A strategy to create jobs and rebuild the economy through investment and economic diversification, was the highest priority issue on the agenda at the United Progressive Party (UPP) Public Forum on Monday night.
Antiguan and Barbudan nationals in New York and surrounding areas, got a chance to engage with the members of the UPP team on the final leg of the Diaspora Roadshow throughout the US.
The theme of the initiative was “Partnership for Investment and Nation Building” as the UPP aims to create important linkages to advance its development goals for Antigua and Barbuda. UPP Political Leader Harold Lovell, was joined on the panel by Deputy Political Leader Jamale Pringle, Candidate for St. Mary’s North, Johnathan Joseph and Candidate for St. Phillip South, Sherfield Bowen.
In a frank discussion with scores of Antiguans and Barbudans, the panelists indicated that a number of investment opportunities would be crafted specifically for the Diaspora. Opposition Leader, Hon. Jamale Pringle, reiterated the importance of the Diaspora as a stakeholder group in supporting the development of the country.
“Apart from their traditional roles as boosters of our economy, our nationals in the Diaspora contribute significantly to achieving our national aspirations, beyond their financial contributions. We want to support your interests and rights and to strengthen your ties to the land of your birth or ancestry,” Pringle said.
Lovell announced that a UPP administration would establish a Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and that the Consulate Office would be reinstalled to serve the needs of nationals in the North East region.
He also supported the rights of Diasporans to participate in the electoral process and made a commitment to help streamline the voter registration process.
“We will put the structures in place to facilitate the Diaspora in coming back home to vote and we will simplify the process so that they can take advantage of opportunities for investment or homeownership as well,” said Lovell. “When we are masters of our own destiny we strive to become ambassadors of our country, because we recognize that we are no longer doing it for other people but for ourselves.”
The panel responded to questions from the audience on a range of topics including the status of agricultural lands, the public accounts committee, the state of healthcare and education systems, child protection and social programmes. There was concern about infrastructural development in areas such as water, roads and affordable housing.
The Political Leader also highlighted some of the UPP’s major accomplishments while in office. He took the opportunity to refute false claims made by the ABLP two weeks ago at a New York town hall meeting, that the UPP had not secured any hotel investments during its tenure.
“In politics a certain amount of exaggeration might be expected, but it is mind blowing that the Gaston Browne administration would tell such outrageous lies when the evidence is there for all to see,” Lovell said. Sandals Mediterranean Village, Hermitage Bay, Verandah, Sugar Ridge, Nonsuch Bay and 41 locally owned small properties were cited as properties constructed under the UPP administration.
The Political leader pointed out that while the UPP was proud of its record in tourism, there would be a shift to diversifying the economy by creating linkages between other sectors such as agriculture, culture, technology and education. He encouraged nationals from all disciplines, particularly those with expertise in the aforementioned areas to assist in nation building, by transferring the knowledge and skills that they have acquired.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
LOVELL IS A SPENT FORCE 🎯
… and here again folks is the calibre of the generational ABLP supporters vocabulary that I’ve witnessed time and time again on these ANR threads. Wow!
Gaston Browne well and know that he can rely heavily on their votes at the next General Election.
It’s akin to someone running a business with a GOOD CUSTOMER BASE, with returning clientele that many companies rely upon.
GREAT FOR BUSINESS, BUT NOT IN GOVERNANCE.
The only way now for the UPP to win is for ALL OF US to partake and vote in the election.
No ifs, no buts, and no maybes …
@ hmmmm and Sherfield
You are fighting a losing battle! Give it up! Your approach is childish. Do you really think that by writing lines that you are diminishing the experience of last night’s meeting?
Who are you trying to convince! Do you think the appreciative crowd are going to dim their impression of Mr Lovell and the REDEEM TEAM because you use the campaign tactic of 2 cycles ago.
There, there, we all know that you are embarrassed because , as one lady in the meeting said last night: the ABLP meeting was a mess! It was really a mess!
So go and drink some water( if any is running through the pipes) and catch yourself!
ou did not do it for 100 times…..start over and get it right
Wonderful to see the diaspora attending in good numbers and responding to the UPP delegation.
Seems like discussions are going well without any haranguing and disrespectful remarks from the UPP.
Unlike you know who … 🥸
What a fantastic meeting in the Bronx by the UPP. The meeting was chock full of information of the UPP plans for the Diaspora and the questions were answered by all members of the panel.
As expected, it was such a contrast to the ABLP meeting ( that was full of rudeness and insults) since it was respectful, organised and dignified.
Mr Lovell is a true gentleman and statesman.
Thank you Mr Lovell and the Redeem Team for visiting us in the Diaspora.
Why was Baldwin “ASHE LIED” Spencer nowhere to be found? He fraid to go ‘meriKKKa?
(Former Antigua –Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer Linked To UN Bribery Scandal involving Ex Amabassador John Ashe)
Baldwin “ASHE LIED” Spencer still has not endorsed the whimp who called him a “Tissue Paper PM”.
@ You are fighting a losing battle! Give it up
This son of Mami_Wata and Papa Elegba CHRISTened #Jumbee_Picknee at life’s #crossROAD of SWASTIKA & SQUARE says…
The UPP must take this criticism, constructively, as in building(relationships or projects).
Please don’t just engage the Citizens in the diaspora during #Silly_Season aka Elections.
Engage the diaspora three hundred and sixty-five, plus one when Gregorian time dictates it) DAYS. We are not in a daze like a percentage of the voters living on Antigua, Barbuda and REDONDA. The reason for this way of thinking, business is 24 SEVEN time 365, whether you’re in opposition or the Ruling Arm of the Government system.
We will be more apt, to be supportive to you and your ideas for development and maintaining the Hation’ economy, in a positive vein.
Me dey Yah…
Jumbee_Picknee
I thoroughly enjoyed the forum. We got a chance to hear from some of the newer candidates and they are breath of fresh air with great ideas to develop the country. UPP is on the move and giving us hope. Labour had their chance and squandered it. Now they rushing to try to fix everything. If you pay an employee to do a job and they only work when it’s close to pay day, would you keep them on staff? ABLP is out of here.
@Party Police 678…
Once, the UPP #bring_it(street lingo) 365 Twenty 4 Seven. again, whether in Opposition or Ruling Arm, they’re still in Government.
Don’t treat the electorate like an obese Opera Winfrey, whose always starting and stopping these grandiose diets which only, SCAM People out of money, and does very little for the overall health or well being of the individual.
This means…
#Sustainability
#Matters.
The ABLP is the government. What have they done for the people in the diaspora? One yearly Town hall meeting? It’s interesting that the Opposition gets criticized while you let the government off the hook. They should have been doing it 365 x 8 years.
@Party Police 678…the Government of Antigua, Barbuda & REDONDA is the duly elected Members of Parliament. It is both the Ruling Arm(Party or Coalition which has the majority in the Lower House.
While at times, there is the possibility, of no Opposition, if the Ruling Arm controls all the seventeen seats, then there is no formal opposition for that term of the government.
This is a fundamental problem with the UPP. Being in OPPOSITION, does not mean, that you’re not a part of the Government. This is one reason why, they’ll run #Helter_Skelter during the Silly “Willy_Lynch” Season!
We have an percentage of educated electorates, who’re in tuned with the dynamics of how governments must operate, to serve #ALL THE PEOPLE! They’re mostly INDEPENDENT and their numbers are exponentiating fast.
If, the UPP miss the target of getting this group of the citizenry on board with them. This present coalition will come apart, at the seams.
Joanne Massiah’s split from and with the present UPP leaders in particular Harold Lovell is a prime example.
To be Aware, to to #BEWARE!
Jumbee_Picknee
What a shame. Is this UPP investment group in New York ? Give me an ASPIRIN.This is the WORST UPP Roadshow. Jamale Pringle was sleeping. Very boring performance. 30 years for ABLP. We cannot allow UPP CRIMINAL ELEMENTS to govern this country.
ABLP 17. SEATS
UPP. 00 SEAT
@ JIM B
USEFUL AND DUNCE ELEMENT.
I AM CONVINCED YOU ARE ILLETERATE.
IF GASTON HAVE THE DEFRAUDED GUYANESE TEACHER WITHOUT A QUALIFICATION ON HIS CAMPAIGN TEAM THEN ABLP IS REALLY FREE OF CRIMINAL ELEMENTS LIKE YOURSELF,
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
LMAO. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😅🤣😅😅🤣🤣😅🤣🤣🤣
Your struggling again @ JIM B, and you continue to sound belligerent and contentious to those who have a differing viewpoint … how sad!
Learn to accept that everyone isn’t an generational ABLP supporter like yourself.
I BET YOU WAS A BULLY AT SCHOOL … 😖
@ BRIXTONIAN back against the wall.
He cannot defend this POOR UPP performance.
@ JIM B
What is your definition of a successful Road show!
ABLP UPP
rudeness polite behaviour
disorganisation very well organised
disrespect respect for all
no investors 40 investors
… if you say so JIM B, I can tell you are new to this ANR thread.
You are the only commentator that doesn’t know that I supported Gaston Browne and the ABLP back in 2014, until I realised that he promises MUCH but delivers LITTLE.
Over to you JIM in 3, 2 …1 boom 💥
LMOA
I’ve been waiting for a picture like this. They were very hesitant to show the miserable attention they had. But a picture speaks a thousand words. And you can see the crowd is a miserably small crowd of old people they pulled away from who knows where.
Now compare that to the crowd that attended the ABLP meeting.
UPP DONE.
You know what comes to mind @ From The Sideline with your description of the diaspora? … “scraping” and “barrel”.
The diaspora are wanting to know what they can do to help and boost the country.
What are you doing for Antigua?
@ From the Sideline
Every seat in the place was taken, Mr From the Sideline. What crowd did the ABLP have. The ABLP attendance was small, in fact shamefully small.
Answer one question if you dare! Why is Gaston afraid to call the election!
ABLP – DONE
GET RID A DEM
All I see here are retirees. Guess they are eager to know what social services are available if they return home.
De GUNMAN, CA-CAPA-TI-TAH and King Lyadd Lovell Limpy Joe promised these elderly people the moon and stars 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Shame on Lovell for bringing these retirees out of their home that cold fall evening. Talking bout people eager to invest. Half the retirees sleeping in the picture. You meant eager to invest in them bed.
Comments are closed.