HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday 16 October 2024.
The Cabinet began its meeting with a prayer from the Minister of religion who sermonized about transparency in Government.
1. The Cabinet held a discussion about enhancing domestic ownership in the Tourism sector. While foreign direct investment (FDI) is highly-prized and sought-after, the Cabinet is of the view that citizens of Antigua and Barbuda should not be left out of the lucrative hotel sector, while they merely keep their savings in the bank collecting 2% interest. The returns on investment from the tourism/hospitality sector are usually very profitable. More and more nationals of Antigua and Barbuda, the Cabinet agreed, are to be encouraged to invest in the construction of luxury homes and condominiums that earn a high return annually. Investments in Pensioners’ Beach, Willoughby Bay, Callalloo Quay and Halcyon Heights are being set aside for investment by the nationals of Antigua and Barbuda who are prepared to invest their capital.
2. The Cabinet held a discussion about infrastructure development taking place in Barbuda. A renewable energy plant is shortly to be added to the grid to produce 2 additional megawatts of power, and batteries to store the energy to be used by new homes and hotels demanding more energy. The expansion of a plant nursery is being undertaken in order to grow plants that increase the absorption of greenhouse gas emissions. The construction of a new primary school as a gift, by the Dominican Republic, is planned to commence early in the New Year. The Louis Hill housing project is about to begin after the survey of the land is completed. A new deep water port will begin after an environmental impact assessment has been undertaken. Fifty ($50) million are to be spent on road development, including paving the connecting road from the new airport to River Road.
3. A groundbreaking ceremony, marking the start of the construction of 400 million USD Nikki Beach hotel, is planned for Wednesday 16th October evening. It is to be constructed on lands near the Jolly Beach Hotel. It will consist of 876 beds and generate 20 million USD annually in profits. Calvin Ayre is the investor and he has invested before in numerous projects that have all deemed to be successful.
4. The Minister of Health invited to Cabinet two experts who have worked on transforming existing properties into healthcare facilities that serve unwell patients. Having purchased the Kingdom Hall building in Sea View Farm, transforming it into a wellness center requires the expertise of architects with special design capabilities. The experts showed that they have done work around the world, drawing on the best practices applied from many places. The Cabinet is prepared to budget as much as 5 million EC dollars in the 2025 budget to repurpose the building for the benefit of mental health patients and others.
5. Two Investors representing a firm that exports chicken parts will establish a chicken meat plant in Antigua. The export of chicken feet is a lucrative business; export to China is contemplated. The investors will construct a factory building in which hundreds of thousands of broilers will be reared and butchered for local consumption; and, chicken feet, which are not consumed locally in large quantities, will be exported. The investors already have a market for the chicken feet, and Antigua and Barbuda is a great market for chicken meat since millions of dollars’ worth of chicken meat are imported every year. The plant will require freezers and chillers that will occupy more than 3,000 square feet of space. The building is expected to start in 3 months, then another 3 months will be required for the purchase of all the equipment. The chicks will require several months’ feeding and nurturing before the start of production.
6.i. Eleven officials from the Ministry of Finance, Customs and Excise Division, the Inland Revenue Department and the Budget Office came to Cabinet to discuss Budget 2025. The Budget Office has already requested the business plans from all ministries and the final budget will be completed by the 14th November then to be sent to the printers. By the 28th of November the Estimates will be circulated and the Throne Speech is to be delivered on that same day. On 5th December, the Budget presentation will take place in Parliament, and on 10th December the budget debate will commence.
ii. The Cabinet decided that the language in the law governing exemptions of ABST will be changed from “zero–rated” to “exempt”. This change in nomenclature is to be interpreted by the Ministry of Finance to mean no refunds on ABST paid into the Treasury will take place.
iii. The Boys’ Training School is to be further upgraded. In the 2025 Budget, a sum has been set aside to improve the conditions under which the boys will live.
iv. The building at the old Pan Am Base is to be used as a detention center for boys who have been found guilty of disobeying the law and have been sentenced to incarceration.
7. The Prime Minister and the representative of John Paul DeJoria signed an agreement for an 800 thousand dollar Ocean Innovation Lab to be financed by the billionaire; it will address the challenges posed by dying reefs in seas surrounding Antigua and Barbuda. The Government of Antigua and Barbuda and OceanShot/John Paul DeJoria share a joint vision for coral reef and ocean sustainability.
8. The Attorney General/Minister of Public Safety reported that on Tuesday night, 15 October 2024, the Police conducted raids in Liberta that resulted in nine unlawful firearms and nearly 100 rounds of ammunition being confiscated.
Construction of the Cobbs Cross Clinic is completed, the Cabinet was informed by the representative of St. Paul. Additional resources are being sought to furnish and equip the healthcare facility.
