REAL NEWS- The issue of the stranded Africans was glossed over during the Throne Speech and treated in a similar way in the Budget Speech, notes Senator Shawn Nicholas of the United Progressive Party (UPP).
But the Senate minority leader says the Browne Administration needs to seriously address this matter, since the country could be faced with even more economic hardship, despite claims of high performance during the last fiscal year.
Further, Senator Nicholas says, financial challenges are not the only concern; there is the matter of the Administration’s claim of having been duped and of three “copycat” flights.
In the midst of residents’ calls for a public inquiry and the circulation of a petition calling for the probe, the Government had not confirmed that an investigation was underway.
However, according to this week’s Cabinet Notes, there is a preliminary report on the West African fiasco – although the compiler of the document has not been revealed.
Nicholas says the people of this country deserve to know the truth about this whole sordid affair – especially since our Citizenship by Investment Programme passports are mixed up with it.
Nicholas, who is also the UPP’s general-secretary, reports that the Party recently had an audience with Governor-General Sir Rodney Williams. A three-person delegation shared the UPP’s concerns about the airline debacle and advocated for a public inquiry.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
What was his response and what was his reaction to the situation
As this news item highlights:
“In the midst of residents’ calls for a public enquiry and the circulation of a petition calling for the probe, the government had not confirmed that an investigation was underway …”
The country wants answers, and we want them now!
Here again is the petition.
https://www.change.org/p/call-for-a-full-public-inquiry-into-the-antigua-airways-human-trafficking-scandal
OPEN GOVERNANCE IS GOOD GOVERNANCE!
@Antigua4ever, big up. Such informative, first hand information based on experience. I met nany Nigerians in my stint in US university, and none of them were good. Bad-minded, jealous, selfish, just mention a few .
The fact is, these Africans have bigger stakes in mind, and Antigua was never the goal.
They are going to be a burden on our already struggling economy. They are here illegally, but some are working security.
It just shows how collusive businesses here are with this corrupt ALP government.
Gaston Browne had made it clear that they are to use their positions to enrich themselves and you can just bet there was some clause that fattened someone’s pocket.
An investigation is imperitave here, if we are to save some semblance of normalcy.
And to Senator Nicholas’s comments I would say that besides the economic considerations we must remember that these humans are also our ancestral brothers and sisters. I would also say that the humanitarian, ancestral and economic factors ought to be given equal importance by our leaders.
@Lycorish, Antiguans, should avoid giving into emotive language that has been propagated by ALP. I would bet my last dollar that none of the West Africans that were brought to our shores through duplicitous means blood run through Antiguans veins.
I cannot think of one West African country that has apologise for their contribution during the Middle Passage era. Despite the propoganda that have been spread by ALP and the Nigerian employee based within the Ministry of Argiculture, they do not have any purpose for Caribbeans and we should stop fooling ourselves to think otherwise.
Majority don’t know about our existence not to mention to regard us as they brothers. I have been to Nigeria several times and I in broad day light in the presence of the Oba, local King for Badagry I was robbed. Also,Once they realised that my accent was different to their, they immediately inflated the price.
I visited Badagry because I wanted to visit the Point of no Return, the holding cells for the slaves before they were transported to America and the Caribbean.
I told them that I was from Antigua, they never heard of Antigua and one ordered me off the shore of the lagoon because I refused to pay inflated price to get across the lagoon to the Point of no Return, where was their spirit of brotherhood?
An Antiguan friend who comes from Grays Farm, but live London, a work colleague of hers who is Nigerian was getting married in Nigeria, invited the Antiguan to her wedding. Before the Antiguan could leave Mutualah Muhammad Airport the Nigerian arranged for arm robbers to robbed and left her without passport, money and luggage.
I am hastened to add that these are not isolated incidents, but incidents enough for us to be weary of them and not only sign the petition for an inquiry, but to send them back home.
Emotive language notwithstanding, they entered Antigua illegally and we should not reward them with the rights to remain. A number of them have already demonstrated their crooked ways and allowing them to remain is like giving them a gun to kill.
What a hideous deflection of the facts @ Sharon Lycorish.
How on God’s green earth can you exempt the major players in this potentially dangerous situation, especially when you read that the ABLP government will not confirm – or deny – that an investigation is underway.
For once in your “super spiritual” life put the safety of Antiguans first!
Somebody fraudulently put “ANTIGUA AIRWAYS” on the side of a plane, land it here 3 times and nobody in government notice?
You can’t make this up. The ALP is an abomination.
@Lycorish, Antiguans, should avoid giving into emotive language that has been propagated by ALP. I would bet my last dollar that none of the West Africans that were brought to our shores through duplicitous means blood run through Antiguans veins.
I cannot think of one West African country that has apologise for their contribution during the Middle Passage era. Despite the propoganda that have been spread by ALP and the Nigerian employee based within the Ministry of Argiculture, they do not have any purpose for Caribbeans and we should stop fooling ourselves to think otherwise.
Majority don’t know about our existence not to mention to regard us as they brothers. I have been to Nigeria several times and I in broad day light in the presence of the Oba, local King for Badagry I was robbed. Also,Once they realised that my accent was different to their, they immediately inflated the price.
I visited Badagry because I wanted to visit the Point of no Return, the holding cells for the slaves before they were transported to America and the Caribbean.
I told them that I was from Antigua, they never heard of Antigua and one ordered me off the shore of the lagoon because I refused to pay inflated price to get across the lagoon to the Point of no Return, where was their spirit of brotherhood?
An Antiguan friend who comes from Grays Farm, but live London, a work colleague of hers who is Nigerian was getting married in Nigeria, invited the Antiguan to her wedding. Before the Antiguan could leave Mutualah Muhammad Airport the Nigerian arranged for arm robbers to robbed and left her without passport, money and luggage.
I am hastened to add that these are not isolated incidents, but incidents enough for us to be weary of them and not only sign the petition for an inquiry, but to send them back home.
Emotive language notwithstanding, they entered Antigua illegally and we should not reward them with the rights to remain. A number of them have already demonstrated their crooked ways and allowing them to remain is like giving them a gun to kill.
@Byam ALP is not lying an abomination, they are as crooked as the Nigerians.
When I first heard of Antigua Airways originated from Nigeria, my original thoughts were of us getting scammed. I down play the whole thing and said to myself that I am just been bias and this could be a great thing for Antigua’s tourism. Now I am scratching my head.
@ Antiguanman8
You’re not very bright, are you? Even after you read how they came here you are still saying it “could be a great thing” for Antigua?
Where have you people been living? Under a rock? Forget your biased views and love for the top dog and look at the facts. Not hard to do, is it?
Comments are closed.