POINTE XPRESS: Chief of Staff in the Office of the Prime Minister Ambassador Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst has dismissed yesterday’s picketing led by opposition political hopefuls as their desperate attempt to capitalise on any issue they believe will cause dissatisfaction among the population.
The government’s recent assurance of a review of fuel prices in the coming weeks did not prevent a group of opposition United Progressive Party supporters from taking to Queen Elizabeth Highway on Tuesday morning to demand the immediate reduction in the cost of at the pump.
Yesterday morning’s turnout certainly disappointed organisers who had encouraged “every right-thinking” Antiguan and Barbudan to join the picket.
However, only a small group of placard bearing supporters loyal to the party responded to the call. In addition to demanding an immediate decrease in fuel prices, the political aspirants among the group highlighted infrequent water supply to households and the lack of equipment for the fire department.
Described as the “standard bearer” for the constituency of St. John’s City South, one of the organisers, Franz deFreitas wanted citizens and residents to agree that the issues raised during the protest are unacceptable.
“More of us need to stand up for those rights and defend our rights constitutionally in this country to say that wrong is wrong in Antigua and Barbuda.” Party leader Harold Lovell, who also joined the picket in front the Office of the Prime Minister, highlighted issues of his own, some of which were inherited by the ABLP from the UPP administration. According to Lovell, the persistent issues are the result of “a failed experiment”. “They have been given the opportunity and they have failed. This is the case of the failed experiment. Time for them to go.”
But Ambassador Hurst said the actions of the UPP amount to exploitation. Speaking specifically to the recent increase of fuel prices, Hurst said: “If you look at the other countries in the Caribbean, we have not done too badly in terms of the way we have handled the price rise. “On diesel, the government is virtually making nothing, and on gasoline, we are far below what Mr. Lovell himself proposed that we should be making per gallon.
“So, I dismiss them as attempting to stir up the kinds of opposition that they think might win them an election that is around the corner. “I am disappointed again and again when I have to tell them that the election is not around the corner, and the increase in oil prices is not an Antiguan phenomenon, but one that everyone in the world is suffering at this time. So they must pick their issues wisely.”
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Observer Radio interviewed about 3 protestors – 1 was Pearl Quinn, the other was Gladys Potter. antigua ppl not fooling around with the pappyshow franz and algernon.
Bleach face Pearl? What time did they have this protest?
At a time when gas prices have increased in other Caribbean countries and other parts of the world.
Didn’t realize how empty pearl Quinn head be.
“They have their FOOTS on our necks and is time for them to take their FOOTS off of our necks…” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Grammar, Spelling, Reading, Comprehension, Critical Thinking and Common sense are dreadfully deficient among these UPP candidates jack.
Hope she can spell GRATEFUL jack 🤣🤣🤣
Pearl teeth, u nah ready yet pupah.
Look me nearly dead when she said that🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 all now me till she laugh🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
and she claimed to be an expert toastmaster speaker. No wonder there is no hope for Pringle to improve on his’s grammar ….yes his’s that’s how he would have said it.
Max Hurst: When you were protesting all around St.Johns. Were you desperate? In my opinion you need to go and rest your weary lying self. You are where you are because of your late father and the ALP. For you were not very bright/smart in School. How many of you would want to challenged me on that. How many real jobs have you had on your own abilities, like all of us regular Non Partisan Antiguans and Barbudans? Looking back to now,all of your high paying jobs were given to you into your lap by the ALP,ABLP and the GBLP(GASTON BROWNE LABOR PARTY).Go and sweat your arse like all everyday workers inna Antigua and Barbuda.LINOHEL AND GETTING PAID TO DO SO.THAT TROUGH IS ABOUT TO DRIED UP.WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO,THEN?
Top quality abuse there. Take a bow 🙂
Swish…Swash
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 UPP gah tun the oil/blood from their Wadadli Power Can’t into water for Lovell to drink.
UPP touch a raw nerve … NICE!
Indeed. Look at the comments and even the article.
All rubbish.
The people want better!!
Brixtonian March 22, 2022 At 8:57 pm
“Well done to those protesters who turned out 👏, and because there were SO FEW,…”
@ Hmmmmm, and here’s the rest of my quotation that you decided to leave out:
“… I’m happy that Gassy now feels OVER-CONFIDENT about this, and calls an election – come Gassy, here’s your window 🪟 of opportunity.
REMEMBER UPP, DI HOTTA 🔥 THE BATTLE, DI SWEETA DI VICTORY ✌
The emphasis is on “SO FEW” because you admitted the turnout was pitiful..unlike LYADD PEARL QUINN WHO CLAIM OVER 300 PPL were there. Tell that bank dropout to TAP TELL LIE!!!
@HMMMMMMM
Gaston with his arrogant and ditty mouth cuss out the IMF. They told him he would come begging. Now all other Caribbean governments getting help he getting zero. So what he does, he a walk about borrowing at high interest rates. You keep mentioning Lovell and IMF while Gaston was the clown for cussing IMF.
Mr. Hurst you are right , Antiguan’s living under desperate times under this administration. Poor infrastructure,high cost of living and last but not least, mental issues. You guys need to stop the political finger pointing and solve these serious problems . Too much people looking the next way on serious issues affecting the people ,because they are caught up in political affiliation and not the truth . It is so embarrassing to see these people going to church weekly ,while supporting wrong daily .
Hmmmmm so because gas prices increased in other Caribbean countries and other parts of the world made it fair and just for the government here to increase prices from $12.50 to $15.70 at a whim. Each situation has to be dealt with in light of the local conditions. There was no way that astronomical increase was justified. Gaston said that oil is bought on the spot market. If that is the case, how could the price at the pump increase as a result of the increase in price on the international market to $146 per barrel when WIOC did not buy any oil at that price. Gaston can take you, JUST SAYING, FROM THE SIDELINE, ERIC (THE RED) and BEEF for fools but there are many of us who just dismiss his nonsensical arguments. The government just used the situation with the increased in oil price on the international market as an excuse to gouge domestic consumers to make a windfall. It is unconscionable. The people need to wake up and stand up.
MAYBE PUTIN TOLD YOU IN ADVANCE THE EXACT DATE AND TIME HE WAS GOING TO ATTACK UKRAINE.
speaking of “at a whim”….. didnt UPP increase the cost of cooking gas “at a whim”?
speaking of “at a whim”….. didnt UPP ram the people with a 15% ABST “at a whim”?
So Tabor what justification did your party use when they raise cooking gas from $21 to $32 and 109 to $155 hmmmmmm? Oh right y’all forget gimme on facking break please.
Have you contributed to Pearl’s gofundme efforts…It has been months now and she has only raised $100 out of a target of $20,000
People are protecting for a reason lionel..for a Reason!!
It’s time for the failed experiment to go!!!
upp increased the price of propane gas UNNECESSARILY AND NOW HAVE THE GALL TO BE CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT
I’m telling you. Wait them really think some people here forget. Unlike fools like Brixton or whatever he name some of us have not forgotten 2004-2014.
@ Amnesia, people like you never see their own faults.
REMEMBER, YOUR FINGER NEBA SAY LOOK YA, BUT LOOK YONDA … TAL!
Boy bye I said what tf i said. Your ass act like UPP never in power maybe u can tell us the reason WHY UPP raised cooking gas form $21 to $32 and from $109 to $155 and that man.
UPP needed money to run the country and repay the massive debt load they inherited from the labour government. Remember labour doesn’t pay its debts. UPP did not have CIP. What has the government done with the $2billion in CIP? Antigua look bad bad and looking worst every day.
The government did not have need to increase no gas price because the price was up for only a few days. A gouge Gaston trying to gouge Antiguans so he can have more money to cover his mismanagement of the country’s resources.
@Think Seriously. You are DESPERATELY CLUTCHING AT STRAWS like your drowning leader Harold LoveLIE. He will forever be known as the WORST FINANCE MINISTER with his IMF LEGACY firmly established!
He is also the king of BADPLAY!!! Joanne Massiah, Anthony Stuart and Richard Lewis can testify.
Max Worst? Give me a break!!! He and his “CHANSPARENT” PM.
Hmmmmm, so when gas prices on the world market was $27. a barrel ,how come our price stayed at $12.50 a gallon st the pumps ? You are so inconsiderate in your writings. If Rossa Parks ,Martin Luther king and others were waiting for a large crowd ,we will be at the same place . I am so ashamed of people like you and others that act blindly to real issues affecting our people . Obviously ,you are one of the minions bleeding the country under continous nepotism and corruption.
“nepotism and corruption” you say? Who appointed Dotisie ISAAC as their secretary and to sit on boards collecting plenty paycheques?
“There is another upp ambassador who supposedly came to Antigua for one day during the sunshine govt Independence dinner, sing one song, and was paid US$100,000.
How much of taxpayers monies was spent WITHOUT PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL for the Wadadli Power Plant that was declared to be “NEW” at the blood-in-hotel-lobby press conference held by BALDWIN “Sharpen-You-Cutliss-Back-And-Belly-Chap-Dem-Up SPENCER?
How much was spent on the cement RATTA CONDOMINIUM at East Bus Station?
How much was spent on the VIEWING STAND at jsc sports complex?
How much was spent on FENCES?
“Those buses were given by the Korean President to assist the present fleet of school buses, but politicians took them over. If you go to transport board you will see whose names they are registered in.”
HOW MUCH DID WE SPEND ON THE GHOST CEMETERY
HOW MUCH DID WE SPENT ON THE EMPTY NUGENT STREET HOSPITAL
THE FENCES MAN IS NOW WITH THE ABLP.
HOW MUCH DID WE SPENT ON THE HOUSES THAT WESTON SAY ARE BURNING MONEY
WHAT HAPPEN TO THE HALF BILLION THAT WESTON SAID WE HAVE IN RESERVE
REMEMBER: THE ABLP DON’T LIKE BLACK PEOPLE
Wonder what he calls his daily/weekly pickets from 2004 to 2014!! Comradeship, Patriotic?
UPP should be the last to open their mouth to talk about raising gas price because up to now they can’t give a proper reason why they raised cooking gas from $21 to $32 and $109 to $155. UPP have several seats please and thanks cause y’all ain’t better and also did UPP for get when they raised gas price to 14.99 per gallon. UPP please hush y’all nah better than ALP.
UPP nah better you say, are you one of those red cool aid supporters that will take a bullet for Gaston? Think about this. Gaston said that UPP was in office for 10 years and all of them left government as paupers. Gaston said is wife has substantial assets and she wasn’t even thirty and was a government minister for less than five years. Did you listen to tapes with labour ministers accusing each other of who is most corrupt?
How many buildings the labour government built? Non but all they do is huff buildings built by UPP.
Labour supporters had better stop burying their heads in the sand and stop saying all of them are alike and vote this corrupt government out of office. Gaston doesn’t love black people. He panders to his constituency in Pointe with crumbs. Look at the condition of the houses and the poverty there. Why don’t these people have proper paying jobs to move out of that ghetto?
Antiguans desperately need a better future and they won’t get it from labour as these people are only concerned with self enrichment.
And UPP will boy bye. UPP had their chance and they did not do any better up to now not one of you UPP supportes can answer the question why was cooking gas raised from $21 to $32 and $109 to $155. This was done by the leader of UPP and up to this day he cannot justify this!! ANSWER THAT QUESTION. Oh right y’all forget. UPP needs to have several seats. Them nah better than ALP!!!
UPP.Candidates are a bunch of DUNCE elements including ANA SALOME. By the way where is CRAZY ANA SALOME ? We missed Her STUPID contributions.
Pearl Quinn is an AIR HEAD. This woman cannot speak .She DOES NOT know the plural of foot is feet. Pearl Quinn said the plural of foot is FOOTS. What a shame.
YOUR RANT SEEMS PERSONAL. DID SHE REBUFF YOUR ADVANCES
Do you have to be a UPP supporter to dislike high gas prices or demand a proper explanation for the raise?
Some people have no shame . I guess the Caribbean Time Bomb was authored about Redonda . Nobody with an ounce of common sense can compare corruption in Antigua or the Caribbean to the ABLP.
Amen to that!!!!
@Rolston+Benjamin WHY YOU CAN’T ANSWER THE QUESTIONS? QUIT DODGING THE TRUTH!
“nepotism and corruption” you say? Who appointed Dotisie ISAAC as their secretary and to sit on boards collecting plenty paycheques?
“There is another upp ambassador who supposedly came to Antigua for one day during the sunshine govt Independence dinner, sing one song, and was paid US$100,000.
How much of taxpayers monies was spent WITHOUT PARLIAMENTARY APPROVAL for the Wadadli Power Plant that was declared to be “NEW” at the blood-in-hotel-lobby press conference held by BALDWIN “Sharpen-You-Cutliss-Back-And-Belly-Chap-Dem-Up SPENCER?
How much was spent on the cement RATTA CONDOMINIUM at East Bus Station?
How much was spent on the VIEWING STAND at jsc sports complex?
How much was spent on FENCES?
“Those buses were given by the Korean President to assist the present fleet of school buses, but politicians took them over. If you go to transport board you will see whose names they are registered in.”
and she claimed to be an expert toastmaster speaker. No wonder there is no hope for Pringle to improve on his’s grammar ….yes his’s that’s how he would have said it.
Toastmasters Club must have cringed in embarrassment at the sight and sound of Pearl Quinn. She need fu tell the public WHY SHE LEFT THE BANK.
Keywords: POOR PERFORMANCE REVIEW, EARLY RETIREMENT or RESIGNATION, or RISK GETTING FIRED!!!
which is it pearl 🤔
@smh Everyone knows she is a snobbish waste!!! Maybe thats how she look but she face always look push up push like she done even get a good riding.
Who is this fake Amnesia that is trying to impersonate me. Could you tell everyone what the price of crude was at that time? Stop been an political puppet and an air head. I am just floored to see so many political prostitutes on this site . Constructive observations should help us to do better . Remember to always arm your brain before shooting off your mouth. Antigua first and politricks and politricktians last. No more brain dead comments please my dear people
Who tf is u?? U buy my phone or pay for my fackkng data?? Just gypg see. Awdfyt!!! Me talk as me like but since u want hijack my name why tf cooking gas was raised from $21 to $32 and $109 to $155 Harold Lovell who I voted for twice needs to give the reason!!! That clear for u IMPOSTER!!!!
I realize that you are an empty vessel. Please learn too read and comprehend . My friend skeywell and many others can tell you about me during our debates on carib arena. Just go back in the hole you just crawled out of and wait for when you are called. Please stop behaving like you are mentally challenged
This administration need to pay the local contractors. Government hire people and don’t pay them and still have the nerve to let the statuary bodies take them to court. Not even to use the money they owe them to offset. They even stop check exchange for imported goods. I mean for the picky head Antiguans. The Middle Easterners get their pay and exchange. The worst road company in the world get lands. Hey public work is competing with local contractors in construction. Why not do the job you were instituted to do in the first place- Road construction. You hire a multitude of civil
engineers , providing them with big salaries, SUV and equipment to only fill pot holes. Lennox you know why you are only cutting out the local contractor. Your term is up so continue to fatten up with your gut full of rice pudding and ma .
UPP needs to pay for the “NEW” engines currently DECOMMISSIONED at Crabbs.
IMF Lovell done stain the economy. Thank God for Gaston Browne and team labour for cleaning up his sloppy mess.
THE ABLP NEEDS TO OWN UP TO HOW THEY SPENT THE 2 BILLION CIP MONEY
IT WAS THE SAME LIONEL HURST WHO USED TO MARCH UP AND DOWN SAYING:
” MY PASSPORT NOT FOR SALE”
GASTON, WHERE DI MONEY GORN”
ASK hmmmm, just asking, smh, really, – hint same person pretending to be different people
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