Dear Editor
First, let me extend my sincere condolences to the families & love ones of those individuals who unfortunately & sadly lost their lives while from their OWN CHOICE, were trying to seek a place of comfort to experience the American dream.
Interestingly, for the past day or two, I have been reading several comments on the news portals and it seems to me that persons are indicting the PM as to the cause of the African tragedy that took place at sea. Others are also saying that the contingent of Africans who travel to Antigua on the Antigua Airways need to be repatriated back to their homeland.
To this point, I am trying to understand the logics of such argument….. (1) why is the PM been accused as the catalyst of the tragedy (2) why should the Africans be repatriated back to their homeland when it is a proven fact that these very same people are fleeing from their native land not primarily for economic reasons but soley from becoming a victim of a civil war.
I will agree, that as the Africans are fleeing their homeland, their intentions are to reach the US main land as their final destination where they all percieved the US to be a place of milk & honey.
Ofcourse, it is very clear that something has gone wrong during their expedition and hence, many of the Africans ended up here in Antigua as an unintended destination rather than using here as a transit point to get to where they were expecting to go.
Be that as it is, the fact of the matter is, SOULS FROM AFRICA ARE ON ISLAND SEEKING REFUGE FROM A CIVIL WAR. Should we really turn our backs on them?
Now, if we are a caring and accommodating people and cognizant of being our brother’s keeper, similar to what our PM & his administration are doing, then many of those Africans who lost their souls out at sea, perhaps would not end up in such a tragedy if we were more amicable extending an olive branch ……
It is extremely despicable & very insensitive when persons like those on the blue side of our political divide use such a tragic event as a political tool.
During the mid 70’s, I am sure that many of us can recall that several of our Antiguan relatives left here in droves to smuggle into the US VI.
They were not running from a war. They all grasped at an opportunity that presented itself so they left here risking their lives to find greener economic pastures unlike the Africans who are seeking refuge.
At the time, our relatives by CHOICE, risked their lives hiding (stowing away ) in hot containers with limited ventilation & spent several days on the sea with very little to eat & limited water to drink.
Thank God most survived the treacherous trip and now they are all enjoying the same land of milk & honey where the Africans are trying to get to.
Similarly, the Africans who ended up in that tragedy decided to take a risk from their OWN CHOICE, with that hope of landing on the same American soil but unfortunately was unsuccessful.
Gaston Browne, may not be liked but as the PM, we need to acknowledge that he has a responsibility to respond positively to persons who are seeking refuge.
It is obvious that he & his administration is STRETCHING A HELPING HAND to these Africans primarily because their lives are in danger.
As Antiguans, we need to put aside our political differences and come together in solidarity to help a falling brother especially during crucial times.
The need to exercise wisdom & compassion should dictate our actions & desist in using tragic situations, when persons are at their lowest, as a platform to seek political mileage. It will certainly get us nowhere.
Alex
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Writer I could not have said it better myself.. well said
To tenman: this writer is a joker and since you totally sgree, it makes you the equivalent. Firstly, there was mot sttempt by the PM to help anyone in distress. We were told of wealthy Africans so to now try and put some kind of virtue to it is ludricrous at best. It was, as typical for the PM, a “get quick money” scheme or worse. Secondly, the idea that we were offering some haven to people seeking refuge, have been proven to be false as they are all seeking to leave our peaceful shores. Thirdly, and perhaps firstly, this all started with the PM with advise from the oppisition and others that this will have no good end. Yet, he preferred to listen to people like you and the writer and persisted. So, my take on it is that he now has blood on his hands and he should be made to resign because of this sordid mess.
@Zackie- It was GB during the election who stated that Africans were here to steal Antiguan’s jobs? No that was Harold Lovell. It was GB who claimed the Africans were here to illegally vote in the upcoming elections? No that was the UPP. It was GB or ABLP who would send out images and makes negative claims re the African hygeine? No that was UPP supporters. Your people created the negative environment that caused those persons to risk their lives. Look in the mirror, and you will see who truly has blood on their hands. GB, and ABLP conscience is clear
If they weren’t brought here on the Sham Antigua Airways which was beneficial to ALP in some shape or form, we would not be having this issue. GB and ALP needs to accept their responsibility and stop trying to cast blame on those who had nothing to do with Africans being in Antigua. No amount of revisionism of the facts can change the truth.
Until those whose decisions and actions that caused Africans to become stranded in Antigua fess up and stop muddying the water in an attempt to cover their tracks the other side has no reason to extend any olive branch.
Big men take responsibility!
@tenman. So with all the assurances and re-assurances from GB, as you call him, the Governor General, the sitting govt, you and others, they still felt unwelcome here to the point of risking their lives?? Please, I have had enough jokes listening to Melford and the other persons ay the press conference today.
Tell me this though, will all of you who felt so sorry for them because they were running for their lives in Cameroon, now apologize to us “jokers” now its clear they just wanted to get to the US and duped you once again??
Tenman now I can say you are truly an idiot with your statement.
Tenman, you like writing tupidness. If you were honest you would say that those Africans never intended to stay in Antigua. Their intentions was to reach the USA. What happened to the other 400? How did they leave Antigua? Antiguans don’t even know if they are from the Cameroon. A UPP make Africans go on overcrowded boats and drown in the Mediterranean trying to get to Europe?
Are you a play nice for Potential votes in the future.
The PM himself stated they were “Opportunistic Migrants,” not refugees fleeing from death. Stop trying to include the entire Islanders to support anything having to do with this farce that only benefitted the folks that created it.
Y’all have some nerve after blaming the UPP for why those folks took the risk and left the island. Apologise to the UPP first if you want their support.
@ Despicable.. provide a quote and stop misrepresenting what was said. Here’s an example:
“But Sir Rodney told legislators on Monday that the West Africans will be treated with respect.
“My government has a history of demonstrating its care for and concern over the more vulnerable defenceless and persecuted. My government is committed to protecting all residents from exploitation and harsh treatment and would never have our West African brothers and sisters dwell illegally in the shadows”.
He said the government would also not allow “our kith and kin to be subjected to exploitation and harsh treatment by those who may seek to create victims.
“My government has extended amnesty four times over the past eight years from immigrants who fail to maintain lawful status and no foreign national, except for criminals should fear deportation,” Sir Rodney added. (see Antigua monitoring deportation issue involving West Africans in T&T
CMC February 21, 2023 04:15 PM ET)
@Tenman, don’t get your panty in a bunch, dude!
My comment was a retort to the letter that Alex wrote. Go take your frustrations out on your dog if you have one – It wasn’t ME that brought refugees to Antigua claiming they were wealthy Nigerians that turned out to be “opportunistic migrants,” – who set sail on a fishing boat with the intent of illegally smuggling into the USVI losing their lives in the attempt. It was you and yours with y’all’s insatiable greed and colossal egos. Go and face your demons and stop trying to bully people on social media.
amen
This writer wants some to put aside their political differences while blaming the other side for the risk those Africans took. Make up your mind writer, at one point “they took a risk from THEIR OWN CHOICE” trying to reach the land of milk and honey and at another point “if we were more amicable and extended an olive branch similar to what the PM and his administration are doing perhaps the Africans would not have taken that risk.” Your hypocrisy is showing — you’re trying so hard to absolve the architect of this debacle, that you’re blaming others indirectly. The now “defunct” airline is the genesis of the tragedy that has unfolded. Until y’all start accepting the responsibility for the part y’all played that led up to what has transpired, don’t ask others to put aside any ddifferences. There are supporters of the ALP that does not agree with their leaders shirking their responsibility on this matter.
Do the Right Thing.. “‘You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts”. Hi Fly ( a Portuguese charter airline headquartered in Lisbon) which brought most of the refugees, in late December, is not defunct.
@,Tenman, well it came out of the horses mouth in and interview that the Antigua Airways is now “Defunct.” So take that up with him, if you’re not him being ten men.
@ Do the Right Thing
You hit the nail on the head with the sheer hypocrisy of ‘Alex’ , showing us he is the one with the political agenda
Alex, the majority of Antiguans are sensible so please don’t insult our intelligence by your chatter. Don’t make it political, but you are mentioning the ‘blue’ side. Were these African wealthy investors, or are they fleeing civil war, or are they tourists? Which one is it? A liar must have a good memory. So, are you implying that all the people against the African debacle are ‘blue’ people? You know how many ‘blue’ people I know, who affered help to those Africans? It’s a pity god is not like man, to deal with some of you who speak with forked tongues. And we call ourselves a Christian society. And now you want to hold on to them being our brothers and sisters, just to NOT put blame on the instigators of this whole saga – all those at the airport welcoming the inaugural flight. Waaan big laaang dutty suck teeth.
Antiguans are not caring and loving people it’s a shame I really wonder if they love themselves much less.. lawless bad mind set of people never have nothing good to say but bash people…
amen
Who is looking for Political Mileage? This is Criminal Activity! You need to get a grip of the situation and go back to the beginning of who, why and how these individual were put on a “CHARTERED” Airline branded as “Antigua Airways” from 11/01/2022 that landed at VCBIA with great fanfare. The first scheduled airline flight from AFRICA to the CARIBBEAN. As I forecasted would happen to prove that the spoken word was truthful.
Now, the operation has been declared “DEFUNCT.” It was “DEFUNCT” from the beginning. An interesting choice of word to use about Antigua Airways. THE PRIDE OF THE CARIBBEAN. DUMB!!! Just DUMB!!!
I have seen an heard a lot of things over the years from several governments that have been elected to do the peoples work for the betterment of Antigua and Barbuda. All a DEM have put this country in some scandalous activity. Gun Runing, Vere “Runway” Bird, Robert Vesco, Swiss America Bank insolvency, ABIB COLLAPSE, Antigua Airways and now “DEAD” MIGRANTS looking for “MILK and HONEY.”
What is going to be the next?
@Freetownson – No Boss get your facts straight. The Cameroon refugees came mostly (24 December) via Hi Fly airlines not Antigua Airlines. Only a few came via AA
@tenman: Stop drinking the RED kool aid. Cleanse yourself with a big blue wave down at Fry’s come this Labor Day. Nonsense you talking. Whether a few or a lot on 11/01/2022 bears no merit to the facts of the characterization of the AFRICANAS who were transported via “DEFUNCT” Antigua Airways.
Another lame attempt at justifying a colossal mistake. How is this not political? The entire barrage of lies from the start was perpetrated by the Gaston Browne led administration, bragging along the way about wealthy tourist, and all the other lies. Here they are, now trying to back peddle and retrack, with Gaston Browne now calling the Africans names, as is is customary mo.
You Laabourites! You can never offer any opinion without blaming UPP. Get it straight. UPP had absolutely nothing to do with this and you all need to stop. You are never going to wiggle out of this one. The ripples have gone global, and we will now have to deal with the consequences of the inept, incompetent government in collusion with ALL the governmental agencies who breached all kinds of security and immigration laws to facilitate this injustice.
@Alex Please wheel and come again. These Africans arrived in Antigua on a plane bearing the name Antigua by a company that is partially owned by Antigua. They were conned and Gaston Browne is an accessory. Gaston told the nation that these were wealthy tourists arriving on “our airline.” How can he now try to disassociate his government from a company in which his government has shares? What was stamped in these passengers’ passports upon arrival?
The images that we saw at VCBIA on Nov 1 of these passengers, revealed that Gaston was lying. It was clear that these passengers had no money. Chet Greene called it low end tourism. It was at that point that Gaston should have acknowledged that this was a con. But no, 3 more planes were allowed to land. So this was no mistake. This is organized crime.
The Antigua Airways deal is being swept under the rug and is now being treated as a defunct company. What does that mean exactly?
I agree that these Africans are victims. As shareholders in a company that took these people’s money, the govt of Antigua and Barbuda is an accessory to this crime. Marvelous Mike even conned his other Nigerian partners, but Gaston will not touch Marvelous Mike.
Gaston is known for his “ground fakings.” Now he has moved on to “air fakings.” But this time he has bitten off far more than he can ever chew!
well said!!!
@Gaston the Crook what school did you learn logic? Ask them back for your money. According to you if I am a shareholder in Microsoft (or any company), if MS commits a crime, I am responsible. No guy the directors and management would be responsible not the shareholders(unless they are shareholders or directors), Find a better school
Thumbs up to the author of this article/letter. It’s embarrassing that the opposition is using a sensitive situation like this for their political gain. This is nothing more than DUNCENESS!!
It is sad that the ALP done have enough integrity to accept its responsibly for its own mess. Doubling down and continuing to deflect and cast blame on those who had absolutely nothing to do with the Sham ANU Airways they used to bamboozled their sheep followers into believing was a legitimate airline. No amount of spinning of y’all Shit is going to stick on UPP — The stench is all over the ALP.
*don’t* have
Jamaican ave de nerve fe ah carl ppl lawless; that’s rich. Move yu RH — aru want fe com ya an bully Antiguans. Go back to yu jungle inna Jamaica.
To answer your CONTENTIOUS question Alex, regarding as you so OPPUGNANTLY put it:
“Why is the PM been accused as the catalyst of the tragedy …”
For the simple reason Alex, it’s because Gaston Browne and the ABLP were the main catalysts behind the Africans original arrival in Antigua; and furthermore Alex, if the government didn’t know about the airport arrivals of these flights, then it is even more reason for Gaston Browne to resign.
Simple really!
Stop taking the critical thinking autochthonous Antiguans for fools … good try at trying to hoodwink the illiterate though – it probably worked l!👍
Plain and simple, the #SCAMPS, in Our #SCAMPISH government, under the control of the Gaston Browne led ABLP Government, got #SCAMMED and as this saga unfolds with disastrous consequences theon #ALL #FRONTS, we should take or imagine shit is gold.
Please, this shit is stinking up even the ocean!
This a just an ABLP propaganda piece doing #Damage_Control. The #DAMAGE is done and much more fallouts are yet to come, so you’ll have much more shit, to try and spin into gold.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De ‘ole Dutty Peg_Foot Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Once again, I’ll publish a quote for a Chinese General that speaks to the UPP and it’s strategy of trying to gain power,
“Chinese philosopher Sun Tzu said, “An evil man will burn his own nation to the ground to rule over the ashes.”
This is the UPP. At every level and every occasion, they try to burn down Antigua and Barbuda to the ground. And for what? Just to rule over the ashes. The PM made it clear. He would rather be an ordinary citizen in a prosperous state, than to be the Prime Minister of a failed state.
Not them.
Again, nah worry yourself @ From The Sideline, the unintelligible and the ABLP acolytes are right behind you boss … 👍
KEEP GOING YOU’RE DOING A MARVELLOUS JOB!
@From the Sideline Gaston is already Prime Minister of a failed state. He has the blood of these victims on his hands. It is interesting how the discussions about this fiasco always begin downstream — after the arrival of nearly 1000 Africans. We need to go back to the source of the river and assess how this all started. What Gaston Browne said…. This junket was a govt collaboration and was presented and promoted as such. The Africans were lied to and the people of Antigua and Barbuda were also lied to.
Gaston may not have pulled the proverbial trigger, but he certainly drove the getaway car. Simply put he is an accessory!
@From The Sideline…
My quote is from Peter Tosh…
“Sarry fe Margah Dawg, Margah Dawg tun rung bite!
U jump outta frying pan,
U jump inns fire!”
Now, tell me dis! Seen|
A who say,
“Fire! Fire! In nah dem
Fire! Fire! In nah dem
Or is it…
“Fire dey Muss_Puss Tail
S’him tink a cool breeze!
Fire🔥dey a Muss_Muss Tail
Him, think a cool breeze!
A🍍🍍🍍🌴🥥🥥Smoodee is in order!
#Spliff_Time⛱⛱🏖!
Roll the cameras 🎥🎥🎥…
Take 1..:
The Drowning…the hand of #Mami_Wata reached out, to Fade, saying “your ancestors have being burried in these waters for centuries! Have no fear!
The Nike symbol flashed in Fade’ Mind, but he knew he was in Spirit, he had died! And, as he took his last breathe, he asked #Mami_Wata and #Papa_Elegba to grant him the Tabor, of, sending his sever year old son a pair of MJ – Air Force!
Come my son, Mami_Wata said, the #SCAMPS will forever be haunted and hounded by this Day!”
…..Now, kum een Monarch
And, talk de talk!
Uneasy lies the head, that wears the crown!
Brother Bob, what say you
…So, please tell us Mr. Browne
…Please! Please Mr. Browne
…the word is going around town
…that, there are #crows 🦅🦅🦅
…being chauffeured around
…asking for, Mr. Browne!
@From The Sideline, just like you didn’t VIBE on what this Saga has morphed into, so to is what was just presented to you!
..STAY TUNED!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De ‘ole Dutty Peg_Foot Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
There was no UPP members were in attendance when Antigua Airways was christened it water canons. UPP member lon opposed the venture long before it go to the stage it is.
The country were told tissues of lies by ALP about the Africans. The Africans arrived in the dead of night outside normal hours but was greeted by ALP members.
Those Africans who left Antigua at the dead of the night, it was their choice and wholly their own decision to leave on a cramped boat demonstrating no consideration for their safety.
They entered Antigua in the dead of the night and some left in the dead of the night!
UPP/ Antiguans owes them nothing they should have looked before they leap. UPP did not recruited them from Africa.
Antigua’s streets are not paved with gold! When Antigusns travelled outside of our mother’s land we do so by standing on our own feet and not expecting handouts. The Africans should learn to do the same.
Moreover, there is no substantial evidence that they were fleeing persecution, they are all opportunists .
I suggest u wheel.and come.again whith that S#/t . Now that the dodo has hit the fan n is hitting them in the face …people like u will come out and defend them…..GB made deals based on on speedy profit …GB brought refugees under the guise as whealty tourist…GB and ANTIGUAA AND Barbuda chamber of COMMERCE OF Africa promised a better life and easy transit yo America N American territories via Antigua in an Ad placed on the internet for all to see…so a GB do um …
A …GB and dem.get Ritch scheme labourites do um…. what UPP n blue have to do with that…just teck the dodo in ya face n shut up
FITZROY,ALEX,GASTON BROWNE, ARE ALL ONE AND THE SAME. We the people were lied to by the leader of the Nation,about those Africans being Investors and Tourists.
… and more than likely, also @ From The Sideline. He’s giving off the same sort of vibes as those you have mentioned WHARF RAT.
The comments are so funny.
To the OP, thank you for the history lesson. Your article was caring and informative (at least to me) about this tragedy.
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