Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne Strikes Controversial Deals with China: Economic Powerhouse or ‘Useful Idiots’?
As Prime Minister Gaston Browne returns from his weeklong visit to China, one might wonder if he’s onto something with his economic powerhouse concept, or if he and his delegation are merely perceived as a group of Useful Idiots. It’s up to you, the reader, to decide.
The Agreements are announced gradually while the Prime Minister and his delegation are still away in China (They have since returned). These updates seem designed to keep the populace motivated and detractors off balance.
Details regarding the development, timing, and origins of these agreements remain murky. There’s no mention of them in Cabinet Meeting Notes, nor were there announcements of a planned trip to China on Pointe Radio or ABS. It seems no one deemed it necessary to inform the country of these developments until after the agreements were inked. We’re left with scant information, devoid of crucial specifics.
Prime Minister Browne’s ambition to transform Antigua and Barbuda into an economic powerhouse may hold promise, but at what expense? What benefit does Antigua and Barbuda gets out of an agreement which allows China, the Country with until recently the worlds largest population to have its Citizens travel in into Antigua and Barbuda visa free. Where and when these Chinese will be vetted?
The agreements include:
- Agreement of Mutual Visa Exemption
- Agreement on Maritime Transport
- MOU on Jointly Accelerating the Formulation of the Cooperation Plan on the Belt and Road Initiative
- MOU/agreement with Alibaba Damo Academy and Hospitals for the provision of equipment for early cancer screening and digital health, along with AI-powered tools for doctors. The agreement also outlines a framework for identifying chronic diseases.
- MOU on Exchange and Cooperation in the field of Economic Development
- MOU on a Water Rehabilitation Project
- MOU/agreement for the provision of equipment for the Port of St. John’s to aid in the Anti-Narcotics Laboratory Project funded by China.
- An agreement between the China Media Group (CMG) and the Antigua and Barbuda Broadcasting Services (ABS) aimed at strengthening development and cooperation.
- MOU/agreement between Zhejiang International Studies University and UWI Five Islands Campus in Antigua and Barbuda. Signatory: Hon. E.P. Chet Greene
- MOU between Hangzhou Normal University and Antigua and Barbuda. Signatory: Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph
- MOU on strengthening development cooperation and promoting the implementation of the Global Development Initiative.
- Viewing of Aircrafts for consideration to be added to LIAT 2020 fleet.
In the absence of concrete details, I’ll refrain from speculating on the meaning or implications of these agreements, though I’ll provide some context:
Unlike the West, China operates on a planned economy, where everything, from family size to educational objectives, is meticulously planned. This approach, part of the Network Effect, has contributed to China’s rise as a global superpower.
How did we arrive at this point?
Communism, akin to institutional corruption, persists in various forms, whether in the former USSR, now Russia, China, or Cuba, with leaders occupying the upper echelons.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s pursuit of an economic powerhouse concept marks a significant departure from the demonization of communism and socialism in Antigua and Barbuda during the 1970s. Today, the country finds itself forging alliances with the world’s largest communist nation, a stark contrast to past attitudes.
As the Caribbean Liberation Movement gained momentum, figures like VC Bird Sr. expressed apprehension, observing the destabilization of regimes like Michael Manley’s Jamaica. The Maurice Bishop tragedy in Grenada further fueled concerns. These geopolitical shifts coincided with Richard Nixon’s historic visit to China, initiating what came to be known as Ping Pong Diplomacy, wherein the US began engaging with China economically while maintaining ideological differences.
In the late 1970s, Chinese students began studying in US universities, with over 100,000 eventually passing through American institutions, many specializing in advanced research and science. While some remained in the US, a significant number returned to China, contributing to its development.
The transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997, after 156 years of British rule, further bolstered China’s economic prowess, with Hong Kong serving as Asia’s financial hub.
These converging factors, compounded by the Network Effect, propelled China from relative poverty to global prominence.
However, China now faces economic challenges, with slowing growth, mounting debt among real estate developers, and high youth unemployment. Many young Chinese, like their counterparts in Antigua and Barbuda, grapple with disillusionment, their once-promising futures now uncertain.
China seeks new markets and opportunities to address its unemployment crisis, evident in Agreement No. 1. Agreement of Mutual Visa Exemption eliminates the need for visas and work permits for Chinese citizens entering, working, and residing in Antigua and Barbuda. This agreement may explain the influx of Chinese students attending in-distinguish schools and are no longer limiting their attendance to US elite Universities. Antiguan students studying at Monroe College in New York would have encountered Chinese students studying tourism in Monroe’s Culinary and Tourism degree program.
The tourism industry is Antigua and Barbuda bread and butter. Quite often we give up a lot in the name of employment growth in the Tourism sector. With China’s economic slowdown, Antigua and Barbuda seems poised to be the new employment opportunity frontier for the disaffected and unemployed Chinese youths. In conclusion, while Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s economic vision holds potential, further examination of the remaining agreements is necessary to fully grasp their implications; and who will be the beneficiaries.
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It seems like not to have gained an insight or, comprehension of the paradigm sway: or damned be he, to be a Coon’s Buffoons with contempt of the people’s will and aspiration to a sovereign state; with rational. expectations, as to relinquish.
the yoke of England’s formal European Colonialism; to then, hotly jump in bed with Chinese Asian Communism is, a treasonous endeavor for the Governance of “Antigua” to envisage much to my great alarm, and dismay, of how inept leadership can become when.
the representation is, not of the consent or, advise of the governed: to engage, and persue for altruistic gains of quasi diplomacy; beyond relevance of conceptions or consequence of one’s operation geographic space local. For a. small space existing in the.
proximity space of East-West axis and, juxtapose as America’s 🇺🇸 third border sphere of influence. Antigua is in no position to be formalizing altruistic relationship with a divergent ideology with an entity.
and of none assimilation equity to lend ballance to culture and heritage. The beneficial derivatives is thus, a cheapening of the people’s aspiration, for cheap consumables which could be source in hand with mutual terms of technology transfer, and local manufacturing: impacting and, lending itself to enhancing
the local economic diversity from the servitude of tourism, and elite enclaves of disdain disparities.
The writing is on the wall and in bold block letters. You think China is our friend? You think China is giving us more and more loans we can’t afford without a plan in mind? You think Gaston is representing us the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda? You think Gaston has our best interests at heart? Do you want a future for your children and your children’s children?
Think about it. What happens when Antigua and Barbuda can not repay the loans that Gaston continues to take out from China? We have no money to pay our people (Social Security, Medical Benefits, govt employees, etc; even Global Bank can’t return Jack Stroll’s funds) what makes anyone think we can ever pay back the many loans Gaston has taken from China. What will happen is our lands will be given away by Gaston to pay for the loans he has taken out. Us citizens were never asked if we wanted the loans, there is no transparency. Gaston does not represent the people and we must vote him out and bring him to justice. He is just another black man selling out us black people and this time to China.
Where in the near future do you see us paying back China for the airport, the bridges, the stadium, the hospital, the Port? China will come knocking for repayment and the only option is lands. The same lands that belong to us that Gaston will give to them. It is no secret that China has taken seaports and important facilities from other poor nations since they too could not pay back the loans. A quick Google search will yield the information I mentioned. And in the meantime, Gaston will walk away from it all with his spoils from the creative enrichment schemes he continues to run thanks to all those who voted him in.
Everyone on this forum knows the Gaston’s mouthpieces who push the narrative that Gaston can and does no wrong. They more than likely are getting a little sumsum for their efforts. They too, like Gaston, are selling out our own black people to the Chinese. Have we not learned from our past?
Notice how Air Peace has gone silent? And where has Gaston run to? Yes that’s right, he ran to China. How much more warnings do you need?
Our future is in danger and we can only stop this by voting out Gaston and his regime before it’s too late. Then we need to bring him to trial and relieve him of his ill gotten gains at the cost of our people.
STOP GASTON BEFORE WE BECOME A CHINESE NATION
Economic Woes Ahead!
https://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2024-01-30/order-to-liquidate-property-giant-china-evergrande-is-just-one-step-in-fixing-chinas-debt-crisis
Acts of TREASON!
We seem to be all useful idiots when it comes to China. China is a main financier of US debt, they are part owners of Heathrow international airport in London, they continue to invest in the US using the EB5 program, it seems that everyone wants China money. What is wrong with visa free access to China? The vast majority of countries who enjoy visa waiver to the US are white, the Bahamas stands out as the only one from this region. In this modern age we are still fighting see who can sing god save the king the loudest, we seriously have lost our way.
On point
@Point. Having a relationship with China does not make a country a useful idiot. It’s how far a leader of a country is prepared to take that country that is of concern here. All nations aim to be friends of all while satellite of none and those of us who care about the future o Antigua and Barbuda have all right to be worried.
The examples of Chinese involvement when nations default is not pretty and it is clear that this govt is prepared to climb through a window just to get in bed with China.
Our only hope at this point is for all to forget about the “what aboutism” and party, and confront this problem head on by words and actions.
All we need do is look at what China is doing in Africa. They are our new exploiters. 🚩 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
Point
Just because your Neighbour has a new car, don’t mean you go out and credit a new car. Yes, we have lost our way. It’s the only thought you may have gotten correct.
Let’s examine what’s your response to the possibility of “Useful Idiots” and the reason I would think you are among the “Useful Idiots”
(a) Until China is able to demand payment in another currency other than Uncle Sam Green Back, you point is without merit.
(b) The Chinese are not part owners of they are part owners of Heathrow international airport in London. Heathrow was redeveloped using a Design Build Finance Operate model. Chinese interest contributed to the financing.
(c) Most of the EB-5 investors from China are looking for one thing and one thin only, a USA permanent resident permit (GREEN CARD).
At least we know that US real estate developers are able to use EB5 funds to finance up to 70% of their projects among other permanent job producing investments.
Under this agreement when a China citizen enter Antigua and Barbuda without any visa required and chooses to reside permanently. We don’t know shit publicly about what it specifically yields to any industry or business sector.
Interestingly you never raised the question of what wrong with visa free access to Antigua and Barbuda.
It’s the ABLP Government’s Attorney general who said when asked to introduced legislation who response was: “This is not the time.” It is The ABLP has shown time and time again they wish to continue to sing God save the King.
As Rudy Guliani leaned; if you are not a UK citizen or your citizenship is not with a member of the Commonwealth countries; and you can get knighted, you can’t use the Sir, and that is among the things that The ABLP politicians live for.
Hahaha! Save the gracious King? Eh! Lawd: You got me rocking with glib, without glee. Alas! The poignant poisoning of the mind’s subliminal inclination to benefit off unrequited human exploration, in the creation of alliances with foreign dynasties: at who’s expense or, benefactor’s behest? The Quid pro quo: does not equate Pro bono.
Countryman Abroad, all that been said China cannot be ignored. It seems that you want Antigua’s foreign affairs with China to go through UK, US Germany or France. China is a economic powerhouse and all the major countries in the world have relationships with them. Stop trying to minimize the global importance of China.
Posted by ANR October 23, 2021
Watch: MSNBC Spotlight China’s growing influence in Antigua and Barbuda. By Vaughn Hillyard
Be forewarned!
Who don’t hear will certainly feel!
China will require his pound of flesh one day!
You will not be able to pay back any of these
Loans, that is a fact!
Where will the PM be?
Living it up with pixie in Bali🤣
Laughing of the foils in wadadli🫣
@ Point
Having place yourself as one of the Useful Idiots; I’d advise you to stop reading outdated tabloid information.
Here are the Financial Times (FT) headlines about China: Today 30/12024
>US and China officials to crackdown of fentanyl producers
> The many Cautionary tale in China Evergrande’s demise
> Evergrande’s shares are down 99 percent from the 2020 high. FYI Evergrande is China
2nd largest real estate developer.
> China Vice Primeier urges support for listed firm amid market route
> A Hong Kong Court has ordered the liquidation of Evergrande
China needs to have countries where it can send its unemployed.
@Point
How did you reach such a conclusion? We thought you were a Gaston supporter. You now switch to defending China. Why are you so I love with China? Did you get this script off of Pointe radio or her sister news outlet.
FYI: hackers would outnumber FBI cyber agents by 50 to 1 even if the agency threw all its resources at China: FBI chief said just today Feb.1st.
Some of those hackers and Chinese spy’s may be headed for Antigua which may explain the monstrous size of the Chinese Embassy Complex in Antigua.
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