Antiguans Fighting Smear Campaign A group of Antiguans has joined forces to neutralize the crusade being led by the Stanford Victims Coalition (SVC). They are seeking to counter the smear campaign aimed at crippling the tourism sector and by extension, the economy.

The "victims" claim to be among the casualties of an alleged US$7 billion Ponzi scheme engineered by former Texan tycoon Sir Allen Stanford, who is in a Houston detention centre awaiting trial in January.

Last month, the SVC announced the launch of an international campaign to pressure investors and cruise lines to boycott Antigua & Barbuda.

A group of Antiguan advocates is not sitting still while the SVC crusade gains momentum.

Speaking to Caribarena.com, one of the organizers, Faun Thompson, a former tourism attache at the British High Commission, said the group is greatly concerned.

"It started out of a discussion (on a Facebook group) and we realized that something had to be done and we decided to come together and do something about it," she said. "I would say the goal is basically to counteract all the negative connotations from the anti-Antigua campaign."

The two other main activists are economist Petra Williams and Vance Joseph, a multimedia designer.

Thompson said the movement has not been given a name yet, since it is in its early stages. However, they intend to inform all Antiguans and Barbudans about the campaign.

"What we want to do is to set up a website first and try to have people overseas help us by creating awareness groups in America, and if we could in Latin America also," he said. "But we will get together to finalize what we are going to do and move on from there."

The SVC has labelled the country the "Pirates of the Caribbean" on its blog and has since formed another group in Latin America. This reportedly brings its total membership to under 500.

So far, no travel agency has responded to its efforts.

The forerunners in the campaign are primarily citizens of the United States who have since lobbied their government and international aid donors to block funding.

The SVC, in an article titled Anti-Crime, Anti-Antigua, also accused the Antiguan government of corruption that "led to actions like the expropriation of 49 Stanford-owned properties, including the Bank of Antigua, that belong to investors."

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written by knight rider, March 11, 2010

intelligent comments, i think we would all do well to read and consider... rather than rant blindly

Fire with Fire
written by T Boone Pickens, March 10, 2010

A counter suit is quite in order against members of the SVC inclusive of the Attorneys in New York. The matter is before the courts and due process must take its course. There is absolutely no need for them to be causing millions/billions of dollars in harm to the livelihood and of the people not only of Antigua, but the booking agents and cruise operators through persistent, documented, defamatory statements. The AG should look into this seriously.

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written by KnightRider, March 10, 2010

Can you really call it a "Smear campaign" when they seem to be telling the truth?

The FSRC colluded with Stanford to deceive the SEC, The Antiguan Government seized lands belonging to the investors, Antigua is awash with violent crime and had a per capitamurder rate three times that of New York City and ten times that of London.

Sounds like a lot of truth telling to me.

-2

Drs Baldwin and Mansoor don' t have the answer!
written by Uncommon Sense, March 10, 2010

The Government is totally lost on PR or marketing. These folks feel that PR is old talk. They see marketing as sending out a press release to grand stand on the local market. But this is a serious problem, and good intentioned small groups can't counter the global mess that is about to hide Antigua like ton of bricks.

Talk shop is not PR, silence does not prove intelligence, It is arrogance married to foolishness when the situation demands standing up and fighting back. Baldwin don't know the difference!

grey line
written by sgva, March 10, 2010

I think tha not everyone lost their money due to the greed, stanford appeared to be a seriuos company, I think that antiguans are not guilty, but also think that goverment from antigua shoud stop the seizure of the litlle a*sets that the fraud left behind.

Where is the government?
written by Lorraine Jacobs, March 10, 2010

Why should Petra and others be doing this? Shouldn't the government be getting PR experts or a PR firm to handle this? Where is the government on this?

We lost also...
written by Ex-Employee Sibl, March 10, 2010

SVC members should also know that we lost to. We were not evading taxes as they were. We were only doing our job for what appeared to be a legitimate bank.

Why didn't the big US of A pick up on the funds which were being moved out of and through the US Banking System. Many of the bank's clients always lauded on the higher interest rates and professionalism given them from SIBL.

I am sure some of the SVC group had money in Madoff Ponizi Scheme also due to their greedy nature. I hope they are suing the USA.

Yet again the mighty will Fall-ford1
written by MsLake, March 10, 2010

YES!!! KUDOS TO SOME TRUE ANTIGUANS!

Welcomed information
written by Avid Reader, March 10, 2010

I am happy to see something other than criticism happening with this. Sorry they lost their money but the problem is with the US government. Hopefully information will be posted here as to how to contact this group.

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written by Olijah, March 10, 2010

The face book page was not mentioned in the article. Antiguans want to visit the page.

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written by 7, March 10, 2010

Publish a list of all account holders with the amount they claim they lost,, that way USA and Venezuela can check to say how much of the deposits are a result of tax evasion.
See we know where the money gone lets now find out where kit really came from .

all SVC must show that all taxes where paid on the SIB deposits. or else shut up because fraude is fraude.
SVC wants an investigation lets investigate that aspect of this business as well

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written by fed up, March 10, 2010

kudos to uncle faun and everyone thats lending a hand...this madness has to stop once and for all....they want to take bread out of our mouths for a gamble that THEY were involved in....!!!