Caribbean Times 100th Issue - Friday 17th February 2017

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6 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g Friday 17th February 2017 President of the Senate calls for legislatures to step up their game By Joanna Paris President of the Senate, Alincia Williams-Grant is urging Parliamentarians to take their responsibility seriously to set true examples for the youth of Antigua and Barbuda. Senator Williams-Grant, By Joanna Paris Leader of Government Business in the Senate and Minister of State with responsibility for Finance and Corporate Governance, Lennox Weston has announced a unique initiative for Antiguans and Barbudans to invest in the development of twin island state. While making his opening remarks during the 2017 Budget Debate in the Upper House earlier this week, Senator Weston said the initiative is geared towards “giving Antiguans and Barbudans the chance to enjoy the commanding heights of the country”. He said that packages will be divided into six bonds with individual or groups having $5 million US dollar bonds which can be invested over a 10-year period. A call for Antiguans and Barbudans to invest “The bonds can be used for the roads, for the cark park or they can ask for them to be invested in eh hotel projects like the one at Valley Church, there is Halcyon and Royal Antigua as well”, he explained. “In other words, we are developing investment vehicles small enough for a group of Antiguans to come together or individually whether it is at 1 percent or one and a half percent for your fixed deposit, invest in Antigua”, he emphasized. He added that the government will be providing the opportunity for persons to invest with a 5-6% return. Senator Weston told the House that more details on this initiative will be announced shortly following a Cabinet meeting to further discuss the matter. who recently spearheaded the launch of the President’s 10 Mentorship Programme, geared at equipping and empowering young female to pursue an active career in politics, pointed out that the recruitment process has been challenging because of the perception that young people have about politicians and politics. “We need to change their perception so that we can pursue the democracy that we cherish from day to day”, she stated. She also endorsed educational programs which will inform the young citizens about the importance of the Parliament and the role that Parliamentarians play in the country’s decision making process. “This will assist the young people in fully understanding what Parliament is really all about”, she said. As part of the Presidents 10 Mentorship Programme, 10 young ladies will be chosen from secondary school across the island. They will be engaged in a 11-month training programme where they will participate in a number of self-improvement activities while becoming familiar with parliamentary procedures.
Friday 17th February 2017 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g 7 Call for more support for LIAT Prime Minister, Hon. Gaston Browne, has called on his Caribbean Community (CARICOM) colleagues to ‘step up to the plate’ and to contribute towards the continued operations of LIAT. Speaking at the CAR- ICOM 28th Intercessional Meeting in Guyana on Thursday, PM Browne noted that the Antigua-based regional airline was a ‘very important institution’ that is critical to the integration movement. He said LIAT must be operated on the basis of ‘shared benefits and shared burden’ as he urged his colleagues to contribute to the upkeep of the airline. “Some countries continue to make excuses as to why they should not share in the burden of LIAT. Any number of us can find excuses as to why we do not wish to support LIAT. However, we have to consider that LIAT is a very important institution to the integration movement,” he emphasized. Noting that the airline is reported to have moved one million passengers last year, the prime minister said LIAT is in his view ‘the most important’ institution in the OECS as moving people is a critical activity. He therefore called on his colleague heads of government to become active participants by contributing financially to ensure the viability and to maintain the stability of the airline. Support local farmers The Ministry of Agriculture Lands Fisheries and Barbuda Affairs would like to take this opportunity to inform importers of vegetables as well as the general public that there is currently a surplus of cassava in the country at this time. This supply is projected to last until the end of April. Sweet Potatoes are currently at levels which can supply the weekly needs and this supply is expected to last until June of this year. Pumpkins are available in sufficient quantiles to meet current demand. As assessment is currently being done to determine how long this supply will last. There is currently a good supply of tomatoes on the local market and quantities are expected to increases significantly over the next four weeks. The ministry is therefore encouraging suppliers and consumers to support the local farmers.
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Caribbean Times 100th Issue - Friday 17th February 2017

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