sky really? U think 8 mths isn't enough time for Dr BS to get the facts & call for an investigation into the plant? How much does Dr Bs pay you as one of his advisors at large? The people of Antigua must realize that BS never follows protocol & isn't above breaking the constitution & law so y shld we believe that he will take Gaston's pleas to cabinet & get anything done? BS & Gaston are cut from the same cloth, evil, conniving, egotistical, dangerous, heartless & most people would agree, a xxxx wih xxxx xxxxxxxns.
xxx xxx xxx. God help Antigua.

So how is a "new" power plant any different from a "safe" CD??

Surely Antiguans aren't new to the concept. They threw out the stable, reliable and sustainable British Government off their island, just to let it be taken over by vagabonds, thieves, and worse.

What did they expect with no adult supervision??

So what did this cost? $US 50 million or so? Compare that to the loss of Stanford or Vesco investors, The expense to Israel to clean up the Gerald B*u*l*l affair, or the lives of the Mohammad/Malvo victims.

Real Justice would involve the sort of justice meted out in Central and South America. Maybe Errol, Justin, Lester and Baldwin all need new "neckties".

So simply because Gaston made an accusation this now makes what he stated evidence? What world does anyone thinking this live in? This may explain why simply based on hearsay from politicians, someone is judged guilty in the persons addled mind. Thank God our courts require real evidence and not bluster (aka political speech). I took MP Browne's statement as basically him deflecting accusations that he was in Government's pocket. I notice no attention is paid to Winston Derrick recent statement via Big Issues that a member of cabinet threatened his family due to his (Winston's) stance on the WPP.

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I do not have to cite any example of misinformation, when it is obvious, propaganmda is rampant throughout this saga. Is MP Gaston Brownes assertion that monies were paid to known agitators not sufficient evidence? However, you intend to spin it, this is pellucids reality!

There's not much to gain from a commission of inquiry now. Right now we have a power plant(a monster) on our hands with an insatiable appetite for replacement parts, fuel, and oil. And we do not have enough money to keep up with supplies ,and because this is such a serious problem for our little country,we're asking the leaders of the Antigua Labor Party(ALP) to work together with the Government to bring the situation under control first.We believe that finding a way to cut the cost of running the plant is key to improving the situation,and hopefully the economy.What i'm contending is that rushing to have an inquiry does not change the fact that we are having trouble with the plant.take care of the important things first.

It is clear that you support the UPP. There is nothing wrong with being a UPP supporter so long as you can recognize that they can do WRONG. They are not perfect, they are far from it. The WPP is a testament to their mistakes. You need to recognize that something is not right here. Between the pictures, the little tidbits of info from APUA, and half of the engines still being down, this cannot be a squeaky clean deal. Which is why I, and many others, get a bad opinion of you when you support the statement that misinformation is rampant. Also, I'd like to point out to you that you couldn't provide me with even one example of misinformation in your reply. That's all I asked for, and you couldnt even give me one example. So why are you supporting the opinion that the media is spreading misinformation? I am sure that the commenting community on caribarena would be willing to welcome you back to reality if you can admit that the WPP needs to be investigated, as all is not well. Good hunting Godfather.

CA, please request bloggers submission vIa email, along with a telephone contact! This will in no way cut down on peoples interest, only reduce political propaganda, since bloggers will now be accountable.

Let me be clear i do not support either party, only Antigua and Barbuda interest, I have made many bold statements regarding corrupt glovernment officials. one such statement, any politician caught defrauding the public should be put before a firing squad. And it doesnt matter if you are ALP/UPP or from the merchant class, justice should prevail.

I am not a party supporter, my reasoning is based on facts and MP Gaston Browne's statement on Serpents show.

My suggestion to Caribarena is to require all posters submit their correspondence via email, and a telephone contact, and see how many multiple posters continue!

Dig IT what gets me is the same persons suggesting that public ownership is best forget that its this government who is selling the idea of privatizing public corporations (eg State insurance). The PM has even suggested that APUA will be privatized (2009 manifesto). Strangely no one has asked any questions about what happened to the assets formerly owned by SIC (Hence the public of Antigua), when state insurance status was recently changed. I happen to think that the most important thing was the assets. It was this government who informed the world bank that they were looking at an investor who could buy a majority share in SIC

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Please save ya win foo cool ya tea when it comes to Godfather. You will have better luck convincing the street dogs not to knock over. The garbage bins. He cannot be saved. What a shame!

Godfather, at the same time, the people should be "answered" to in order for the "public interest," to not be "undermined" by the "private interest!" Can't see why calling our own people "mercenaries" if they want "transparecncy" in producing documents, if WE have nothing to "hide?" Yes, "public ownership" is good but even better, once it is not "contaminated" with "deceit!"

Godfather, with every comment, you only make it clearer and clearer who you are. You were close to the ALP, and they screwed you over. And now you want revenge, and you will support the UPP to the death. It is antiguans like you that destroy our country and give us a bad name. Forget that any of these politicians and parties exist for a minute, and look at the power plant through untainted eyes! Unless you claim the APUA are lying, there is no misinformation. Unless your precious PM is lying, there is no misinformation. Show me one specific piece of misinformation in the No Value for Money story. You won't be able to, and if you will, it will only be through your warped UPP perception. Unless you are willing to be objective, I suggest you stop commenting for your own good, as you make yourself look like a fool.

The spreading of misinformation and bribery to undermine the WPP exist because of private interest agenda vs public interest development. Private interest culture of greed is continuous, their root is watered by mercenaries against public ownership!

yep saw the video, But I don't think you understand me so let me explain. Unless you want us to have another major corruption halabaloo you would hope the PM can explain this and when he does it a good explanation and it turns all is well and all the time we had nothing to worry about, wouldn't that be nice? You would wish that we did have a real good plant don't you? So do I. I don't know whay the PM is going to do but I hope t's honest, tranparent and problem solving. I would wish that for any PM who had such responsibility over such high value assets.

Vere 111 = Lunacy as demonstrated by the debased video below. That adult dependent needs go find work to do. The devil finds work for idle hands and its just a matter of time before people like Vere Bird 111 destroy themselves permanently.

Your slogan at the picket is not becoming! I think it takes away from the actual picket!

Try and raise the standard next time!

Several members of the senior ALP leadership have been muzzled by the U.P.P. and Chinese for economical gain.

Long Live Antigua!! Long Live Taiwan!! Long Live Tibet!!

How can the PM say he's going to take the ALP Chairman's "concerns" to "cabinet" without even telling the people why he "broke" the laws of the land in not getting Parliament Approval in these loans\grants from the Chinese? And, from what I am hearing on the streets, the WPP is a "closed" issue with the GOAB. It will be just "foolish" to wait for the PM to consider an "public inquiry" into WPP, when he has clearly avoided one into the "fencing scandal!" Must say, he surely knows how to mess with the minds of the "electrorates!" While he is up playing his "cards," others are sleeping, including, the Opposition! As the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on YOU, fool me twice, shame is on ME!

Prime minister BS, has promised in the 2004 general elections of accountability and transparency... that we have not seen yet, so why now is BS going to put his dirty linen out for the public to see...wake up Gaston you are dreaming that this prime minister will have a investigation on this issue NEVER.....if it smells fishy it must be a fish & if it smells ** it must be **....

Did you not watch the blood and wine press conference.... where BS shoved bs in the nations mouth and said chew and swallow don't ask no questions because your mouths are full....and you should not try to talk while eating...

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. Under the ever present watchful eyes of Robinson Crusoe and his man Friday - the slithery and wiley serpent, checking every word for any falsehoods, the "Garat" continues his "Benna" in the soulful dirge a la "Quarkoo" as he strummed his guitar at the "Bridge" now the site of the Bust of the Father of The Nation.
Quote:

Garat:Justice, being equal to everyone, forces us to drink from the poisoned cup that we serve to others. The old stager trusts me in two ways. First of all, I am his kinsman and his subject, so I should always try to protect him. Second, I am his host, so I should be closing the door in his murderer’s face, not trying to murder him myself. Besides, ..., legacy will speak for him when he dies, as if angels were playing trumpets against the injustice of his murder. Pity, ... will ride the wind with winged angels on invisible horses through the air to spread news of the horrible deed to everyone. People will shed a flood of tears that will drown the wind like a horrible downpour of rain. ... The only thing motivating me is ambition, which makes people rush ahead of themselves toward disaster. Macbeth

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. Let there be no doubt: I got my Head On! The Stage is set. Rabble Rousers, psuedo-intellec tuals/writers/p oliticians/eccl esiastics/engin eers/entreprene urs & other assorted masqueraders led by the Oracle of LA enter and merrily dance with "georgie bundles" balanced precarioulsy on the "cottas" on their heads. The Maximum Leader of the dancing band smiles & notes all that is missing are the "donkey boxes". Then "Shaka, Chaku, Juno a BEC, Commisioner 82" followed by the "Garat" enter.
The Youths cheer & sing the Anthem.
Quote:

Garat:If this business would really be finished when I did the deed, then it would be best to get it over with quickly. If the assassination of the old stager could work like a net, sweeping up everything and preventing any consequences, then the murder would be the be-all and end-all of the whole affair, and I would gladly put my soul and the afterlife at risk to do it.
But for crimes like these there are still punishments in this world. By committing violent crimes we only teach other people to commit violence, and the violence of our students will come back to plague us teachers.

@ I R. Molwyn and Weston were woofing and missing. They knocked a few sixes but got caught with their recklessness. Gaston came occupied the crease,played a classic orthodox innings and won the first innings for the ALP. It will now take team work to win the second innings and the match. Be happy for Gaston, no need for conspiracy theories, jealousy and envy. After all we are all part of the same party blokes.

Thanks for the correction (parliament vs. cabinet). However, that makes it even worse since his cabinet already made it known that they will be throwing their full support behind the PM regardless. So I am not what that will prove. Further, the PM's statement regarding knowledge of a "campai gn mounted by interest groups within and outside the Antigua Labour Party who are deliberately spreading misinformation to advance their own agenda" says a whole lot that this will be about damage control instead of a fact finding mission/investi gation. I see more spin.

Sometime in politics it gets very dirty and looking for the mole is a very hard and long exercise. Even in the Whitehouse they are now looking for the person that is leaking out information to the public. Baldwin's action is not only cunning but smart politics. He would never reply to letter from the leader of the opposition and remarks that when he has time he will response, but a letter from the chairman of the same opposition he acknowledge and even finds time to briefly meet with him. It's now for the ALP to draw their own conclusion. And anyone knows how Baldwin has dealt with opponents in the past big and small. to name some Tim Hector, Melford Nicholas, Dean Jonas, Donald Hallsteadt. The next one is Wilmounth Daniel. And he has also dealt with the businessmen opposing hime. Aziz Hadeed, Allen Stanford and many others. This man is a very cunning politician. That Machiavellian doctrine sure has thaught him how the game is played well.

As I watched the well edited documentary on ABS last night, the only thought that came to mind is "too little too late". This documentary might have been enough 6 months ago, but given the inept way that this matter has been handled thus far, nothing short of full disclosure will will work a this time. Notwithstanding all the speculation about corruption, I honestly cant say I have seen any evidence that anyone involved benefited personally from this deal. What I can say for sure is that some very questionable - if not downright bad - business decisions were made. And given the arrogance shown by APUA and the Government in not responding to questions, it is understandable, given our history, why most people would suspect corruption.
I firmly believe that full disclosure works best for everyone...

Gaston Browne can get the ear of the pm while danny gets ridicule interesting. The pm is making GB very relevant in the scheme of things.gaston sat on the bench while molwyn and Weston score all the runs then GB comes in hit the last 4 and it's a hero. Lol

Real men wear pink . . . . . NOT!!!! Work off that bulging belly and pick another shirt colour please.

Quite interesting!! Baldwin and the U.P.P. seems "quite comfortable relating to Gaston". I wonder why? Hmmmm. My mom use to tell me, "two don't walk together UNLESS THEY AGREE". The question is, what does Baldwin, the U.P.P. and Gaston agree on? WE KNOW (ACCORDING TO THEM) THAT IT CANNOT BE THAT THE PLANT IS OLD!! So what then? I have said it before and I will say it again, until the A.L.P. let Gaston know he cannot and will not lead the A.L.P. the U.P.P. will be returned to power AND THEN WE WILL DEFINITELY BECOME A FAILED STATE.

Was anyone watching the documentary last night on ABS aobut the WPP? It was quite informative but i realize when the tv was showing around the facility that they where live shots of the control section of the plant but still shots of the engine itself lol. Did anyone realise that lol lol well well

My God ! Are you guys for real. Do you want an investigation or you dont ? Does it matter who got the Prime Minister to call or we want to not the truth ? Let the PM call the investigation to get the truth and stop personalising the issue.

Makes me wonder......

His former deputy asked for an investigation, and the deputy's letter did not get a response. Molwyn asked for an inquiry and did not get a response, but After months of silence on the issue, Gaston askes for an investigation and the PM will take the matter to Cabinet. The whole thing sounds like an attempt to resuscitate Gaston's fledgling political stature.

I wonder why it is so important for the UPP to play the Gaston card?

The PM says that there are those of you who are deliberately spreading misinformation to advance their own agenda." If this is so then you need to stop it. I hope the PM is right. You never really ever get the full story on anything. I would love to see the PM prove all Nay Sayers wrong. Would it not be a good thing for this all to be some misunderstandin g and we could solve it in a snap and get on with economic development? A new power plant is key to Antigua's development. A lot of people would love to see failure here but think of how vital this plant is to Antigua's development. It will power our manufacturing, tourism and entire infilstructure. One of the reasons Antigua is so underdeveloped is because of lack of inexpensive energy. This has to be a serious subject for the PM and I wish him well. I believe this should be public information. I’m waiting for the PM to be reasonably timely. I think he would have to do his own investigation so he can have the facts. The PM could very well be in the same boat we are a do not know what really happened. It would be prudent and proper for him to get the facts first before presenting it to the people.

Quote:

But historical experience demonstrates that princes achieve the most success when they are crafty, cunning, and able to trick others... In dealing with people, a prince must break his promises when they put him at a disadvantage and when the reasons for which he made the promises no longer exist. In any case, promises are never something on which a prince can rely, since men are by nature wretched and deceitful. A prince should be a master of deception --Niccolò Machiavelli The Prince

Morris, he stated Cabinet, not parliament. He is simply playing for more time. Browne's move has probably provided him with a softer landing than the alternative. Sometimes wars/arguments can be ended by allowing a combatant to surrender to someone he least dislikes and in the process strike back at the person they most hate.

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I think you miss-read! The Dr Dr said he would take it to his C_A_B_I_N_E_T for discussion, not to Parliament!

By the way I happen to agree with PLM on this one...Dr Dr looks pretty in pink!

I’m loving the blue and pink. Very dapper Mr. PM, but I digress. Now that the PM has a responsible adult to work with across the aisle hopefully we can put this issue to rest once and for all.

How come the PM was saying that MP Browne was ** concerned about the negative press? There are some questions that may be worth pondering.

How come the release did not say the PM acknowledged the **gravamen of the issues," which were mainly conditions, cost, insurance, operating capacity, efficiency and reliability? Good thing it was a brief meeting.

Why the release was saying **During the meeting Browne reiterated his concerns over the negative press the plant has been receiving from within and outside the Antigua Labour Party." This was pathetic and counter-product ive to the efforts being made by the MP's group, the public and the media.

This was a sign of weakness. Kudos to the PM for bringing clarity to what was said earlier about acknowleding gravamen of issues. Keep the MP waiting.

So, let me get this, the PM will take Gaston's concerns to Parliament for a discussion then respond to his letter afterwards? This is so ridiculous it is funny. LOL!!! What is preventing Gaston and the ALP from addressing Parliament themselves? Does he think the PM sees the issue the same way his party (ALP) does?

Quote:

He outlined to MP Browne that he is fully aware of the campaign mounted by interest groups within and outside the Antigua Labour Party who are deliberately spreading misinformation to advance their own agenda

Is it misinformation that the plant was expected to cost 30 million USD but the figure was moved to 52 million (30 million figure confirmed by the PM in parliament)? Is is misinformation that the plant is corroded,leakin g oil, overheating and one engine # was invalid (confirmed by pics and blood and wine press conf.)? Is it information that the plant was recently down for over 4 weeks (confirmed by APUA elec. manager)? Is it misinformation that even though it was commissioned since Sept last year, the plant is not insured (confirmed by APUA)? Is it misinformation that the recently released fuel usage by APUA shows that the WPP is consuming much more fuel than the APC plant (confirmed by Elec manager who claims its a data error on APUA's part)? Seems to me its at least the actions by APUA and the PM's office which is causing the public to be concerned.

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Well staged. Same script different cast. Smh. Not buying it.