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Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 5, 2022 (Office of the Prime Minister) – The Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Dr. Terrance  Drew and the Premier of Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley met with the Ambassador for the Republic of  China (Taiwan) to the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency Michael Chau-Hong Lin by virtue of the close relationship and mutual collaboration with the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis.  

His Excellency Ambassador Michael Chau-Hong Lin provided a grant to the government for the  Pinney’s Beach Nevis Sustainable Tourism Enhancement Project.  

The Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew received the grant with great satisfaction and reiterated his commitment to deeper partnerships with the Premier of Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley, and the Nevis  Island Administration.  

The Ambassador expressed his enthusiasm regarding his first contribution to the new government stating that “this is a new relationship, not only between us and the federal government but also the local government of Nevis. It is very important that we continue this relationship, and we look forward to having you visit us in Taiwan”.  

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation and interest in continuing to unite efforts between both countries to further strengthen the relations of cooperation and friendship.

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While acknowledging that some entertainers are working to create a balance, Jamaica’s top cop declared that there is no doubt that the lyrics of artistes are impactful, especially when it comes to the country’s youth.

Police Commissioner Major General Antony Anderson, who is currently tackling a 3.8 per cent increase in major crimes, pointed to the continued mention of guns and the drug Molly in the lyrics of some dancehall artistes.

He was responding to a question rehashing the age-old debate about the influence of dancehall music and if attempts have been made by the Jamaica Constabulary Force to engage recording artistes, at the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s monthly press conference on Tuesday.

“There is no question that their lyrics have an impact. We see it with Molly, we see it with guns; we see it with the sort of things that young people start to see as good,” said Anderson.

“… And if those things are destructive to them and destructive to the country, then, obviously, as a police force, we cannot be in agreement with that, but we will continue the conversation,” he indicated.

The debate on whether dancehall music influences social and criminal behaviour has risen to the fore over the last two years, particularly since the rise of “choppa” or scamming lyrics.

Molly, a drug which controls things like mood and agression, has also been romanticised by the genre.

In September, a Rapid Situational Assessment on Drug Use in secondary schools conducted in May found that Molly is emerging as one of the most popular drugs being used by teenagers locally.

Though the commissioner stressed that the police force cannot support entertainers who use their lyrics to glorify guns and gunmen, he said the force is open to the idea of continued dialogue with stakeholders in the music industry.

“As a matter of fact, we were on a path just before COVID, dealing with some of these things, and then it became a little bit difficult to do that as we were diverted into other things,” he shared.

“… But the value of music, the message of music, the value of our artistes in supporting what we (the police) do, we feel is significant, and musicians and persons in entertainment and even persons in media have influence.

“They influence thought, they influence the way people approach things,” Anderson added.

As responsible people, he said, everyone “must look at the values they are putting forward”.

According to Anderson, “There is the entertainment value of some things, but there are also questions about whether what you raise up as things to be exalted” or things to be followed, are the correct examples that individuals should are setting.

“Now, we know that… we (the police) see, as part of our responsibility, working with… any group of persons willing to make that change.

“But…, at the same time, if you are supporting gunmen in your lyrics to kill people, then, obviously, our messaging has cross-purposes,” he emphasised.

“So, certainly, there are a number of artistes within the dancehall genre that are seized with this and are working to balance this desire for a particular type of entertainment and their messaging to young people, to keep them out of a particular lifestyle,” the commissioner indicated.

In fact, Anderson pointed out that some artistes who may not always utilise conscious lyrics in their music can become part of the positive campaign to influence youths.

“I think that is the long version, but the short version is, ‘Yes, we (the police) engage them (dancehall artistes), and we have seen some very conscious lyrics come out of dancehall artistes, and even other ones who…, you would say, are on the borderline of where they go or go back and forth, [who] can still add a voice to young people, to do otherwise than go down a path that has been damaging to our country and destructive to them,” he explained.

With the coronavirus pandemic now easing, the senior law enforcer is hoping to resume the pre-pandemic discussions the JCF had with members of the island’s music fraternity.

“Going forward, as well, we expect to do more of the engagement we started, and see if we can bring about the change,” stated Anderson.

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The government has confirmed that plans are on track for the launch of Antigua Airways by the first week of November at the very latest.

The airline was first announced in July by Prime Minister Gaston Browne who said an October start was the goal.

The new airline, which will operate flights to Nigeria, Ghana and Canada, will be based in Antigua and Barbuda.

Other flights to countries in West Africa will be added as the airline grows. The government of Antigua and Barbuda is a part owner in the company and will enjoy 20 percent of the profits generated.

The majority shareholders – a Nigerian investment group – will receive 80 percent of Antigua Airways’ profits. Ambassador Lionel Hurst recently confirmed that plans ahead of the official launch of the airline are being finalised and added that Antigua Airways will begin offering service from the V. C. Bird International Airport very shortly. “I can offer you the assurance that we’re going to see Antigua Airways touchdown at the V. C. Bird International Airport sometime within the next five weeks.

“They are working out all kinds of logistics – not only baggage handling, fuel, permission to fly into Antiguan airspace and so on, they’re working all that out, but you know when they leave Antigua, the plan is to fly on to Toronto before going back to the African continent, and so they must work that in as well,” he explained. Hurst also confirmed that the Cabinet received a positive update on the progress of plans leading up to the launch of Antigua Airways as recently as last Wednesday. “It’s going to be really nice, I can assure you.

From what has been announced in Cabinet yesterday, it’s going to be a really nice event when that airline leaves the African continent, the homeland of the largest number of descendants of Antiguans and Barbudans. It will be something to applaud.” Antigua Airways plans to operate a Boeing 767- 300ER in a 16 business and 251 economy configuration.

The aircraft, which have been secured under a wet lease arrangement, will offer amenities including a modernised interior with touchscreen in-flight entertainment and charging ports.

To entice travellers to use the service, a members loyalty programme will be offered, although the details of this enhancement has not yet been revealed. Antigua Airways is also establishing a “Visa on Arrival Programme” with the African nations it will serve, which will allow travellers to bypass the process of securing a VISA ahead of their trip through third parties.

The launch of Antigua Airways is also expected to pump much needed business into LIAT, as the hope is to establish timely connections for its passengers to other Caribbean islands via the V. C. Bird International Airport homebase.

The launch of the new airline has not been greeted warmly by all, however, and critics are predicting that the airline will be fraught with issues, and perhaps, even failure.

The pronouncements of these harbingers of doom have not shaken the resolve of Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his administration, who continue to express confidence in the venture’s potential for success.

In Parliament on Thursday, the prime minister said that unlike other ventures which have attempted to offer service to West Africa that failed, the plan for Antigua Airways involves sound research, a carefully thought-out plan for the growth of the business and a solid network of local and international resources.

He also made it clear that Antigua and Barbuda has nothing to lose as the government has not invested financially in the airline. “What we did do is to list it as a CIP (Citizen by Investment Programme) project and one in which we have allocated up to ten CIP files, and if and when they are subscribed, then we will get, I believe, about 20 percent of the shares. “My understanding is that the service will start as a charter service. They are also trying to have a sustaining relationship with LIAT 2020 when we would have operationalised LIAT 2020, and we have been told so far that the arrangements to lease the plane and to start operating are on target,” Browne told the Parliament.

Last month, Minister of Tourism, Charles Fernandez, said that Antigua Airways is expected to offer three flights per week out of Antigua and Barbuda at its inception. (POINTE XPRESS)

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Stephen McClashie –

MINISTER of Labour Stephen McClashie has said the government is not considering making changes to the stipends of On-The-Job Training Programme (OJT) trainees “at this time.”

He was responding to a questions during a standing financial committee meeting in Parliament on Wednesday.

He said there are approximately 4,000 trainees in the programme.

Princes Town MP Barry Padarath asked if the stipends for trainees would be adjusted owing to the rising cost of living.

McClashie said, “No, we are not at this time looking at changing the stipends .”

The estimate of the recurring expenditure for salaries and cost of living allowances for those employed under the OJT – not the trainees – for fiscal year 2023 is $1,200,000.

In 2022, the revised estimate was $900,000.

The $300,000 increase, McClashie said, “is to provide payment of salaries and cost-of-living allowances for substantive holders in the post.

“It has leave relief also and payment of arrears of acting allowance and increments for 30 officers under the OJT.”

Couva South MP Rudranath Indarsingh then asked the reason for some trainees getting their salaries late more than once.

“Is it because of vacant positions in the accounts department of the OJT?” he asked.

McClashie said it was not related to vacancies per se, but had to do with “us recognising that the way we pay administratively, we had to make some changes to ensure robustness of the system.”

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Gulf City Mall, in San Fernando. – Lincoln Holder

There were no reports of damage or casualties on Wednesday in south Trinidad, although the bad weather wreaked havoc on the eastern parts of Trinidad as well as in Tobago.

There were reports of street and flash flooding across the country.

The San Fernando City Corporation (SFCC), via its Facebook page, urged people living in flood-prone areas to collect sandbags from this and other corporations.

People can collect the bags at SFCC’s disaster management unit office at Circular Road, San Fernando, and other places including the Cocoyea Community Centre and the Albert Street playpark/basketball court in Marabella.

Chairman of the Mayaro/ Rio Claro Regional Corporation Raymond Cozier told Newsday the corporation had not received any reports of house or street and flash flooding.

The corporation’s disaster management unit, he said, was closely monitoring the weather, and staff were on standby to help people if necessary.

River levels were rising but not to their full capacities. The highest was reportedly 60 per cent.

The yellow-level adverse weather alert began on Wednesday at 5 am and remains in effect until Friday at 12 pm. The Meteorological Service (Met Office) 1.51 pm update on Wednesday said the axis of the tropical wave was west of TT.

However, the atmosphere remains significantly moist and unstable. Periods of rain and/or showers of varying intensities were still expected, the Met Office said.

“There is also a 70 per cent (high) chance of occasional heavy showers and thunderstorms that can produce intense rainfall in excess of 25 millimetres,” it warned.

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