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**@skyewill** » 2012-11-23 10:31

hink about what used to obtain before Digicel came into the picture? how many of us were able to make calls from anywhere on the island? how many of us even had a phone before Digicel came to the country. All of your rhetoric smacks of disingenuity and shortsightednes s! give credit where credit is due and stop knocking down strawmen to further a political agenda. Digicel is a private company that is in the business to make a profit. They have given millions of dollars to the country - many times without even publicising it! you should all be ashamed of yourselves thinking that Digicel putting our nation's children at a disadvantage by introducing them to world-class technology. Are we so backward and incapable of managing a few tablets? do you think that our people are so irresponsible that we cannot handle something like this? it speaks to the level of trust you have in your own nation and its ability to step into the 21st century!

**skyewill** » 2012-11-23 02:42

you think own Ipad put you ahead of anybody? Ipad are for quick and convience. How are they going to write a report with their Ipad? and when the battery dies or the screen breaeks where are the parts coming from or stolen? sound nice to do but the student are better off with desk tops bolted to the classroom where their training is supervised and some one else can use the computer. Plus they flipped flopped on their story and you believe them. LOB FREEBS EH? Where will these pads be 3 years down the road. Police and fire department and training for government workers/court system/ Labour department need computers. You technology Minister should be focused on brining the country, Antigua into the 21st century. Will there be a program to track these and see how they are being used to measure the impact of the proram? While I increase my facebook friends..come on!

**Reality** » 2012-11-23 01:50

But the real question is:

Who did Sir Allen leave in control?

The Attorney has been seen as untouchable. So has the King.

Who has the evidence? and in what form?, since neither Hewlett's (destroyed by GOAB order) or SIB (held in secrecy by his attourney) records remain.

**Amon** » 2012-11-22 16:23

After Reading Pompey's Comments decided to reread all.

Pompey - Incisive, clinical, surgical and strategic.

Tenman - resourceful, pleading, encouraging and uplifting.

Fom I Onanu to Skyewill inclusive - dismissive with disdain for Babes.

From Iken to Marco Polo - Savvy Marketeers.

Proud Antiguan, Confused, Reason & Broom - The Weak Links between Information Technology & Education Technology. Never made the Connection.

Garrat, Dadli & Have Mercy - You Restore Faith! No Innocents Here!

**Amon** » 2012-11-22 13:50

Boldface sings That When You Don'T hnow, You Just Don't know. In order to heal yourself of an illness you must first accept the malady. The People get the Government They Deserve.
Caribarena has written of Conflict of Interest in Antigua and how pervasive it is throughout such that it just runs off Antiguans like water on a duck's back.
The blogger John French II has written of Buccaneers & Privateers not only in History but also of today's Irish Buccaneer and his Arab Side-kick.
In Spencer Sides with Mansoor, Caribarena asked 6 questions. John French II posed 10 questions and provided a Framework for an Educational Technology Plan. There were no responses to any of the questions.
It is sad to see many suggesting that the GOAB/Digicell Plan is good for Education in Antigua based on emotion.
To overcome these industry and educational Raping of Antigua. GOAB must Develop and Implement a Public Utilities Board to Regulate ALL Private & Public Utilities Services Providers & Consumers. The Minister of Education Should develop an Education Technology Strategic Plan. Until those are done, the Raping & Flogging of The innocents will Go On.

**RAWLSTON POMPEY** » 2012-11-22 13:23

There were never "...FREE MEALS." Don't be naive, Investors "..gave nothing for nothing."

Since the objective of an investment was always to make "...handsome profits on capital," investors always wanted the "...BEST INCENTIVIZED DEALS." It may be "...Short Term- 5 or more years; ...Medium Term- 10 or more years... Long Term-15 or more years."

From Law enforcement training and experience, personnel were always taught that in "...Governmenta l Contractual Arrangements", there were two possibilities "...Bribery and Corruption," of the system." Only Men of scruples avoided these pitfalls.

Most countries have enacted, what has now been popularly known as "...Trillogy of Legislation." These were intended to eliminate "...Bribery and Corruption" and promoting "...Transparenc y and Accountability."

The investors offers bribes, usually through "...influential public officials and/or citizens," thereby "...corrupting the integrity of the systems and/or processes." These were not easily detectable. Nonetheless, there were still some scrupulous men, investors/publi c officials around.

**Village Boi** » 2012-11-22 12:54

Do u think that any company give away anything free? Hells to the NO, its call Public Relations and there is value in PR.......when ppl hear of a company give to charity they will by the products of that company and its a proven fact........... I agree the GATE program has alot of benefits for the future of this country, but my question is at what Cost ? why could we not have all of out telecommunicati on company involve in this GATE program? WHY I SAY?.........WH EN WE R DOING THINGS IT SHOULD BE DONE ABOVE BOARD .......THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE THE ONE PROVIDING THE INFORMATION ON THIS PROGRAM.......I support the program but, i want transpancy and accountiablity and I dont see any here ..........It can look good on the surface but when u get inside we maybe surpraised at what we fine

**tenman** » 2012-11-22 11:36

truth, Stanford gave millions to charity but how many billions has it been proved that he defrauded his clients? The issue today is lack of transparency not how many dinners a suitor provided. By the way you ever heard that joke about the requirements of ordering from the expensive side of the menu? Is it simply that you give all to perceived charitable suitors?

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**tenman** » 2012-11-22 11:25

broom man do you understand the word ethics? Anyone ever told you that transparency is needed in order to ensure ethical decisions are made? Would you let a man with a history of child abuse near your children? You don't think firewalls (would include transparency) are necessary especially when dealing with a company which has a record of bribery allegations?

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**Have Mercy!** » 2012-11-22 10:54

Does ManSORE have shares in Digicel?

**truth** » 2012-11-22 10:48

I agree with confused. Nobody is talking about the fact for YEARS the Clare Vue psychiatric Ward has been in a DEPLORABLE condition - even condemned by the public health authority as unfit for human habitation and yet Digicel went in and spent MILLIONS to renovate it and nobody is saying anything positive about that. but as soon as someone throws out some negative fodder everyone is jumping on the bandwagon. Jump on the right band wagon nuh!

**Dadli** » 2012-11-22 10:29

Digicel is right they don't need to report to the public as a private company so any issue should be taken up with the government, but we all know how that goes. Despite whatever Digicel intentions may be they still stand as a private company accountable to their shareholders, not the public.

**broom man** » 2012-11-22 10:16

Look it is all simple. the Government and Digicel have entered into an agreement that puts our children and our country's future miles ahead of the rest of the Caribbean. Why are people being so short sighted about this great opportunity to improve the lives of our people for the long term? with improved technology we can do our business better as well as allow for greater access to the rest of world.

**Reason** » 2012-11-22 10:08

I think the focus of people today is not in the right place. Digicel and the Government are working to improve the education system in Antigua and Barbuda by introducing our children to world-class learning tools at their fingertips - literally!

**Garrat.** » 2012-11-22 10:01

Govt gives this European Company ^60m in concession at the expense of IMOBILE. Yet Sir VIV and George Rayan are quit happy.
If this concession was granted to a local company they would be on the air waves ranting and babbeing!!
Shame...Shame.... Antiguan Industry sold for a few IPADS!!!!!!

**Confused** » 2012-11-22 09:54

Why are we getting so mad at Digicel?? Surely the Government needs to setp into the frame. Everywhere we look we see conspiracy, how come we don't question when Digicel do their good works like the Clarevue rennovation - is there something shady about that? Or when they support the numerous requests from charities wanting cash for causes their own people won't support - is there something shady about that? When there's actually something to talk about, aryu can beat you gums den!!

**tenman** » 2012-11-22 09:45

Quote:

Justice Michael Moriarty, who headed the tribunal, concluded that OBrien (Digicel's owner) paid Ireland’s former Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications Michael Lowry significant sums of money and, in exchange, Lowry gave O'Brien, “substantive information (that was) of significant value and assistance” to his Esat Digifone company securing Ireland’s second mobile licence ahead of rival bidders, in 1995. The final 2,350-page report published on Tuesday highlighted payments amounting to almost £900,000 (US$1.4 million), made or facilitated by O’Brien for properties in the UK, which the tribunal linked to Lowry. The tribunal said it was satisfied that the payments and other benefits were related to the awarding of the licence and accused the former minister of a "cynical and venal abuse of office". Read more: http://www.caribbean360.com/business/308639.txt#ixzz2CxVnpPtY

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**Proud Antiguan** » 2012-11-22 09:45

I think there's a lot of short-sighted people on here who need to get real. Education and technology are going to be the two key drivers of this economy - and in securing jobs for the next generation of job-seekers. We cannot afford to rely on tourism any more to fund this country and give our people jobs. We need graduates who are at the cutting edge of education and who can stand shoulder to shoulder with their American and UK counterparts - ahead of their Caribbean peers. We need to make bold moves like this and allow the capabilities of international companies have a positive impact while they are here. Small economies like ours NEED this investment - and if you look at similar examples the world over, Governments must entice companies to do these types of deals. I do not know the details of the deal but I commend the govt for making a bold step towards improving the future of this country and its young people.

**tenman** » 2012-11-22 09:43

Can you imagine the balls on this man. He is saying to the public that the deal his company made with our government (public entity) is private. His statement breaks the 2004 information act. This very company, a tribunal last year, in Ireland concluded that its owner owner Denis O’Brien was guilty of bribery (see "Digicel owner denies bribery", March 24 2011, caribbean360). Someone once told me that if the telecom ministers were to strip down to his briefs, we will see that even his brief carry the Digicel logo.

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**marco polo** » 2012-11-22 09:04

People in this country must suffer from some sort of collective syndrome (Stockholm, Battered Spouse, or something); it is the only thing that can possibly explain why we keep retreading the same ground regarding these shady deals.

**Lawyer** » 2012-11-22 08:30

Digicel IS using the Microsoft engineered technology monopoly plan introduced by Microsoft. Since the 90’s Microsoft have donated portions of its popular Windows XXX software to US Colleges and Universities. Their long term strategy like Degicel, is to influence the next generation to think and purchase Digicel products and services. How the plan worked for Microsoft? When the students graduated from these great schools, some became CEOs and CIOs of Fortune 500 companies and guess what; the only software they knew and used in school was Microsoft Windows XXX. The plan worked. These CEOs and CIOs all purchased Microsoft products for their companies and Microsoft have since dominated the software industry. However, I do have a problem with this authoritative position statement from Corcoran “As a privately held company, we do not feel it is appropriate for Digicel to release details of the agreement with the government etc…. and this agreement have been fully approved by the Cabinet of Antigua & Barbuda” The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda approved this? I am now completely lost. Can someone in the Cabinet explain this agreement?

**1ken** » 2012-11-22 07:40

Digicel give Ipads for nine million and get back sixty million from the UPP Government!!!!! !!

**skyewill** » 2012-11-22 07:26

I believe the government is giving away Antigua to foriegn companies and Antiguans are getting duty free on 1 vehicle or some little crap whaile they give away the store. Ask them how much off APUA they getting while poor people pay high electric bill to subsidize them? The kind of concessions given away will blow your mind. All concessions shjould be made public because they should be accross the board and IT'S TAX PAYERS MONEY.

**Watchful** » 2012-11-22 06:46

I am weary whenever large cooperations say they are giving something to society, because it makes me wonder what they are taking! Inability to offere public detais about what should be a public endeavor raises certain alar bells and screams of corporate manipulation intertwined with political corruption to secure a unnecessary and irregular deals that the tax payers of this country will be paying for in years to come. This is another example why the UPP Mal-administrat ion should go!! Along with any corporate co-conspirators !!!

**Village Boi** » 2012-11-22 06:43

all I can do is laugh, Digicel and the government is hiding something. I do believe the GATE program will be benefital to the Nation of Antigua and Barbuda but at what cost? (I would ask)......I feel that Digicel will be getting alot more than the nation will be getting.......O ut with LIME(CW) and in with Digicel......

From the time a company aint willing to disclose the detail of a program or project that is deem to be good for the country that means somebody is trying to hide something...... .........If this 60 Millions concession is true and have to ask the Government what happen to the small medium size businesse, dont they need concessions too to help build the economy ?

**Omen** » 2012-11-22 06:35

Surely this paper trail comes under the concept of public documents, unless given "top secret" status and therefor there is a public right to know and the documents should be made available to who ever wants to see them.

**Hmmm** » 2012-11-22 06:21

They probably got a sweetheart of a deal tha would raise eyebrows and concern if we were aware what it was.

**DadliMan** » 2012-11-22 06:12

Well, sounds like Caribarena has its first opportunity to make a request of the Information Commissioner. We know of his lofty goal of functioning as the IC for the OECS, so let's see how well he functions in A&B first.

**I Onanu** » 2012-11-22 05:57

Oh boy! Here we go again. It is the go-to excuse for Digicel for anything that requires a sensitive answer: "As a privately held company, we do not ..." The back up to that is "proprietary " or "competitively sensitive". All good reasons but it just gives the impression that there is something to hide; something embar**ing.

Come on, if it is so good for the country and you are doing it to help then give us the details. Digicel is only too happy to force feed us the details of every "charitable donation" that it makes but not this one? Come on, this is not national security information. Or, is there something embar**ing that they want to hide????

Title	Answers
ANY INFO ON HOLIDAY LETTINGS AT BARRYMORE BEACH CLUB RUNNAWAY BAY	0
first caribbean international bank	0
how can i get in touch with Dilana R. the professional singer?	0
Who was antigua's first Govenor General	1
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Was there a police report filed by Royal Caribbean Vision of the seas for the man, wife and 11 yr old child removed from the ship on December 20th, 2012 ? He allegedly attacked a man with a service dog on the ship and was set on the dock that day with hi	0	30834
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What is the world's largest airline?	2	5360
What is the amount ZDK owes for electricity ?	1	3706
any audio or video of Minister Farrakhan speech at the Multi-purpose Centre?	1	3612

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