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Politics
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Wednesday, 20 June 2012 02:30
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By caribarena news
Antigua St John's - Senior ALP member Molwyn Joseph has responded to the recent call for unity within the Antigua Labour Party by ALP members Gaston Browne, Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, and leader Lester Bird regarding the Wadadli Power Plant.
The trio called for increased unity on the issue, and demanded an end to the “cannibalization” by some members of the opposition.
MP Molwyn Joseph recounted that back in December it was him and Robin Yearwood that raised issues about the plant concerning cost, operation and condition at that time.
Joseph said he has long taken a public position on the matter with the interest of the public at heart and he could not understand the deputy leader’s statements.
“I never thought that I was being divisive. I thought I was performing my duties as an opposition member of parliament. Whenever I speak as a politician I speak for the people who elected me and in the interest of all people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Joseph said.
Joseph added that he takes a certain amount of pride in saying that he has contributed significantly to the debate and the dissemination of information on the matter to the people of Antigua.
“I do not understand the statement of the deputy leader. He has had the same opportunity as I had to do his investigation and probing to find out what happened between Antigua, China and the company. I am flabbergasted that any of my efforts could be seen in any way other than serving the interest of the people with the consequence of putting the ALP in a better light in terms of its responsibility as an opposition,” he said.
The former government minister also noted that several individuals within the party have decided that instead of joining the fight to make the government accountable, they have taken something of a neutral position.
Further, Joseph said he took offense to an alleged statement made by the ALP chairman that the people promoting the idea that the engines are old are paid mercenaries.
“I would interpret that to mean that he does not support the view that the plants are old, which he has the right to because he claims not to have seen evidence,” he said. “I have seen evidence and I trust my judgment… so we differ on that.”
He said documents requested of the government still remain missing, and the submission of these could have put a rest to the situation had they all been submitted to the House at the last sitting in late May.
“I am at a loss to understand why my effort to dig deep and to force the government to account could be anything but constructive,” Joseph said.
It was also noted that a group from within the ALP has been on the ground for over six months speaking on the matter and Gaston Brown could have used the same opportunities as these people, without restriction, to express his position from the onset.
“If at this point the party is now seeing the importance of uniting behind this issue then it is indeed a positive development because it is clear that the expenditure of US$47 million by the government being done illegally without parliamentary approval and almost in secret, with no public documents and the restrictions of visiting the plant, makes it the most important issue of accountability in the country,” he said.
“The bottom line for me is that if the ALP is going to unite and join those of us in the fight, I more than welcome everybody not only in the party but the country to make sure that the government is forced to account. That is the issue… one of accountability.”
53 Comments In This Article
too thin skin
outofantigua
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
I.R
Wow
A new company was formed 4 months AFTER the contract was already signed to supply the engines for the Wadadli power plant. RED FLAG!!!
The deal was never debated in Parliament. RED FLAG!!!
The engineers that went to China got bamboozled and ended up on site seeing tours ... they finally inspected one engine and the engine was giving problems yet they still gave it a blessing??? BRIGHT RED FLAG!!!
The APUA engineers asked the board to pay for independant engineers to over see the project and the board refused. RED FLAG!!!
The Wadadli power plant prices are quoted differently all over the internet. RED FLAGS!!!
Then comes the infamous Caribarena pictures of old looking oil soaked engines, pipes tied up with cloth and serial numbers with paint on them. BIG RED FLAG!!!
No media outlet has been allowed to visit the Wadadli power plant since Caribarena put up their pictures. RED FLAG!!!
That is way too many RED FLAGS!!! Even the blind can see something is wrong here!!!
It Is Me
@ Maulwyn
David Shaolin
@ Robin
WHERE IS LESTER IN ALL OF THIS?
WHERE IS ASOT?
CARIB ARENA NEEDS TO INTERVIEW ALL OF THESE PLAYERS TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MESS!
Family Guy
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Challenge you – if you are really for accountability – then start accounting – tell us the truth about the xxx xxx xxx xxx xxx
Eric
...Cirque de la Antigua...
Jumbee Picknee
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
BEEF
The Gang Of Four - Rated Capacity!
The rated capacity of a machine, equipment, engine or generator is that specified by the manufacturer of the machine, equipment, engine or generator Based On Its Design.
The rated capacity must be certified by an Antigua & Barbuda Professional Engineer if:
The Manufacturer's specification or other acceptable warranty cannot be produced;
The machine, equipment, engine or generator has been modified in a manner which will change its rated capacity;
Wear, corrosion, damage or signs of fatigue are found which may reduce the rated capacity;
The machine, equipment, engine or generator is used in a manner or for a purpose other than that for which it was originally designed, if the use will change the safe working capacity; and/or
IFF in the Opinion of The Board/APUA - Regulatory Agency, Owner & Operator - the Provision of such a Certificate is deemed necessary.
If Electricity comes from electrons ... does morality come from morons?
Heaven Help The Nation Of Antigua & Barbuda including Redonda.
John French II
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Prince
Caribarena Moderator
Readyy
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Peter Wang Thomas
REPLY: Peter Wang Thomas
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Best regards,
Caribarena
Caribarena Moderator
Wang
Readyy
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Ian Best
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Peter Wang Thomas
The Gang Of Four -WPP Challenged! PT2
The People of the Book state: Quote:
First Past the Post Poilitics is a Struggle - an act of war without bloodshed. Two Possibilities: Struggle for Power or Raise Issues that have the Possibility of Gaining Traction. The Two Camps.
Heaven Help The Nation Of Antigua & Barbuda.
John French II
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Fred
at inquiring mind
ring
The Gang Of Four -WPP Challenged! PT!
"Follow The Money". If anyone tells you the Plant costs 300,000,000 Yuan or $47.0M USD and you accept that, you have failed yourself. Quote:or Quote:Take your Pick.
The WPP Project includes, the Engines, Generators,(Rep ortedly New & Rated at 30 Megawatts, only capable of 24 Megawatts producing only 4 megawatts), Infrastructure inluding - Fuel Storage Tanks (Reported by APUA to be Sinking), Sub-Station (Reportedly omitted in the Original Design at a Cost of $5.0M USD) and Technology Transfer (A Reported 2 year management, maintenance & operations contract Reportedly costing some $3.0M USD). Since the contracts are in Yuan, it can be safely said that the cost of the WPP Project, in money we understand, is $55.0M USD and counting as the Yuan continues its Appreciation Trajectory. Why is equipment not capable of operating at its rated Capacity?
John French II
re: peter wang
on your 6
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Inquiring mind
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Fred
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Peter Wang Thomas
ERIC
THE AG
THE DPP
THE CHIEF OF POLICE.
And while you are at it.PLEASE GET ALL NESSARY DOCUMENTS ON THE WPP FROM THE CHIEF SERVANT (P M . B.SPENCER) AND GIVE IT TO THE PUBLIC .
THANKS
PEACE
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Readyy
re: peter wang thomas
what now
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Eric
Re: Joseph Responds To Trio
Anu
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Peter Wang Thomas
@ Peace
WPP,we did not get VALUE FOR MONEY.
VALUE= Quality of being useful .THE ABOVE ONE AND THE SAME."
I saying that 6 and 1/2 dozen is the same.... is Gaston asking if we got "value for money" meaning that we should have paid less for the engines?
aj
where did Gaston stand...
aj
Let us stay on the road and not off!
Dig It
Possible i am not correct
WPP,we did not get VALUE FOR MONEY.
VALUE= Quality of being useful .THE ABOVE ONE AND THE SAME.
Why should the movers of the motion change from saying the WPP are OLD to the PARTY CHAIRMAN saying WPP is not VALUE FOR MONEY.
THERE CAN BE NO UNITY>
PEACE
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Anonymous
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Ian Best
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
wa you want
as far as I can see
the man
@bush doctor
If you compare the chinese made pick up trucks with their japanese counterparts, its clear that the japanese come out on top. But at least you can make the argument, that the chinese trucks were considerably cheaper, so you got what you paid for.
But WPP was TOP DOLLARS!
down to earth
re: peter wang
I for one want to see evidence. Even if the queen of england herself told me the engines were new, it wouldn't make a difference. If you are gullible or trusting enough to just accept the word of chinese ambassadors or apua engineers, perhaps you need to hit puberty and then we'll talk.
Molwyn needs to keep the pressure on the government. Releasing documents to prove the power plant is new is not an ALP vs UPP or even ALP vs ALP issue. We just want to see proof that the engines are new. Is that really too much to ask?
what now
One idiot
Such an idiot.
Reader
Sigh
what now
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Ask Mr. Righteous which ALP Minister unilaterally gave Prestcon out of Trinidad a contract for US$12M to build the Redcliffe Street Pier allegedly without a Cabinet Decision or the authority of the Board of Antigua Pier group that was responsible for the construction of the pier. Should we conclude that money passed ? Should there be an investigation ?
Next episode, I will ask the Self righteous one in more details if he knows about the Mt. St. John land purchase for EC$13.4 M and the additional and unnecessary US$10K monthly that allegedly was paid to overlook the construction of the Nevis Street pier in addition to the payments to the civil engineering firm xxx xxx. And by the way, was the duty paid on the Rolls Royce ?
Ian Best
is all abut THE IHI
When you are a politician you do not make decisions based on your personal XXXX but it must be in the best interest of the ones you are representing.
upp
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Ian Best
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Fred
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Peter Wang
@aaron
Quote:Let me congratulate you for understanding what the word representative means. I recall listening to a seasoned US politician saying that a politicians job is like a lawyer representing a client (his constituents). Aaron you need to consider running for elective office since you seem to understand this basic tenant better than even the chairman of the ALP. MP Browne you can't be lukewarm on this issue
..
tenman
RE: Joseph Responds to Trio
Fred
@ Maulwyn
Wild Western
@ Maulwyn
Bishop Receipt
@ Maulwyn
Bush Doctor
I support you 100% Mr. Joseph
Aaron
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