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Friday, 13 April 2012 02:30
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By Ian Magic Hughes
Antigua St John's - Minister of Health Wilmoth Daniel’s demand for an inquiry into the Chinese Power Plant issue has been unanimously rejected by the Cabinet of Antigua & Barbuda and the United Progressive Party (UPP).
Minister of Finance and the Economy and Public Affairs Harold Lovell made the announcement on Thursday on Observer Radio.
The finance minister spoke with Winston Derrick and Agnes Francis on the daily talk show, Voice of the People.
On March 20, Daniel wrote to the prime minister demanding that a public inquiry be held in connection with the controversial Chinese power plant.
According to Lovell, the Cabinet shot down the call for the probe.
“The matter came up for discussion in Cabinet, and each member of Cabinet spoke on the issue, and there is unanimous support for the position taken by the prime minister," Lovell said. “There is unanimous rejection of the call for any inquiry."
Lovell added that the members of the Cabinet are pleased with the information they received from Antigua Power Utility Authority (APUA) on the power plant.
“There is a belief that what has transpired thus far, for the purposes of the members of Cabinet, that we are satisfied with the information provided by the persons, the technical people from APUA, so we see no need to take the matter any further,” he said.
Lovell went on to say that the need for an investigation into the power plant was manufactured from some unknown place.
“The Cabinet of Antigua & Barbuda is firm that this matter is something that has come from where we don’t know, but we do not agree with the sentiments expressed in the letter,” Lovell emphasized.
And not only the Cabinet, but the party, after being briefed, is also in total agreement with the stance taken by the Cabinet.
“The central executive of the UPP has weighed in on the matter, having this matter brought to their attention," the minister said. “It is now in the public domain, and similarly, the central executive of the party is unanimous in support with the position of the prime minister of Antigua & Barbuda, the Honourable Baldwin Spencer."
During a press conference earlier this year, journalists were asked to submit questions to be answered at a later date.
Many of those questions have been unanswered.
Asked whether there would be a follow-up to the matter, Lovell said he is satisfied that all the questions have been answered.
“The follow-up that you can expect is that should you be able to provide anything that forms a basis for further investigation, I think that the relevant question will first of all be put to those persons charged with the responsibility of providing electric power to the people of Antigua & Barbuda namely APUA,” Lovell said.
He added, “If they are unable to answer it, then I think a question arises why you can’t answer it. If there is something that if you have a document, you have something that says something is awry, please give me an answer to this, then I think you are entitled to an explanation."
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Daniel Demands Investigation into Chinese Power Plant
Shame and Outrage over Edwards' Commentary
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44 Comments In This Article
BI-LAY
HC
Fire and Steel
Fire and Steel you and others like you would like the Antigua & Barbuda Public to think Mr Weston / Mr Joseph / Mr Green and others who are informing the Public and taking the FIGHT to the UPP GOVERNMENT are SMALL FISH,tell me and others if as CHAIR MAN of the AT&LU with ALL the ISSUES put out by the SMALL FISH as you think of them,what is Mr Brown (e) INPUT.
Ref: the POWER PLANT the GOVERNMENT/APUA should give the NATION of ANTIGUA & BARBUDA all the DOCUMENTATION stating we DID GET "NEW ENGINE"
IN THE HOUSE PARLIAMENT Mr Brown (e) is GREAT during DEBATE.
Mr Brown (e) is one of UPP'S BIG CHAIR LEADER.
PEACE
@ Bi-Lay
God Bless!
Bishop
Bi lay or bi polar? nuts for sure
Hmmm that's a lot of big talk. almost to big for a crab louse that does not have the courage to post his or her real name yet fears non. what is Chef missing here? anyway school children say that a good washing with some" blue soap" will fix that. check any pharmacy. tell them Chef send you, they will know what to do.
So blow hard before you come an trey to get all ghetto in here get some facts and take a shower because as impossible as it sounds you are stinking up the place and that's the job of my friend PLM ( soon to be released from the mental hospital or UPP cabinet hard to tell those 2 apart these days)
Microwave chef
HC ARE YOU A LUNATIC?
Bi-Lay
@ Peace
A lot of ISSUES are out there, and he is a MUTE to all that is happening.
I can't believe that without Gaston the ALP is unable to accomplish anything? Then it stands to reason that he should really lead the party - unless i'm missing something here?
Maulwin, Weston and Chet and sometimes Dean are on radio almost every day, and can't get any traction? Really pathetic!!! They are not credible? Or are they just small fish? I await your answer!
Fire and Steel?
BI-LAY
HC
DADLIMAN RESPECT YOURSELF
Dadliwoman
RE: Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
This guy, Harold Lovell, never believed a thing he sprouted as a member of ACLM. Lovell now exhibits all the qualities he despised as a young ‘revolutionary’ . Dansky was right on queue when he said, “they have no moral integrity”.
DadliMan
@ Justice 1
Even staunch UPP supporters think that something is rotten in the bushes. Of course, the blue sheep see nothing wrong.
DadliMan
Bi-Lay me rite yah
Arthur 16
Bi-Lay
Vere C. Bird III
Moral compass
On the other side, Molwyn has raised his hand in the request for an inquiry. And who better to know about inquiries than Molwyn??
A partial solution seems simple and cheap enough. Get Mann from Germany to send a technician to give a full report on the engines. How much could that cost? I doubt that they will risk their international reputation on a Chinese licensee. And let's have him accompanied by the media and a representative from both parties.
Once we have that report in hand, we will be half-way to the truth. If there is nothing to hide then this seems like a quick way to shed some light. If the Chinese screwed us then we use the report to screw them back.
And let's not wait for over 200 days to release the report. I am sure that 1 month is more than enough time.
Heck, I am so interested to know the facts about this that I would contribute to a fund to bring in the technician here to do the report!
I Onanu
VERE BIRD 111 21 YEARS IN EXILE
Uncle Lester,would have told you, you should have kept your damn mouth shut, now look at what is happening!
How old are you?
Bi-Lay
@Bi-Lay
Vere C. Bird III
YOU NEED A BULL BUD
Bi-lay
RE: Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
Vere C. Bird III
Mr MINISTER OF FINANCE (Mr H>LOVELL)
THAT REPORT ALONE IS REASON FOR AN INQUIRY.
Mr LOVELL MINISTER OF FINANCE.How long has it been since a LOAN was given by the GOVT of CHINA and you and the MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT HAVE NOT DISCUSSED THIS IN THE HOUSE OF REP?
THAT AGAING IS REASON FOR AN INQUIRY.
Mr LOVELL CABINET AND UPP PARTY,at the so call PRESS CONFRENCE the PM BS and the CHAIR MAN of APUA were FALLING OVER EACH OTHER.(CONTRADICTION)
THAT IS MORE REASON TO INQUIRE.
Mr H.LOVELL the reason you and your party is getting away it is because the CHAIR MAN of the ALP is doing nothing for the ALP PARTY,he JUST SIT"S ON HIS A** on the MOUTH PEACE RADIO STATION OF THE UPP an give KUDOS to the UPP GOVT.THAT IS NOT LEADERSHIP QUALITIES.
A lot of ISSUES are out there, and he is a MUTE to all that is happening.
PEACE
Harold gone, gone, gone
Why in God's name is Lovell playing pot spoon sticking his mouth in every coxruxt action on the part of his colleagues? I know he is an attorney but does he not understand the political effects and consequences of defending wrong? His misery is compounded by the fact that he presides over the worst performance known in modern Antigua in our economy and finances.
First he defended minister "Fence", now he is at it again defending the indefensible coxruxt Chinese Power Plant scandal. Harold, you will regret the day you went against the people's interests.
Confucius
from Foreigner
slf made Millionaire
The Joker Lives
and hey you don't even need to paint on that smile you already have a "natural" grin on your face.
However chef feels you might just have played this power plant non investigation joke a bit to far. you Joker seem to have seriously forgotten who you are actually working for and who pays your royal salary plus perks.
no it is not your PM BS it is the people our tax money you get and to show how much you respect your boss .You tell us to go and fly a kite ? hey Easter has come and gone so kite flying time over . kinda like your career in politics and other wise in Antigua come election time if you last that long.
King Harold you play the fool and the joker now but be mindful the joke won't be on you( ooops to late) we know that the powerplant is a major cancer that will kill UPP for ever. right Shoulin?????
Microwave chef
Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
Lady B
Daniel is Irrelevant
Justice 1
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
Anything new?
Clearly there are grave issues to be uncovered and massive anomalies to be reviewed and the best response is that Cabinet agrees to disagree with an inquiry when it is Cabinet that in violation of protocoals, procedures and good goverance principles? How can HL be anything but a public joker?
Dr. Alson Patterson
we need to get rid of this government or they will get rid of us
Or if you understand it, you should do like sir viv; you should ignore it for the sake of national unity because you voted for them.
And if you have a problem with it you should not vote because the ALP is the same as us in the UPP!!
For those my people that are still in doubt about the UPP; the answer is simple - we need to get rid of this government or they will get rid of us.
val
RE: Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
We already know the decision to purchase these generators never went before parliament, which in itself is not only suspicious but illegal, so what else is being hidden from us?
Counting the days until this Dunce government gets voted out of power......
Spin Doctor
@ InteresteD
You guys never cease to amaze me.
DadliMan
THUMBS UP
Grey Ghost supports the Cabinet decision!
GREY GHOST
Reality
Lionman
Who is the PM protecting ???
Why did you pay 1.6m per mwh when the internation rate is under 1 m for brand new power plants???
Why all the rust and oil leaks on the Generators? Are they used/ new refurbished??
What is the fuel/lube oil cost compared to industry standers?
Why is the building cracking up?
The people have a right to know . Stop wrapping yourself in the flag and calling out Party Hacks to defend wrong . The country is now bankrupt and you have made the people poorer to support cronies..
Tell the Truth, is the IMF holding up there loans because of what went down at Wadali power/Bencorp/A BI/??? Who is the Chairman/ party hack involved in all 3 projects???//
Karim.J
RE: Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
And the UNITED PROGRESSIVE PARTY has demonstrated time&time again that they are UNANIMOUSLY DUNCE.
ANTIGUAN WOMAN
Daniel competent
InteresteD
RE: Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
Hmmm
A Circular Defence
We don't know anything about this ... we don't know where this thing is coming from ... all we know is what APUA tells us ... we believe whatever APUA says ... if we need any further confirmation on anything we'll ask APUA ... and yes: we will accept wnatever APUA tells us ... and we loyally support our PM's position, whatever that is ... our party faithful see things our way (of course) ... so there!
Colin
Oh Harold! Why Harold?
Transparent
RE: Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
Another sad and shameful day in A&B.
W. Day
WE NEEEEEEED NEW NOT OLD
blessed love
time will tell
blessed love
RE: Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
I am glad that they have decided to thumb their nose at the public. I can only hope their attitude translates into fewer votes come election time.
Lovell needs to know that jump high or jump low, they will have to answer to us eventually. Dr BS and Shoul will have to answer to us about the Wadadli Power Plant, and Harold will have to answer about Romantic Rhythms.
DadliMan
time will tell
blessed love
RE: Cabinet Rejects Call for Inquiry
Is MP Daniel not a member of Cabinet?
mr. antigua
Cabinet Rejects Call For Inquiry
Taxed Out
Lungu na better than sungu!
Maria
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