be blantly stupid to believe someone who will say and do anything to make you vote for them over a family member who sacrificed for you and share with you and never ask or get anything from you and have no reason to deceive you because that family member is not asking you to vote for him, as he is not a politician. Who will be most likely more credible (honest, accurate, and acting in good-faith)?
The answers is clear for those with wisdom from my God and intelligence.
@My way of… You accuse of, “what aboutism” but you are actively engaging in it by mentioning the UPP in the same breath as the ABLP. I don’t know of any UPP politician who can even come close to some family members of the present ABLP politician much less the politician themselves. See, its easy to say,, “all a dem ah de same” but by broad brushing like this you lose both scale and effect. In other words, you give the more guilty ones a ‘bly”.
I for one would not worry too much about UPP’s relationship with China because, UPP is/was afraid of it’s population as it should be. On the other hand,ABLP neither fears nor regards it’s population so is open to any agreement whether it’s in the people’s interest or not.
Quite a large difference I think.
I am literally at this time talking to all wrongdoers, including ABLP and UPP. I am not downgrading none of their wrongs.
Also correction for my previous comment pertaining to minions, it should have said the PM minions are saying do you see why the PM shouldn’t help, as if any intelligent and reasonable person will agree a political leader shouldn’t help.
They use those tactics because they are dunces or they truly know the locals are and use manipulation to keep them how their political leaders paying them extra to do.
Anyway, I do not think not one of these parties are good for the people. But they do not even care for themself or know what is good for themself.
I Concur, and further expound that; the common thread that bind or-defy the normalcy in the social structure is the Clan Cult that perverse the cognition of enate tribalism within the Clan Politics of that abound in Antigua per second state and stage of Antiguan politics; ensuing the defiance of the. impacted on those expected to change. To be feathered and perched high at the top as in leadership, such as to be noble, and just is as thought to distort the gullible and feeble minded with naive intent to feast in glee, as though of leftovers carrion; to the. John Crows in glee. Where empathy would construct, but not upon the. poor and those stifled by the circumstance of time, or, either of trust, by the innocents of hopes deprived. As in the innocence like consciousness lemmings marches on; all like headless leaders: but for how he/ she looks as if moustache should be trending should trending in style; when truth deny the fact in. sway of alliances when transparency and, accountability is deemed most pragmatic to stop the slide into autocratic normality, driven by the siege on the conscience of the population demographics to disdain with abject discontent; or lend itself of the contempt that is so persuasive as to be defiant without retreat: for fear of the consequences appeasing the result: as in a vacuum to live to the expectations of the clueless few:2 for fetid gains. And all because: it’s the bottom that keeps the top: on- top?
Well said!
Slowly, slowly, by accident or design this speck of rock in the Caribbean Sea is being made a pawn and useful tool in the calculations of China. The author quite rightly is alarmed by the impending link between ABS and CMG (China Media Group). He is not alone. ABS along with other local media outlets are free agents in our society. We can praise them, criticize them or simply ignore them as we choose. The citizens of China do not enjoy such a luxury in their country, to the contrary any dissenting voice is quickly silenced and the dissenter very speedily arrested and put behind bars. Freedom of speech and of the press are the positives we have enjoyed since Independence and taken for granted. Why then should ABS want to lie in the same bed with CMG an arm of a oppressive and dictatorial regime unless it was coerced into doing so? Our pleased as Punch prime minister seemingly has no such qualms about the impending union between these two media outlets, one thriving in a democracy, the other in a dictatorship. Did the red carpet treatment meted out by the Chinese to our PM affect his reason or perish the thought; is he thinking along the same oppressive and dictatorial lines as his hosts? A tiddler swimming alongside a whale or a cat transfixed motionless in the glare of a car’s headlights? Take your pick, however either way there might well be something very fishy and unpleasant coming down the pipe heading towards Antigua and Barbuda. You have been warned: forewarned is forearmed.
There goes that picture of the general manager of ABS again!
ANR please find a better picture of the good lady please!
I don’t want to see that picture in my mind when I close my eyes at night!🤔🫣
Anyone surprised?
Antigua is the new Chinese Colony.ABS is going Chinese.Mandarin would be the new language of Antigua.
I understand your pain, but you folks are barking up the wrong tree.
In spite of the sentiments being expressed here, ABLP can very much win again. Think about it, Gaston admitted to transferring voters in order to defeat Harold Lovell otherwise he would not be Prime Minister today.
In most other places these actions would have been investigated, and likely to result in his removal from office. This confirms that the will of the people does not matter any longer.
Political parties and or individuals opposed to the ABLP do not have the wherewithal to get Gaston Browne and The ABLP out of office. Any serious attempt would end with any such individual(s) being ostracized and victimized period.
Among the biggest elephants in the room who are able to take the action to remove Gaston Browne are:
1st. THE MINISTERS; THE CHURCHES; THE ECUMINCAL ORGANIZATION.
They are soulless demagogues, who pray for Gaston Browne and The Cabinet each and every Cabinet Meeting.
These individuals are charlatans preying on the weak and the poor. They are not taking a neutral stand when they pray for a Cabinet whose stated purpose is to creatively enrich themselves; and the poor are buried in regressive taxes.
I ask myself. How can these religious men sleep at night? Where is their conscious? Where is their religious teaching? Where is their shame?
The charlatans in the pulpits are seemingly quite OK that we are being raped, as they condone and enable; by offering up prays to the National Raping called Cabinet Meetings.
Until they and other who are considered to be CIVIL SOCIETY in any democracy, do their job; we are fighting a losing battle.
@CountryMan Abroad.
You make a very strong point when you stated the transferring of votes in the last General Election. If this isn’t a prime example of corruption I don’t what is. Corruptionnon a placard displayed by a prominent member of the UPP has ruffled feathers in high places resulting in a law suit. Some legal luminary must be rubbing their hands in glee.
Corruption displayed on a placard
Sandra clarke
The picture is reflective of the character she displays to the public.
A sneer that says: “Me No K”
Oh!
Is that what that look is?
Very unattractive indeed!!
@ sandra Clark,
Alas! alas! to your…. Alas, there are way too many greedy, corrupt,
selfish people in this country and we can only watch.
We the people have been working for change, but more influential forces are against change.
We the people are not able to withstand the forces greed and corruption. Change comes about when Civil Society campaign for change.
Just because a person works for a Ministry that is rife with corruption does mean they don’t go to work. They need the money to pay the bills. They can refuse to give money to the church. Tell their pastor or priest or bishop I’m not coming back until to start working against corruption.
We the people have the power we are just not using right.
We the people, brilliantly said. I was thinking that same thing earlier. All business in Antigua should shutdown, everyone of them, for a day or two or seven to demand changes.
To demand better policing, firearms, lower taxes, and better government. We do not ever take a government that says I cannot help you, never ever take that from them.
Antigua right now is spiralling down a communist hole like Grenada.
Look at the parallels coming and it is as scary as hell.
Folks, our young people will be goose stepping shortly if we do not halt this downward slide.
Calling in the liberators might get us a Palestine situation.
Mr PM and your minions, if you don’t know, google what became of the government leaders in Grenada afterwards.
Be warned.
There was a lady holding a placard with a person’s name on it as being corrupted.That person whose name appeared on that placard said he was going to sue that person.There is a person in Antigua.He did say during the last election.He transferred person from his Constituency into those of his fellow Candidates.Isn’t that a corruptive practice.Therefore that person is CORRUPTED.
@Tuna.
We don’t even have to read between the lines to figure out who is who. I posted earlier that transferring votes is a prime example of corruption and anyone who does not know the meaning of corruption can easily find it in a dictionary, it’s as simple as that. There lies the reason why any lawyer worth his salt would have no bother defending the lady in a court of law. Another thing: corruption breeds corruption.
@ My way of Helping
May I repeat. We the people of Antigua are not able to withstand the forces of greed and corruption individually or as a group.
Change comes about when CIVIL SOCIETY campaign for change.
I am not advocating or agreeing to mass civil disobedience without a strategy to get there. These are wicked people. Remember teargas Sunday?
Remember when Cutie Benjamin threatened civil servant who stayed home with the bogus law that they hurriedly passed.
While I commend those who put themselves on the line. Going on the streets do not move the needle of corruption.
Corruption in Antigua and Barbuda is pervasive. Its bigger than the opposition. It’s part of our culture.
We the people have the power, but we are not using it.
Tell the Religious Ministers you will pray to the Lord from your place of residence. Strike going to church and putting your hard-earned money to support the very people who undermines your interests. THE ECUMINICALS. The very people who pray with Gaston and the Cabinet.
Until We the People take a stand against the INSTITUTION OF CIVIL SOCIETY who aid and abet corruption, such as the Religious Ministers who bless Gaston Browne at his Cabinet Meetings; and turn a blind eye as they get their piece of the action of corruption; this country will sink deeper and deeper.
Can one imagine that Gaston Browne routinely gets blessed by the Religious Ministers after which they embark on putting in the fix for another round of corruption.
Similar strategy should be exercised towards the Business Organizations whose members are aiding and abetting corruption. Boycott their members with your wallet. When sales are down by 30% they’ll get the message.
It’s “We The People” who has the power. Let us use it so that we can bring an end to the abuse!
They can steal your vote. But you have to recognize who are the corruption enablers and take action against them .
Read the China news that our local news services conveniently ignore. Your Prime Minister has crawled into bed with the Communist Party. Unless the people unite and do it soon, your liberty is doomed!!
Comments are closed.