The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, has defended his administration’s relationship with China in light of warnings by the United States that Beijing was moving to impose itself on developing countries through its financial wealth.
Earlier this week, Browne signed two agreements with the People’s Republic of China providing for an 80 million Renminbi (One Renmibi=US$0.14 cents) technical cooperation loan and a donation of US$250,000 to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus for a media centre.
Browne said China has, in the past, shown its benevolence to Antigua and Barbuda and that Beijing does not interfere in the internal affairs of the island.
“THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA AND THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA COULD BE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS.”
— GASTON BROWNE
“We have noted that there has been growing mistrust globally among nations, mistrust that continues to create conflicts, even conflicts between China as a great power… and the United States. I believe that the relationship between Antigua and Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China could be an example for others which will help to promote global peace and prosperity,” Browne said, adding that China has emerged as the “most significant development partner for the government of Antigua and Barbuda.”
Economic development
Browne said that China has made a contribution to all aspects of island’s economic development even as “there are people frowning on the relationship.”
“There are some who are trying to promote the rhetoric that the relationship between the People’s Republic of China and Antigua and Barbuda and other nations here in the Caribbean …that it is a use-use one in which China is pursuing a policy of loan sharking”.
But Browne said that Beijing was providing loans to countries on very concessional terms, while financial institutions such as the World Bank were doing so at a much higher rate.
“But I ask the question, if a nation is providing funding up to 20 years with a five-year moratorium at two per cent and you have international institutions to include the World Bank that are offering funding over 10 years at four per cent without any moratorium, tell me who is loan sharking,” Browne said.
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Any body notice the new catch phrase “why not ask the Chinese”?
Fix the leaking water catchment….Why not ask the Chinese
Fix yasco….. Why not ask the Chinese (sports)
Fix the roads…..why not ask the Chinese
Fix mount st John….why not…….(health)
Uwi campus……ask the Chinese(education)
Equip defense force…. Ask the Chinese (security)
Agriculture….ask the Chinese (food security)
Fix the port….why not ask the Chinese…(economics)
New government owned hotel….ask the Chinese (tourisim)
Fix West Indies oil company …ask the Chinese…(fuel)
Fix the airport…..ask the Chinese
Housing…..ask the Chinese
Wait is China the new government? The government was not elected to ask the Chinese to fix the nation’s challenges.
Asking the Chinese is easy even a primary school student can do that. When will we as a people take the nation on our backs and ask ourselves for the solutions?
PM Gaston Browne statement to his citizens,
If it is that China is colonizing Antigua and Barbuda with gifts, well bring them on bring more. This statement from a Prime Minister is an indictment of our society. No other leader could make this comment to his citizens and still be in office. This is what passes for leadership on Antigua&Barbuda when a citizenry is in a comatose state.
Try asking the USA and you get nothing or just peanuts and at the end you get blackmailed
lie down with a dog and eventually you will get fleas
I want to be around fifty(50) years from now.
Yes, as growing Nation’s we are caught between, a ROCK and A HARD PLACE.
However, if there was more COHESIVE unity, amongst the Caribbean Community’s in terms of trade and commerce, as was the intent of CARICOM, OECS, and other earlier FEDERATIONS, maybe We would not be so dependent upon China today.
America, England and France has to share some of the responsibilities, as to why Caribbean Nations had to turn to China for assistance, in their present day development. These Nations, milked the region for Centuries, and the minute they gave us Quasi Independence, they left the region high and dry, for the most part.
The inner cities of America, and the Indian Towns aka Reservations are a perfect example, of how America treated the Caribbean right in her own backyard.
However, regardless of what PM Gaston Browne says, China is not just in the Region, just because.
They have their reasons, and The Art Of War has a SHADOW called, The Art Of Deception; some call it The Trojan Horse.
on the move
KNIGHT IN SHINING ARMOUR
Please see the GOOD in this initiative . You never compliment the Hon. Gaston Browne or Labour Party for ANYTHING. You are the most PESSIMISTIC Person I ever came across . You are a LOSER . Last night on the Snake Pit I felt sorry for you . KNIGHT , SERPENT , CLEON ATHILL , GLADYS POTTER et AL now realized that They are NOT RESONATING with Antiguans. Knight the reason for this are as follows…
You repeat the same Rhetoric over and over .
Preaching to the same Audience each night
Not growing your base
Telling a bunch of LIES.
How can Anyone work for Serpent who does NOT have any CREDIBILITY. Who thinks He is a BULLY.
Always in trouble with the Courts
He will end in 1735 at some time.
I am awaiting to hear hear Damani Tabor this evening with His same RHETORIC.
Glad you Guys realize that you are BAWLING out your THROAT each night for no reason. Will wait to hear your excuse after 2023. When Labour win ALL the seats including Barbuda.
Just heard Damani Tabor on the Snake Pit . Damani Told Knight that Anyone who writes good comments about the ABLP They are not residing in Antigua. They are live in England. Damani just to let You know that I was born and still live in Potters Village . Do you play back the recordings of your show on the Snake Pit ? If You do you will understand what I am talking about. You do not have anything of substance to talk about….You repeat the same thing OVER and OVER. The Leader of the UPP should stop You from doing the Media Rounds. I can tell that your UPP Party needs help with PUBLIC RELATIONS. Please stay off the Radio. Shame on You
Reply
on the move
Just heard Damani Tabor on the Snake Pit . Damani Told Knight that Anyone who writes good comments about the ABLP They are not residing in Antigua. They are live in England. Damani just to let You know that I was born and still live in Potters Village . Do you play back the recordings of your show on the Snake Pit ? If You do you will understand what I am talking about. You do not have anything of substance to talk about….You repeat the same thing OVER and OVER. The Leader of the UPP should stop You from doing the Media Rounds. I can tell that your UPP Party needs help with PUBLIC RELATIONS. Please stay off the Radio. Shame on You
Reply
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