Calypsonian David Rudder, the architect of the West Indies anthem ‘Rally’, once sang a song called ‘Madman’s Rant’, which I find so appropriate with respect to the recent outrageous outbursts by the Prime Minister of Antigua.
Allegations over taxes, shutting down hotels, changing the law, forced legislation, personal attacks and insults, calling people colonials, instructing public servants to act how you want as opposed to what is legislated, all over a matter which is before the courts of the land and which will be adjudicated in due time. Anyone looking in from the outside will not see a hero, they will see the rantings of a leader who appears to have gone mad!
The man says he does not want to make the issue public, but lives on Pointe Radio hurling allegation after allegation, and threat after threat. Pointe Radio must be the new cabinet, because that is where it seems this maximum leader is taking all the decisions. No doubt to then get it rubber stamped by a cabinet that will obviously toe the line, because you see, everyone afraid of the big, bad Browne. But to whose benefit?
Not to the Sandals worker. Why aren’t people asking questions? Why are people just blindly swallowing this rubbish? The only statements so far have come from the union and the public.
Where is the business chamber? Where is the hotel association in Antigua? Are they also sheep, or are they also too cowed by the roughneck tactics from the highest office in the land, that they are hiding behind skirt tails? But you know what they say about when your neighbour’s house is on fire. So let them stay quiet and see who will speak for them when they become the prime minister’s next target.
This is no good for the country. You cannot deal with an investor in the public sphere like this, and we know the prime minister never reached out to Sandals, because he himself never once said that he did. That’s not how a sane administration conducts its affairs. This is an embarrassment for the country people. Think. Just look at the issue with tips, you can legislate to force hotels to allow tipping, but you can’t force a guest to tip. Big talk with no guarantee.
And this threat about compulsory acquisition, don’t let him fool you, you think such a process is simple. Worst case scenario if Sandals calls his bluff, it could take years for such a situation to be resolved. I remember the situation with Rex in the Caribbean, it took years for that to be sorted out, and as far as I know Sandals owns their property. Will Gaston hire and take care of the 1000 workers if God forbid such a thing happens.
Gaston can’t even take care of his own public servants right now. And you think any right thinking investor, watching that irrational behavior, will be lining up to invest any money in a country where they could be ridiculed and kicked out the next day based on the whims of the leader? You ask yourself.–
Allistair DeFour
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It’s good when you have a prime minister that goes at these foreign investor publicly as he does, we are been treated as children or subhuman, just existing as a labor force to create wealth for white monopoly capital domination, so these white supremacists agenda will find a prime minister shocking as they are manipulating the left wing neoliberal media to make it sound like a disaster for the country to ask or demand sandals pay taxes, but oops! Gaston brown himself has created these foreign investor monsters, reference PLH in Barbuda with all it’s tax deals given by Gaston himself, so they are all white own businesses and talk with each other about the sweet heart deals our merchant politicians gives them, so these tax debacle is created by the government itself, that gives these concessions for electioneering purposes and largesse.
I am not a fan of PM Brown but the actions he is taking, so far, will not damage or tarnish Antigua and Barbuda’s investment image in this case.
He has mentioned companies, like sandals, should stop firing folks for accepting tips that was given to them for exceptional services. He also mentioned, companies, like sandals, should pay their taxes, especially, when making millions and billions.
Companies should appreciate the services we, locals give. At this time nothing he said, and methods he has used, would cause a reasonable and prudent investor or guest to think anything negative about investing or visiting the United Islands of Antigua and Barbuda.
From my analysis, as a social, behavioral, legal and financial expert, I must disagree with the title of this article.
Again, I am not a fan of any PM who tells a citizen I cannot help you who is only asking him to make agencies make decisions in a reasonable time and on the merit but he refused to do, saying he cannot help, but in the situation pertaining to tips and taxes, so far, he is handling this dispute in a manner that is not detrimental to the economy.
Let all companies know what we stand for (proper payment for locals and pay your fair share in taxes).
So we are just supposed to bend over and take it over and over and over again? If he said nothing then he would be blasted for not standing up to them. He will get crap either way.
I am not a fan of his but damn right…..go after them for what they collected that belongs to us.
If there is a side that we are not hearing from Sandals, let them come out and make a statement.
I had to read this a few times in order to wrap my head around to this article and this writer cannot have a single ouch of common sense in his head.
You are calling out Gaston, but not Sandals? These are serious allegations made against them.
Why should Gaston reach out to Sandals? Are we to beg for what belongs to the country? Inland Revenue which is the authority on these matters have reached out and what has become of it? Nothing.
Call them out of course. You think a guest can leave and not pay up? Utter BSSSSSSSSSSSS to the highest degree.
This writer needs to wheel and come again and SHAME on the previous administration for entering into such an arrangement!
As Onion sang so very proudly, Standup for who you are, Standup for Antigua.
We have a Prime Minister unlike any other that has proven time and time again, that he is not intimidated by no ones wealth or power when it comes to defending his own country. But of course some of our countrymen/women would rather put politics before country. No wonder the English caught King Cort before he eve executed his plan. Betrayed by his own people. Not a surprise. Our people are BADMINDED. And the are backstabbers. They will sell you out for a silver dollar. Far less then what Judas sold Jesus for. But I have come to admire Gaston for his courage. Standing up when others fail. And that has cost him fame in the entire world, when he speaks at the UN and calls out the great United States for not settling a debt that the WTO has awarded Antigua and Barbuda now for tens of years. They consider might to be right.
And he has been this road before with Sandals. Their Brand is great to have, but behind the scene their practices are a disgrace to say the least and the PM has exposed them for what they are. EXPLOITERS.
Call them backside out Gaston, call them out. Who vex dead. They to wicked añd Greedy.
Allyur labourites really singing for an early supper. Remember when Gaston say “everybody must nyam”? So only he alone want to do the nyaming? Think about it, my people. The big corporation taxes is for the government to spend to develop the country. BUT. The first place these companies money does go is into poor people pocket. All hotel workers and all tourism workers know that the price of feeding your children is good service and hospitality. That is what we provide to foreigners, and that is how we get paid, and that is how we does nyam! When Gaston finish cashe away the hotels and cruise ships and the tourists, who will take care of our children? Will Gaston go to the grocery with us to pay a bill? Watch all the money Asot play wid when he was Minister. We get any of that? Only talk and hot air and failed promise from the politicians dem. Just give me me salary, and let me eat little and live long. We forget how to thank the almighty for small mercies. The hotels were here before Gaston, and they will be there after Gaston. Hummuch money him want make in the PM chair? Gaston. You finished.
Hey am not taking side here but what good for the goose is also good for the gander.
When you gave these White colonist all these Concession from the jump start this usually is the result
Sandals is not the only one who is shitting on Antiguans workers
He should be calling out Barrett as well for doing worse than Sandals
The pittance that Barrett are paying workers it’s no wander 80% of their workers are foreigners.
It’s a dam disgrace that hospitally workers in these hotels cannot even afford a Mortgage from working soo hard
Prime Minister call out your friend Barrett also
HAROLD LOVELL caused all of this raping and ravishing butch and bis descendants inflicting.
Writer, Massa days are done.
The persons that was granted lands under the Lester Bird Government land for youth program is still waiting to get their approved pascel of land of which some haved paid for. This is outrageous and should be address by the powers that be. People are suffering. Humanity efforts are needed terribly. 💔😭😡😱😰
In response, Prime Minister Browne is also the Minister of Finance and quite possibly the Minister to whom the Commissioner of Inland Revenue reports to. Yes Sandals is good for Tourism in Antigua Barbuda. If all that the Inland Revenue is reporting is factual, it sounds as though something is terribly wrong when an Employer single handedly decides to take the tips for the employees and donate it to a charity of their choosing. I don’t even know if that’s legal so they may very well be in violation of the Laws of this country. It is also a very sensitive matter given the fact that Sandals and Antigua/Barbuda have a long standing relationship. The relationship cannot be beneficial to only side and there are times in a nation’s life when we cannot permit or turn a blind eye and pretend that it’s not happening.
If the situation cannot be resolved peacefully and the Company will not pay what is owed, then we move on from Sandals. Tourism may be faced with an issue but in this life, we have to take a stand when it is not right and as the head of our nation, and the Finance Minister he has spoken out an inquitable situation. His actions cannot be construed as an irresponsible lunatic. That is wrong and hopefully everyone will one day understand the importance of taking a stand for the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
Sandals owners have white skin but they are from Jamaica born and bread there
Was the reversed Robin Hood thinking about Antigua and Barbuda when HE signed those agreements with YIDA, PLH,Best Western and all the others with whom HE cut deals; was HE, when HE and HIS WIFE grabbed all those acres on Barbuda? What about the land deals and insider trading with properties at long bay and Friars Hill; were we the recipients of the 5 mil that was shaken out of a businessman for HIS WIFE’S CHARITY? HE is the biggest threat and danger to the state than any entity.
Okay, enough is enough! I’ve had it with these never-ending letters from Sandals Parrot Gallery. Instead of playing the blame game and trying to undermine our government, how about they step up and pay their fair share? It’s time for some accountability and responsible business practices, not finger-pointing and excuses. Let’s focus on building a stronger, more prosperous community for everyone. #PayUp #StopTheWhining
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