In an interview with Canada’s Globe and Mail Newspaper, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said, “We are calling on Scotiabank to stop playing games with us, if they are playing a game of chicken they are wasting their time”
This was in relation to a stance against Scotia Bank where PM Browne remains resolute at a local consortium of local banks be given first right of refusal for scotiabank’s operations in Antigua.
Browne insists that local buyers being given the first right of refusal to buy scotia bank assets is not a sign of hostility to former investors but rather a necessary step to begin to improve Antigua’s vulnerable banking sector.
He told Canada’s Global and Mail newspaper that if the standoff continues, the bank will be lucky to get one dollar for its antiguan operations.
The matter is yet to be resolved as scotiabank has said it still wants to sell to Trinidad & Tobago’s Republic Financial though Republic has said it is no longer interested in purchasing the bank’s antiguan operations.
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Thats visionary leadership. Stay resolute and laser focus. Most Caribbean leaders lacked the intestinal fortitude to stand up for the right path. Big up Wadadli….
Another missed opportunity thanks to top dog ‘s goat mouth. Baaaaaaaa.
According to Mr. Christian this morning on Observer Radio with Darren, the government cannot dictate to a private company who they sell the not their asset to.
If that were so than why would government approval would be needed. Even in the industrial countries when you have big sales and merger the government has to approve it. Remember how they broke up the big banks and the big media companies like Time Warner.
If this was so that businesses can sell to whom they want, their shares may end up in the hands of people you really do not want to be associate with your country. Next you will see they use shell companies to control your entire country. And we could end up being owned by the Russian Mafia for that matter.
These guys talk and are never challenged by their host. What Everett should tell us if what was his role in the demise of the ABIB Bank that cost us the tax payer $300 million dollars. But of course those things we must forget and do not hold anyone accountable for.
The PM is standing up for Antigua and Barbuda and these people can only think how to bring him down. Rather than to stand with him for Antigua and Barbuda. You would want to charge them with treason.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “The Joker is Wild in the Pack!”
In 1961, the very year that BNS landed on the Rock, these words below were written to help future generations of people of African descent understand what we are up against with our very own!
“The national bourgeoisie discovers its historical mission as intermediary. As we have seen, its vocation is not to transform the nation but prosaically serve as a conveyor belt for capitalism, forced to camouflage itself behind the mask of neocolonialism. The national bourgeoisie, with no misgivings and with great pride, revels in the role of agent in its dealings with the Western bourgeoisie. This lucrative role, this function as small-time racketeer, this narrow-mindedness and lack of ambition are symptomatic of the incapacity of the national bourgeoisie to fulfil its historic role as bourgeoisie. The dynamic, pioneering aspect, the inventive, discoverer-of-new-worlds aspect common to every national bourgeoisie is here lamentably absent. At the core of the national bourgeoisie of the colonial countries a hedonistic mentality prevails—because on a psychological level it identifies with the Western bourgeoisie from which it has slurped every lesson. It mimics the Western bourgeoisie in its negative and decadent aspects without having accomplished the initial phases of exploration and invention that are the assets of this Western bourgeoisie whatever the circumstances. In its early days the national bourgeoisie of the colonial countries identifies with the last stages of the Western bourgeoisie. Don’t believe it is taking short cuts. In fact it starts at the end. It is already senile, having experienced neither the exuberance nor the brazen determination of youth and adolescence.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!
Go Well!
The first question to Mr Christian is why did Joan Underwood and himself had to leave ABIB
Stand firm Mr PM this stance is in the interest of nation building.
Waiting to hear Mr Juno Samuel on the opening of the Five Islands Campus.
The Canadian economy has benefited enough from Antiguans. Then those cruel people imposed visa restrictions on us.
Canada should also pay reparation.
They left ABIB because their party won the election and it was much better for them to be inside executing the policies.
Hi Mel. You are right on this one. Sometimes you are really “off”, but not this time. Keep up the good work Mel.
Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “look to the questions of location, control of the hegemonic global economy, marginalization, and power positions as keys to understand the underdevelopment of
African people.” – Dr. Molefi Asante!
In 2017 BNS Antigua made Profits, after paying Taxes, for the year of $28,240,558 EC and in 2016 $31,360,599 EC!
Don’t Confuse Historical Referent Points:
The 1st Africans (Garifuna) reported to have sailed from Africa to the Caribbean, St Vincent in 1450 ;
Columbus 1st visit reported in 1492;
The Spanish brought enslaved Africans to Jamaica in 1513;
The Portuguese began their Atlantic Slave trade to Brazil in 1526;
Mathieu da Costa, First recorded black person in Canada and the Exploration of New France was a bridge between the Aboriginal peoples in Canada and the European explorers through his translation skills, lived for a short time in Port Royal, Nova Scotia and died in Quebec City, Quebec in 1619 at 30 yrs of age;
In August 1619, some 20 enslaved Africans began a life of Bondage in the British Colony of Virginia, USA;
British enslavement of Africans began with the Warner’s in St. Kitts in 1626;
Enslaved Africans arrived in Barbados in 1627;
The 1st recorded instance of African enslavement in Quebec City, Canada in 1628 concerns Olivier Le Jeune, a young boy from Madagascar whose African name is unknown; and,
Enslaved Africans were brought to Antigua by the Warner’s from St. Kitts in 1634!
Scotia Bank was chartered in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1832 and began Antigua operations on Corn Alley, St. John’s in 1961!
Don’t get it twisted! GoAB’s position is all about “Entrepreneurial Socialism” where government partners with the private sector for profit … government expects such assets to be rendered into shares in those enterprises that will pay dividends from profits to the people of Antigua and Barbuda.” Gaston Browne (2018:10)!
Christian is going to be on Voice of the people tomarrow. You should stop staying on the sidelines and call to challenge him, if you dont mind prople recognizing your voice. My money is on Everett
Waist of time. Christian was the GM of ABIB and he ran it into the ground and left to become the adviser to Lovell. And he ran IRD also into the ground, not to mention Social Security. Just look at his track record and don’t listen to the foolishness he is saying. He said it was foolish to abandon the PIT and that he has proven to be wrong as well. Every step in the past where he challenged this government he has proven to be wrong. Those fellows I do not need to challenge. We already have our discussions in private sessions. I’m not a stranger to him. We are Rotarian brothers from way back.
When the PM told the IMF to take a hike they also claimed he would regret it and was being obnoxious. They never came back and said they were wrong. The PM stands for something. No matter how small we are, we cannot let multi national companies come and disrespect our country. And the PM is standing up for Antigua and Barbuda. For him personally it would not matter if Trinidad Republic Bank comes in and takes over our banking system. But he thinks of our indigenous bankers. That is the reason why he saved all the depositors monies from the ABIB collaps. Had he not done this many of us would still be feeling the effect of that fallout.
The PM is a true leader, full of wisdom, and not to be taken lightly. God has been good to Antigua by raising up a natural Leader at this time. His heart is with the common people, and the interests of us all. Friend of all nations, but always Antigua FIRST.
I wish that the PM will also tell the IMF to release the article 9 report’s
Ask the PM to name the so called consortium of local bank’s if they do exist.
….and we the many depositors are silent because at the end of the day whether it is republic or a consortium it is us who will ultimately decide who holds our funds.
Wow! The red koolaid minions are out in there number trying to use their Monica Lewinsky knee pads, so the top dawg can get an orgasm. Looking out for Antiguans and Barbudans my a** this dictator wants to feel important like a child who never had a father. I wonder when his childish temper tantrum will stop.
Your jealousy and bitterness fore the PM has reached epidemic proportion. You can no longer be objective as the PM is always right on tract. If thats the best you can come up with then i’m convinced that the PM is on the right track. Get some help Knight.
so question, if Gaston does this to Canada, what if Canada retaliate and decide not to do anything with Antigua?
the Visa program will be pulled, if yu do get a visa Canada can make it hard for you there. Royal bank of Canada will be closed, alot of people will be affected.
Who wants to go to Canada? Why not try some European travel. Canada is so overrated.
Baico/Clico debacle should have placed TNT institutions in a bad light throughout the OECS. i was thrilled to hear local banks interest in purchasing BNS. The one voice am hearing on this matter not comforting it brings to mind Share Inc and land swap between National Housing and Baby mother which ended badly for the people of Antigua and Barbuda. If the local consortium comprises of CUB and Global Bank will the vast banking relationships enjoyed by Scotia remain with with the new entity? Odebretch funds to the ambassador was lodge at Global. A politician claimed he received a loan to purchase a super yacht from that said institution even though at the time it was illegal to do so. Shortly after parliament passed a law allowing offshore banks to give loans locally.
If a politician can produce a check from first caribbean issued to lovell why would anyone want to bank with a bank he is closely tied.
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