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**Observer** » 2013-01-20 23:21

I read in the Daily Observer of Saturday Jan 19, 2013 on page 9, " Country told to give up US Gaming Fight". Here is a call from another individual a Lawyer and businessman from Canada to Antigua to chose another fight. There is no way you will win a fight that will bring shame to the USA. No matter if you are right. And I heard Weston on his radio program on Thursday finally talking somethings in that regards. The engerny and money lost to lawyers could be better spend paying or ambassador to the UN to lobby the USA for a diferent kind of compensation while saving face in public that we have come to a settlement. We ought to make our politicians payback all the lost monies for their stupidity.

**Antigua Observant** » 2013-01-16 16:13

This government is just sinking Antigua slowly but surely, they should have started long time ago to push the gaming industry to other countries such as China, Costa Rica, and so on instead of kissing ass and renaming our OWN landmark after a man who was one of the heads behind the shutdown of the gaming industry here. Lets remember that the main reason why the US wants to shutdown Internet gaming here is because they (US) are not making money as Antigua is. Typical example, when Antigua was fighting the case of the VOIP phone (internet phones), the US was not complaining cause they were making all the money while we make the phone calls here and now we little Anu is making some money they want to shutdown the industry.

**Gone Gaming** » 2013-01-14 15:26

Mr Spencer, I am one of the remaining 400 people working here in the internet gambling industry and I can tell you that before your statement the remaining companies working in this sector were already planning exit strategies.

You have now confirmed they need to get out and NOW, your foolhardy statement has ensured the loss of more jobs in this sector, you tax and spend had already driven many away but this is the final nail in the coffin.

History will show you as the PM who finally shutdown the gaming sector in Antigua for 20 pieces of silver!

**tenman** » 2013-01-14 13:32

Quote:

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has for the first time revealed that his administration has been willing to scrap Antigua & Barbuda's gaming sector in exchange for a "realistic compensatory package" from the United States. Read more:

Clearly if these guys wanted someone to fight for the industry, its not the PM. He has already stated in his mind the industry is extinct. No one should be surprised if the remaining about ten registered companies start making exit plans for places like Costa Rica. Why wait for the PM to push them off the proverbial cliff

..

**Pellucid** » 2013-01-14 13:12

The US only makes up about 5% of world population. That means Antigua still has access to over 95%. If an "industry" can't be competitive with 95% market access, it probably wasn't much of an industry to start with!

What about Antigua's good friend China? They have over 4 times the population of the US, why not promote gambling there????

**Inquiring Minds** » 2013-01-14 12:50

The US should legalize internet gambling and let the real industry leaders (Las Vegas, Atlantic City and Native American Tribes), wipe out any Third World competition in the marketplace. People should be no more eager to bet with an Antiguan casino than invest in an Antiguan "CD"!

**Son of da Soil** » 2013-01-14 12:14

Baldwin Spenser, you are willing to sell out a sector of our economy that once employed over 4000 people. A sector that generated millions in revenue for for the the Government. Even after we won our cases in the WTO (not only goods can be traded, but services too). For what, a measely 21 million US that you will probably xxxx with xxx xxxx in xxxx. Do you think we forgot when you came back from recieving your second so called doctatate you said "as far as I'm concerned the off shore sector is dead". Man ....you're a traitor. You want Antigua people to live in poverty.
Resign and move to America, cause thats who you're working for.

**me dadli** » 2013-01-14 12:04

Big fish vs small fish .. sometimes the small fish needs to think strategic and not arrogant... i have always thought that instead of fighting for online gaming that they should give up online gaming to the US because it dosent mean that we cannot provide the online gaming for the rest of the world but ok give it up for the US for us to perhaps get other investments , more flights , more advertisements , maybe as you said US factories , cheaper education , a US visa embssy i mean something way more profitable as well as skill building could have been sorted out years ago and we could be now reaping the benefits of it ... also of course baldwin naming boggy peak over to obama was the dumbest thing he has done in my opinion how naive was that approach , we honour an american hero before we honour our own? .....

**Cmon** » 2013-01-14 10:35

WTO stands for Word Trade Organisation. Forgive me if I am wrong or if this point has been made before, but if matters are brought to the WTO is it not a matter of Trade that a "settlement" would be based on? If so, what is it that Antigua has to TRADE with? Is it any wonder we were not even listened to the last time we brought up the subject? Is it any wonder the US is trying it's best to be "friend" in letting us know that we ought not to go down certain roads? Instead of asking for money, why not instead come up with something else that will empower and enhance our human resource like maybe free education in areas that we need certain skill-sets or a level or form of manufacturing here in Antigua?

Again, please forgive me if I'm wrong. But if somebody, stronger, older, and for all intents and purposes appears to be wiser than me, tells me to not do something because it may not be good for me....should I not take heed to what that person is saying and try to "as friends" work out something else?

Like he said, we are a small country....let' s take our time and thread carefully...

**Ex Stanford Worker** » 2013-01-14 10:30

Sometime ago Stanford brought to Antigua a group of US congressmen/wom en. And at the luncheon the prime minister took the opportunity to try and lobby the US delegation to assist bringing closure to the gaming dispute. The congressmen/wom en told him then that they will not assist Antigua in Gaming. They would assist with bringing investment and any other areas. But not gaming. I think our PM just doesn’t get it. You get an opportunity like this and all you can think of is ask for help with gaming. Rather than to build networks with US Cities that could be targeted for tourism and other investment opportunities. Where there is no vision the people parish.

**Dr. Dredd** » 2013-01-14 08:52

The US has no loyalty to anyone but themselves. We all know that. We were convenient friends during the cold war only. PM Spencer went and renamed Boogey Peak even though he knew that Obama co-sponsored the Bill that closed down our Gaming Industry. And even though Obama made it clear in his first election bid that he would punish all those Americans/Ameri can businesses who took capital and jobs out of the US and reward those who helped to build America by giving tax breaks. None of this was a secret. Don't our politicans read?

**skyewill** » 2013-01-14 08:51

400 here 150 at APUA and the port another 200 civil servant will crash the already bankrupt ANU. However, give the PM some credit for at lease looking at this situation from another angle. The attitude is wrong because you don't have to inflame things with unnecessary chatter. What does being intimidated have to do with a good ** whooping? Many brave men have gotten the cat of nine tails. The sector is dead but the problem is creativity. It is now for the PM to pull out one of those good ideas we are not short on. This is his moment to shine. It’s the top of the 8th and the coach sent in new instructions, new directions are afoot and I believe we will see not only a NEW ALP but also a NEW UPP.

**Observer..** » 2013-01-14 08:34

Or other aids to benefit our economy. We can get much more without letting the USA loose face. All that we are doing now is wasting money on expensive American lawyers. Money we could use to promote tourism. Too many of our citizens live in the US and lots of Antiguans have dual citizenship. They can simply stop our ability to get IMF help or any sort of international financing. Where will we then go, To Chavez? Even Cuba they have not ease up on for decades, because Cuba made them lose face. Nothing to do with communism. Otherwise they would not be dealing with China. There is more than one way to skin a cat. Pick your battles smart.

**Observer..** » 2013-01-14 08:33

I have said this many times in the past. Antigua should pick the fights it can win. Picking a fight with the USA is certainly not one you can win. No matter whether you are legally right. Just look at how they behave holding people captive in Guantanamo Bay, breaking all international laws. Going in to Iraq. No WMD. They brought big Swiss Banks to their knees. They forced BP to settle an unprecedented settlement of billions of dollars. And many more cases too many to mention, and small Antigua wants to tell them what they can and can't do. Come on people. Yes we are right but we will not get our right. Our politicians should have had the foresight and negotiate a better settlement. Like getting more coast guard boats. More financial aid with the fight against money laundering.

**Ms Scotland** » 2013-01-14 08:20

Why would Antigua give up a viable industry for US handouts? The government should be trying to expand gaming. And after how many years, only now is the PM outlining to recoup the damages we were awarded? The PM is a day late and a dollar short.

**not again** » 2013-01-14 05:34

Pm Spencer I am now convinced you have lost your mind. Does your government have the capacity to employ or find employment for these persons that you are so willing to scarifce? It is not just 400 persons that will be affected, think about the trickle down effect ie children, school, banks, MB, SS, EL, just to name a few. So Mr. Pm I'm begging you to PLEASE put your head on.

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