LETTER: Disappointed in town hall meeting

Letter to Bolans Village, St. Mary’s South constituency, ABLP, PM Browne, Senator George and MP Simon

Last night, I was listening to the town hall that Senator George and ABLP had in Bolans and I was highly disappointed about what I was hearing. 

But let me begin by saying, I believe a government has a responsibility to help its citizen and trust me, I know the locals need help and should be helped, but it was so sad that I did not hear one person from the public mentioned how they can help the country. I did not hear once, how can help my nation. 

Everyone was only able to demand the government do basic things like supply water (When the ABLP moderator/host is not demanding for local/folks to stop expressing how this problem is affecting them individually), and other was a demand by folks/people telling the government they should invest more in farming/food production (While the PM is saying this is a private matter and it is private individuals who the locals/public should demand to increase farming and producing). 

This PM failed to appreciate in this situation he is part of the government and he and his administration have a duty to motivate and encourage folks/people to enter into the farming industry and encourage an increase in produce.

The PM can simply encourage farming and increase in production by legislation. By making it mandatory for all hotels to have a section on their menu with local recipes and or demanding local hotels to purchase some percentage (could be 10% to 20% or whatever %) of their produce from locals. 

This action will ensure there is a demand that locals will be encouraged and motivated to supply. It is no longer a major risk for farmers to produce in large-scale, not knowing if locals will buy it all. They are now guaranteed additional demands. 

The other issue I have is of the PM constantly saying, “do you not see progress?”. Even if you progressed a country from 1% to 1.2%, and there is obviously progress, it does not mean it is adequate or the strategic or appropriate progress the country should have already had. In my good faith belief and analysis, Antigua and Barbuda should have already been one of the wealthiest Island in the world. Every village should have already had millions of dollars in a village trust, assigned to it yearly that locals can tap into. But I see mismanagement and waste occurring. 

I heard that pineapple slips are being imported into the country. Are these Antigua Black pineapple? Why do we talk about our black pineapples so proudly but treat it like nothing? The government must have a team that surveys monthly and yearly what produce are being farmed, to ensure we are not losing plants that no one realize everybody is no longer producing. Which could result in the extinction of local unique produce/plant/animals. 

I want to finish by saying, I did not hear once, anyone saying, “how can I help my nation?” This hurt so much because I remember many years ago when I entered the ivy league university in the US (the one my “brother”, sister, mother, and almost my aunt (they turned her down for a visitor’s visa at that time stating her daughter should file for her, so she did not make it) and graduated, I was like, I can’t wait to go back to Antigua and Barbuda to help my people. My motivation was to help my family, my village, and my country.

Again, in recent times, I decided the way I could help my family, my village and my country of birth is to open an office locally that I am already certain would be profitable, to ensure family members, villagers and others in the country could have a job but this endeavor suffered undue delays, and as I seek assistance from PM Brown and ABLP, they have all ignored my request, while PM Brown stated he cannot help. Again, I did not want money (I have a lot of that), I simply wanted my business endeavor to be listed as one of national and international importance so that licenses and permits can be decided on the merit in a reasonable time. 

So, I can understand why folks are not able to say, during the Bolans Village townhall, “how can they help their country?” because the administration that represents the country will never give them any opportunity in which they can now focus on bigger things and not just oneself trying to make it. 

I want to thank God and the US for getting me to where I am. I guarantee you the things I have achieved I would not have been able to achieve, without God using the US in my life. This would not be allowed in Antigua and Barbuda with the kinds of government administration we have. 

I pray one day that Bolans Villagers, individually and together, will be able to say, how can I help my country, instead of how can I get the gutter cleaned? How can I get clean and regular water? How can I farm when no land is left? One day we will be able to say how can I help my village and how can I help Antigua? You will be able to say it with the right leadership, you will know when you have the right leadership. 

All my life I have been saying, I am ready to help Bolans Village and Antigua and Barbuda. I want nothing in return, and I am not interested in getting votes. I want you all to see you deserve better in this world. Not people who feel they are the only and best leader for the country, who is bold enough to say, that is not my responsibility, and I cannot help you. That is not a sign of a good leader. 

Bolans Village, Antigua and Barbuda, please replay everything you heard last night, and you will have your answer. 

One final thing, I am not a supporter of UPP, and this is not an encouragement to vote for them, but the MP should have been allowed to speak uninterrupted like everyone else from the ABLP was allowed to do without interruption. 

This just my way of helping. I have so much to offer Bolans Village, Antigua and Barbuda, and I am not doing so for vote. I am officially declaring my intent to donate items (farming/wildlife cameras, security systems, laptops, solar lights, etcetera), $50,000 to Bolans Village and my expertise (to make you wealthy and able to say how can I help my village and my country). 

Again, I am not interested in your politics or vote. This is from my heart; this is my way of helping. I love my job. 

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]