Tag Archives: Antigua

Prime Minister Gaston Brown Has Prejudiced Investigation Into Alleged Stolen Twins – Independent Investigation Needed

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Submitted by President, Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) denounces the attacks on Ms. Keoma Hamer by the Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, Mr. Gatson Brown. Ms. Hamer is a young mother and Guyanese national experiencing unimaginable trauma and torture from the disappearance and alleged theft of her twin baby girls who were born at Holberton Hospital in Antigua on “September 7, 2004″ while her flight was in transit there. Ms. Hamer’s medical records disappeared within days of her delivery. When her family returned to pay the $1,000.00 medical bill, hospital staff said no record of her existed and refused the funds.

Antigua is quickly establishing itself as the child abduction capital of the Caribbean region. Visitors and tourists should therefore be gravely concerned about the likelihood that if they travel to Antigua while pregnant, their babies and medical records may be stolen and the Prime Minister and government will be complicit by refusing to conduct a credible investigation and ensure the administration of justice.

Ms. Hamer and several other patients and nurses have attested to seeing the babies alive at birth. They allege that the twins were stolen. Ms. Hamer has been on a fifteen-year search for her twins. Recently, two young girls were identified as the potential twins. Ostensibly, one resides in Antigua and the other in the US. If the allegations are true, this matter involves child abduction and human trafficking – international crimes.  Prime Minister Brown has not commented on, and seems disinterested in, the allegation that babies and medical records have disappeared from a government institution.

The Prime Minister in an official statement on December 27, 2019, disparaged Ms. Hamer as an “unknown woman” and a liar whose babies died in 2004. he offered not independent evidence of this. In subsequent social media posts, the Prime Minister, without providing any evidence, claimed that Ms. Hamer’s story “bears no resemblance to reality.” His attacks are an assault on women and mothers, and deserve stern repudiation. This is beneath his office. No Prime Minister who ascribes to the creed of human dignity and is in a balanced state of mind can be so callous and irresponsible.  CGID calls on Prime Minister Brown to apologize to Ms. Hamer for his insensitive attacks.

Prime Minister Gaston Brown apparently traffics in fiction from an alternate reality and continues to misguide himself about the facts in this case. He is holding out Dr. Joseph John’s disputed letter of October 7, 2004, as evidence that Ms. Hamer had a spontaneous abortion or miscarriage. Ms. Hamer and several other patients and nurses of the then Holberton Hospital have attested to seeing the babies born alive on “September 7, 2004,” and taken away. These eye witness accounts discredit Dr. John’s account which also states an incorrect birth date. Moreover, Dr. John’s letter establishes that he was not present the time Ms. Hamer gave birth. Rather he attended to her on September 9, 2004, two days she birthed the twins. Consequently, Dr. John’s opinion was predicated on alleged falsified medical records, which erroneously stated that the babies died at birth.

The responsible course of action the Prime Minister must pursue is ensure a thorough and independent investigate by a distinguished juris who can make a finding of fact which answers the following questions:

(1) Ms. Hamer never received  an account of what happened to her babies. What happened to the babies? Why were no photographs taken? Why weren’t the purported remains shown to the mother and handed over to relatives as Ms. Hamer requested? Where were the purported remains buried?

2. Within a few days of her discharge, the medical records disappeared. Holberton Hospital claimed it possessed no records or evidence that Ms. Hamer was admitted or treated at its facility. What happened to the medical records? Where are they? Is this how the state of Antigua is governed?

3. The Prime Minister alleges that Antigua Police conducted DNA tests on the identified child and the purported parents, and that the results concluded that the persons tested were the child’s biological parents. However the alleged DNA tests were done in secrecy and lacks transparency.  We reject these results as unreliable. Ms. Esther Amos, the reputed mother, stated on ABS television on December 27, 2019, that she provided a DNA sample that shows that she is the biological mother.

4. How were the DNA samples obtained by the Police? Did the Police collect them from the said identified child and reputed parents, or did the parents voluntarily provided the samples to the police unsupervised?   Who verified that the correct child provided the DNA specimens? Who supervised the collection of the DNA samples as well as the chain of custody of the samples from collection to delivery to the lab? Which laboratory conducted the tests and where are the documented results?

5. Ms. Keoma Hamer was not DNA tested, why? Why wasn’t Ms. Hamer or her representatives invited to witness the collection of the DNA samples?

6. Did the Antigua Police investigate the pregnancy records of Ms. Amos, the issuance of the child’s birth certificate as well as her school records? Did the Police interview former nurses and patients of Holberton Hospital? Did the Police interview Dr. John and Dr. Abbott?  Did the Police investigate allegations that the parents previously claimed that the child was adopted?

The Prime Minister has callously remarked that Ms. Hamer’s claim is a lie, and that her babies were born dead. He has unfortunately prejudiced this investigation with premature conclusions before the so-called police investigation has concluded. The government of Antigua and Barbuda has lost all credibility on this matter and may be seen as complicit in a cover-up.  We are therefore calling for an independent investigation into this matter by a jurist. We urge that all parties in this case be treated fairly, justly and with respect; including Ms. Hamer and Ms. Amos.

 

Call on Government of Antigua & Barbuda to Conduct Creditable Investigation Into Alleged Abduction Of Twins From Guyanese Mother

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Submitted by the Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID)

The Caribbean Guyana Institute for Democracy (CGID) is deeply concerned that Antigua and Barbuda government authorities have not resolved allegations that twin babies were stolen from Guyanese national, Ms. Keoma Hymer, minutes after they were born at a hospital in Antigua on September 7, 2004, while she was in transit there. Evidence suggests that that 14 year old twins are alive. One allegedly resides in Antigua and the other in the US. It is inexplicable that this matter remains unresolved. Consequently, CGID has asked the US State Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) to investigate this allegation as it potentially constitutes abduction and human trafficking.

Ms. Keoma Hymer is a Guyanese national, from Mahaicony, ECD, who was 19 years old and 7 months pregnant when she boarded a LIAT flight from Guyana to St. Martin on September 4, 2004. The flight in-transited in Antigua where she became ill. She was transported by ambulance to Holborton Hospital in St. Johns, Antigua, now renamed “Mount St. John Medical Center,” and was admitted. Incidentally, Ms. Hamer gave birth to identical twin girls prematurely on September 7, 2004, at Holborton Hospital. After delivery, Ms. Hamer saw her babies alive and heard them cry. She watched as a group of nurse took them away. This was witnessed by other patients. This was the last time she saw the twins.

Ms. Hamer recalls that a short while after the nurses left with the twin babies, a particular nurse returned and informed her that the babies had died. Ms. Hamer expressly told the nurse that she wanted photographs, hence, she must keep the babies and hand them over to her aunt on her arrival. The babies were not handed over to Ms. Hamer’s aunt. No photographs were taken. No account was given about what happened to the twins.   Shortly after this episode, Ms. Hamer’s representative returned to hospital to pay the outstanding bill. However, hospital staff advised the representative that there was no record of Ms. Hamer’s hospitalization at the hospital. Hence the refused the payment. Her admission and medical records had disappeared. Later when Ms. Hamer visited the hospital and was also told no record of her hospitalization exists.

CGID herein releases documentation establishing that Ms. Hamer was indeed a patient at Holborton Hospital at the time. Dr. Joseph A. John has certified this fact. Dr. John has also attested that he and Dr. Abbott oversaw Ms. Hamer’s care. He also detailed her medical condition and treatment; albeit his claim of the circumstance of her delivery seems inconsistent with established facts. There are also photographic and medical records of Ms. Hamer pregnancy and travel to Antigua. The claim that the babies had died appear to have been false. Several witnesses have attested to seeing the babies alive at birth. They allege that the babies were neither stillborn nor died after birth, but were allegedly stolen. There is strong evidence that the twins have now been identified. One allegedly lives in Gambles, Antigua, and attends Christ The King School. The other ostensibly lives in Syracuse, New York.

In the attached letter dated June 24, 2019, Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Health, Mr. Molwyn Joseph, advised Ms. Hamer, that this matter is under investigation. On December 4, 2019 Acting Police Commissioner, Mr. Atlee Rodney, informed Ms. Hamer that DNA tests could not exclude the purported parents as the true biotical parents; albeit, the credibility of the Police DNA tests is dispute.  This test was ostensibly done in July 2019. Despite numerous requests,   the results remained hidden from Ms. Hamer.

Administrators at Foundation Mix School, where one of the identified twins previously attended, have indicated that at enrollment, a purported parent claimed that the child was adopted from the Commonwealth of Dominica. Commenting on this matter, an official from the Ministry of Health & Social Welfare of the Commonwealth of Dominica said: “Our records do not reflect any adoption of the said child.”  Serious questions remain unanswered. What are the names of the parents listed on the birth certificates and in which country were the certificate issued? How can a child who is allegedly adopted carry the DNA of the adopted parents? Who collected the samples and supervised the alleged DNA test? If the purported parents had indeed given birth to the twins, where is the evidence, such as photographs and medical records, of the pregnancy?

Did the Royal Police Force of Antigua & Barbuda gather this crucial evidence? Why was the alleged DNA test done in secret and without credible witnesses? Only tests results from DNA samples collected in the presence of a Judge, Ms. Hamer, her attorney, where the entire transfer chain is supervised by the courts to preserved the integrity of the process, can be deemed credible and legitimate. This process must ensue urgently.

CGID calls for a thorough, fair and impartial Police investigation of this matter, which potentially involves serious criminal conduct if the allegations are substantiated.  An alleged party in these allegations currently resides in the US and allegedly works as a medical professional in the York City School system. CGID calls on New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio to direct the NYPD and the Department of Investigations to review these allegations.

Moreover, CGID calls on the government of Antigua & Barbuda to do everything within its power to resolve this matter urgently as it undermines public trust it its institutions. A nurse Roxan Babb-McCurdy, as well as nurse Lynette Daniels, were allegedly nurses at Holborton Hospital and on duty at the time of Ms. Hamer’s hospitalization. We call on all persons with knowledge of the alleged abduction and trafficking to contact and cooperate with law enforcement to ensure a timely resolution of this matter.

Description of attached photographs:

The Adrian Loveridge Column – Antigua, LIAT and Pie in the Sky

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I recently questioned the charging of US$70 of the October 2018 imposed ‘Airline Travel and Tourism Development Fee’ on a LIAT return ticket from Barbados to St. Maarten. This was in addition to the already existing US$27.50 departure tax. LIAT kindly responded by stating the “Airline Travel and Tourism Development Fee is US$35 for CARICOM and US$70 for other destinations. Since St. Maarten is not a member of CARICOM the fee is US$70“.

I further asked if the reduced CARICOM fee applied to the five associate members which include Anguilla and the British Virgins Islands and I am awaiting a reply.

As at least part of this new tax was originally intended to further subsidise the carrier, when the new levy was implemented, it was stated “the remaining $20 million will go towards regulation of tourism, civil aviation and our shareholder responsibilities to LIAT”. A later announcement was made to sell all or part of the 49.4 per cent Barbados taxpayer holding in the airline, is it now likely that this levy will be revisited as it no longer may be applicable to the total initial intention?

On August 9th 2013 details were published of a signed loan agreement for US$65 million from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) in respect of a ‘Fleet Modernisation Project’ of which the Government of Barbados’s liability was US$33.2 million at an interest rate of 3.95 per cent (variable) over a thirteen year period, following a two year grace period.

At the signing of that loan the CDB President, Dr. Warren Smith, noted “Our relationship dates back to 1975 when we funded the purchase of aircraft, spares and equipment to improve its (LIAT’s) inter-island air service in the Eastern Caribbean. In the ensuing years we have provided financing to the tune of US$153 million to improve and safeguard the financial viability of LIAT”. Adding “reliable and efficient regional air transportation is an indispensable underpinning of Caribbean development. LIAT’s services are therefore important to the continued viability and sustainability of the Region’s critical industries including agriculture, tourism and other services“. Dr. Smith has a long history with LIAT, having served as its chief executive officer for several years.

Within the last week the media has reported that the talks between Antigua and Barbados to discuss the possible sale of all or part of the 49.4 per cent shareholding the Barbadian taxpayer has in LIAT broke down after a quoted ‘two hours’.

Following this, further comments emanating from Antigua, the latest uttering include a possible plan to lease jet aircraft and begin operating flights to Florida, Dominican Republic, Haiti and Jamaica.

Is Antigua seriously considering competing with jetBlue, American Airlines and others into Florida and exactly where is the market to economically sustain viable routes from the eastern Caribbean to these other named destinations?

As an industry observer  this is yet another graphic example of the imperative need for restructuring and finally put-in-place the people who are actually capable and qualified to rescue the airline. The absolute folly that the airline will attract any further private sector investment until this is fully implemented remains no more than “pie in the sky”.

A Vote to Fulfill Antigua and Barbuda’s National Destiny

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Submitted by Caricom Ambassador DAVID COMISSIONG, Citizen of the Caribbean

WHEN  THE  CITIZENS of Antigua and Barbuda go to the polls on 6th November 2018 to vote in a referendum to determine whether they will permit their nation to remain under the judicial jurisdiction of the British Privy Council or whether they will embrace a judicial jurisdiction that is exclusively Antiguan/Barbudan and Caribbean, I hope that they make a choice that takes both Antigua and Barbuda and the Caribbean Community in the direction of fulfilling their historical journeys towards the goals of full national sovereignty and civilizational independence. 

This is my fervent hope – and it is a hope based on an understanding of just how long and deeply rooted those journeys to national sovereignty and civilizational independence are, and how much blood, sweat, tears, struggle and hope have been invested in those journeys!

You see, if we are to fully appreciate the rootedness and sacredness of the Antiguan and Barbudan struggle for national sovereignty, we have to go way back to the middle of the 17th Century and to the heroic efforts of our enslaved African ancestors to escape the jurisdiction of the British slave plantations of Antigua and to establish free maroon-type communities in the primeval woods of the Shekerley range with its imposing Boggy Peak. 

We would also need to recall that so determined were the British slave masters to reassert their plantocratic jurisdiction that most of those early Antiguan freedom fighters were brutally hunted down and executed!  But, tellingly, this did not deter those heroic Antiguan ancestors from joining a growing tide of regional slave rebellions and developing even more advanced aspirations for the achievement of a free independent and sovereign black nation. 

In fact, the year of destiny for Antigua was 1736!  By that time, fellow enslaved Africans in such neighbouring British colonies as Barbados, St. Kitts and Jamaica had already demonstrated through slave plots, rebellions and maroon resistance that they intended to achieve black freedom and sovereignty.  Furthermore, in the Danish colony of St. John – a mere 200 miles from Antigua – fellow enslaved Africans had risen up in 1733 and taken control of the entire island.

It was against this background that, in October of 1736, the British plantocracy of Antigua discovered – to their great consternation – that the leaders of the enslaved African people of Antigua had developed a master-plan to destroy the system of slavery; to take control of the island; and to establish an independent sovereign Asante-type kingdom.  This, of course, was the famous King Court rebellion of 1736.

Tragically, the revolutionary plan was discovered by the British plantocratic authorities; the rebellion was crushed; and such heroes of Antigua and Barbuda as King Court (Tacky), Tomboy, Scipio, Hercules, Ned, Fortune and Secundi were brutally executed and made into national martyrs.

However, it is one thing to kill revolutionary leaders, but it is another thing altogether to kill revolutionary ideas of freedom, nationhood and sovereignty. 

Needless to say, those aspirations towards freedom and nationhood remained very much alive among the black people of Antigua, Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Kitts and all the other European colonies of the Caribbean, and, some two hundred years later – in the year 1945 – coalesced in the demands of Vere Bird and the other leaders of the Caribbean Labour Congress (CLC) for the transformation of the socially and racially oppressive West Indian colonies of the day into democratic, socially and economically just self-governing nations within the over-arching structure of a West Indian Federation. 

Without a doubt, the most potent formulation of these historic demands took place at the founding conference of the CLC in Barbados between the 17th and 27th of September 1945.  Antigua was represented not only by Vere Bird, but also by Harold T. Wilson and J. Oliver Davis.  Also in attendance were such political giants as Richard Hart (Jamaica), George McIntosh (St. Vincent), Grantley Adams, Hugh Springer and Frank  Walcott (Barbados), T. A. Marryshow (Grenada), Hurbert Crichlow and A. A. Thorne (Guyana), Albert Gomes (Trinidad and Tobago) and W. J. Lesperan (Suriname).

And when these historic demands were ultimately betrayed and subverted– largely through the combined duplicity of the British Colonial Office and the folly of Alexander Bustamante — culminating in the 1962 collapse of the West Indian Federation, it was the veteran leader, Vere Bird, who joined forces with the younger Errol Barrow of Barbados and Forbes Burnham of Guyana to retrieve the vision and re-engineer our people’s historic journey to full nationhood and sovereignty with the signing of the Caribbean Free Trade Association Agreement (CARIFTA) at Dickenson Bay, Antigua, on 15th December 1965.

CARIFTA was formally launched on 1st May 1968 – making this year of 2018 the 50th anniversary year of CARIFTA – and by 1973 had evolved into the more comprehensive and substantial Caribbean Community (CARICOM). 

And it is CARICOM which – through functional co-operation – has supported and maintained such critical edifices of our national sovereignty and civilizational independence as the University of the West Indies and the Caribbean Development Bank, and that has established the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

Of the three visionary architect nations of CARIFTA, two have removed themselves from the judicial jurisdiction of the British Privy Council and have established the CCJ as their highest and final appellate court – Barbados and Guyana.  But what of Antigua? How will Antigua decide? 

Perhaps this 50th anniversary year of the effective launching of CARIFTA is symbolically and spititually the right time for the people of Antigua and Barbuda to – in this most tangible and meaningful of ways – reiterate their commitment to the completion of our people’s historic journey towards full national sovereignty and Caribbean civilizational independence.

I humbly ask the people of Antigua and Barbuda to reflect deeply on the sacrifices made by the King Courts and Tomboys of sacred memory, and on the outstanding lessons of self-respect and self-determination taught to us all by such outstanding Antiguan and Barbudan sons and daughters of our Caribbean Civilization as George Weston, Vere Bird, Tim Hector, Sir Vivian Richards, Jamaica Kincaid, Sir Andy Roberts, King Shortshirt, Paget Henry and so many others before casting their vote on the 6th of November.

Allen Stanford Sentenced To 110 Years In Prison

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Allen Stanford sentenced to 110 years in jail for a $7 billion Ponzi scheme (AFP/Getty Images/File, Dave Einsel)

Texan Allen Stanford was sentenced to 110 years in prison today. In what is regarded as one of the largest Ponzi schemes, Stanford operated from Antigua where he was able to procure a Knighthood.

Many of our islands rely on foreign investment and are therefore vulnerable oftentimes willing to compromise the future of our children when these ‘deep pockets’ come around. Let us learn from the former Sir Allen Stanford experience.

See Related Link: Stanford sentenced to 110 years for $7 bn Ponzi scheme

Quality Of Bajan Life Must Not Be Compromised At The Altar Of CSME And Freedom Of Movement

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Wikipedia

The Immigration Debate has abated because of a combination of a stagnant economy, Barbadians loudly voicing dissatisfaction at the open door immigration policy practiced by the former government and a new government whose politics is built on a hybrid ideology of socialism cum populism.

In October 2009 the government disseminated a Green Paper on Immigration which sought to stimulate discussion on these issues which drive our immigration policies and which are critical to both national security and national development. It is anticipated that on conclusion of this extensive dialogue the White Paper will therefore reflect Government’s position on this important issue in addition to the views of the people.

True to its word the government of Barbados facilitated feedback from the public by staging town hall meetings, receiving letters and emails etc. Prime Minister David Thompson promised at the final town hall meeting in March 2010 that  in a matter of a few months, a white paper setting out a new immigration policy will be completed. The last time we checked about two weeks ago our parliament had not received any notification the White Paper on Immigration was ready for debate. It is interesting to note because of the illness of David Thompson Fruendel Stuart has been appointed acting Prime Prime Minister, he is on record declaring that Barbados is not ready to become the warehouse for unskilled workers in the Caribbean. He is now in a position to drive the amendment to the Immigration Law to give meat to his pronouncement.

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Leaders With No Legacy – But Big Egos – Have Tremendous Desire Not To Be Forgotten

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Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

I am not sure how to proffer this advice and, worse still, not sure if it will be accepted but I genuinely feel that former Prime Ministers of Barbados should not go overboard in letting us know how truly modest their achievements are, even if they have much to be modest about. In other words, former Prime Minister Owen Arthur, sells himself very short to our nation when the only time he can make front page is to tell us that he is doing consultancy work that – depending on how you look at it – Barbadians who never graced the Halls of Crumpton Street, Waterford or Ashton Hall, and some who did, have achieved over 20 years ago.

I found a loud chuckle emitting my lips – and it came from the depths of my patriotic Barbadian heart – last Friday and again on Monday when I read the newspapers. My reflection was that when I – who in the eyes of the Barbados Labour Party am ‘nobody from nowhere’ – left Barbados 20 years ago to take up the job as Principal Political Advisor to the Prime Minister and government of Antigua and Barbuda, there were those who sought to revile me. Antigua was then at the top of its economic game, was the leader politically in the OECS and was a thriving nation with a per capita income rivaling my own country. I have subsequently served in that identical capacity to six other Caribbean leaders in six other Caribbean countries, but that too is pooh-paahed by those who see such as nothing; from a lad who grew up in Ellerton, St. George and who attended St. George Secondary School.

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Tremendous Intrigue In Regional Politics

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Hartley Henry - DLP Political Strategist

Ok, Madame Letter Writer, you win! As a rule I do not comment on the political goings on in sister Caribbean states, but your Letter To The Editor over the past weekend has triggered an avalanche of requests for my take on political developments across the region.

First up, Trinidad and Tobago! I do not believe general elections are imminent in that country. Patrick Manning is easily one of the most politically cunning operatives in the region today. He successfully diverted public attention from a major money scandal involving several senior PNM operatives as well as “watered down” the impact of the coronation of Kamla Bassad-Parsar as Prime Minister-In-Waiting, by dropping the hint of imminent general elections. This is the classic Foolish Virgins political strategy; as clearly Manning is hoping that Kamla and her UNC would peak in the coming weeks, thus burning their popularity lamps dry and not having adequate appeal by the time the actual poll is held. I consider Kamla a political sprinter. Her moment of midas magic will last all of approximately 12 months. If Manning were to be so ‘politically drunk’ as to call an election anytime within the next 12 months, he would be clobbered by a Kamla-led UNC, aided and abetted by the Winston Dookeran led Congress of the People. If Manning holds out and permits Kamla’s shine to rub off, I fear the pockets of an incumbent Trinidad and Tobago leader are deep enough to enable him to worm his way back into the hearts and minds of voters. My advice to Kamla is ‘pace yourself’ and guard against peaking too soon. My advice to Manning is use the diversionary tactic of an early election to your advantage, but for heaven’s sake, and certainly that of the PNM, do not even dream of ringing that bell anytime soon.

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The Antigua General Election Court Matter File ANUHCV2009/0141

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The Obama era was suppose to bring a level of bipartisanship hitherto not experienced by politicians in the US legislature. The term ‘reaching across the isle’ was a term which was synonymous with the Obama campaign. A couple years later the Obama administration and the USA finds itself in the midst of a level of political polarization which threatens to split the country into small pieces. Obamamania was so rife that it became obvious Prime Minister David Thompson’s political strategist became an admirer and adopted bits and pieces of Obama policies and strategies during the last campaign. Prime Minister David Thompson to complete the script’ ‘reached across the isle’ by inviting former Prime Minister Owen Arthur and Sir Richard Haynes to join him and Sir Lloyd Sandiford at a breakfast meeting to discuss solutions to the nations problems brought about by the current global recession.

Despite all the talk about about bipartisanship blowing far and wide it appears the political rhetoric has coarsened the world over. In recent days the rhetoric has heightened in Antigua to a degree that if left unabated can have devastating implications for that country.  There is the wider implication of the recent court judgement handed down by Antigua High Court Judge Louise Esther Blenman in the case which challenged the electoral process in the last Antigua general election. It is now history that the Judge, to the consternation of the three government incumbents affected has declared invalid the seats of Leandro, Spencer and Maginley. The affected parties have since responded to Judge Blenman’s decision by asking the Court to issue a stay on the order which has been granted. The stay is important because it gives the Baldwin Spencer government breathing space to determine next steps.

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Beware Of Greeks Bearing Gifts

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Allen Stanford

Allen Stanford

Recent reports in the international press that former Chief Financial Officer James Davis has blown the whistle on former boss and Texan billionaire Allen Stanford, may have implication for how Barbados and other small Caribbean islands welcome foreigners in the future with deep pockets. The revelation by Davis that Stanford entered a pack with his inner circle of employees and prominent others to keep regulators at bay maybe the final nail in the coffin which sees the Knight donning prison garb very soon.

Until Allen Stanford’s free fall from the pinnacle of his financial empire based in Antigua, he was the man.  Nothing of any consequence seemed to have occurred in Antigua unless it was branded Stanford. His last business venture the 20/20 tournament was hugely popular and demonstrated that he was ahead of the WIBC in trying to popularize the shorten version of the cricket game. He owned financial entities, real estate and of note many important people in Antigua.

Sanford has not been found guilty yet but there is a lesson to be learned from what has unravelled so far. One man with money carry great influence in our small islands. Often times the lack of financial resources at a national and individual level creates the opportunity for our politicians and government officials to explore shortcuts when dealing with those with deep pockets.

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Political Strategist Hartley Henry Under The Microscope

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Submitted by Sylvan Greenidge, Press Secretary to former Prime Minister Owen Arthur

Prime Minister David Thompson (l) Political Strategist Hartley Henry (r)

Prime Minister David Thompson (l) Political Strategist Hartley Henry (r)

Like the young Calypsonian Sheldon Hope, who penned a beauty in this year’s calypso competition, many Barbadians can sing loudly, “My Character Intact”. Can Hartley Henry aka WIV say the same in light of the attached letter sent by Jennifer Laszlo to Prime Minister Bird of Antigua & Barbuda?

No man is an island and it seems that we all do beg for something at some point in our lives, but what we beg for and how we beg for it is important. Of even greater importance is what we do when we are denied the thing we beg for.

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Allen Stanford Charged In Multibillion Dollar Fraud

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Texan billionaire Allen Stanford/Reuters

International wires are buzzing today with the news that US Security Exchange Commission (SEC) regulators have charged Antigua based Sir Allen Stanford of ‘massive, ongoing fraud’. The SEC has alleged that Sir Allen has been perpetuating fraudulent transactions through his Antigua based Stanford International Bank.

The Texan billionaire Allen Stanford has become a household name in the Caribbean despite the failure of Caribbean Star.  The memory of his failed airline has been replaced in recent times with the very popular Stanford 20/20 cricket series.

Following on the news of the CLICO Affair should we conclude that the tumultuous global financial markets maybe starting to unload on the ‘quiet’ region of the Caribbean region?

Unlike the CLICO Affair which has direct implications for several economies across the Caribbean, the Stanford International Bank probe is restricted to the Antigua market. Some BU family members may challenge the fact that the Caribbean maybe tarred with the same brush given the tendency by outside markets to view the Caribbean region as one area.

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