by Perta Williams
MUSINGS – “I would rather be an ordinary citizen than preside over ashes’
These words surface as I watch this latest attempt to destroy Antigua and Barbuda through another attack on its leader, Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne.
It is his fault. His bold, astute, fearless leadership has seen the country through difficult times, such as pulling the economy back from the ruinous 10 years under UPP and successfully weathering the fiscal challenges of COVID-19; lesser men who desire to take over leadership would be frustrated at his continue, astute leadership.
And so, over and over, from dying embers, colluding with external forces fuelled by greed and their own selfish agenda, fairy tales spring to mirror reality and drag the Prime Minister into a negative spiral in hopes that he would lose focus on the bigger picture, continuing to lead Antigua and Barbuda and its people to higher heights.
Take a moment to reflect on the lead-up to the last elections. We were told a plane landed with US$2 billion to buy off every citizen, that the PM was of interest to the US and would be unable to visit for fear of being detained, and that the treasury had been plundered. The PM and his party, the ABLP, weathered the storm and emerged victorious, though Antigua and Barbuda’s reputation was tarnished.
Unable to hold themselves together after a creditable performance at the last polls, the main opposition has jumped on this bandwagon, deciding that our country’s goodwill can be sacrificed on the table of political expediency and has again sought to offer PM Browne as the lamb. A business transaction akin to many across the globe, as part of the punitive measures against Russia, is the latest ruse to return our nation to the chopping block.
Notwithstanding the information made available and the due process outlined, the attacks are unrelenting. Precious, scarce resources will have to be spent to mount a defence to protect Antigua and Barbuda’s sovereign rights. And it is our rights that are at stake. Another country demanding that any of us open our financials, from our country to their laws and jurisdiction, while we could never dare to thing to make a similar request.
Whichever side of the political divide you stand, to champion any cause that lessens your citizenship is to decide that you are ready to cede all your rights and privileges because there is no half cause, ‘take him/them, but not us’. We cannot desire political power to the extent that we are willing to sacrifice our collective rights as a nation.
The Prime Minister will continue his leadership and prosperous stewardship of our beloved Antigua and Barbuda while this current ember burns.
I spare a moment to shed a tear for those among us who prefer to burn our country to the ground for political power, for whom ruling over ashes could be more desirable than seeing the country’s continued social and economic progress
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Petra Williams is not necessarily in love with Gaston so i realize when she wrote this it was not became she like the man. But honestly speaking this is a good write up. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Petra. This is different from DEM long assss Chinese Subbin you write all the time ha ha
Massa really indoctrinated some of us with the crab in a barrel mentality ala the Willy Lynch Letter ( be it real or allegedly fictiona). Black people keep on tearing each other down to this day. Anyway, keep on taking us to higher heights my beloved Prime Minister Browne. Those who seek to harm our nation for political gain ought to be ashamed of themselves and should endeavor instead to put country over party and/or self agrandisment.
Yes Gaston his very disrespectful to the people of Antigua but he is a good leader
Gaston Browne is nothing more than egocentric and is very skilled at his game. It’s just a matter of time
I truly beg to differ concerning this article because I would be labeled bias..so I suggest you listen to his so called radio station, listen to how as aPM, he disrespects people, ridicule them, lie to the citizens of this country etc etc every Saturday..and don’t forget the bullying..
Good article. Well said all Antiguans are not fool with the upp lies .have you ever seen so much Antiguans own their own house and cars and have a good job?
That’s true. Spot on haven’t seen it before
A very very article and you are spot on….. some of us have not gotten off the slave ship as yet. We continue to shit and piss each other while at the same time asking Massa am I doing a good job.
Petra some said you were’nt a journalist but you have proved them wrong
Is that the same Perta Williams, the same one?
Petra no need to continue singing for your supper as you are already well fed!
Well penned Petra. Thank you ANR for sharing. These famous words of the PM will go down in history
The PM is right and his words must be highlighted. Pringle et al will have no porblem being the king of the ashes. Just look at how they are destroying the UPP in the name of leadership.
Petra ,you have a wonderful mouth,you should use it for more than blowing the dog, we are not taking you seriously,
I Endorse this message.👍
Oh Petra, Petra, Petra!!!
A man who stands for notjing will fall for anything.
Man being neutral gender.
It includes you.
For a few dollars your judgement is not just clouded but blackened.
Seems that your economist competence would be based on who pays you highest for your opinion.
Do we as citizens just take whatever this government who has proven to be in a long distance relationship with truth and honesty as gospel?
All of the issues which the UPP have linked to the PM and his administration are facts.
Not opinions!
All have added to the shame and redicule brought on to the image of the island by the leadership.
It is apparent that whoever gives you bread can do no wrong even if the bread was stolen.
“We cannot desire political power………rights as a nation”. Petra who is most guilty of that?
Is that not the modus operandi of Gaston Browne? While you have changed the words in your caption have you forgotten that it was Gaston Browne who said that he would rather be an ordinary citizen in a prosperous nation than to be the leader of a failed state?
Show me the prosperity in Antigua today.
When petrol was being given away on world market we were paying the highest in the Caribbean.
We cannot pay local nor international debtors and are boasting of record revenue.
Where is the money?
Is that signs of a prosperous country or a failing economy?
Everyday there is industrial dispute amongst government employees.
Is that prosperity or failing state?
Government employees are being locked out of offices for government’s failure to pay rent.
Is that prosperity or failing state?
Infrastructure is at its poorest in the country’s history.
Is that a sign of prosperity or a failing state?
While all is falling apart government ministers and their cronies are getting fatter in wealth.
Is that the state of a prosperous country or greedy ministers?
While ministers are getting fatter and richer the voters are getting poorer and hungrier.
Is that the sign of a prosperous nation or advantage being taken of the voters?
Honesty is not a characteristic to be associated with everyone.
Can you justify why the “nation’s precious scarce resources” should be used to defend the prime minister in his personal capacity and his family and cronies?
The suit is not against that state of Antigua and Barbuda.
You should know how courts work.
Is that the bold leadership that you speak of?
Follow what is happening in France.
Your partner has been convicted for using state resources wrongfully.
Are you deaf and blind to international issues?
A people who elects a corrupt givernment are not victims they are accomplices.
ARE YOU A VICTIM OR AN ACCOMPLICE TO CRIMINAL BEGAVIOR????
What country is she living in? It can’t be Antigua. The country is overrun with foreign criminals; Antigua people can’t get water to drink; more potholes than roads; still no reliable current; public education is the worst in the WI. Ashes? Antigua people would glad for ashes after these ALP buffoons.
What attracted me to this article was the image.
I thought who is ANR making out to be a pinnochho, with the pony tail of the wig looking like a pinnochho nose.
Turns out the contents of this article is really that of a pinnochho.
I have known a few intelligent people who allow themselves to be indoctrinated into groups of people, one would expect they would distance themselves from.
The members of The Unitarian Church: The Moonies” who published the paid article in their new paper Washington Times; who had good things to say about PM Gaston Browne in a paid article widely distributed by ABS.
Ms.Williams is not a Moonie she is more like a MAG. Make Antigua Great. The MAG people have similar characteristics to the MAGA followers.
Petra is a cheerleader for MAG, so she comes as a pinnochho with no credibility except among the MAG people.
I am a born Antiguan. Have lived outside of Antigua for over 40 years and have taken great interest in what happened in Antigua. For the past few years I have been coming back to spend 2-4 months per year here and is amazed at how some people of Antigua tear it down to pieces. Yes, there are issues but what country in the world that doesn’t have issues? From my observation , Mr. Brown is a very intelligent, decisive leader. Don’t get me wrong I am for any political party but that’s what I observed. Antigua the country and its people are flourishing. Yes there is unemployment, yes the roads are horrible, yes the water situation is unstable but the standard of living here is good. I wish the people here would love and appreciate this awesome country and its leaders. You know what you have you don’t know what you will get. Question: If Mr. Brown is such a bad leader, who in Antigua does the people think could do a better job? Just curious
All these achievements this lady says, but yet still, St Johns is still stink to high heavens, with market street looking more like Haiti, than the market Street I remembered.
This article is a joke.
I’m done.
You up in America in a gated community, but Antigua people must be happy with spanish vermin butchering our children, no water to drink or bathe, limited economic opportunities, and the worst education system in the WI? Hell no! Antiguans deserve the same opportunities you enjoy in America and much more, and UPP people will never accept this trash from the ALP.
@petra: Dee da doh la la la! I must continue sing sweet songs about Gaston, he have me eating high off the hog(tax payers) am all I’m china liming because of him using dotish Antiguan tax monies to facilitate me, give me some bass their let me sing louder about how great Gaston is.
@Antigua,
Your statement about The Browne Dog and the economic system of the people is disengenous and bias.