Black Immigrant Daily News

Basseterre, St. Kitts, October 30, 2022 (SKNNCC) — Azul Printers has demonstrated its support for Sugar Mas 51 by contributing  EC$50,000.00 in-kind sponsorship to the National Carnival Committee. In an official handing over ceremony on Friday 28th October, representatives of Azul Printers handed over a symbolic cheque to Ms Shannon Hawley, chairperson of the St Kitts Nevis  National Carnival Committee (SKNNCC). This contribution elevates Azul Printers to be the first Platinum Sponsor for this year’s Carnival in St Kitts Nevis. 

The company which was represented by Gerhon Joseph and Oral Roberts is a division of G-Squared Arts. Azul Printers specializes in marketing and the printing of billboards,  signs, license plates, and banners. They also produce branded clothing and stationery.  

Responding to the sponsorship from Azul Printers, SKNNCC Chair, Shannon Hawley,  expressed her unreserved satisfaction with the gesture and the magnitude of the contribution. She stated that as a small business, Azul Printers has demonstrated its corporate responsibility by coming on board as the first Platinum Sponsor for Sugar Mas  51. Ms. Hawley concluded by encouraging other members of the business community to emulate Azul Printers. Contributions and Sponsorship will stimulate the culture and creativity of our people after the negative impacts of Covid 19 over the past two years. 

Preparations for Sugar Mas 51 are in high gear and revellers should expect one month of the traditional folkloric elements mixed with mas, major fetes and music. This year’s carnival celebrations will take place between Friday, December 2, 2022, and Tuesday,  January 3, 2023, under the theme CELEBRATE AS ONE FOR SUGAR MAS 51.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Antiguans and Barbudans turn out in their numbers for Independence Service in New York  

NEW YORK 1st November, 2022 – The Church of the Crucifixion in Harlem erupted in joyful praise as flags were raised high by an appreciative congregation of Antiguans and Barbudans attending the Independence Service of Thanksgiving this past Sunday.

Pews were filled this year as compared to last year when the service had to be held remotely due in large measure to the pandemic.

The City South Steel Orchestra was out in its numbers and together with the voices of the Antigua and Barbuda International Chorale they led the congregation in the singing of their favourite patriotic songs.

A message from Prime Minister the Hon. Gaston Browne was delivered by Antigua and Barbuda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Walton Webson.

In his message, Prime Minister Browne reflected on the progress that Antigua and Barbuda has made since the twin island nation gained its Independence 41 years ago.

He addressed the challenges that were brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic and the skilful management of the economy by his government to ensure the country survived a painful crisis.

“Covid-19 impacted our growth in 2020 since borders were closed to prevent the disease’s spread. Nevertheless, the current administration has been spectacular in its many achievements,” Ambassador Webson read.

Prime Minister Browne thanked Antiguans and Barbudans in the US who continue to support the overall development prospects for Antigua and Barbuda even as they continue to live away from the land of their birth.

In his sermon Canon Franklin Reid, who served the Anglican communion in Antigua and Barbuda for many years, while asking the nation to pray for its leaders also prevailed upon citizens the need for unity, love and respect for each other.

“Like I said before, there are people here who support the government there are people who support the opposition. I hope we all support and love Jesus and we all support and love Antigua and Barbuda,” Canon Reid preached.

The service was officiated by Rev. F. Craig Henry and members of the Antigua and Barbuda Offices in New York played prominent roles. Marketing Officer of the Tourism Authority Carolyn Punter rendered beautifully in song while lessons were read by AOSIS Programme Administrator Jerri-Anne Jeremy and Adviser at the Permanent Mission Javier Spencer. A vote of thanks was delivered by Consular Officer Joy Wehner.

The next major activity for the Antigua and Barbuda Mission is its annual Independence Gala, which was also on hold due to the pandemic. It will take place next Saturday at Mulino’s Lake Isle Country Club at 8pm featuring the original Burning Flames.

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See full statement from Minister of Governance and Parliamentary Affairs Gail Teixeira:

As the Minister who hosted the National Consultation on the draft amendments to two electoral laws – the Representation of the People Act (ROPA) and the National Registration Act (NRA), I shall begin by repeating what l said in my seven-minute opening on October 25th although the APNU+AFC representatives were present:

Firstly, on October 29, 2021, the President announced that the draft amendments to the electoral laws would be made publicly available on social media within one week of the announcement. On November 5, 2021, the amendments to the ROPA and draft regulations to the ROPA were posted on the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance’s Facebook page. The public was invited to submit comments, observations, and changes first within six weeks, which then stretched to almost one year.

To the credit of the then General Secretary and Chairperson of the PNC, Ms. Amna Ally and Ms. Volda Lawrence, both asked the Ministry for hard copies of the draft amendments, which were promptly provided to them.

On May 9th and 19th, 2022, the Attorney General met with the respondents to the draft amendments to the ROPA. Neither the APNU+AFC Coalition, the PNC nor the AFC submitted any comments or changes to these drafts prior to or after the May meetings. On September 29th, 2022, the draft amendments to the National Registration Act were also publicly posted on the Ministry’s Facebook page.

These parties were invited to the National Consultation on October 25th and predictably walked out alleging that Minister Nandlall and l had taken two hours out of a three-hour consultation. The AFC forgets that in this electronic age, records of time are captured; first of all, I spoke for seven minutes in my opening; the Attorney General was asked to do an overview of the draft laws and rationale behind the amendments, he spoke for 1 hour and 15 minutes. After this he began the examination of the draft amendments to the acts. We then took a break at 2:50 pm and concluded after 5:00 p.m. The APNU/AFC representatives, Mr. Khemraj Ramjattan, Mr. Roysdale Forde and Ms. Tabitha Sarabo-Halley walked out only one hour after the consultation began.

For the AFC to assume what were the reasons for Mr. Jonas’ and Mr. Mahadeo’s departure is rather presumptuous particularly as the latter publicly stated why he was leaving, and it was not for the same reasons as the AFC representatives.

More importantly, how does the electorate treat with any political party and its elected Members of Parliament who are so dismissive and uninterested in amendments of these statutes after the punishment and stress that the nation and the citizenry went through during the five-month delay following the March 2nd 2020 Elections? Is this not the height of political irresponsibility?

These very statutes define and protect the electoral process in our country, and guard our fundamental right to elect our representatives to government periodically as enshrined in the constitution. These amendments emerged to ensure that there would no “Mingo-ism” in future elections.

The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Governance is pleased to have hosted this consultation which included representatives of faith-based organisations, political parties, private sector, and other civil society organizations and actors. Contrary to response by the AFC, the feedback received from the consultation participants was especially positive as they noted to have found the session informative and enlightening, and they appreciated being invited and included in the ongoing electoral reform process.

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The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) held its promised ‘People’s Protest’ in Castries on Tuesday morning, with leader Allen Chastanet promising similar events islandwide.

Participants in the activity chanted slogans, including that Chastanet would return to save Saint Lucia.

And they referred to the bazooka man having to go.

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It was an apparent reference to the House of Assembly Speaker, Claudius Francis, whose recent comments on his television show about using a bazooka prompted opposition calls for his resignation.

“This is a series building up and getting people to come out and speak their minds,” UWP leader Allen Chastanet said regarding Tuesday’s protest.

“We are going to do that throughout the length and breadth of this country and mobilise people on the ground that the people’s parliament has to be activated,” he declared.

“Even if one person came out – it’s a beginning,” the former Prime Minister declared.

According to Chastanet, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government must recognise that while it can get away with a majority in the parliament, they do not have a majority in the ‘people’s house’.

However, the Micoud South MP asserted that for that to work, people must show up, be counted, and make their voices heard.

Chastanet said he was pleased with Tuesday’s turnout at the protest, which started at Derek Walcott Square.

UWP supporters later made rounds on the William Peter Boulevard.

“We were restricted in the numbers we could have but that’s fine. I know that the police had a very long weekend with Jounen Kweyol,” he explained.

Chastanet said the protest targetted the Speaker of the House.

Chastanet said the Speaker had made a fiasco of the House Privileges Committee matter intended to discipline him.

“We wrote him a letter outlining all the procedural problems that he had but he chose not to listen to the letter,” Chastanet noted.

“Instead he waited until the beginning of the case at nine thirty for his lawyers to come and say ‘Look, we have advised the Speaker that he is all wrong and he has agreed to withdraw’,” the UWP leader stated.

“We need to stand up. We have had several victories,” Chastanet declared, adding that he would soon announce retractions he has requested regarding false statements by administration officials.

“Every time that this government steps out of line I can say I am one who is going to stand up and I am really hoping today that there are hundreds of people here who agree on that movement and that number will turn into thousands,” the former Prime Minister stated.

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