LETTER: A few questions for the Cabinet and Antiguans and Barbudans.

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Dear Editor,

I write this letter to ask a few questions and to enquire what is the ABLP’s policy working agenda for Antigua & Barbudan’s.

Is it to sell our lands, cut deals and allow these people to rape and pillage; so long as they have cut their deals at the top and then have no care for the working class of this twin island state? 

Is the Prime Minister that seemingly the one that cut these deals with these investors who should be held accountable? Or is it the Minister of Investment? Did the Minister of Investment negotiate these deals in this way and they, the businesses, are just executing their arrangements?  

Is the Minister of Labour asleep at the wheel? Are work permits transferable ? As these individuals are seen to move from  one establishment to another daily and work. Is it a special type of work permit that this government afford to these persons that is also approved by caricom or just an Antigua and Barbuda thing?  This government appears to love to compare itself with Barbados, does this happen in Barbados and they are just following suit? If our people go to the European Union can we move freely likewise and work in any one of their territories without the requisite work visas and or permits ? 

I ask again, How are these entities afforded these privileges? If it was in the uk or European Union would it be allowed? Who’s protecting our workforce, protecting our borders from economic predators ? Or is it that it is a cabinet policy, policed, adhered to and upheld by the labour department ? 

Antigua and Barbudans have to ask. When does  the Labour Commisoner or Deputy Labour Commissioner deploy its team to tackle the blatant infractions in our country? As a matter of fact they do not even have to deploy anyone as these individuals post their blatant disregard for our laws in our faces on their social media Platforms. 

The government of Antigua and Barbuda and specifically the individuals above have to explain if they are signing work permits for fire dancers and DJ’s  in Antigua And Barbuda. 

How is it that in our season that we accrue the most stimulus in our economy that we are allowing outside entities to come in, make a killing and leave with it all? 

Catherine’s Cafe, 

Sheer Rocks, 

Rokuni, 

The Hut

Breeze Bar in Nonsuch, 

Abracadabra, 

Los Cabrones, 

Up Bar, 

Lucky Eddies, 

Lobster Hut, 

Colibri,

Pescari Bar at Royalton chic 

and even 

Blue Waters Hotel 

How are these entities employing  fire breathers, Trumpeters and dj’s from outside to the detriment of Antiguans and Barbudans? With the just concluded National Awards, how many Dj’s were up for Nomination?

They can get recognized by their peers but not protected to get work by this government ?

Protection of work is the simplest of things a government can do to ensure the livelihood of its people and this government and by extension the labour department aren’t seemingly choosing to not even lift a finger or is it choosing to turn a blind eye?

So then why is the Labour Department approving work permits for Fire dancers, Trumpeters and Dj’s? Don’t we have enough talent here?

Is it that the powers that be don’t believe in our talent so they give these investors carte blanche to do whatever they please, reap the profits in the season and leave with it all.

Antiguan’s and Barbudans would and could never be able to go to their respective countries and work without work permits so how is this allowed?

How is that equality? How is that beneficial to our economy?

It does then beg the question if they do not have any work permits, then how are these people disregarding our laws and our artists cannot go into their countries and work without work permits?

Who are these so-called investors that fell in love with Antigua and Barbuda but only seemingly are here to take the spoils and pay their own then all leave laughing all the way to their respective overseas banks? 

What is the labour department doing about this?

What is The Minister of Labour doing about this? What is the Minister of Investment doing about this? All Antiguan’s and Barbudan’s have to come to the conclusion that this is a policy decision of the cabinet that is handed down to the labour department after negotiations with investors; as it is not an isolated business that is doing it, but in some cases all the companies from one owner and they blatantly advertising it in our faces .

Therefore telling us we are powerless to do anything about it as they obviously have the backing of the authorities. 

 On top of these businesses taking their monies out of the country after the season, they are now bringing in their own people to do likewise? How is this acceptable ? 

I have to ask my fellow Barbudans if that happens at the PM’s revered Nobu and the other jumbo bay on steroids companies that are on barbuda. While we are at it, how do foreigners come here and change a name from maiden island to little jumby?  

What is wrong with maiden island that is not good enough for them? Overseas fire breathers and dj’s prefer to pilfer under the name little jumby, just like jumby bay changed the name from long island? Is this white washing of our history allowed so easily?

Islander

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