Lovell responds to statements by Eli Fuller

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Lovell photo

STATEMENT by Harold Lovell

I have taken note of comments made by Mr. Eli Fuller regarding events dating back to 2004, when a small tour operators’ association was established.

Let me be clear: Government works through systems, not personalities. At that time, the Ministry of Tourism operated through established ministerial and administrative structures. Matters related to stakeholder organization and sector coordination were assigned to the Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and to technical teams.

I reached out to Mr. Fuller to indicate that I have no recollection of this specific issue, precisely because it would have been handled by Minister Hilson Baptiste. Sadly, Minister Baptiste is no longer alive to defend himself or clarify the matter, which makes these retrospective allegations even more troubling.

I left the Tourism portfolio in 2009. During my tenure, one of the initiatives I established was the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA), which has representation from every tourism sector. It was designed to strengthen the tourism industry, streamline processes, and focus on the specific needs of stakeholders.

Since the inception of the ABTA, there have been three Ministers of Tourism and nearly two decades of opportunity to advance this initiative. The fact that a small operators’ association has still not been formalized cannot reasonably be attributed to a single minister who left the portfolio almost 17 years ago, nor should it be politicized against any individual.

What is concerning is the timing and platform of these remarks, made on a political program known for partisan narratives. This context raises questions about motive and whether this is an attempt to inject politics into an issue that should instead, be about strengthening our tourism sector.

Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism industry cannot move forward if we are constantly dragged backward by revisionist narratives. The real question is what has been done in the last decade to address this issue. Not what is alleged to have happened two decades ago.

I have always supported small operators and believe strongly in empowering local businesses and entrepreneurs. My focus remains on practical solutions, forward-looking policy, and strengthening our tourism industry. Not revisiting selective issues from 22 years ago. At this critical juncture, our tourism sector deserves collaboration and innovation, not political reminiscence that keeps us in the past.

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9 COMMENTS

  1. Fuller is a selfish dude who thinks he knows what’s best for everyone. He only really cares about himself

  2. bye bye LIMPY JOE
    bye bye ROMANTIC RHYTHMS
    bye bye WADADLI POWER CAN’T
    bye bye BANKING SECTOR COLLAPSER
    bye bye ABST HOTEL RIPOFF
    bye bye IMF PIMP
    bye bye ANTI-UWI FIVE ISLANDS CAMPUS
    bye bye LOSER OF MOST.ELECTIONS EVER
    bye bye BADMIND LEADER & UNDERMINER OF UPP

  4. Thanks for your response.. ELI, sounds more like he LIE, he is a trouble maker and he is very bias .. let him talk about his family and the North coast building and lumber yard in a residential neighborhood and right in front of a school where the trucks make so much noice while the children are trying to do there school work .. ELI, HE LIE… but gas ton enjoyed it ..

  5. @ LOVEL IS ……..

    Look how one man have you guys running scared.

    U forgot to mention how many times ABLP ‘steal the seat’ from him, including the PM confirming on his radio station that he transferred voters in constituencies to facilitate his colleagues winning their seat. WAT A TING

  6. @Dr. Dumbass Strange. Mr. Fuller knows more about this country and has done more for it than your silly jealous ass.

  7. The Restraining Officers at Clare View have clearly missed ‘LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE’ .These people will not take their risperdal and are left to roam the country and make us feel unsafe. Only a lunatic could be so repetitious.

  8. If people really listen and study Fuller ,it is very much about self interest. He is selective and very calculating . Of course he isn’t going to ge critical of the Gaston Browne because he is looking personal favors. Can you imagine blaming an administration that has been out of office for overv11 years? This is the way elitist ,narcissistic and privilege people acts.

  9. THE WHITE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM,..

    When will Eli Fuller (if he has kudos to him), all environmentalists and the Tourism department past or present representatives take up the issue of SUNSCREENS and SUNTAN LOTIONS which are dumped into our seas and ocean throughout the Caribbean by the thousands of tons annually, and have done irreparable damages to our ecosystem, in particular the coral reefs and spawning grounds for various species of life forms in and around our shores?

    Or, due to the fact, that such dangerous chemicals play a significant role in the Tourism Industry, none of them whether it’s Gaston Browne, Harold Lovell, Max Fernandez or even the PARLIAMENT/CABINET are afraid to rock the billion dollar mega yachts to the beach bums roaming from island to island?

    #REGULATE_SUNSCREENS!
    #REGULATE_SUNTAN LOTIONS!
    #BAN_SMOKING IN PUBLIC!

    Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
    De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏾 Garrat_Bastard

    Vere Edwards

Comments are closed.