HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday 24 July 2024

The meeting commenced with prayers from a Minister of religion. He prayed for the continuous success of the administration. He expressed condolences to the Prime Minister on the death of his mother. 

The Attorney General expressed the condolences of the Cabinet members and of the people of Antigua and Barbuda to the Prime Minister on the loss of his mother. The Prime Minister thanked all those who expressed their sympathies. He spoke of the important role that his mother played in his upbringing, despite being mentally unwell. Primary among the lessons taught were the importance of attending school and learning; the value of attending church and accepting the moral teachings of Christianity; and, the need to be honest in his dealings at all time. The Cabinet applauded the Prime Minister for his courage and the stoicism which he has displayed.

The Prime Minister confirmed that the superyacht Alfa Nero, owned by the Government following an Act of Parliament, was sold for US$40 million. He also informed that the proceeds have been deposited in a Bank. A lawsuit has been filed since by the former owner(s), seeking to claim the proceeds. That frivolous lawsuit, the Cabinet agreed, will not prevent the government from making good on the obligations incurred while the vessel was under its ownership; and, will not deter the administration from investing the overage in the construction of a hotel. The Cabinet agreed that an investment in a tangible asset will serve as reminder of the immense difficulties which this lawful seizure and sale caused the Antigua and Barbuda people and government.

The Prime Minister also reported that the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) has done significantly well in the last six months of this year. The proceeds have been put towards diverse purposes including meeting certain debt obligations. The proceeds that flowed into the National Development Fund (NDF) will also go towards building-up the infrastructure throughout the country, to pay some Carnival prize moneys, to repay National Housing, and to provide the Ministry of Works with funding to repair roads.

The Cabinet was advised that training of Firemen in Barbuda is continuing and their readiness to operate the equipment at the new Barbuda International Airport is the sole cause of the delay at this time. Opening of the Barbuda International Airport will take place within the next 15 days, at most. The opening ceremony will see a number of aircraft and passengers flying into Barbuda, and a significant portion of the Barbuda population—including the members of the Barbuda Council—will be invited.

The Cabinet determined that the Ecclesiastical Commission will be re-organized to ensure that it serves the purposes for which it was established, in the first place. The Dis-establishment Laws of more than a century ago caused the separation between Church and State; the Commission is intended to ensure that while both institutions remain separate, a bridge is built that can sustain both in achieving their broad objectives. 

The Cabinet approved the installation of Biometric clocks at various Ministries, especially those where overtime is paid to employees. The manual system of calculating overtime and hours spent beyond the 8-hour day has proven to be inefficient. The Biometric clocks will not only calculate the number of hours spent on the job daily but will, at the end of a pay period, determine how many hours and at what rate the employee is to be paid overtime. The state-of-the-art clock and computer system is virtually error proof and very accurate; the cost of acquisition and installation is also quite reasonable. The use of Biometric clocks in many countries is spreading.

The Cabinet approved the purchase of a list of equipment and furnishings for the Boys’ Training School, valued at almost $35,000. While the building has been repaired and its fence erected, its readiness to receive the boys is not yet acceptable, the Minister of Health informed, following a visit there.

The Cabinet approved a list of 55 students who are already on scholarship programmes and will continue to receive grants as high as $27,000 to attend universities in the Caribbean, North America, Asia, and Europe for the 2024/2025 academic year. Those who are continuing their education have secured funding exceeding $750,000. The commitment to providing resources to the scholars is in keeping with the Gaston Browne Administration’s pledge to create opportunities for leadership in Antigua and Barbuda.

The Minister responsible for Carnival indicated that a cultural group of 67 persons from Guadeloupe is coming to Antigua to join the cultural celebrations. This visiting group has been a part of the Antigua and Barbuda Carnival festivities for many years, sharing the culture of this French-speaking neighbour with the Antigua and Barbuda people. They are a welcome addition to the festivities, especially on Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

The Cabinet is taking a Carnival break and will reconvene next in the third week of August, very likely on the 21st August 2024.