Moontown

By Shelton Daniel

Minister of Finance and the Economy Harold Lovell said Antigua & Barbuda’s international financial services sector is far from dead, despite facing huge challenges.

Speaking Sunday on OBSERVER Radio’s Big Issues programme, the minister noted that efforts by rich countries to clamp down on the use of offshore tax havens have required frequent adjustments to the applicable legislation in this country.

But, he said, despite such problems, hope is far from lost. “It’s not dead in the water by any means, but what we are doing is recalibrating, repositioning ourselves to be competitive within the sector.”

Lovell disclosed that on Thursday, July 8, Antigua will “be hosting a major regional conference on the financial services sector.” He added that “the region is getting together to see how we can confront some of the challenges; how we can capitalise on some of our inherent advantages.”

The finance minister said a joint OECS approach is absolutely essential given the powerful forces ranged against the sub-region’s offshore financial services sector. “Those persons who see the flight of capital from their jurisdictions into jurisdictions that have a flourishing financial services sector … they are doing everything to try and squeeze these countries, and this is something we have been affected by.”

Conceding that “one man’s financial service sector was another man’s tax haven,” the minister observed on the brighter side that “financial services will always be there, and international financial services is an area (in which) we believe we have a comparative advantage – in fact, a comparative tax advantage in some cases. I do not think the sector will go under.”

On another matter, Lovell told OBSERVER that Antigua & Barbuda is keeping its options open to settle the online gambling dispute with the United States.

The World Trade Organization has long ruled in favour of St John’s, declaring the US to be acting illegally in blocking access from its territory to Antigua-based Internet gambling sites. But Washington has refused to comply, arguing that such access was never the intent of WTO free trade rules.

The WTO has granted Antigua the right to slap the US with $21 million worth of annual trade sanctions, but the government in St John’s has been trying for a negotiated settlement instead.

Lovell told OBSERVER Radio that although these negotiations have dragged on for a long time, they are nevertheless ongoing. He said Antigua is now trying to pursue the matter through the Caricom Council on Trade and Economic Development (COTED). “We still have other options, and as we speak now, we are planning to have a meeting very shortly with all the major players and stakeholders. At the recent meeting of COTED, they have agreed to come on board with Antigua & Barbuda, and perhaps this will be a game changer.”

Explaining further, he said: “If we can fight under the overall umbrella of Caricom (and the Secretary-General, Mr Carrington, has already said he believes the time has come for Caricom to put its full weight behind Antigua & Barbuda) we think this will improve our negotiating position. It will force the United States to look more closely at what we have been saying at the table.”

Lovell said Prime Minister Spencer raised the matter with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a recent meeting. “So I think chances are that we are going to hasten our steps towards a settlement, and at the same time, we are going to keep the other options, where the World Trade Organization gave us the right to impose certain sanctions, until such time as there is compliance on the part of the United States or a full settlement.” (Antigua Observer)

Government’s efforts to reform the Public Sector may have hit a snag as the union representing workers at several state corporations, The Antigua Trades & Labour Union (AT&LU) has instructed them not to comply with the request to complete the Public Sector Employee Data Form.

Last month, all public sector workers were asked to complete the document, which inter alia asked each employee to submit information regarding their demographics, academic attainment, category of work, remuneration and job satisfaction.

A press statement yesterday, signed by AT&LU’s president Wigley George, said, “Many employees of statutory corporations have expressed and continue to express serious concerns and reservations as to the true intention of the government with respect to the information requested. This is particularly so since the union, as the bargaining agent for many of the concerned employees, was neither officially informed of, or consulted by the government on the matter.”

George said the recent court ruling in which the status of the Speaker of the House of Representatives was challenged, and where it was determined that she is not a public officer means that the employees of statutory corporations are not public servants and should not be required to fill the form in question.

“I am not sure the reasons for those forms; I’m not sure what they’re looking for. I do believe in the public service where the civil servants and non-established workers operate, that they perhaps will be looking at updating the quality of personnel they have, things like that. … But I see no relevance for those in statutory corporations because they will have their own personnel records.”

The president of the union said for those who had already complied with the request, “such forms are invalid and are of no effect.”

When contacted on this development, Acting Director of the Public Sector Transformation Unit Konata Lee, who is administering the exercise, said he had not seen the communiqué and preferred to reserve comment until then.

“I think it would be rather unfair of me to make a comment without having read what has been put out,” he told The Daily OBSERVER. “Until I have done such, I would rather not to make a comment. I would want a chance to properly assess their comments before I can respond.”

He was subsequently faxed a copy of the union’s missive, but up to press time still had not commented on the matter.

However, explaining the objective behind the exercise, Lee said, “We’re really seeking the co-operation of all public sector workers to assist in the process of knowing exactly where the government is in terms of its composition and its structure in order to plan and better manage the resources available to the state.

“We’re just seeking to get information, really. So the exercise in itself isn’t an exercise aimed at any one thing specifically… merely part of the information-gathering process.” (Antigua Observer)

By Roseann Pile

Men on a mission. These two executives of LIALPA, Secretary Patterson Thompson and 1st Officer, Euton Henry were heading into a meeting yesterday with LIAT management. They left empty-handed as many of their demands were not met.

Plans by LIAT to withhold two days’ pay from all pilots following an alleged recent sick-out has the union representing them seeing red and threatening “complete and unrestrained industrial action.”

Chairman of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association, (LIALPA) told The Daily OBSERVER the organisation had always acted with restraint despite its grievances with LIAT but the airline has gone too far this time.

LIAT was crippled two weeks ago when its pilots staged a two-day sick-out over myriad issues including public holiday pay, the management of pension funds and statutory deductions from the salaries of some pilots.

Blackburn said it’s a matter of principle, because LIAT has admitted, in writing, that it owes pilots millions in premium pay to which they are entitled for working in excess of 48 hours in any 168 days, but is quibbling over a few dollars.

The workers are to be paid on Wednesday.

The LIALPA chairman warned, “There will be hell to pay if LIAT goes into the salaries of the pilots over those couple of sick days. You better be careful. I will personally give the instruction, even if it is at my own expense.”

“And I hope they call Mr Gonsalves (prime minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines) and explain the economic and financial consequences to the Caribbean if they do that. I gave Brian Challenger clear cut warning of what the association is going to do, so he has no misunderstanding of what is coming,” Blackburn said.

He said he had refused to carry out orders from his members and executives to take industrial action on several occasions.

The chairman was speaking to this newspaper from Barbados, hours after a LIALPA team, headed by Secretary Patterson Thompson, met with LIAT’s CEO, Brian Challenger for about an hour at the airline’s headquarters in Antigua.

Sources said, “Having gone into the talks very upbeat and optimistic for a reasonable position from the airline, the LIALPA team was very disappointed because LIAT is not budging from its position on most issues.”

Meantime, Blackburn said the non-payment of public holiday compensation is still on the burner, with LIAT refusing to adhere to the recent advice of Antigua & Barbuda’s attorney general that under the country’s labour laws, the pilots must be reimbursed.

“The labour commissioner also said what LIAT is doing is illegal. From the time he said that in writing, there is no possible justification for the company failing to get proper advice and to change their position. Therefore we will not accept anything other than cash paid over a period of time from the Labour Commissioner’s recommendation to date,” he maintained.

The captain stressed that LIALPA is however willing to look at amicable, reasonable affordable and equitable ways of settling money owed before that date.

“Every single person in Antigua is due for public holiday pay if they work, except pilots? That cannot be, it is ridiculous. And that is what we are fighting for; what we are entitled to. If you cannot afford to pay all one time we will negotiate but you cannot just say we are not paying,” he told the airline.

But there is one silver lining, even as LIAT seems headed for turbulent weather.

Blackburn said he is pleased that after ten years, LIAT has agreed to pay back some pilots from whose salaries, erroneous and unlawful statutory deductions were made.

Originally about 20 pilots had been affected, but the number was whittled down to two.

The chairman said they will get back the money, including 10 per cent interest, in accordance with the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Code.

“What I need to clarify is whether or not the statutory interest is applicable to other than those two who happen to be Antiguan nationals. I am Grenadian; I got back my money but they refuse to pay me interest,” he told this newspaper.

LIAT has not indicated when the money will be reimbursed. (Antigua Observer)

A recently taken photo released by the United States Marshals Service shows reputed Jamaican gang leader Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke. - ap

A policeman and soldiers watch World Cup football yesterday in the Tivoli Gardens Presidential Click office of ousted community enforcer Christopher Coke. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

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Jermaine McCalpin, Gleaner Writer

MANHATTAN, New York:

Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke should in two months get his hands on some of the evidence that constitutes the legal arsenal of the United States government in its quest to convict him of drug smuggling and the trafficking of illegal guns.

Coke, a strongman who was toppled from his Tivoli Gardens throne by the Jamaica army and extradited last Thursday after a monthlong manhunt, will also have to prove that he can bankroll his preferred legal team from untain-ted funds.

Like his court hearing in Kingston last week, yesterday’s session at a Manhattan federal court ran approximately 15 minutes.

Court-assigned attorney Russell Neufeld was accompanied by Coke’s potential legal team - Frank Doddato, Steven Rosen and Nicolas Matassini - the latter telling The Gleaner that he would be the frontman of the defence triumvirate if Coke could present proof, in 30 days, that his money was clean.

Matassini said he was the lead counsel in the defence of Norris ‘Deedo’ Nembhard, a Jamaican who was extradited and convicted of drug-smuggling and money-laundering charges.

Dudus all but presidential

Though there were the standard security checks at the courthouse, there was little indication that this was the preliminary appearance of a man described by the United States as one of the world’s most dangerous drug kingpins.

Coke, who is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre - a block away from the courthouse - entered the room in navy blue prison overalls, his slow, deliberate gait a contrast to the swagger of the one-time ‘President’, as he was known across Jamaica. He said nothing during the session.

Neufeld complained to Judge Robert Patterson, who presided over yesterday’s hearing, that his client had not been granted permission to receive government documents that were crucial to the case. The judge set August 25 as the date for him, Coke’s lawyers and prosecutors to conference. The evidence should be with his legal team before then.

Coke’s next court hearing will be on September 7.

After yesterday’s session, Doddato told The Gleaner “the ball is now in play”, and that Coke was optimistic, despite the frustrations associated with his detention.

“He’s a real gentleman, completely different from what has been reported in the media. He’s in very good spirits.

“He’s not happy with being segregated and he expressed his love for Jesus,” Doddato said, adding that the legal team spent two hours with Coke on Sunday.

The calm vista seen through the windows of the 24th floor - of the Brooklyn Bridge, with the Manhattan Bridge in the distance - was worlds away from the high-rises of Tivoli which, last month was turned into a bloody battleground which claimed 74 lives.

Colourful support

The courthouse was not bereft of Jamaican flavour, as about 35 supporters of Coke, including friends and family, insisted - before and after the hearing - that their man was innocent.

One woman, who gave her name as Susan and claimed that she once lived in Tivoli, said she had stopped cooking to come to court because she has known Coke since he was a child.

“Justice is going to prevail. We a go support him to the end. God a go do it fi him. Good over evil, mi seh!” said the woman.

Most of Coke’s supporters said they were from the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and other sections of the Tristate Area.

Another friend of Susan’s interrupted: “Di man have fi get a good lawyer. Prepaid lawyer nah go work,” obviously in reference to fears that less-pricey state lawyers may handicap Coke’s defence.

Even during the hearing there was a brief sideshow. As a thick silence hung in the courtroom at 4:05 p.m. EDT (3:05 p.m. Jamaica time) - the start time - it was broken by the shrill ring of a cellphone. A family member was quickly escorted out of the room.

When the hearing ended, a relative, who, like others, requested anonymity, said: “Them nah treat him right. Him cyaah get no visit. Them treating him like an animal. He has only been accused, not convicted, so why treat him like a criminal?”

Added an aunt: “He’s my nephew and I support him. I know he’s going to get through this trouble and trial. We not going to leave him. And I hope Jamaica supports him and stands by him.” (Jamaica Gleaner)

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Project manager Betty Cathrow showing aspects of the property.(Picture by Nigel Browne)

MORE church lands are either being put into commercial development by the clergy or bought by developers for high-end property development.
This 57-condominium project – Saint Peter’s Bay Barbados, funded by Jada Builders’ boss Bjorn Bjerkhamn and an American partner – went on sale in January. It sits on four acres of beachfront land at Road View, St Peter, adjacent to a 15 000 square foot tract owned by the Methodist Church in Barbados.
Project manager Betty Cathrow said the Methodists’ property is the subject of an ongoing purchase transaction between the church and Jada Builders for future development. (Nation News)