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**Alp Pickney** » 2011-02-12 23:07

If we don't have a committee in February how do you think carnival will come off This year? People we have less than 6 mths & we don't even have a committee. Both Maginley & namba should be fired immediately. People are not going to fly to Antigua for a backyard carnival the UPP are famous for producing as we are well aware anything with Baldwin at the helm will fail. What a bunch of numb nuts. Can I nominate Skyewill, cool ruler, & avid reader to join the carnival committee w Baldwin? Just a suggestion.

**tenman** » 2011-02-12 03:30

@carnival lover - let me ask since you used those two countries as examples, how much does the TNT Government and the Barbadian government contribute to Carnival? I can bet you if we really looked at the figures that it works out to be less than what the government here is giving. I listened a year ago when Calypsonians complained that they did not want a car valued at some 80K but instead wanted cash (I think 50K). Do you think when Carnival started that and even considering inflation that anyone got that kind of money? Back then they did it for the love of the art form. You will then argue that its now about business and I will agree so how about we start treating it that way and stop the waste where for example last year the government ended up sponsoring most of the carnival queens. The Calypso monarch show could not even pay for itself based on attendance.

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**Avid Reader** » 2011-02-12 02:26

Don't support UPP or ALP, but I am in agreement with you that Maginley needs to go, he is at fault for alot of this mess. The man and his office is inefficient, they have done very little to improve the industry for Antigua, they have also spent a hell of alot of money and Antigua & Barbuda has gained very little from it. Don't pay attention to TV appearance telling you what they do.

**carnival lover** » 2011-02-12 00:01

It is very apparent that most of the opinion writers are very young and never studied caribbean politics. The late Dr. Eric Williams of Trinidad & Tobago had a foresight in the development of steel band as a cultural musical art form and a musical instrument. Owen Arthur of Barbados, during one of his early terms, took the Ministry Of Culture. Look at how Crop Over has developed as a leading caribbean festival. Michael Manley took an interest in the development of reggae. I say no more.

All these gentlemen were outstanding caribbean leaders. So, nothing is wrong with PM Spencer and his cabinet ensuring that our premier festival is charted in a direction using 21st century business practices.

So, let us wake up and look at the big picture.

**Skyewill** » 2011-02-11 20:16

me a dead wid laugh. I'm trying and doing a bad job at it. Voice of Reason...relax jack we go way back. any way i was watching a video with the Antigua parliment to music. and i can tell you. the world is derespecting us. it was the craziest thing I have ever seen. I am sure it is also on face book. WOW. How do we start over and where did we get them people from? it is a real comedy show and I mean really seriously. tghere is no way we can run a country like this. the people business take back stage to nonsence and ego tripping. sometimes it is good to see where you guys are coming from. When i say tell the world I mean we talk about what we going to do but don't do anything. What I would like to see them shout up and work

**Pellucid** » 2011-02-11 19:21

I guess arguing about who should be in charge of planning a party is far more important than dealing with an exploding crime rate, a financial scandal seven times the GDP of the so-called country, and a failing one-business economy.

**I do not want to be an Antiguan no more** » 2011-02-11 14:35

what, he na hab nothing fu do? As I have said before, the UN needs to take over that place. A country's "Cabinet" will be naming a committee to run a Carnival. The "Prime Minister" needs to get involved. Then this country has the same rights as a real country in voting in the UN. Lord help us all.
Please give us back Lester Bird, we have a bunch of children running our country

**Dig It** » 2011-02-11 11:45

cabinet, this really sounds like Maginley! His ego is too big for A & B! And, he had rift in the past with Dundas, who tendered his resignation! It seems that anything this man touches turns into bronze! What a joker?

**Justice** » 2011-02-11 11:33

I have every reason to suspect that Avid Reader is a member of the UPP and possibly a Cabinet Minister. This is precisely the way they all treat Namba and Chandlah even when there is ample proof and evidence that these two are not to be blamed.
This entire episode is to be wrapped around minister Maginley's head and he's the one that should be ent packing. It is minister Maginley who established a new management structure in carnival and named himself as chairman over Adams. How could this be right? It was Maginley who invited Adams to a meeting and without notice, had two junior staffers taking turns to destroy his junior minister. How in heaven's name could this be right?
Namba, time to stand up and talk out. Stop taking blame. While their is no "I" in team, there is much respect and an over dose of tolerance. Tell Maginley where to get off

**Dig It** » 2011-02-11 11:16

I do agree with some of you that the PM should keep out of naming the new CDC! I guess he has a lot of time on his hands, despite all the problems we are facing! Namba, this is unacceptable! This February, and we don't have a CDC! Perhaps, Namba, is too busy writing his songs to compete this year's Calypso Monarch Competition. Well, I don't have to remind most of you how he did last year on the stage? Namba, please keep your day job! By the way, you and Vaughn, need to work together and stop the nonsense!

**Insie cabinet** » 2011-02-11 11:07

PM Spencer is not just getting involved for the sake of doing so. He was mandated by the Cabinet to meet and sit with waring ministers Adams and Maginley to try and save the day for our carnival.
Magin ley is determined to shunt minister Adams aside and to run the celebrations with a handful of UPP party loyalists. Minister Adams on the other hand has pledged to rebuff and repel Maginley's underminding.
T he most interesting point at this time is that our 2011 Carnival still does not have a committee to plan and organize; another UPP failure

**Avid Reader** » 2011-02-11 11:01

Whether or not anyone believes it carnival does bring money into the country, taxes from airline tickets, supermarket shopping etc. Money comes into the country from it, the question becomes is it being maximized for the benefit of the country, the answer dahhhhh.... Adams need to be removed from culture, it is outrageous that this man has a job overseening anything. There is money going into the economy from carnival and it is about time that someone step up to the plate.

**naiomi** » 2011-02-11 10:15

I agree with you, ANTIGUANS ARE TO BLAME. Even us overseas. It is really ashame that OUR COUNTRY doesnt have a library SHAME! SHAME ! SHAME on all of us

**Voice of Reason** » 2011-02-11 09:25

Show the world what? Should we show the world that Antigua has the lowest credit ranking ever its a D Show the world that in six-and-a-half years they have accumulated debt of about $1.8 billion, as compared to debt of $1.6 billion that the Antigua Labour Party (ALP) incurred over 28 years? Should Baldwin show the world that they have been living off the projects implemented by the Antigua Labour Party including the deep water harbour, the finger pier, an international airport, a network of roads across the country, and expanded water and electricity facilities? I am really anxious to see how Skye will defend the UPP this time.

**Native Son** » 2011-02-11 09:09

My Dear Friends, Please focus on the issue at Hand. Do not be distracted by other issues, which even though they are significant, do not assist with the formation and functioning of the CDC. We have a Nation to Build and A Carnival Festival to Plan and Execute. With Respect. Keep The Faith.

**Avid Reader** » 2011-02-11 08:13

Everybody here is humping on the completion of the library, don't know how old most of you are. But about 15-20 years ago there was a grant that was being given to erect a new library, only request the government had to come up with the matching grant. You can only imagine what the then government said, give us the money no match, the library then set out to try and raise funds, don't know what happened. (For reference this was about the time when they selected the national dress, which I think fit into the time frame above). Antigua people must take the blame for no library for over 40 years, it is an outrage when the building the original library was in, was deeded to the people of Antigua and Barbuda. It sat there for years since it could not be torn down unless it became a hazard to people.

**tenman** » 2011-02-11 07:57

Yes you are right because to me he will be only living up to his creed of getting involved too late and to me its already too late, our carnival has already been affected by the delay. Another area we differ is I saw when he got involved with the library project when Joseph was minister and it is still not complete. Ruler like SteadJ I think we need to start focusing on priorities and Carnival is not as important as getting the library done so is sacrifices are needed let it be carnival. Perhaps all thats needed is we cut a few shows for example The queen show. I really don't see what it has to do with our culture

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**Cool Ruler** » 2011-02-11 07:36

Tenman you miss my point. The persons charged with ensuring that the committee is in place, has been procrastinating not the PM. Rather than wait for the situation to be dragged out any further he has decided to get involved. Now that is being proactive on the PM’s part adopting a hands on approach. Am sure that many including yourself would have also criticize him as the person that the buck stops with if he just stayed num and showed no interest, right?

**perplexed** » 2011-02-11 07:10

If the PM needs to step in where Namba and Maginley have failed, is not it time for him to fire their behinds? They are MP first, who says that they need to be ministers with portfolios? Oh yeah, they get more tax payers monies.

**perplexed** » 2011-02-11 07:08

I would rather he make a move to get the police department what they need, I would rather he make a move in getting investors to come to our fair land, I would rather him make a move that improves our healthcare system, and finishing the so needed public library. You are telling me that no one in his administration is capable of stepping in and taking over for Namba or even assisting him? Come on now, we have more important issues that the PM needs to concentrate on and Carnival isn't one of them.

**perplexed** » 2011-02-11 07:06

This is what I do not understand, when people call him a dictator people get upset. Why not insist that the man have a list of names on his desk by a certain date with position title and justification? Namba did submit a list ontime but PM Spencer didnt like who was on the list or better yet who was left off ? If this infighting and overrulling continues, whoa is us.

**George Lester Baldwin Bird** » 2011-02-11 06:27

Nice to hear the PM actually getting involved in something finally ... But if this was private investors promoting carnival they would of made sure the members of the committee had studied marketing, promoting, accounting etc... and would have also had at the least 10 years experience of running events of the same kind. In Antigua all you have to do is be able to "MEK SURE" that certain songs and artists don't win anything!!! Or if your a lawyer or doctor you good to go ... in Antigua they have a way of popping up in ALL KINDS OF JOBS AND POSITIONS THAT THEY NEVER STUDY FOR.

**tenman** » 2011-02-11 05:59

steadyj, well said.

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**tenman** » 2011-02-11 05:58

Cool Ruler that's the best answer you can give (must say its been a long time since we have had a back and forth)? You say he is not waiting for the current guys to procrastinate but in an earlier post you stated " because by now this committee should have been named to make sure that carnival which has a significant effect on the country’s economy can start to plan the festival." Ruler make up your mind, are they not already procrastinating ? . As far as Egypt do you recognize the work it took to accomplish what they did today? It did not just happen by someone saying it will be completed this year for every year since 2004 (now that's procrastination and laziness). I will continue to say that the weakness of MP Spencer is that he has a lackadaisical attitude which flows down to all in the chain. The attitude of the UPP reminds me of a child constantly crying about the world not being fair and begging for pity. MP Maginley is the best representative of this. Ruler do you think that cry baby attitude would have created change in Egypt?
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**steadyj** » 2011-02-11 05:54

The public is culpable in this almost forty years rebuilding project of library, and here is why. The only projects that public and the politicians tend to focus large projects that are associated with the tourist industry. So, mundane, less glitzy projects such as our library put on the back burner. He can always come up monies to dredge the harbor, extend airport runway etc. This are all important, however also have must invest in our most important resource, human resource. Politician like to be associated with big shiny projects, so that they and their supporters can point to, and say UPP or ALP build it during their tenure in office. If a youngster in Bolans or Old Road wanted to return or borrow a book from the library, why should they have to travel all the way to town to do so?

**Native Son** » 2011-02-11 05:40

In Strategic Planning and Project Management, one of the major questions is what have you learned from your mistakes and how do you plan to avoid making the same mistakes in the Future. Hopefully, The PM will bring this rigorous analysis to the table when he sits down with the two feuding, derelict and delinquent Rabble-Rousers. If Big Blue VW is the Problem, Have him Project Manage the Program in conjunction with a Quickly Appointed and Nimble CDC. The two Protagonistic and Antagonistic Ministers should immediately convene a Strategic Planning Session to Layout the Way Forward for Future Carnivals and Develop an Annual Planning Cycle. That the Bench is Limited is without Question. Keep The Faith.

**Cool Ruler** » 2011-02-11 05:35

He is being Pro-active taking a hands-on approach because he is not waiting on Namba or Maginley for that matter, to procrastinate on this important task any further. There is a saying where there is a will there is a way. If there was a national will, the library would have been completed by now, as persons would have known of the benefit of having a decent public library. Maybe because everyone has computers now and can Google for information persons don’t see a liberty as something important. Or could it be the since 1974 when the last one was destroyed the then government which held power until 2004 never saw this as important because they could rent space from a comrade. This delay cannot just be for finances but perhaps incompetence on the part of the contractors involved. As for the University of Antigua, well the people of Egypt also thought a few weeks ago that getting rid of Mubarak was a pipe dream , so too the thought of a black man being president of the USA. Pipe dreams are good they sometimes become realty.

**steadyj** » 2011-02-11 05:26

Again, I am calling for the cancellation of this year’s carnival, and divert the funds to the completion of the library. The library was damage on the 8th of October 1974, (I was 6) and we are almost 37 year later and the building is not completed. A great man once said Antiguans don’t read, and perhaps he was correct in that statement. The Big Creek Big Bridge was damaged in that same earthquake, but we manage overcome that by building essentially a temporary passable structure until the structure in place today was constructed. Perhaps that same model should have been used, whereby the government should have acquired a small fleet of vehicle to serve as Library on wheels that would go out to the Villages with books. Or perhaps instead of have huge main Library in the city a series of smaller libraries located in the Villages would have served the Islands better.

**Cool Ruler** » 2011-02-11 05:02

Regardless of what the PM does you ALP supporters would criticize as that is all that some of you know to do. You are the same persons that would be making the most noise if he adopt hands off approach and just continue to make Namba procrastinate and before you know it we are in April or may with nothing in place and everything has to be rushed last minute which may result in an inferior product. The PM is right to step in but I don’t think he will be doing as the ALP use to do just appoint party hacks as c chairman

**tenman** » 2011-02-11 04:51

Ruler for some reason I always thought being proactive meant getting things done before your back is against the wall. You admitted that its is now late so I don't see how you can even attach that definition to the PM's involvement. As far as the former PM did he not lose that election in 2004? Its kinda funny because he then won in the election after the hospital was complete in 2009. Ruler ask yourself, if we can't complete a national library what are the hopes for the pipe dream called University of Antigua?

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**DadliMan** » 2011-02-11 04:42

Anything Baldwin does impresses Skyewill. Clearly, Skyewill has very low expectations of the PM.

**Cool Ruler** » 2011-02-11 04:40

Well I call that being pro-active by the PM because by now this committee should have been named to make sure that carnival which has a significant effect on the country’s economy can start to plan the festival. Tenman In regards to the library everyone would have to admit that is nothing short of a national disgrace and there is more than enough blame to go around for this project which started many moons ago under the ALP. Six years into the UPP’s term it is still not completed. How much has been expended on this project so far not to mention contributions from places like mill reef ect. I wonder what the amount of the cost overrun is. By the way the PM’s pronouncement on the library is not worst than the statement made by Lester some years ago that if the hospital was not complete he would not run in another election. We all know what happen

**Where de money gone?** » 2011-02-11 03:32

Can somebody tell the PM that he has bigger tasks than to deal with putting together a carnival committee. Mr. PM how about putting people to work, how about putting the infrastructure back together in Antigua to allow businesses to thrive, how about putting the thieves in jail where they belong, how about putting the money that your government has squandered back into the treasurey, or better yet how about putting your hands up in surrender and admit that you are a poor excuse for a PM and you are just not mentally equipped to handle Antigua and put it in the right direction.

**ALP Pickney** » 2011-02-11 03:26

What good name does Baldwin have? What good things can you tell me he as Leader of the UPP has done for the ppl of Antigua? If Namba cannot get something as basic as forming a committee then that should tell the world what the ppl of Antigua really think about his leadership and mgmt.
Namba is a waste of UPP space and should be tossed in the dust bin of history as the worst politician the UPP has had thus far.

**Antiguan woman** » 2011-02-11 02:39

It is about time that all Antigua realize that we are blessed with the worst Govt in the region( maybe even the world,with the exception of some African countries) It is said that people get the Govt they deserve, and that seem to be soo true, no other civilized place on this earth,would ever think of keeping a Govt in office,who is clearly unable to do the work a Govt is supposed to do, these people collect hugh salaries, for doing absolutely nothing, Seven yrs of dunceness& stupidity has finally come home to roost, ANTIGUA MASH UP, not even Carnival t they can manage,what a dam joke.

**my way of helping** » 2011-02-11 00:10

i pray for my country and yes, i hate that every committee has to be chosen by ministers or from direct ministerial appointment. Can't we collaborate with people, opposition, YOM, church, history teachers about to have a nice carnival committee.

Why do we have carnival again? ummmmm, oooooh, to celebrate the abolition of slavery because i thought it was to celebrate the day we start to procreate (have sex). I just learn the true reason for carnival today (sarcasm here).

**Robert Williamson** » 2011-02-11 00:02

Baldwin don't know how to prioritize? Here is the list:

Jobs

Cr ime

Education

Health

Agricu lture

**justice** » 2011-02-10 23:57

Not even a simple exercise of naming a committee to plan and manage our Carnival this government can get right. Isn't it a shame and disgrace when a Prime minister has to get involved in something so elementary? What does this say about the person(s) charged with and paid for this area of government's operations?
Nam ba might be awkward and difficult but why is John Maginley frustrating his efforts at naming a CDC? Is Namba going to just sit idle and allow the entire country to blame him without giving the public the benefit of knowing the many interferences by Maginley who has gone as far as to set up a sub-committee headed by himself to micro-manage the festival? Namba, when the PM comes for his meeting let him know that you prefer to walk away than to allow Maginley to treat you like dog a day longer. The UPP BIG boys continue to treat you and Chandlah like two **s and it is only by standing up that you can put an end to it. . Speak up and talk out. I hold no brief for Namba, but wrong is wrong.

**Skyewill** » 2011-02-10 23:50

I love you all. However a man always seem to be criticized no matter he does. and although I agree with some of the comments. I am happy the PM is making his move. I hope this will not be the last time he get involve and some of what you are saying he should be doing he get done. I know he is begining to see hope the poor performance of others reflect on his good name. The result of saying something and not following through is never a good thing. LET'S NOT JUST TELL THE WORLD, LET'S SHOW THE WORLD

**Beauty** » 2011-02-10 23:40

There seems to be more into this story than we know.

**Proud ANU Queen** » 2011-02-10 23:38

Witrh all the problems A & B face with regards to crime and unemployment, the PM has time to get involved with the selection of a CDC Chairmain? Really? Why not get personally involved with new crime fighting strategies so that Antiguans & Barbudans can begin to feel safe and secure again? Why not get personally involved in doing some type of feasibility study as it relates to the entry of illegal fire arms into our paradise islands? The people of A & B want a caring considerate and concerned PM who understands their fears and concerns; not one who seem to be disconnected from the population.

Do n't get me wrong, carnival is engrained deep in our cultural fiber and I want it to be a success,however , someone is being paid to carry out those very responsibilitie s. If he is incapable, then get a deputy, and subsequently, a replacement.

**tenman** » 2011-02-10 23:36

I wonder if his (the PM) involvement will make the difference it has with the public library? He has been saying year after year since 2004 that it will be ready this year. The latest word from him is that it will be ready late this year. However while he is satisfied with the progress of the project. Executive secretary Isaac from the Board of Ed has stated she has major questions about the level of work done so far. Isaac states she sees no way that the moneys left (1 million out of the initial 6.44 million) will be enough to complete the project. I make no comment on Namba's and Maginley's mess because it pales in comparison to the mess of our National library.

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**KidNice** » 2011-02-10 21:31

If Namba can't even name a committee on time, how can Baldwin justify paying him a salary. That seems to be as basic and mundane as a task could be. If Namba can't get that right he should be fired. It says something about Namba when a notorious 'do-nothing' like Baldwin seems more decisive.

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