Moontown

Responds to Lewin’s remarks on TV yesterday

JamaicaObserver.com

MINISTER of National Security Dwight Nelson has reacted strongly to the suggestion by former Commissioner of Police Hardley Lewin that Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke was last year tipped off about his impending extradition. Lewin also called for Prime Minister Bruce Golding to resign.

Nelson said that statements made by Lewin during an interview aired on CVM television yesterday night reflected “the maliciousness of a bitter and revengeful man.”

“I reject and repudiate Mr Lewin’s insinuation that either the Prime Minister or I alerted Christopher Coke to the existence of an extradition request by the US authorities. The fact that Mr Lewin made no attempt to adduce any evidence to support his reckless statement raises questions as to his real motive, an issue for which he will be held to account,” said Nelson in a statement.

He further questioned why Lewin would have kept hidden such a serious matter for so long. He said that senior members of the security forces have denied  knowledge of such evidence.

Nelson went on to attack Lewin’s “incompetent” tenure as commissioner, accusing him of arrogance and alienating the police force.

“Mr Lewin’s acknowledged “hurt” and his reckless outburst must be attributed to his abject failure as Commissioner of Police. During his tenure crime exploded to record levels with more than 800 murders being committed in his first 6 months on the job. While he was Commissioner of Police 199 persons were murdered during the month of May 2008, the highest number of killings in any one month up till now,” said Nelson.

The security minister said that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government would remain undistracted in fighting crime citing the recent success of dismantling its own. garrison community of Tivoli Gardens

“His strident call for the resignation of the Prime Minister must be seen as a rear guard action to achieve what the Peoples National Party’s censure motion in Parliament failed to do… The government will not be distracted by the vengeful attacks of a bitter and callous man, no matter what embarrassment the success of these efforts may cause him.” (Jamaica Observer)

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Prime Minister David Thompson()

By: WADE GIBBONS

PRIME MINISTER DAVID THOMPSON will be taking two months leave from his national responsibilities and could be heading for major surgery.

During a national broadcast from Government Headquarters yesterday, Thompson said that during the past few weeks he had undergone “observation, tests and medication”.

He added his doctors placed him on a necessary, rigourous, dietary regime that had caused him to lose weight.

“I have not completed my regime of treatment and therefore there is nothing significant to report at this time. Shortly, an evaluation will take place to determine if I need surgery. It may be a complex and serious procedure,” he noted.

Thompson acknowledged he had been operating at a reduced pace and said he did not think it was fair for him to ask Barbados to move at his reduced pace. He said it would be a few weeks before “God willing” he was able to discharge his functions in a manner that was required in the circumstances.

“Accordingly, I am requesting the nation’s forbearance as I have decided to take two months leave from my duties as Prime Minister. This time will be spent outside of Barbados,” he indicated.

Thompson said Deputy Prime Minister Freundel Stuart would naturally act as Prime Minister throughout his absence and he was devolving on him the authority to make whatever decisions he deemed necessary “to keep the social and economic ship of state on even keel”.

He expressed confidence in Stuart, noting he had been carrying out the duties of Prime Minister of Barbados on several occasions during the past two years and had performed with distinction. He added

Stuart had lived up to the great expectations Barbados always had of him.

“He certainly has my undisputed confidence and respect and that of the entire Cabinet and the members of the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament,” Thompson stressed.

Again extolling Stuart’s virtues, Thompson said that as Attorney-General he commanded the greatest admiration and reverence of the legal fraternity.

He also paid homage to Barbados’ Public Service, noting it had a reputation for dedication to service “throughout the changing times”.

“I have every reason to believe that, in these circumstances, my absence from this country will have minimal effect on the efficiency and effectiveness of government institutions,” Thompson said.

Describing the situation as one of the most trying periods of his life and a very testing one for his family, Thompson called on Barbadians to rally around the causes for which he had fought throughout his career as a youth leader, lawyer and political leader.

“These causes can be summed up in the simple desire to take Barbados to the next level of development,” he said.

Thompson stated he would be leaving Barbados in a “matter of hours” and eagerly looked forward, with the help of God and Barbadians’ support and prayers, to be returning to his post in the near future.

• wadegibbons@nationnews.com

By Tameika Malone

Pic Source:http://www.qholidays.co.uk

After waiting outside Antigua Workers’ Union (AWU) office in the blazing sun for several hours yesterday, former workers of Elle Colonna Resort and Spa are appealing for government’s intervention after they were sent away empty-handed once again without their promised salaries.

From about 8 am, more than 10 of the affected 48 line staff began arriving at the Newgate Street location, but after waiting for more than seven hours for confirmation on their salaries the company promised to pay over two weeks ago, the workers were told that management of the hotel had not come up with the monies. They have no indication when they will get the money.

The disgruntled workers said they are extremely frustrated since the abrupt closure of the Hodges Bay property on May 28.

One woman who worked as part of the kitchen staff is pleading with the authorities for immediate intervention into the matter.

“We want somebody to help us,” the woman said. “They didn’t even come to us and bring the six weeks pay that they owe us or anything. Right now I have my bills that are piling up and my daughter to feed, what am I suppose to tell her, I don’t have money to get her something to eat?”

Upset, the woman said management made no offer to reduce the salary bill, not even the proceeds from the Heelz Fete held on the property over the weekend, was offered.

“They had a function there … where is the money? You mean fu tell me that they couldn’t even bring the money and say, ‘me know me owe aryou but here is something,’ I mean they offered nothing. Them could had likkle manners and at leas’ say something … they just got in their vehicles and left,” she added.

Management was offering to sell one of their properties to compensate the displaced workers. However, neither the employees nor the union are in agreement with the proposal, since there is no distinct date on how long that may take.

The workers had been demanding outstanding salaries for six weeks, vacation pay, days off, notice pay and the full values of their contracts that would have expired in September.

Meanwhile, General Secretary of AWU, David Massiah, said he is not pleased with the outcome of the meeting with management at Labour Department.

“(Yesterday) was the deadline and they did not pay. There were some discrepancies about the monies owed; however, we were able to agree on the amount based on the accountant’s calculations,” he said.

“The union continues to fight with management for the workers’ rights, and we did not accept their offer for the property as security. We are hoping that the workers can receive at least a portion of their monies by Friday,” he added. (Antigua Observer)

By Carol Williams Members of the main Opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) have vowed to lock down the country following the ruling of the Court of Appeal, which will hear the consolidated Election Petition Cases starting today.

“We are going to better VC Bird’s lockdown,” Lennox Weston told supporters at a political meeting Tuesday night at the VC Bird bust on Lower Market Street, in anticipation of victory.

“We won’t leave town, we won’t do anything until Baldwin Spencer leaves. They can’t run the country without us. They can’t run the country if the airport is locked down; they can’t run the country if the port is locked down; they can’t run the country if the banks are closed,” Weston said.

Heightened security has been promised at the courthouse and across the country during the hearing, which will determine whether Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro and John Maginley must return to the polls. Beyond focus on the United Progressive Party (UPP) trio, governance hangs in the balance.

ALP officials are confident they will emerge victorious following the ruling and insist they will march through downtown St John’s to force the prime minister and his colleagues to leave office.

“I want to call Antiguans and Barbudans – red, blue, black and white – when that judge bangs that gavel and he say… ‘All of you are illegal, leave,’ we will take to the streets and we will (make sure) that they leave,” Weston said.

“This is the last chance to protect our democracy,” said Ron Maginley, another speaker, while St Philip North MP Robin Yearwood summed it up as, “The beginning that will bring Antigua & Barbuda back to the good old days.”

EP Chet Greene, the ALP’s candidate for St Paul, urged supporters to be ready for the results.

“We must keep ourselves in state of readiness. We must always ensure that our voters ID cards are ready. If I call you and tell you ‘good morning,’ you must show me your ID card. It’s a way of saying hello, or hi I’m ready. We have got to demonstrate to Baldwin Spencer and his cabal that enough is enough (and) has become too much.”

The Court of Appeal hearing follows the March 31 High Court decision by Justice Louise Blenman, who ruled that the UPP three were not duly elected due to polling day irregularities, primary among them the late opening of polling stations in the affected constituencies.

If the judgment is upheld, there will either be by-elections or general elections.

“On a daily basis, we must make sure that our neighbours and our relatives are prepared for any eventuality. Whilst the election in a by-elections form is likely, we also have to prepare ourselves for the eventuality of a general elections being called. We must never, ever be caught with our pants down,” Greene told ALP supporters.

A minute of silence was observed during Tuesday night’s meeting, from which Political Leader Lester Bird, his deputy, Gaston Browne, and the three candidates in the constituencies being challenged Gail Christian, Dean Jonas and Charles Max Fernandez were conspicuously absent.

In contrast to the ALP, the ruling UPP’s camp was generally quiet this week.

The only public political activity took place Monday night when the UPP’s St George constituency branch held a 12 -hour prayer-and-fasting vigil. (Antigua Observer)

AN APOLOGY to policyholders is not enough!
That’s the reprimand to CLICO International Life Insurance (CIL) from management consultant Hally Haynes, in response to the company’s letters informing clients of its inability to honour financial obligations to them.
Haynes, a CIL policyholder for several years, told the DAILY NATION the company should convene a meeting with its thousands of policyholders to inform them of the status of the company, rather than leave them to glean information from the news media.
Haynes added: “To issue letters to say sorry that it cannot meet its financial obligations based on agreed contractual obligations is far from good enough if not downright unjust.”
Haynes, one of the few policyholders to have gone public with his concerns, said he was cognisant that Government’s Oversight Committee had completed its work and the report would have been submitted.
Haynes, a credit union director of over 20 years experience, urged CIL to convene a meeting with policyholders as a matter of urgency.
“If the management of CLICO International Life Insurance refuses to convene such a meeting then the policyholders should convene their own meeting with learned and experience professionals to examine the possibilities available to them under the law,” Haynes stressed.
Since being established early last year, the Government-appointed Oversight Committee has tried to attract a buyer for the cash-strapped CIL. But efforts to off-load the subsidiary of CLICO Holdings Barbados Limited have been futile because of the company’s liquidity problems and the deficit in its Statutory Fund.
CIL is also faced with a $300 million demand in Executive Flexible Premium Annuities (EFPAs) which become due in 2012. (WG) (Nation News)

GOVERNMENT IS IN the process of selecting private sector partners for the construction of a $400 million green complex in St Thomas in a public-private Build Operate Lease and Transfer (BOLT) arrangement.

Minister of the Environment, Water Resources and Drainage Dr Denis Lowe made this announcement yesterday as he spoke on The Role Of The Private Sector In The Green Economy at the monthly luncheon meeting of the Barbados Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCCI) at Hilton Barbados.

“The Government has just approved an investment of $400 million to construct a waste energy plant at our integrated solid waste management system at Vaucluse.

“Due to that, we are also investing in a leachate treatment plant to ensure that we protect our ground water leakage and we are also outfitting that location with a brand new administration building to house our Sanitation Services Authority and other related services,” he said.

After his presentation he told the DAILY NATION that the three projects were being pursued by public-private partnerships and the process of selecting the private partners had started.

“Most of these projects are done by private-public sector partnerships, where the proponents bring us their own financial resources. We have not yet settled on that [who is the proponent]. We have put out a call for expressions of interest and we are now collecting those calls and then we will do what is called the RFP – the detailed layout of the plant –  and then once you do that you select the proponent.

“It is a very time-consuming process, but it has to be done to ensure that there is transparency and accountability. The cut-off point to receive expressions of interest is probably next month. Let’s say 20 people were interested; we’ll look at the top six. The next stage would be to give them that document that lays out the details because that’s how they will be able to judge the cost. The six of them would come back in with their own cost analysis and then the Government will choose the one it thinks represents best what it wants,” he stated.

He noted that Government had “just” completed the acquisition of the land and the transfer station is already built there, which is all part of the waste energy process.

Dr Lowe said the proponent for the leachate plant should be chosen by September and one for the SSA administration building should be finished by mid-September/early October, but he could not say when a private partner would be selected for the waste energy plant, which was the most elaborate of the green projects.

“Most of what is happening now is happening because proponents have decided that they are going to put their funds in so as to advance the Government’s development programme and do it in an arrangement where they can then decide who will build, operate, lease and then transfer – a BOLT arrangement,” Dr Lowe explained. (SR) (Nation News)