Campaign Promises Ahead of Barbuda Elections

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Politics

Wednesday, 20 February 2013 02:30

By Donna-Marie McIntosh

Antigua St. John's - With Barbuda’s elections due on March 22, the competition is heating up as the candidates tell the public what they are willing to offer.

Fabian Jones, Barbuda’s chairman and deputy chairman of finance for the UPP Council, spoke about the campaign and the main areas of focus.

As far as infrastructure, the River Dock area is a point of concern as, according to Jones, “when Antigua & Barbuda became independent in 1981, it was said that there would be a port of entry to Barbuda via sea and air. However, the powers that be, including the former prime minister, are determined to mine sand in Barbuda, although they did not make the port a priority.”

Although the 2005 manifesto promised changes, eight years later, the dock is still in a state of disrepair. Jones said this will soon change, possibly as soon as next week. There are also reportedly funds in place to fix the roads, which Jones confirmed the Council is responsible for.

Jones told Caribarena the police station also requires attention, as the building floods whenever it rains. Funding is being sought, and Jones wants repairs to be done by the end of this year, possibly the beginning of the following year.

Also planned is a new plant for the island’s water.

Jones said the campaign is also focussed on education and training, which he described as “the most important factors of the campaign, as human resources are important.”

“We seek every opportunity that we can to support our people to be educated and trained,” he said. “We aid with funding, and we will continue to do this. A nation of educated people can add value and provide resourceful people who can use the economics. We will also be directing people to go back towards agriculture, as this was the first thing man was taught to do in order to feed ourselves. This must be taught in schools, and we are definitely pushing this in our campaign.”

Another issue Jones affirms will be a priority on the list of topics to be discussed with the government will be transportation between Antigua and Barbuda, especially via air.

As far as the ALP campaign, Senator Arthur Nibbs confirmed that Saturday, February 23 will be the official launch of the ALP party’s candidates and their manifesto.

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