Junior Minister Blasts Budget Slight

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Economy

Wednesday, 16 January 2013 02:30

By Carol Williams

Antigua, St. John's - Minister of State in the Ministry of Legal Affairs Senator Joanne Massiah has criticised the Ministry of Finance's decision not to set funds aside for the Intellectual Property Rights and Commerce Office to undertake public education.

Senator Massiah, who has oversight for the office, is demanding that the Ministry of Finance correct the "anomaly," which comes against the backdrop of artistes' plans to launch a copyright awareness video this month, in collaboration with the office.

"Recognising the importance of this sector, Madame President, not only to our economy but to the artistes, this has to be and should be corrected," Senator Massiah said during her contribution to the budget debate in the Upper House of Parliament.

She said, "To the extent that we have corporate citizens in this country who come on board to help us, we have to correct this anomaly. We cannot be saying we are launching a public awareness campaign about intellectual property on a budget allocation of zero. That cannot work Madame President. It cannot work."

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The junior minister said while she understands the scarcity of financial resources facing her government, priority should be given to areas that have the potential to contribute significantly to the country's economic development.

She said too that provision should be made this year for the creation of five positions that are critical to the work of the Intellectual Property Rights Office - deputy registrar, a copyright officer, an on-site IT officer, and a patent officer.

"It makes no sense to agitate and to be eventually successful in the enactment of the Patent Act and the regulations and we have made no provisions for a patent examiner," she said.

According to the junior minister, Antigua & Barbuda has also been making strong representation to serve as the  home of a sub-regional intellectual property rights office.

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