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The United Progressive Party (UPP) is calling the Gaston Browne Administration onto the carpet to account for over 26 development projects it promised the people during its nearly nine years in office.
The UPP notes that the Antigua Labour Party Government has failed to deliver over 3,000 new hotel rooms; 6,000 construction jobs; 7,000 permanent jobs; and injections totalling over US$5 billion into the local economy.
In a statement issued today, August 18, the UPP says the Browne Administration “has amassed the highest number of failed projects under any government in the history of Antigua and Barbuda – likely the poorest track record in the world.”
Amidst the current unemployment and underemployment crisis, the UPP is calling on the Government to provide updates or progress reports on these ventures – which, it says, has irresponsibly dashed many residents’ hopes and dreams of long-term prosperity.
The Party notes that these 26 major projects were announced by senior government officials during successive Budget presentations.
They include the Beaches Resort by Sandals Resorts; the Half Moon Bay Hotel; the Morris Bay/ Callaloo Cay Project; the Long Bay Hotel Resort by Ocean Jewels; the Valley Church Hotel that became the Calvin Ayre Wellness Resort; the Marriott Autograph Hotel at Yeptons; and the Beach Club at Fort James by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
Other failed ventures, the UPP points out, are the NAMCO acquisition of Jolly Beach Hotel; the Best Western Hotel at Jolly Harbour; the Marriott Courtyard Airport Hotel; the Mike Tyson Hotel; the YIDA Project; the Willoughby Bay Project; and, most recently, the Western Imperial Special Economic Zone (WISEZ).
Among the other stillborn developments are the Paradise Found and Armand Hotels on Barbuda and the US$300 million hotel and conference centre by an unnamed investor from Holland.
The full list of projects that have failed to materialize can be found on the UPP’s social media pages.
Meanwhile, Political Leader Harold Lovell says, “It is clear … that the Administration is either failing to attract the right kind of investors or failing to properly nurture investments which have the potential for success.”
Further, Lovell says, the Administration’s refusal to cooperate with the experts at the Antigua Barbuda Investment Authority has contributed to its litany of failures.
If even a quarter of these projects had found success, he says, the country would have been more resilient in its post-pandemic recovery.
Prime Minister Browne, himself, has acknowledged that the country is in an unemployment crisis.
During the 2021 Budget Presentation, Browne, the Minister of Finance, said that “figures from the Social Security Scheme indicate a decline of nearly 40 per cent in the number of contributors.”
He added that this translated to about 11,000 fewer employed persons than at the start of 2020.
“The rapidly growing list of failed projects confirms that the ALP Administration is incapable of reducing unemployment and providing adequate jobs for the thousands of school-leavers and returning graduates,” the UPP’s statement concludes.
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Gaston get the damn JOBS going!
With ABLP failing on over 26 projects, plus the other 10 Lennox Weston admitted slipped through their hands, we lost over 15 billion in investment and 7000 permanent jobs! Gaston should resign out of shame. Do the honourable thing.
Oh yes, that’s right. A man that takes $20,000 US monthly rent from a failed investor that doesn’t even pay his workers… that’s not a man that will do the honourable thing EVER
We need UPP in Government to get some of these ALP failed projects brought back to life, to provide jobs and an economic shot in the arm… using the Investment Authority or however else:
1. Sunny Hill Project (Resort in Falmouth/Bethesda area)
2. Beaches Resort by Sandals Resorts
3. Half Moon Bay Hotel
4. Morris Bay / Callaloo Cay Project
5. Hotel Resort on Pelican Island and Residences on Maiden Island
6. Labahia Hotel Resort & Condominiums (Marble Hill Business Hotel) by WIOC
7. Long Bay Hotel Resort by WIOC
8. Valley Church Hotel Resort by WIOC/PDVSA
9. Amazon Call Center at Five Islands
10. Marriott Autograph Hotel at Yeptons
11. Beach Club at Fort James by Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines
12. Renovation and Expansion of Halcyon Hotel
13. Port Oasis Project at Side Hill
14. NAMCO acquisition of Jolly Beach Hotel
15. Best Western Hotel at Jolly Harbour
16. Marriott Courtyard Airport Hotel
17. Cedar Valley Golf Course Hotel
18. Mike Tyson Hotel
19. Bau Panel/UNOPS Project
20. The Yida Project
21. Willoughby Bay Project
22. Western Imperial Special Economic Zone (WISEZ)
23. Brova Idea Pearl Hotel – Partly Underwater Hotel
24. USD $300 Million Hotel from Investors in Holland
25. Paradise Found (Barbuda)
26. Armand Hotel (Barbuda)
@ GASTON
UPP SAW THAT YIDA DID NOT HAVE MONEY TO EXECUTE THE PROJECT AND TURNED THEM AWAY, WHICH WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, AND UP TO TODAY NOTHING DONE AS THE UPP WARNED, NOW ABLP HAS CURDLED MILK IN THEIR FACES.
WHO HAS MORE COMPETENCE NOW? ALL THE ELITIST IN ABLP WITH DEGREES, OR THE UPP BAND WHO CAN READ AN INVESTOR WHO HAS NO RESOURCES.
I WOULD VOTE THE UPP ANY DAY.
Gaston, Is Mr YIDA going to contribute to your election this time around?
Good question. I’d bet the answer is no, but I would also bet mr gassy has the election money in his pocket. However, I think your comment and the fact that we lost some ridiculous acreage to this gross Chinese so called investor, and the entire deal and economic zone and all the concessions these clowns got, just so this asshat could get into power seriously sickens me, and it should sicken everyone else too. Antiguans, you have been tricked and used! Please do not let this man be our PM for another 4 yrs. Even if you don’t like Lovell, this loser just has to go. Even alp supporters don’t like Gaston. Please if you support alp but don’t like Gaston, please don’t vote for them. Everyone is suffering. I really think he has made it clear to everyone that he is a horrible human being with no regard to his country folk. GET. OUT. GASTON.
Gaston if YIDA is such a committed investor where the hell is he? Why do you continue to take Antiguans for fools with your bullshit statements. Another thing you talk about UPP candidates not having degrees, the people of Antigua is asking you to provide evidence of your degree from your 6 months banking course you attended in Manchester, England. The country must understand that you are a FRAUD.
It’s shame you have no shame? Give us a breakdown of the so-called money that YIDA spent in the country, when he getting all the concessions and paying no taxes?
Dam lier!
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