Talk Antigua

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, November 26, 2009 - The Antigua and Barbuda government is tightening financial regulations.

Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack said given the imperatives of the country’s off-shore financial sector in these challenging economic times, and the urgency demanded in the tackling of crime, the United Progressive Party government recognised the need for a shift in priorities and emphasis to secure the continued well-being and safety of its citizens and residents.

“Following its imminent receipt of the report expected from the investigation into the structure and workings of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSRC), my Government will be seeking amendments wherever necessary to the legislative and regulatory frameworks that buttress our off-shore financial regime,” she said this week in her Throne Speech which was boycotted by the opposition Antigua Labour Party.

The probe into the FSRC was launched after Sir Allen Stanford and former administration at CEO at the Commission, Leroy King, were charged in connection with the financier’s alleged US$8 billion fraud earlier this year.

Dame Louise identified the International Business Act, The Money Laundering (Prevention) Act, and The Proceeds of Crime Act as those pieces of legislation which would be reviewed.

“There may also be a need to consolidate for ease of reference, some of these legislative enactments, given the numerous amendments made over the years,” she said.

The Governor General added that it could not be disputed that the allegations of grave financial offences made against Sir Allen, through his Antigua-based Stanford International Bank, with the alleged complicity of King, have compromised the country’s regulatory integrity.

“As such, our Companies Act, Banking Act, Insurance Act, Co-operative Societies Act, and our Money Services Business Act will be reviewed and, where necessary, amended to ensure that effective systems are statutorily provided for monitoring and ensuring strict regional and international compliance with antimony laundering requirements,” Dame Louise said.

Sir Allen is in jail in Texas awaiting trial, while King remains in Antigua awaiting extradition to face charges in the US for his alleged involvement in the illegal activities.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Baldwin Spencer administration paid US$60,000 to charter a plane to bring home students studying in Cuba to vote in the March 12 general elections.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to Cuba, Bruce Goodwin, made the disclosure Friday as he gave evidence in an election petition case being heard in the High Court before Justice Louise Blenman.

Goodwin told the court that following the announcement of the election date in February, the students had made inquiries as to whether provisions would be made for them to return home to vote.

He said he spoke to Prime Minister Spencer and was instructed to make arrangements to facilitate the return of the students.

Of the 200 students studying in Cuba, 127 were registered electors and the diplomat said only 108 returned home because the others, with the exception of one female student, did not have voter identification cards.

Several opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) candidates are questioning the validity of the election results and have suggested that the process was rigged in favour of the ruling United Workers Party (UPP).

The constituencies being challenged are Barbuda, St. George, St. John’s Rural North and St. John’s Rural West. The opposition candidates want the court to overturn the results in these constituencies.

Goodwin told the court that statements made to the students regarding who they should vote for were made in “jest” but admitted saying on a radio programme on March 14 that Barbuda MP Trevor Walker would not have won the election if the students had not returned home to cast ballots.

Source: Caribbean Daily News

ST JOHN’S, Antigua (CMC) - National Security Minister Errol Cort says the Baldwin Spencer administration should review its approach to the death penalty in the face of an upsurge of heinous crimes in this twin-island nation.

Cort said there are challenges regarding the country’s laws pertaining to the death penalty.

“You have the Pratt and Morgan and the various cases that came after and the various rulings in the Privy Council and those cases and the rulings of the Privy Council have sought to effectively put a stoppage to attempts to carry out the death penalty,” he said, as lawmakers debated a motion seeking to find answers to an upsurge in rapes and other forms of violence against women.

Although Antigua and Barbuda has the death penalty on its books as a punishment for murder, it has been nearly two decades since the last state execution.

“But I am suggesting to this honourable house for your consideration that we need to revisit this particular issue,” added Cort, a former attorney general.

He said he was aware that reviving the death penalty may cause ideological problems for some groups and individuals but he feels the situation is serious enough to warrant this move.

Following the murder of a British honeymoon couple in 2008, the government said it would introduce the death penalty for crimes involving weapons. It said then that new sentencing legislation would be introduced for anyone who used a gun or knife in a crime which results a death or serious injury.

Meantime, the national security minister also called for a total review of how the State approaches sentencing those found guilty of serious crimes.

“I have not heard anyone who is being charged and convicted for using a firearm in a housebreaking situation where they have gotten the minimum sentence by law of 25 years. I raise it, madam speaker, because I want to bring it to the front-burner,” Cort added.

Violent crimes against woman have reached worrying levels here with the opposition Antigua Labour Party, social groups and residents clamouring for serious action to be taken to buck the trend.

In 2004 there were 22 reported rapes; 22 in 2005; 17 in 2006; 30 in 2007 and 46 in 2006, while up to the end of October 2009 there have been 10 cases of attempted rape and 29 rapes.

Cort said that while there were laws outlining how persons committing such offences should be sentenced those sentencing guidelines were not being followed.

“Section 32 (A) 2 (of the Larceny Act) says every person who being armed with a firearm commits any of the crimes mentioned under section 29, 30, 31 and 33; and if during the process of committing any of the said crimes he also commits the crime of rape or buggery he shall be liable on conviction to imprisonment for life,” Cort said.

“That’s a part of the laws; I haven’t heard any talk about it but what I say madam speaker is that we need to review these things because we need to make sure that we have strong penalties imposed on individuals who commit these heinous crimes,” he added.

Source: Jamacia Observer

It is unfortunate that steps have been taken to revoke Stanford’s knighthood.

Texas billionaire, Allen Stanford was knighted by the Queen on recommendation from the government of Antigua and Barbuda, for his role as a top flight businessman in the twin island state, and his sterling contribution not only to Antiguans, but the Caribbean as a whole for promoting cricket.

Stanford businesses in Antigua, including airlines, the Caribbean Star, and the Caribbean Sun, the commercial bank, the Antigua Sunnewspaper, the gaming industry, and several other enterprises that have employed hundreds of Antiguans.

Apart from his business ventures, the flamboyant Texan had spent tens millions of dollars in promoting cricket in 22 countries in the Caribbean. Large sums of moneys were paid out to the cricket boards and associations throughout the region as well as Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Bermuda to refurbish grounds and pavilions. He had also paid the so-called West Indies cricket legends in the likes of Sir Garfield Sobers, Sir Everton Weekes, Sir Vivian Richards, Courtney Walsh, Curtley Ambrose, Lance Gibbs, Andy Roberts, and others, fantastic salaries merely to use their names as Legends and for them to make guest appearances at presentation ceremonies at various islands.

The flamboyant billionaire was the man who promoted Twenty/20 cricket in the region to bring it to the high level by his annual regional tounrment in which he handed out fantastic prizes never experienced in this part of the world.

Guyana won the first million dollar prize followed by Trinidad and Tobago, not to mention the $20 million won by the West Indians, only weeks before Stanford was arrested.

And hours before the announcement was made by the Chairperson of the National Honours Committee in Antigua, Jacqui Quinn-Leandro, that she has advised the Governor General to revoke Stanford’s knighthood since he has brought disrpute to the national honours, the Associated Press reported that the brash Texan was involved in a Ponzi Scheme built on lies, and bribery.

Trinidad and Tobago skipper, Darren Ganga, who led his team to the semi final in the Twenty/20 tournament in India and successfully defended the twin island republic in the recently concluded regional fifty over tournament praised Stanford for his role in promoting regional cricket.

Stanford is not the only British awardee to be disgraced, Lord Archer was jailed for perjury and was not required to give up his peerage and several convicted persons in the Commonwealth are recepients of British awards after receiving their convictions.

Cricket lover Stanford was nominated by the Lester Bird administration for his knighthood and one wonders if Bird had won this year’s elections, if steps would have been taken to strip the 59 year old Texan of his knighthood.

I understand that the Palace does not revoke honours unless a request is made to do so

Source: Caribbean Net News