Black Immigrant Daily News

HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday 19 October 2022

The Cabinet was called-to-order at about 10:30 am and concluded its work at 5:30 pm. Three members were absent and a fourth joined by virtual means. The Attorney General, serving as Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet.

1. The Cabinet invited the INET and Electricity Managers and the General Manager of APUA to its meeting to answer questions related to their portfolios.The Cabinet inquired of the Electricity Manager about lighting dark areas on Airport Road, Friars Hill Road, parts of the City of St. John’s, and several villages including Liberta and Golden Grove. Dark areas in several public schools throughout the country are also to be lighted. The Electricity Manager reported that seven hundred lights are available for deployment; and, in some instances, APUA has arranged to have holes dug to accommodate the forms on which the lights will be erected. 200 lights are solar powered and 500 will have to be connected to the electricity supply. The APUA has also ordered 1,000 additional lights that will arrive in Antigua before the end of the year; many of these will be deployed early in the New Year. The Electricity Manager asserted that electricity rates are the lowest in the Caribbean, save for Trinidad and Tobago—an oil-producing country where the cost of energy is exceedingly low. The General Manager also indicated that a water supply schedule is published daily and that APUA personnel report on the provision of water to districts on radio, each weekday.
ii.The commercial center of St. John’s will be decorated with coloured lights for Christmas. They are being ordered now to make their erection possible in time for the Christmas Holidays.

iii. The APUA INET Manager indicated that prices at APUA are competitive and that it is exceedingly difficult for APUA to retrieve its expenses were it to lower cost any further. APUA continues to make an investment in Broadband services; and, fiber will soon be available in the South of the island, where the conduits are being laid as the roadways are being resurfaced.

The Cabinet invited the managers of both Leeward Islands Cricket and Cricket West Indies to its meeting.
The Manager of Leeward Island Cricket pointed out that the USVI, BVI and St. Marteen are integral members of Leeward Island Cricket andthe entity is made up of eight (8) territories. The headquarters are now in St. Kitts. The company is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) with a president, CEO and board members. Leeward Island Cricket LLC is now attempting to form a closer alliance with Cricket West Indies and may likely move its headquarters to Antigua. The manager reported that a “Gold-Jacket” award will start this year, and the ceremony will be held in the BVI. Its purpose is to confer honours on both past and present Leewards cricketers who have had a distinguished presence on the team.
The ExecutiveDirector of Cricket West Indies indicated that ownership of the Coolidge Cricket Grounds is to be finally settled. The Cricket West Indies has partnered with the Ministry of Sports and will repair and replace all the non-working lights at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, in preparation for hosting the Super 50 matches. On November 1st commencing at 1:00 pm, the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will host a match between the Leewards and Jamaica. That Match will be broadcast live around the world. Entry to this match will be at no cost on Independence Day, while the Annual Food Fair will also be taking place. On December 9th, V.C. Bird Day, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will host another match. Same conditions will apply where there is no cost. That match will be between West Indies Women and England Women. Cricket West Indies is still working with APUA using its MPLS network; however, it still needs dark fiber from the Stadium to operate its media headquarters at Coolidge. The Cabinet members expressed their appreciation for having Cricket West Indies present in Antigua and Barbuda.

3.i. The Minister of National Security announced that a Mental Health Specialist / Counselling Psychologist has been appended to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda. The Commissioner of Police expresses his thanks to the Cabinet for making this professional available to the police given the stresses of their job.

ii.Given the isolation and disconnect which the students and the teachers experienced, during the Covid-19 Pandemic, which were so very significant,the Minister of Education also requested that four (4) additional School Counselors be deployed in the education system. The Cabinet agreed with the Minister and has mandated that this intervention is addressed immediately.
The Minister of Health informed the Cabinet that 20 steel toilets have been ordered for the Clarevue Mental Hospital at $1,500 USDeach (before shipping). A total cost of USD $31,011 will be provided by the Cabinet.

5.i. The Governor General’s Academic Award ceremony will be conducted on Thursday 20th October at 9:00 am at the Government House. The highest performing students in the past year will be applauded and provided with medals.

ii.The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda, scheduled to meet tomorrow(Thursday), has been postponed until Monday 24th October at 10:30am.  The Government of Antigua and Barbuda will join with many supporters to celebrate the ground-breaking of the £4,000,000 Pounds Sterling redevelopment of the current Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE) with the construction to commence on Monday 24th The contract has been awarded to a local contractor (Mr. Colin Harrigan). There will be a formal groundbreaking ceremony commencing at 9:00 am on Thursday morning.

iii. Cabinet has NOT agreed to lift the ban on hunting of whales and is not aware of any statement which suggests otherwise.

HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday 19 October 2022

The Cabinet was called-to-order at about 10:30 am and concluded its work at 5:30 pm. Three members were absent and a fourth joined by virtual means. The Attorney General, serving as Prime Minister, chaired the Cabinet.

1. The Cabinet invited the INET and Electricity Managers and the General Manager of APUA to its meeting to answer questions related to their portfolios.The Cabinet inquired of the Electricity Manager about lighting dark areas on Airport Road, Friars Hill Road, parts of the City of St. John’s, and several villages including Liberta and Golden Grove. Dark areas in several public schools throughout the country are also to be lighted. The Electricity Manager reported that seven hundred lights are available for deployment; and, in some instances, APUA has arranged to have holes dug to accommodate the forms on which the lights will be erected. 200 lights are solar powered and 500 will have to be connected to the electricity supply. The APUA has also ordered 1,000 additional lights that will arrive in Antigua before the end of the year; many of these will be deployed early in the New Year. The Electricity Manager asserted that electricity rates are the lowest in the Caribbean, save for Trinidad and Tobago—an oil-producing country where the cost of energy is exceedingly low. The General Manager also indicated that a water supply schedule is published daily and that APUA personnel report on the provision of water to districts on radio, each weekday.
ii.The commercial center of St. John’s will be decorated with coloured lights for Christmas. They are being ordered now to make their erection possible in time for the Christmas Holidays.

iii. The APUA INET Manager indicated that prices at APUA are competitive and that it is exceedingly difficult for APUA to retrieve its expenses were it to lower cost any further. APUA continues to make an investment in Broadband services; and, fiber will soon be available in the South of the island, where the conduits are being laid as the roadways are being resurfaced.

The Cabinet invited the managers of both Leeward Islands Cricket and Cricket West Indies to its meeting.
The Manager of Leeward Island Cricket pointed out that the USVI, BVI and St. Marteen are integral members of Leeward Island Cricket andthe entity is made up of eight (8) territories. The headquarters are now in St. Kitts. The company is a Limited Liability Company (LLC) with a president, CEO and board members. Leeward Island Cricket LLC is now attempting to form a closer alliance with Cricket West Indies and may likely move its headquarters to Antigua. The manager reported that a “Gold-Jacket” award will start this year, and the ceremony will be held in the BVI. Its purpose is to confer honours on both past and present Leewards cricketers who have had a distinguished presence on the team.
The ExecutiveDirector of Cricket West Indies indicated that ownership of the Coolidge Cricket Grounds is to be finally settled. The Cricket West Indies has partnered with the Ministry of Sports and will repair and replace all the non-working lights at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, in preparation for hosting the Super 50 matches. On November 1st commencing at 1:00 pm, the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will host a match between the Leewards and Jamaica. That Match will be broadcast live around the world. Entry to this match will be at no cost on Independence Day, while the Annual Food Fair will also be taking place. On December 9th, V.C. Bird Day, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will host another match. Same conditions will apply where there is no cost. That match will be between West Indies Women and England Women. Cricket West Indies is still working with APUA using its MPLS network; however, it still needs dark fiber from the Stadium to operate its media headquarters at Coolidge. The Cabinet members expressed their appreciation for having Cricket West Indies present in Antigua and Barbuda.

3.i. The Minister of National Security announced that a Mental Health Specialist / Counselling Psychologist has been appended to the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda. The Commissioner of Police expresses his thanks to the Cabinet for making this professional available to the police given the stresses of their job.

ii.Given the isolation and disconnect which the students and the teachers experienced, during the Covid-19 Pandemic, which were so very significant,the Minister of Education also requested that four (4) additional School Counselors be deployed in the education system. The Cabinet agreed with the Minister and has mandated that this intervention is addressed immediately.
The Minister of Health informed the Cabinet that 20 steel toilets have been ordered for the Clarevue Mental Hospital at $1,500 USDeach (before shipping). A total cost of USD $31,011 will be provided by the Cabinet.

5.i. The Governor General’s Academic Award ceremony will be conducted on Thursday 20th October at 9:00 am at the Government House. The highest performing students in the past year will be applauded and provided with medals.

ii.The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda, scheduled to meet tomorrow(Thursday), has been postponed until Monday 24th October at 10:30am.  The Government of Antigua and Barbuda will join with many supporters to celebrate the ground-breaking of the £4,000,000 Pounds Sterling redevelopment of the current Antigua and Barbuda Institute of Continuing Education (ABICE) with the construction to commence on Monday 24th The contract has been awarded to a local contractor (Mr. Colin Harrigan). There will be a formal groundbreaking ceremony commencing at 9:00 am on Thursday morning.

iii. Cabinet has NOT agreed to lift the ban on hunting of whales and is not aware of any statement which suggests otherwise.

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CABINET NOTES:

Cabinet has NOT agreed to lift the ban on hunting of whales and is not aware of any statement which suggests otherwise.

CABINET was referring to this report in the international press:

A resolution submitted by pro-whaling countries including Antigua and Barbuda has sought to reopen a formal debate on commercial whaling.

The 40-year ban could be overturned after the proposal was submitted at the International Whaling Commission (IWC) meeting in Portorož, Slovenia.

The 88 member countries are expected to take a vote on Tuesday on the said resolution.

This comes after the country has also co-sponsored a resolution with Cambodia, Guinea and the Gambia which argues how fishing practices could contribute to food security and address poverty, said a report by the Guardian.

The report also mentions wildlife protection organisations like OceanCare and HumaneSociety have said that these resolutions threaten the progress made by the IWC.

The OceanCare director of international relations, Nicolas Entrup, has dismissed the idea of “sustainable whaling” calling it “ridiculous”.

“Instead of losing precious time with decade-old debates about fabricated scenarios like ‘sustainable whaling’ and false solutions to food security, the IWC should urgently take up the real pressing issues: climate change and plastic pollution,” said Entrup. According to the media report, commercial whaling in the 19th and 20th centuries had nearly brought the mammals to the brink of extinction.

“People assume the whaling ban, which has saved the lives of hundreds and thousands of cetaceans, is done and dusted. But the ban is in jeopardy as long as there are nations in the IWC who will vote to return to whaling,” said Wendy Higgins, director of international media at Humane Society International.

This comes four years after a similar proposal of lifting the ban on commercial whaling by Japan was rejected by the IWC. Tokyo at the time had also said how whaling could be done sustainably.

At the time, IWC reportedly reiterated its role as a conservation-focused organisation and said that the threats to whales are not just limited to hunting but also include ship strikes, climate crisis and fishing bycatch.

Subsequently, Japan left the IWC and started commercial whaling again since it was no longer bound to comply with its restrictions.

This comes amid the IWC facing financial difficulties following Japan’s exit, the Covid pandemic, and the Global economic crisis, said the report.

At least a quarter of the 88 member countries have not paid their annual dues.

On Monday, the commission also altered the rules that ban countries in arrears from voting acknowledging how the pandemic has disproportionately affected developing countries.

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Parlamentario Hendrik Tevreden a confirma

ORANJESTAD (AAN): Parlamento ta preparando pa trata presupuesto y esaki ta trece cu n’e un gran trabao. Di bishita na departamentonan te cu reunionnan cu directornan y controla e presupuesto riba su mes. Nos fraccion a manda riba 400 pregunta pa Gobierno caba den e tempo cu a worde stipula pa haci esaki y awor ta sigui cu tramitenan practico pa por keda cla prome cu e reunionnan worde poni riba agenda.

   Simultaneamente bo ta haya otro topiconan importante di nos pais cu tin cu worde atendi y semper nos ta haci e maximo esfuerso pa atende cu tur lo mihor den nos abilidad.

   Un di e topiconan cu ta riba nos agenda aworaki ta e recibonan halto di utilidad cu a sali ultimo y tambe e topico di molina di biento. Manera ta conoci hopi ciudadano a haya nan ultimo recibo di coriente na un suma halto. Tin hopi ponencia cu ta bay rond pa splica e motibo patras di e aumento, por ehempel cu a tuma midi na e meter laat.

   Otro ponencianan ta cu solamente e meter nan bieu a worde afecta cu e aumento y no esunnan cu tin meter digital of cu e uso den e dianan calor tabata mas halto. Asina tin diferente teoria mas cu a worde presenta, pero como presidente di comision fiho di entidadnan gubernamental mi a dicidi di invita e entidadnan Utilities Aruba N.V., WEB Aruba NV, y NV Elmar pa un reunion pa asina nan por duna e comision un splicacion concreto ariba kico ta e motibonan di e aumento y si acaso tin algun cos cu no a bay bon, con ta bay drecha esaki.

   Aruba ta saliendo di e crisis y realidad ta cu ainda tin hende of famia cu ainda financieramente no a recupera completamente. Pesey nos kier vigila e subida aki y a invita e entidadnan pa debate riba e topico aki. Nos kier pa evita cu gastonan ta multiplica sin splicacion y cu ta afecta famianan di e forma aki. Nos ta consciente cu esunnan cu usa mas tin di paga mas, pero cu si bo uso a keda similar e no tin rason pa paga mas.

   Pa loke ta molinanan di biento, tambe nos lo atende mes momento cu e instancianan concerni. Nos a dicidi pa atende tambe cu VWI mirando cu nan kier e oportunidad pa expresa nan preocupacionnan riba e desaroyo aki. Parlamento ta e lugar unda cu tur e puntonan aki tin di worde atendi y di mi banda, como presidente di e comision fiho di entidadnan gubernamental, mi lo kier scuchanan tambe. E fecha pa e reunion cu VWI lo worde haci conoci e simannan nos dilanti. Pero pa loke ta trata e asunto di recibonan halto di coriente lo worde atendi dia 20 di october.

   E problema di energia a bira un topico mundial despues di e guera entre Ukraina y Rusia, pesey Aruba tin di acelera su plan pa mas molina di biento, parke solar y gas natural enbes di solamente Heavy Fuel Oil, pa asina brinda un stabilidad den prijs di energia y asta un rebaho den futuro cercano. Aruba por logra esaki, mirando cu WEB Aruba N.V. tin e capacidad tecnologico y financiero pa por cumpli cu e meta. Loke nos tur kier evita ta cu lo tin mas tardansa y cu lo pone cu pueblo tin di paga un suma halto na utilidad en espera di e transicion aki pa un miho prijs di utilidad pa pais Aruba.

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Turismo na Aruba no mester di mas shock turbulencia mundial

Merca ta man na cabez cu e realidad inhumano di Nicolas
Hulanda ta na guera cu Rusia y no por causa invasion Aruba 

ORANJESTAD(AAN)- Cu Statuut ta duna Reino Hulandes e responsabilidad riba relacionnan cu otro pais na mundo, ta algo cu ta mara na e posicion estatal di Aruba como pais den Reino Hulandes.

Por cierto e areglo cu Reino ta atende cu relacionnan cu exterior, ta algo aceptabel si tene na consideracion kico e pakete di Relacionnan cu Exterior ta encera pa tanto e paisnan como e Ciudadano Hulandes na cualkier parti di e reino.

Ora papia di Reino Hulandes, ta papia di un entidad estatal, cu tin un Conseho di Ministro cu ta forma dor di gobernantenan Hulandes y un representante di e Gobierno eligi na otro paisnan den Reino, manera Aruba.

E gobernantenan Hulandes, cu ta actua na nomber di e Pueblo di Aruba como ciudadano di Reino Hulandes, tin e deber sagrado di defende e bienestar di e Arubiano y e integridad nacional di Aruba como parti di Reino.

Un punto cu sigur ta bini dilanti ta, cu Reino Hulandes conoce un Gobierno di Reino, pero no conoce un Parlamento di Reino.

E representacion directo di votador di henter Pueblo Hulandes, pues Pueblo di Reino Hulandes, pa hopi hende, no ta honra e concepto democratico mas profundo cu ta mara na democracia.

E berdad mester wordo papia pa atende cu e situacion actual, cu ta indica con Hulanda ta hiba combersacion cu Venezuela, cu tin un porta cera cu Aruba despues cu Nicolas Maduro a dicidi cu e ta cera frontera entre e dos paisnan.

Ta uno di e poco, si no ta unico decision di Nicolas Maduro cu nos ta aplaudi pasobra esaki a evita cu cierto tentaculo a alcansa Aruba tambe den un situacion dictatorial Comunista na Venezuela.

Un decision cu tambe ta evita cu awe e aliadonan di Putin cu ta reuni y ta forma un parti importante di habitantenan di Venezuela nobo bou e mando Comunista di Nicolas Maduro, por trapa riba suela di Aruba oficialmente.

Na e momentonan aki, Venezuela ta sostene Putin y ta sostene e paisnan cu ta yuda Putin destrui bida inocente na Ukraine den un confrontacion cu por resulta den un Guera Mundial.

E ultimo dianan, cu prueba DIARIO a mustra con aliadonan di Putin, cu ta entrega Putin armanan pa mata ciudadanonan di Ukraine, ta e forsa economico y social di Venezuela, cu nan ta habita mientras Venezolanonan mes ta huy di nan pais.

Aruba den e situacion actual, pa defende bienestar di e nacion y di e Pueblo di Aruba, hamas por habri porta pa Nicolas Maduro.

Hulanda no por bay contra e bienestar di e Arubiano y mester respeta e pensamento general y sigur e bienestar di e Arubiano, manera Statuut ta exigi y no por papia di apertura di frontera cu e Gobierno di Nicolas Maduro, cu a comberti Venezuela den partner directo di Putin.

Habri porta pa Nicolas Maduro, cu a menasa cu Aruba ta di Venezuela, ta nifica habri porta pa Putin.

Di kico Gobierno Hulandes cu ta parti di NATO y Union Europeo, cu ta enemigo di Putin, ta papia cu Nicolas Maduro ora reuni riba e posibel apertura di frontera entre Venezuela y Aruba?

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Outgoing Police Commissioner Milton Desir approved Saturday’s Onyx concert at the Daren Sammy cricket stadium at Beausejour, Gros Islet, where the appearance on the stage of a police officer with an open-carry firearm created a public backlash.

“In the final analysis, the Onyx show was approved by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Milton Desir,” Assistant Commissioner of Police George Nicholas told a news conference on Wednesday.

Nicholas, responsible for security at the show, disclosed that the Commissioner’s office approved a list of police officers.

He said he was aware of the issue regarding the officer on stage with a firearm.

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But he explained that the gun-toting cop was not on the approved list signed by the Police Commissioner.

“When the matter was brought to my attention I spoke with the officer and had him to conceal himself so that he would not be seen in plain view by the patrons,” Nicholas told reporters.

However, he said by then, the damage was already done.

ACP Nicholas told the news conference that since the incident, the Police Commissioner called for an investigation which is currently ongoing, into all the circumstances relating to the incident.

In addition, he was aware of two contradictory letters in the public domain.

One of the letters did not approve Onyx concert, while the other indicated the opposite.

According to Nicholas, it is not unusual for a decision to change in such matters.

And he said the Police Commissioner gave approval, satisfied that the event met all the required conditions.

“I think the bigger issue is that the letters got circulated in the public domain and that is a matter that the office of the Commissioner of Police has promised to handle,” he revealed.

Nicholas said when an application reaches the Commissioner’s office for event approval, the promoters would have started the process long before.

In this regard, he said before reaching the Commissioner’s office the Onyx show would have had to, among other things, obtain a work permit from the Labour Department for foreign artistes, a health permit for food preparation, approval from the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) for holding a mass crowd event and Fire Department permission to hold the event in respect of the safety of patrons.

Nicholas indicated that once the various agencies, including the Solid Waste Management Authority, gave their nod, the application would go before the office of the Police Commissioner for approval.

“All that would be required from the Commissioner’s Office as it relates to other documents is the attachment of the list of officers who would be providing security for the show,” he stated.

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