HURST REPORTS ON CABINET of Wednesday14 May 2025
The Cabinet Meeting commenced with a prayer from a religious Minister. God’s presence was invoked and the blessings from above were sought.
1. The Cabinet began its meeting with a review of the impact which the striking teachers have had on the students in the public school system. First, it was noted that demand for outstanding allowances—the basis upon which the strike was announced—related only to those teachers at the Secondary and other higher levels; yet, all Primary Schools and their teachers also sat idly, causing the primary school students to be deprived of contact time. The Cabinet repeated its earlier assertion that the strike was disproportionate to the number of teachers owed, and the amounts due. The nobility of the teaching profession was completely lost when students remained without teaching contact for six days, unnecessarily. The Cabinet also noted that cheques for the payment of the allowances were already prepared for distribution to the teachers; the publication of the names on the cheques became a necessary exercise to ensure that those persons knew that the cheques were awaiting pick-up. The Cabinet believes that the students who were denied the days of instruction ought to be compensated by additional teaching time before the end of the term.
2. The Cabinet has agreed to proceed to an upgrade of the Simon Bolivar Pre-School after decades of successful operation in the Sutherlands Community. Nearly One Hundred Thousand EC Dollars will be spent to upgrade the buildings, their interior and furniture, making the school more attractive for parents and students. The Embassy of Venezuela, whose gift it was in the first place, will also contribute to the upgrade.
3. The Chairman of Cabinet indicated that the cost of the legal defense in the United States Court in the Alpha Nero matter, triggered by operatives of The United Progressive Party, now stands at One Hundred and Thirty-Six Thousand US Dollars. A complete fabrication of claims by a Russian citizen, fed to that individual by the members of the opposition, have now cost the Antigua and Barbuda Public a significant sum which may yet increase. This unpatriotic, costly behavior has also damaged the country’s reputation and unjustly sullied the character of the country’s leader.
4. The Cabinet invited a group of three persons whose interest in Jolly Beach Hotel caused them to bring forward a proposal for the re-development of the government’s portion of the resort. The group made a proposal to invest up to Five Million US Dollars a year by upgrading blocks of the 80-room property over a period of several years. The group would also build a convention center attached to the resort, since they estimate that it will be a high-revenue earner for the property. The Cabinet reserved its decision regarding acceptability of the investment offer.
5. The Cabinet invited five persons who have an interest in re-developing the Antigua Turf Club, where horse racing normally takes place. They believe that the location is ripe for development, now that the legal battles over the lease have ended. The foreign investor, from the US Virgin Islands, is primarily a casino operator who agrees to transfer Fifteen Percent of all profits on their casino operation with the Antigua Turf Club and to invest Five Million US Dollars in its upgrade immediately. They will make arrangements to house eighty horses and will generate over fifty jobs for nationals of Antigua and Barbuda. The Investors will also partner with other turf clubs in the Caribbean, moving horses from one place to another, in order to encourage off-track-betting. They estimate that it will be a very successful operation and the races will attract nationals and tourists alike, especially the seven hundred and fifty thousand cruise tourists expected to travel to Antigua and Barbuda annually and in each of the following years.
6. At the invitation from the Chairman of Cabinet, two members of a non-religious, nonpartisan NGO, called Brahma Kumaris Raja Yoga Center, one Mr. Maharaj delivered a short lecture to the Cabinet Ministers about reducing crime, violence and uncivil behavior through consultation and cooperation. Scores of folks in Antigua and Barbuda already utilize the services of the center which is headquartered in India, but with a permanent presence in Trinidad and Tobago. The group will continue to share its expertise with Antiguans and Barbudans willing to learn how best to cope with violence and uncivil behavior.
7. The University of the West Indies Five Islands has continued to train nurses in a Master’s Degree in Public Health program. The program usually takes two years for nurses who hold a first degree. Fifteen nurses have thus far been identified for the Master’s Degree programme and Cabinet has agreed to show support for an additional year for the completion of the programme by the enrolled nurses.
8. The Cabinet held a discussion on the shortage of cement that has slowed construction because of the insufficiency in the supply; this shortage is a result of a shallow channel that can accommodate only a small vessel coming from Trinidad laden with the cement. The channel to the silo in Crabbes is being dredged and hard rock is being removed daily to enable bigger vessels to bring more cement each time it discharges its load in Antigua.
9. The Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda will convene on Thursday, 15th May 2025, at 10:00 am. Many important items are on the legislative agenda for the parliamentarians to consider. One of the first items will be “Questions to the Prime Minister”. It is expected that the Opposition will pose many questions about the strike conducted by teachers whose union compelled the professionals to remain unproductive for six school days.
10. i. On Wednesday, 21st May 2025, Cabinet will end its sitting at 12:00pm to allow its members to attend the funeral of the late, former Parliamentarian Honourable Hilson Baptist. He has been afforded an official funeral.
ii. On Friday, 23rd May 2025, Sir Robert Barrett will also be afforded an official funeral to be held at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Sir Robert Barrett was an Antiguan and Barbuda citizen who invested in the hotel sector, providing hundreds of jobs and economic opportunities to many entrepreneurs. He was knighted by the Nation several years ago for his commitment to Antigua and Barbuda.
