CABINET PRESS BRIEFING (Thursday September 5th 2024)

ANTIGUA BARBUDA TODAY (Thursday September 5th 2024)

Winless Antigua and Barbuda Falcons crashed to fourth defeat in as many games in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League on Tuesday. Jack Matthew reports.

The Antigua and Barbuda senior men’s football squad has been announced for the COCACAF Nations League. Joel Rayne reports.

Trinidad-based engineering consultancy, KS&P Ltd has been awarded the contract to lead the design and supervisory phase of the expansion of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. They will engage with key stakeholders, including the community of Five Islands. The expansion of the newest landed UWI campus is being bankrolled by a loan of US$80 million dollars from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Briana Anthony reports.

Education Minister Hon. Daryll Matthew is hopeful normality will return to public schools on Thursday, following industrial action by teachers on Wednesday. Teachers staged a sit-in to call for the completion of payment of retroactive salaries for the 2019 to 2021 period. It resulted in a premature end to classes for thousands of students. Minister Matthew concedes the August 31 deadline was missed to pay all teachers, though payments were being made incrementally. He said fewer than ten teachers are left to be paid their cheques and says they will receive their payments by Thursday morning. He is therefore hopeful the Antigua and Barbuda Union of Teachers will end their industrial action.

The new international airport in Barbuda is to be opened on October 3, 2024, following final approvals from the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority, ECCAA. The regulatory body granted the approval Wednesday, following the completion of the final set of crucial exercises. Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister, Hon. Charles Max Fernandez welcomes the development as the Government seeks to position the sister isle as a high-end destination.

ANTIGUA BARBUDA TODAY (Wednesday September 4th 2024)

Outgoing Chief Executive Officer of Cricket West Indies, Johnny Grave has thanked everyone for their tremendous support over the past 7 years. He highlighted the contribution made to CWI by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, through the joint acquisition of the Coolidge Cricket Grounds and surrounding properties.

Senior Counsel Anthony Astaphan says there is no legal grounds for a challenge to the land adjudication process in Barbuda. He made the comments on the heels of a revelation by the Barbuda Council about a challenge to the process in the courts. Myrtle Bruno Hodge reports.

The Government is on track to meet Wednesday's deadline for disclosure in an ongoing court case surrounding the Alfa Nero super yacht. It has also emerged the court will hear another ownership claim for the vessel from the Flying Dutchman Overseas Limited, later this year. These matters are being litigated as the Government has already sold the yacht and used the proceeds to pay debts. Garfield Burford reports.

There is an urgent call for the reintroduction of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) programme in the nation's schools, as part of instilling positive values in youth. Educator and National Youth Ambassador, Janet Simon says this programme was highly effective.

ANTIGUA BARBUDA TODAY (Tuesday September 3rd 2024)

Social Services Manager at Sir Lester Bird Medical Centre, Sequoyah Survia has outlined the range of substances being used by some minors. She was speaking on the ABS Crime Forum on Sunday night.

The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela has reacted strongly to the move by the United States to seize a plane used by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. Caracas says, “in a recurrent criminal practice that can only be described as an act of piracy, (US authorities) has illegally confiscated an aircraft that has been used by the President of the Republic.” The US Department of Justice says the plane was illegally purchased through a shell company and smuggled out of the United States, citing violations of sanctions and export control laws. The Dassault Falcon 900EX was seized in the Dominican Republic and transferred to the custody of federal officials in Florida, according to the Justice Department. The plane was valued at US$13M at the time of purchase in 2023. Venezuela says it “reserves the right to take any legal action to repair this damage to the nation, as well as all other damages caused by the criminal policy of unilateral coercive measures.”

Nicholas Pooran is the new six-hitting King, after breaking Chris Gayle's record. Joel Rayne reports.

Forty-five young people from the Grays Green Community were recognized during a graduation on Sunday for their participation in the ‘End it How’ programme. It is a youth-centred initiative aimed at addressing crime and violence. Theresa Goodwin reports.

Social Transformation Minister Hon. Sir Molwyn Joseph has defended the decision by Prime Minister Hon. Gaston Browne to meet with the 2 Drilly Crew. Sir Molwyn told the ABS Crime Forum Sunday night this level of outreach is crucial to tackling the problem of anti-social behaviour among youth.

The Seventh-Day Adventist Church is continuing its community engagement to end violence, though its End it How campaign. It was the turn of the Bible Speaks SDA Church for the latest community outreach activity. Kim Emmanuel Baird reports.

Members of the 2 Drilly crew will benefit from the creation of a hydroponics facility, along with other employment and educational opportunities. The declaration follows the meeting between members of the group and Prime Minister, Hon. Gaston Browne last Thursday, in the wake of increased youth violence. The engagement is part of intensified efforts by the Government to positively engage young people who are involved in deviant behaviours. Theresa Goodwin reports.