HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday 31 January 2024

HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday 31 January 2024

The Cabinet sitting began with a prayer by a Minister of religion, who sought God’s help in guiding the decisions that would be made in the interest of the Antigua and Barbuda people.

A discussion and report on the national delegation ten-day travel to China followed—its successes and its importance in strengthening the relations between Antigua and Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China. The Prime Minister noted that Antigua and Barbuda was the first state from all of Latin America and the Caribbean to meet with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Quiang in this New Year. The high regard held by the leadership of China for the strong support shown by Antigua and Barbuda have endeared China’s leadership to Prime Minister Browne. He was first invited to visit China four months following his assumption of the Head of Government of Antigua and Barbuda, ten years ago, in June 2014. The Prime Minister told the Cabinet members how warmly he was received in China—the country of more than 1.4 billion people with a civilization dating back more than 5,000 years. At the opening of the Embassy of Antigua and Barbuda in Beijing, the Prime Minister met with a score of Antigua and Barbuda students who are studying in China.

 Ministers Greene and Joseph, who accompanied the Prime Minister to China, remarked on the good relations which have developed in the 41 years since diplomatic relations were established between these two states. On 1 January 1983, Antigua and Barbuda’s first Prime Minister, Honourable Vere Cornwall Bird, established diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. He visited shortly thereafter and vowed that Antigua and Barbuda would respect the One-China principle. Minister Greene applauded both states for having signed a visa-waiver agreement and several other documents which demonstrate a clear friendship between both states. Minister Molwyn Joseph reflected on his visit to two hospitals and several (health) research centers that rely upon artificial intelligence (AI) and other scientific approaches that have greatly reduced mortality and morbidity from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among the Chinese population. Machines that undertake examinations and diagnoses without any invasion of the body, were also examined for possible use here.

The Cabinet members expressed their thankfulness for the reporting by the Prime Minister and his two Cabinet members who all praised China for its generosity over the years.

 

1. The Prime Minister reported on his Zoom meeting with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and representatives of the LIAT shareholders, on Tuesday. He told of his offer to purchase the three aircraft which the CDB owns, and which will be utilized by LIAT (2020) Ltd. now that LIAT (1974) Ltd. has been dissolved. The initial talks with the CDB continue on Thursday, as the Prime Minister and Cabinet forge ahead in the resuscitation of the regional air carrier, LIAT. Following the consummation of the sale, the three aircraft will form the basis of the fleet that will cause LIAT 2020 to become a viable entity. It will partner with Air Peace to provide the much-needed intra-regional and extra-regional services to move people and cargo throughout the Caribbean.

2. The Cabinet welcomed a mechanical engineer who tends a farm of melons in the afternoons, following the end of his workday. Simmons Farm specializes in growing three types of watermelons that are red, orange and yellow. The part-time farmer has a ready market for his produce grown in the Big Creek area, and wished for Cabinet to sample his products that are sold primarily to hotels.

 

3. The Cabinet invited eight officials from the Ministry of Finance, led by the Financial Secretary, to report on the revenue and fiscal performance of the nation in 2023, and for the first month of 2024. The Ministry of Finance officials spent more than two hours, detailing the performance in the year just ended with the previous year of 2022. The team also presented the fixed expenditure projected in the first quarter of 2024, compared to the anticipated revenue intake for the same 2024 period. It was agreed that more vigorous collection of the ABST will be pursued, and that discretionary exemptions will be greatly reduced. Each month, the Ministry of Finance team will report to the Cabinet using an agreed format that will reveal the success of the balance sought between revenue and expenditure.

 

4. The Cabinet welcomed five officials from the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) including the Supervisor of Elections. The Chairperson of the ABEC, Mr. John Jarvis, died a little more than a week ago and is to be buried next week. The expiration of ten-year old cards is fast approaching, and the Cabinet has to determine whether renewal of the cards or re-registration is to take place. Following intense discussions, it was agreed that re-registration will be preferable since it will preserve the integrity of the voters’ list. A precise date for the start of the process has not yet been decided.

 

5. The Cabinet invited the Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the United Nations and the Coordinator of the May 27 to May 30, 2024, IV Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference which Antigua and Barbuda will host. More than 5,000 delegates are expected to attend, including 50 Heads of State or Government. This will be the largest Conference to ever have been hosted by Antigua and Barbuda, and it requires significant amounts of pre–planning. Many volunteers are expected to play significant roles, ensuring the safety and security of the visiting delegates; and, the United Nations is playing a supervisory role in the process since it is a UN Conference. More than US$6 million are being raised to ensure that the SIDS Conference is a success. China, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Canada, Morocco, and other states have pledged to assist.

6.i. The Minister of Health and Wellness reports that an area of the Tomlinson’s Cemetery, earmarked more than 20 years ago for burials, will shortly begin to receive funerals. Both the Public Cemetery in St. John’s, and the Lady of the Valley Cemetery just outside Bolans are filled. Community cemeteries are being utilized at the moment for burials. All cemeteries are public property.  6.ii. The Magistrates’ Court on High Street is less than 3 weeks away from completion, the Minister reports.

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