Firstly, how Digicel wants to spend their money is none of our business! We just need to be grateful that a company who mind you has only been in operation in Antigua for 6 years in taking a major step in advancing technology!

Fair enough everyone isn't going to side with the ministry of information on everything they do but come on give Digicel a break!
After Digicel donates the tablets it's up to us as parents and guardians to ensure that the tablets are being used rightfully.

Providing tablets isn't the only major project for Digicel. What about their Clarevue project? Digicel is dishing out $50,000US to renovate the mental hospital.. Digicel also sponsors G**root Cricket, Disability Week etc isn't that caring enough for you Antiguans!?

Properly used, technology can enhance the achievement of all students, increase families’ involvement in their children’s schooling, improve teachers’ skills and knowledge, and improve school administration and management.

Stop worrying about the cost and focus on the benefits of the next generation! Like it or not TECHNOLOGY IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD!

then fifth formers will be leaving school in a couple of months the fourth formers should also be recipients because they will need this kind of technology to help in there studies and also why only four secondary schools?

Man up Hon Jackie Quinn Leandro. For too long you've played the politics of staying in the back ground staying under the radar. We are calling you out on this speak out. Mr. Spencer got you're tongue???

It's about time we all wake up,we are sleeping for too long,its about time we chase those crazy people out of our yard........... ...........

Dear Jacqui- Quin,

DO NOT SIGN the agreement, teachers are to be paid, regional and international students to receive their funds and many returning home for lack of payments that has been agreed by the government to their institutions.As it clearly stated here, you "took strong offence to the fact that the decision was taken without (your) her knowledge". Let the two players pay for it since they are the ones along with the Minister (who by the way never won any seat) negotiated this and pushing for it. I rather them say the students that excel the most in CXC, GCE or from the top students that excel out of the pack that receive government scholarships will receive such to assist them in their new jobs.Parents with many children in 4th and 5th form at the same time in the same or different schools, how can they pay for these devices if damaged????
Nice yet terrible move, Social Security owe to persons that's been contributing monthly, new students will apply for full time or part-time scholarship to grow more. DO NOT SIGN Ms. Leandro.
Thanks

If there is money like this to throw around why not use it and finish the Library, This Govt has truly become a noose around our necks, and they continue to be so at the deafening silence of the populace. $10million for the Irish Men while we ,re threatened with blackouts and while pensioners cannot get paid on time,soon you will read some nonsense about the ALP,because nothing happens and the fault stays where it belongs,the ALP must be mentioned even after almost a decade.I am not ashamed to say,We are suffering from a serious dose of dunceness spreading across the Island.

Why would any country spend $10 million on ipads? Why? Your students are performing below other countries on the basics, does he really believe that an ipad would improve. There are schools in the US now that will not allow computers in school anymore and rightfully so, children need to learn the basics. The people's money should be spent on improving how the basics are taught.

This country really lacks leadership. why is this a priority? ministers go off on their own in their little kingdoms making stupid decisions wasting money. what sorcery is this? This administration runs like it has 17 prime ministers, no cohesion no strategic planning.

@AntiguanYouthMan
I completely agree with you sir. YEAH! I'll be 60 soon and that will be just in time to pay my SS retirement benefit - "and me want all me money".

No need to look too far... Common Entrance and 2013 CSEC results will tell the tale.. This initiative can be good for the 4th and 5th formers but IPAD's? Why not a more inexpensive Kindle or a reading tablet, where all the e-textbooks for all their subjects are pre-loaded in conjunction with the BOE. This would save tax payers some monies in the long run. These can passed on to the subsequent students. I am sorry. I am technology oriented but I can only see distraction and abuse for these gadgets. They will be not be used for learning 90 percent of the times. Total waste of scarce resources right now.
On a different note. WHY IS MANSOOR SO POWERFUL. HE EVEN FORCING ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ACCEPT AND "PAY" for his ideas from their ministry's budget. Jacqui is my friend, Dont mek no man boss you around. You could never make a decision that would impact Mansoor's Ministry and he allows it. Just total unfair and disrespectful. What a real BS we have for a PM.

Digicle, Hadeed . . . Niggers love it when massa profits! Follow the money people, another case of what is wrong with US as a people. If this "initiative" involved a local Black Antiguan company, we'd be marching in the streets and ready to wage war, but as usual, niggers love massa and he "freebs", which we eventually pay for ourselves. By the way, has any research been done to see how the laptop for teachers improved teaching or learning?

While it may be justified in their eyes what they are doing, i am sure they will say that it is, giving the students internet accessibility can come at a much cheaper cost than ipads. The great plan which is to come which he spoke of in concert with the announcement of the ipads needs to be tabled that the public may understand why ten million dollars should be spent, and from the ministry of education and not from the ministry of communication.

We need to stop padding the major corporations and give fledgling indigenous enterprises the chance to grow and contribute to the national development. This candidate is no more than just that, and a stop need to be put to him, and it must be done by we the people. We have the power, or do we??

Isn't it shameful that two men who never faced the electorate in this country can do as they like with the people's money and get away with it? xxxx xxxx spent almost US$50 million to buy old Chinese power plants and now the xaxixan xxxxx will spend $10 million to buy ipods; most of which will be utilized for non educational purposes. All this is done while the elected men in government just sit and say or do nothing. It is clear that they should not be there. Get rid of them come election. xxxxx, please tell us what is in this for you.

How many of you will stand in solidarity with Jackie quinn, and the nation of Antigua and Barbuda against this corporate tyranny. You see the past minister of education was a puppet and this puppeteering is what the candidate is familiar with.
We tried to put internet in all the schools in Antigua from as early as 2003, yes prior to upp, and again with the upp, we were blocked suggested to that the e.c.c.b has some e.m.i.s project which was to facilitate that venture...never happened. We sought to offer online training to the ministry of labor, we were rejected. then the candidate in turn paid C&W for training courses from a company whom we earlier had rejected because they were buying 3 party course ware and reselling them to whom soever will....xen worth xohxson told me that its not the money you can save its the quality service provided, when asked about that move. Quality service they could not substantiate by records, non the less we were blocked, the community access centers are defunct, and ineffective, because they favored the big corporations than the indigenous citizen, who has more concern for the people than the money.

The father of the nation warned Antiguans and Barbudans about letting a certain ethnicity into the political infrastructure. Your memories are very short.
The Manchurian candidate has struck again. All you slaves in Antigua and barbuda are going to do is rant and rave on the social media. while waiting for the man who appointed him and put him in his office to work to appear out of the subversive shadows and tell you...
"the decision was mine. i have certain executive right to make decisions and i made it. There was a lapse in communication to the relevant ministry, i am sorry for that, but , you know, these t hings happen all the time. I am in dialogue with the minister of education and we will sort out the matter.. It is a good program, i see merit in it. And it was my decision, i accept full responsibility. . None the less the initiative must go on..."

And all you all are going to do, is shut up, curse among yourselves and then go quiet like the good sheeple you are; although you know what is right, you will non the less do as you are told. And that is the sad state of the Antiguan human farm.

If I was the governor general, those girls would be sleeping in government house tonight or where ever queen elizibeth stay when she done in Antigua. i spoke to the queen and she said she not coming so please give those girls her room.

I really cannot condone spending this amount of money on Ipads for students. Not when a lot of schools are in poor conditions. Simple things that are needed are not supplied by BOE. Many teachers that have been trained for years now or have degrees cannot be upgraded because "no money there". The library is still not completed. Social Security having trouble paying pensioners. APUA owes APC. Workers aren't being paid on time. Our roads have pond holes. The list goes on and on. I can fully understand the Minister of Ed being perturbed as there isn't even paper to print things in that office because "no money there". Sad to say but I'm not seeing people being put first at all!

How could this happen without the Education Minister signing off on it ? Unbelieveable !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I want mansoor to be education minister. So he is taking the lead on all educational initiatives. I agree with him and hope he succeed since Jacque the clown has done nothing as education minister. We need these bold initiatives to help Antigua . Jacqui is a waste if time.

No comments on the brang brang new digicel office soon to be opened (or already opened) in the minister's townhouse mall on American/Allsai nts road?

"Ah fu me decision"!

We can't pay our debts, but we can find $10M for iPads?
We have 2 young teenagers being housed in jail for lack of accommodation.
We have students overseas whose bills are unpaid.
We have a library that is a disgrace.
We have schools needing repairs.
Plus, we all know that the students who receive this wonderful FREE gift (I can't afford one even though I would like one) will not be using it for school work. Unless, of course, the school work is FB, WWW, or other social media.

It is said that no question is a stupid question, so anyone can request until judgment day. The problem is not with the request, it is that this request was honored despite ANU teetering on the brink of economic collapse. How many departments does Mr. Mansoor have within his portfolio? I guess he has never heard nor understand the phrase to "stay in your lane?"

It would have cost much less to have a virtual clasroom or two installed in each school to enhance learning through interaction. That is what is needed in the 21st century and beyond. Plus, it can be monitored much more effectively that these iPads; which run the risk of being lost, stolen, or damaged.

Skyewill - you are absolutely correct that our leaders have failed, and failed miserably.

These Ipads are delicate devices and unless the students or their parents paid these ipad themselves the children are not going to be very responsible for them. There are many other things needed to be done in the school system like training our teachers properly to be qualified to teach our students. Send them to do annual training during the summer to enhance their teaching skills and as a result that will help our student to have better p** on a whole.

This is just total nonsense..... but we should understand the agenda to push Digicel since someone might have shares in it.

How about finishing the public Library and fulfilling obligation to our students overseas.

Visited this story to understand what obtained or likely to be obtained. Rational comments by all-particularl y those of "...SKYEWILL," whose comments have merit, along with a little humor from our good friend "...DUNCY BAT."

The latter had demonstrated two things arising from the name- He is certainly not a "...DUNCE nor a "...BAT," as far as the cost of one "...EYE PAD" was concerned. Hence, it should cost a "...helluva" lot more to cover the entire "...FACE."

Well done "...DB."

I believe the writer of this sorry has misten the date. Today is the 23 rd of October not the 1st of April. Nice try but wrong time. you definety cannot be serious.

Ask Steve Jobs, maybe he will donate them for free

I am for proper technology in school but I fail to see the ipad 3 ($550 usd retail) as practical. We need E readers to replace hard copy books. The text writers also need to also embrace this technology. The kindle 6 can be purchased for $65 US retail, and Kindle paper white $106.00, Nook simple touch $119.00 and I am sure in volume it would be cheaper. Embracing such would mean students have less books to carry around and the board would not have to worry about damaged books at the end of the term. We need to also be cognizant of power usage of these devices. The ipad3 offers about 5 hrs while the Kindle keyboard or whitepaper offers 2 months, nook simple touch about a month

..

Two abused and allegedly suicidal teenage girls locked up last week. Both girls, aged just 13 and 16, will remain behind bars alongside adult convicts – despite having committed no offence – until a two-bedroom facility on the compound of the former Holberton Hospital is deemed ready and suitable. One again showing no real love for our children. It's all about bragging rights. it's like a football player who score 10 goals but his team lost. There are 2 little girls who are abondoned by their parents so Antigua government is going to put them in prison until they can get a place for them at Holberton Hospital but this fool want to put 10 million in out dated Ipads. WHERE ARE THE PLAY GROUNDS NEEDED TO BUILD HEALTHY CHILDREN? SHAME PAN ARU!!

Yes I, let's scrap books and library, and provide every student with an Ipad, support Apple all the way!!!!!!
I predict, that 25% all these gadgets will be down within the first 2 months.
I am not willing to support this with my tax dollars!!!!!!!!
There are tablets on the market, that cost less than a quarter of the Ipad, and with the help of a few of our own Antiguan IT guys, could receive all the APPs needed, to perform as student's aids.

This has to be the most back handed, d u m b a x s, xxxxx, 'initiative' ever dreamt up in antigua. Why do these kids need iPads ?? They are not going to help them at all, most will be sold, lost, stolen, broken etc. You think any of these kids will take care of them ?? They can't even take care of themselves. Meanwhile, we can't pay pensions, we can't pay APC, we can't pay local contractors, we can't pay our bills period. If these jokers ran their businesses (you know who I mean) like they do the Gov't then they'd be out of business in a week. Pathetic bunch of thieving r a x s h o x e s !!!

Well well if it is so much they paying for just an eye pad, how much would they had to pay if they covered the whole face. Shame Shame

Ok with not much thought please jail the good Minister!!

@ Pied Piper - i would have to agree with what u stated AMEN to that good observation.. - @ young analyst u ever smell wan xxxxxse no i mean xxxxxr no i mean xxxxxr stink a rotting fish, he and dixxxl right up inna each other sorry for the dialect lol ...

Are you kidding me...just pick one of the following:

25 years Over-dued state of the Art Library
a PC for each 5th Form student house hold
keeping social security alive for one more month
New Technology and gears for Police/Coast Guard/Defense Force
Completion of 15 years over-dued State College Lab/class rooms
Multimedia systems/Screens for schools class rooms
2012/2013 5th former gets a grant/scholarsh ip to local/regional tertiary institution
Remedial School/Class room (each school)

Just pick one above and that $10 mil. would go much further for the society at large IN COMPARISON to your idea of savings in text books. Because everybody would have a piece of the pie.

I understand and know your point of SAVINGS IN TEXT BOOKS and the TECH. IN TEACHING (because I have over 25 years in TECH) but at this time we can't look on helping a few instead of holistically helping more with the necessary infrastructure that would stay the years, which states savings and common sense.

iPads are just for today, tomorrow its ancient but infrastructures are for the future.

Is there a hidden agenda here, i am not sure why 10 million would be spent on Ipad 3. Digicel and Mansoor i sell a fish

Another example of the intended waste of tax payers money, to further the corrupt objectives of the UPP Mal-Administrat ion. It is paramount that the technicians within the Ministry of Education show some backbone, and stand up with integrity and say NO, to what is obviously a underhanded and questionable decision, which did not even have their input or advice! By simply having no comments or fussing behind closed doors simply will NOT do! This is the time to call a spade a spade and say NO to corruption! If you don't then later on you will be judged by your actions or inactions!

say what??? 10 million dollars???? are we serious? I feel like crying every time I go on Caribarena, read the papers and listen to the radio, I feel there is no hope of turning back all of this mess we are in. How are going to pay for this? not more TAXES!! Please government of Antigua and Barbuda my children and the other children of this nation should not suffer for the dunce people we have running the country. Please people of this country we need prayer and hope!! I am not sure calling the election is really going to help as the ALP would need a miracle to get us out of this one!!

sorry for my bad grammar i was so **ed when am writing...... but on a serious note the govenment need to allocate the resources properly.
i am sure when these children get these ipad whey will do everything excluding school work.... smh

@ Jumbee Picknee ... hahaha u think Degicel don’t know what they doing.. that’s the entire plan that digicel has up its sleeve , at first i thought it was Digicel the one footing the bill but it all makes sense now , since the market is now open up in terms of telecommunicati ons , digicel will now have the option to provide Internet services 4G to be exact so now these ipads will be using an item called the (dungle) i think the name is, i may be wrong , what that does is to allow the ipad user to gain access to digicel network hence giving them 4G internet access(3.5 or less to be exact) lol .... so who is going to foot that internet bill, maybe the parents , maybe the school .. that still left to be known..

This government simply does not have a clue. Does Dr. Mansoor finally plan to run as a candidate in the next general elections? Seems like he's carry-on the tradition of trying to xxxx votes. I refuse to believe that with this economic crisis most of us are going through that this would be the best use of 10 million dollars. The good Dr. obviously needs to return to what he did best. Hon Prime Minister control your appointees. We the people never selected him you did!

LOL... CHEERS TO THE DEVIL IN THE DETAILS... HON. J QUINN - THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT NOW ... SHOW ANTIGUA & BARBUDA PEOPLE THAT YOUR ABOUT THE PEOPLE AND CALL THE GOVERNMENT OUT ON THIS WASTE OF TAX MONEY INITIATIVE FOR WHAT IT IS...

ALL THIS EARMARKED MONEY COULD HAVE VERY WELL WENT INTO PLANS FOR INVESTING INTO OUR ECONOMY VIA SOME GOVERNMENT DRIVEN LOCAL BUSINESS INITIATIVE TO GIVE OUR UNEMPLOYED MEANINGFUL WORK TO DO, INSTEAD OF INTO "APPLE'S" IPAD BUSINESS BANK ACCOUNT...

PS... I-THINK BLADWIN SHOULD MAKE MANSOOR MINISTER OF ECONOMY HE SEEM TO BE THE MAIN MINISTER CALLING THE SHOTS AND GETTING STUFF DOWN UNDER HIS WATCH... HE COULD DO SOME GOOD IF HE WOULD BE AS EFFECTIVE IN MANAGING OUR MONEY AND GETTING THE ECONOMY TO PERFORM LIKE IT...

The ipads have to be connected to a network for them to be fully functional.
Who pays these monthly/annual fees?
They might have to hire Duncy Bat to teach them which **ons to click on an which ones to leave alone.

The Big man doesn't get a commission on teacher training or smaller class room size? There is more %%% in buying and selling; hense commissions follow from the telecom giants. More DIGI CELL Sponship for halycon!!!
More internet fees govt and students have to pay for !!! APUA iNET Falls futher.
Poor Jacki ,'you don't have a clu on how this Sxxxx/mxxxxoo Govt Eat off all the meatkind ''', from chinese generators to uniforms and now ipads!!!

i just finsh the antigua state college this year, the antigua state college no have enough room to acccomodate students,
the library is too small, we dont have a lunch room, the teachers staff is way to small, someones lectures are not on time and we dont have lectures for weeks at time,
and the only thing this govenement see to do is spend 10 million dallas on Ipad, really???? police station are lacking resources they dont have a place to accmodate young girls who are suicidal... really, smh

Social Security has problems paying pensions is serious, but this- I'll laugh.

Why? please somebody tell me why would you spend this money on ipad when you police infilstructure is so screwed up. The schools look like crap, workers not getting paid, teachers need reclassing and teaching tools. Digicel lol al the way to the bank! It may be nice to do but its not right to do!

Dear Jacqui,

You may talk the talk, you may walk the walk, but you're not the man! Mansoor is the Big Man in the Cabinet! Just hush your mouth and go sit in a corner in the Cabinet!

Mansoor is the most Senior man in the Cabinet - just ask Wilmouth about that! I humbly suggest you go back to the kitchen and do a crash course on making Kibbi and cabbage rolls! It seems that that is what influences the PM!

Does anyone have any idea how we will re-charge the batteries in these Ipads when the lights go out because APUA can't pay their bill?

If you think education is expensive try ignorance. Ipads are not toys or just gadgets. Look at the initiative as an investment in our future and that is worth more than ten million dollars. They can potentially save the "the already cash strapped people of Antigua & Barbuda" many more millions of dollars (For example in text books and paper just to name a FEW) and those savings can be put into the other areas that were mentioned. I hope the MoE doesn't just make this a turf war and a matter of ministerial pride between her and the MoI. Ok maybe he should have consulted with her first but the MoE needs to realize that TWO WRONGS DON'T MAKE A RIGHT. I am hopeful that they work this out soon and move the initiative ahead. I use ONE (SINGLE) iPad in my classroom to teach and it has made such a difference to student learning that I can only hope that this happens sooner rather than later.

School IT Labs lay in a state of shambles, while we have IT buses running around Antigua, full of gas and running AC all day...Not even the acting IT co-coordinator in the Ministry of Education have a say or is privy to any of these initiatives...! ! The question is what is the purpose of these IPads-are students able to access their text books on these devices, can they write their notes, will their teachers have this technology, can an IPad be repaired? For the majority of these questions and much more, the answer is no...this is just a political gimmick and waste of money! SOmeone went to an Asian country saw it being used and decided they wanted it here...no feasibility study, no plan, no future, no economy, no thought of what is the best approach, no collaboration, not even with IT and education technicians in education! JOkers...Jester s...CHickens running around without heads!!! WAH MANSOOR SAY AH WAH GO...HE LARGE AND IN CHARGE - TRY FUH STOP HIM!! LOL!!!

This lack of communication and collaboration is not new...it has been ongoing since day one...everyone knows that no matter how much Jacqui rants and raves behind close doors...she go till haffu fine de money! Wah mek? 'Cause Mansoor say so!! Ah he large an in charge round yah!! I thought he was a pediatrician... I could be wrong!! He says what goes, and what he says better be done or else! Ask the present and former technicians of the ministry that he should be taking advice from!! These initiatives in technology if not planned carefully are a waste of time and money...

Caribarena can i say this is BULL-CRAP pls.

Digicel who is a corporate entity should still be responsible enough that is not worthy hence should have sold/donate something worth while like completion of the over 30 years dued public library.

Minister of Information should have the fore/hind-sight that our children are not mature yet for all this technology he is forcing down their throats at this speed, for instance, the misuse of internet and computer devices with the outburst of local school-girls in sexual acts.

This has me so angry that words can't even be put in place properly. This money as the ministry of education and your medium suggests could be placed in more important areas especially completion of the cursed library that started during ALP administration with Stanford around and still trying to survive its birth-death.

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! The Arab Trader is no slouch. Not only is he covering his tracks, he is Protecting The Office of The Prime Minister. CA has written of Conflict of Interest. This commenter has drawn your attention to the Procurement Act and Ethical Standards.
The Hon Min Of Finance was clear with regards to Budget Procedures and Prioritization of Approved Expenditures.
The Good Hon. Dr. Min of Ed smelled the dead rat and has blown the whistle.
Once bitten twice Shy with the Fences Expenditure even though it adequately filled the war chest. Is she prepared to shout out to the Arab Merchant "TEK DAT!"
Will Mr. Fixit the AG be called in to mediate another dustbin suggestion by the Arab Trader?
Let us hope that the Deputy Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Opposition having supported the Appointment of the "Commissioner" will now make representation for the Documents and pursue this to the end of Wash Han Basin.
Things Fall Apart, The Center Cannot Hold. Such are the actions when in the throes. Oh Gad! Pray Wid Mi! Duh U C Eny Ting Fe Smile Fa?
Heaven Help The People of the country of Antigua & Barbuda including Redonda

Students should be buy their own iPads. Would these iPads stay in the classroom or given to students to take home? If given to students to take home you can forget about those iPads coming back to school given some time. Where is the local education technology infrastructure to use these iPads? Will teachers be presenting or delivering lessons online or will this now presents the opportunity for students to dive into Facebook during class time? What is behind this move? This article seems more like internal political infighting.

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! "Pickey Heads" now revisit the Budget Allocations. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Public Information falls within the Office of the Prime Minsiter and is managed by Sen. Mansoor. Keep this always etched on the Brain. Quote:

The Office of the Prime Minister, which has been allocated $38,364,820 in Budget 2012, coordinates programmes and projects that cover a wide range of services in the twin Island State of Antigua and Barbuda. Public Utilities, Foreign Relations, Public Information, and Barbuda Affairs are among the portfolios held by the Prime Minister.Pg99

The Budget has absolutely no allocations for such a program and expenditure.
Ministry of Education, Sports, Youth and Gender Affairs
Quote:

An allocation of $76,337,364 is made in Budget 2012 to implement the programmes and activities of this Ministry. PG108

The Budget has absolutely no allocations for such a program and expenditure.
Quote:

Madam Speaker, as the saying goes, “nothing worth having comes easy”.... any investment made to ensure a future in an Antigua and Barbuda would be well made. PG 151

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! Quote:

The Minister further adds: Recognising the disconnect between strategy and available resources, the Ministry of Finance hosted a retreat earlier this year to highlight the importance of linking the budget with strategy, given the limited financial resources. The intention was to build upon the system of programme budgeting, where the focus is on outputs and outcomes rather than on inputs; and to emphasise the significance of proper planning to maximise limited resources.

Given The Above, How did GoAB get to this position? Rastas Patience!Quote:

The Procurement Administration Act, 2011, which was passed at the last sitting of Parliament, is expected to enhance the processes and procedures by which Central Government and Statutory Bodies procure goods and services and award contracts. Pg 52 Another important provision of the Procurement Administration Act, 2011 speaks to the artificial division of solicitations. Ethical Standards is also accorded prominence in the body of the Procurement Administration Act, 2011. PG 53

Ah Ha!Those dreaded words Ethical Standards. Who Is ThE Licensed Reseller?

Bravo idiots...bravo

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock!Quote:

The six overarching strategic objectives of the NEST plan are:
1. Fiscal Balance2. Education for All3. Enhancing our Social Development Agenda 4. Preserving our environment and building a stronger physical infrastructure5. Economic sustainability
6. Antigua and Barbuda – the Best Brand
These strategic objectives will inform all Government policy decisions of Government and will guide our engagement with the CDB, which will provide technical assistance to Antigua and Barbuda in 2012 to develop a Medium Term Development Strategy

So there you have the Strategic Direction which follows the Hon Min of Finance Vision and Exhortations.
Advice to his Cabinet Colleagues.Quote:

The annual budget presents the Government’s strategic objectives and its resources for the given fiscal period. Over the years however, there may have been a misalignment
between government’s strategy and its resources, exacerbated by fiscal constraints. It is important that the ministries’ business plans and budgets be better linked to Government’s strategic priorities to secure better public sector performance.

How bout you give them books to read or better yet buy some books and get resources for the new Library! smh

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! CountryWomen/Me n, Pay Attention!
Quote:

We must re-engineer, reform and reframe our methods and tools of engagement. ... We shall no longer think of ourselves as 90,000 individuals. We are a force of ONE. 90,000 strong, with inherent ingenuity, creativity and enterprise. 2012 Budget Statement Pg 2

That was Dec 5, 2011. On Feb 6, 2012, the Census was revised. Quote:

The enumerated resident population for Antigua & Barbuda remains at 81,799. Finance News.

Who gives a Fig? 9K here or there! Quote:

Madam Speaker, Ladies and Gentlemen, we have already had our Sputnik moment, our “wake-up-call”. Budget 2012 presents us with our Man on the Moon Moment, and we are not allowed to simply say “pass”. This moment we must seize – with hands that are more committed, more devoted, more dedicated, to a cause that requires the focused minds, nimble feet and sturdy shoulders: the manager and the messenger, the clerk and the carpenter, the politician and the professional.2012 Budget Pg 3

Friends, Please follow the Good Hon Min of Finance and his exhortations.

I was waiting to hear how this would turn out. SMH More wanton waste - maybe this is why they are selling passports, to pay for iPads.

What a load of crock....10mill ion on 1pads for children to use for everything else except learning school work?!! Minister Quinn-Leandro should fight this. Disrespectful to say the least for this decision to be made without her been a part of it. Her points are very valid ones as to what the monies should have been used for. Jacqui do what you have to do. Fight this. I am behind you 100%.