Keith Mitchell of Grenada losing the general elections 9 to 6, having won all 15 seats in the two previous general elections, should communicate a message to political parties in Antigua and Barbuda, that they need to redouble their efforts and work harder. Going forward, opposition parties could believe that there is something on the “wicket” for them.
Is Mr. Algernon Serpent Watts being callous with a crown jewel media in Antigua-Barbuda?
It is natural that as general elections approach, partisan temperatures will rise to “fever pitch”.
However, I am bemused by the idea that the Antigua Observer outfit, would choose to abandon its mantra, that all voices are welcomed over its microphones and to go so far as banning the Government’s chief spokesperson, from a dedicated weekly guest slot on the Observer AM.
More particularly, the decision of the Observer Board is baffling, especially, since, its business model is a profit-making, commercial enterprise. Why would a broadcast enterprise (in Antigua-Barbuda) committed to a viable profit-making operation, choose to discourage listenership by Labour Party supporters? At the most recent general elections, those voting labour, outnumbered votes for the UPP by more than 3 to 2. Rather than seeking to shrink its support base, the Observer Board should have a premium on preserving and expanding its listenership, because that is its advertisers’ primary draw to the media system.
Importantly, if Ambassador Hurst is careless with the truth, that creates more media and journalistic opportunities for reporters and producers, working with the Observer. Conversely, banning the Government’s Chief spokesperson from a dedicated guest slot (in which he answers questions arising from the weekly Cabinet briefing) only hardens the attitude of ABLP supporters; while discouraging listeners wishing to hear all sides of the story. Making it nigh impossible for journalists and producers (at Observer) to do their jobs.
The decision of the Cabinet, to embargo participation of ministers on any of the Observer platforms, is a case in point. It could be a matter of time, before such a Cabinet decision, includes all government entities. Furthermore, left unresolved, the ripple effect could begin to influence how advertisers spend their marketing budget.
One hopes that the Observer management will step back from this and focus on setting policies inspiring: quality programming; continuous expansion of listenership and revenue base; paying its employees and its bills; continually invest in more efficient systems and processes; expansion of its holdings strategically and make a profit. Guests to appear on news and current affairs programs should be determined by: producers, journalists and presenters, without interference from management.
Politically, “banning” Ambassador Hurst from a dedicated guest slot on Observer AM, is stranger than fiction. Certainly, what the UPP and its friends at Observer should want, are programmes with the widest cross-section of listeners. That way, its targeted political messages, can be heard by other than its “hardcore supporters”???
Is it the case that, the Government’s Chief Spokesperson spins on the issues very well? Could the UPP be so frustrated because its team of “spinners” is incapable of matching him? I agree with any opinion that (for reasons known to the UPP) the party removed its best spinner (young Taber) from front-line duties. So, unshackle Senator Tabor; bring him on the day after Max and caution him to “spin” as legally and loudly as he likes, without causing further dissension in the party. He spins very well and (like Max) Taber has the “gift of the gab” A rare talent.
Walk good and handle the Observer jewel with care. Some advertisers could lose patience and switch loyalties.
Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst
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Read more of Arvel’s analytical pieces on arvelgrant.com and arvelgranttoday@facebook.com. Twitter and Instagram feeds coming soon.
By Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst
November 18th, 1978, gave the World one of the most disturbing mass murders of the faithful by a spiritual leader. The US preacher, Reverend Jim Jones, leader of the People’s Temple (an off-the-grid, bush settlement)
established in Guyana, is reported to have ordered the mass murder of more than 800 of his followers, deep in the jungle, near Guyana’s border with Venezuela.
The weapon of choice? A cocktail of a poisoned brew referred to as “The
Kool-Aid”. Jim Jones may even have used the force of arms to dictate his murderous sacrificial ritual. So horrific and remote was the murder scene, the clean-up had to be undertaken using military logistics. Did Reverend Jim Jones kill his followers to hide evidence from US authorities?
43 years later, The Reverend Dr Kevin Smith, leader of the Pathway
International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in Paradise, near Montego Bay, Jamaica, may have summoned congregants to come urgently to his temple, dressed in white (without mobile phones) in order to “escape the pending flood”. Up to 144 women, children and men obeyed.
The police eventually received a call from an injured member, who managed to escape, what may have been an attempt to offer her up as a sacrifice. So brutish and murderous was the scene inside the religious sanctuary that police first responders were met with gunfire, forcing them to retreat and call for backup. In the meantime, at least 1 member of the Reverend Dr Smith’s congregation, might have already been sacrificed.
Some believe only a quick response by the high command of the Montego Bay police and a commando-style entry to the place of worship prevented many more members of the cult from being offered up.
What, if anything could the Canadian-trained psychologist be trying to hide? If he spent 10 years in Canada before returning to Jamaica as a
psychologist, he is certainly not your typical “half-baked-street-pastor”
trying to con vulnerable believers out of money and property. If his church really collects more than a million dollars each week, he is
definitely on to a quite successful business model, if not a criminal
enterprise.
Is it a fact that his congregation includes: security officers, school teachers, health workers and tax collectors? Then, one cannot count his followers as being among Jamaica’s poor and vulnerable??? Some may believe he was a good man, even performing miracles, but that he became “radicalized”? A psychologist masquerading as a minister of religion can shaft anyone who wants to be had.
Contextually, it is believed that Jamaica owns the unique contradiction: Of
having the most churches per capita, along with one of the highest murder rates in the world. Throughout history, where ever societies descended into intractable and uncontrollable mayhem, fundamentalist religion and organized crime have often been key ingredients in the toxic brew. The intelligence community, in Jamaica, may wish to include this historical fact in its calculus, going forward.
Walk good and remember, the faithful believe that God owns everything,
so he does not need your money and property. High quality and well
regulated social services offered by your church, mosque, synagogue or
temple, need it more.
by Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst
Authorized for publication without changes or modifications. All rights
reserved.
Read more of Arvel’s analytical pieces on arvelgrant.com and
arvelgranttoday@facebook.com
Recently, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados and St Vincent et al experienced different degrees of COVID? Protests. Actions in Antigua-Barbuda and Barbados, were somewhat muted, compared to St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Why? In recent times, the governing parties in both countries gained office with big electoral margins. Thereby gutting their political opponents, of the “fire-in-the belly” for mass demonstrations.
In the case of SVG, things seemed a bit more intense, even bordering on the murderous, with an apparent, attempt on the life of PM Gonsalves. Perhaps, the intensity of protests in SVG is to be understood in the context that, the governing ULP has been in office for more than 20 years. Perhaps, even harder for the opposition NDP to swallow, is that PM Gonsalves has been leading the ULP to repeated victories with a 1-seat majority since 2010. So near, yet so far!
- Well, is there pent-up frustration in the ranks of the Vincentian opposition, because of its sustained failure to remove the ULP at the ballots?
- Is COVID, tempting the NDP to try and unseat the ULP using mass-demonstrations?
- Did the NDP over-play its hand at that demonstration where PM Gonsalves was injured?
- Check this, St Vincent and the Grenadines could get a big outbreak, if the protest, serves as a super-spreader. Very tricky for a country which may yet be among the highest per capita users of “herbal treatments”.
At another level, it is shocking to hear some political and union leaders of the anti-vaxxer campaign say they are fully vaccinated against ”COVID” but they are “fighting” for the right of their followers’ to refuse vaccination against the deadly pandemic condition – encouraging supporters to choose sickness or death over life?
What kind of a choice is that? I guess, the more people get sick and die from COVID related illnesses and the sooner the broader health services collapse, the better the anti-vaxxer leadership will look?
Politicians hoping to be taken seriously must recognize that, left unchecked, the COVID virus will sicken, and kill many persons, while crippling national health services. In those days, political leaders caught on record, discouraging vaccination against COVID, will be held responsible for such disasters.
The more sensible and strategically useful hand for opposition parties to play is to call for and support the achievement of herd immunity plus 10%, followed by lifting of emergency conditions.
In a COVID state, prudent opposition politics and union education tactics are to educate the population on how emergency conditions amend human rights and privileges. Instead, anti-vaxxer politicians and union leaders, continue to mislead uninformed supporters and workers, into believing that rights remain in full effect, under emergency conditions.
Walk good until next time.
Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst
Text authorized for publication without changes or modifications.
All rights reserved
When I read Reuters’ report of this tragic attempt on the life of the Vincentian Prime Minister, I was stunned by the negative global effect which this act of brutishness could have on our civilization and our leaders’ attempt to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those politicians, union leaders and media activists, who are fueling the anti-vaccination campaign, should use the apparent, attempted assassination of The Right Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, as a harsh reminder that, they have the right to lawful speech, not freedom to inspire criminal violence. Indeed, some may well argue that certain leaders of the Anti-vaccination campaign, should examine the palm of their hands, for blood stains from this murderous attempt, to assassinate the dean of Caribbean Prime Ministers.
Anti-vaxxer politicians, union leaders and media activists, should not be too naive to know that, some of their followers may be people with low IQ and or mental or emotional conditions, which limit their thinking and related cognitive skills.
Some may wonder if they are aware of that, and are cynically, herding their loyal supporters toward the kind of action unleashed against The Right Hon. Ralph Gonsalves, in a selfish grasp at political advantage?
And why was this savage attack performed against the life of Prime Minister Gonsalves? Perhaps, because he is leading the effort to have (at least) frontline workers in his country, vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. A pandemic condition which is killing millions of people around the World including, in St Vincent, The Grenadines and the rest of the Caribbean.
For that, almost any Caribbean head of Government, could be the assassins next target.
Strangely, the actions of the anti-vaxxer politicians, union leaders and media activists, suggest they are not aware that if COVID-19 kills their unvaccinated supporters, they die with their: votes, union dues and media support.
Perhaps, the worst insult to injury, is the fact that many of those who are leading or inspiring the anti-vaccination campaign, may (themselves) be fully vaccinated, and protected against serious illness and death from COVID-19 or its family of diseases. Yet they boldly, discourage public policies designed to give their followers the same protection from the virus- Strange, indeed?
I expect that, Prime Minister Gonsalves (being the outstanding statesman) will avoid utterances, which will imply recrimination. Rather, “let the law take its course”.
In the meantime, Caribbean leaders must double-down on efforts to save our civilization from this dangerous and deadly COVID-19 virus.
As is the case with the recent assassination of the President of Haiti, the security gaps which allow such a crude and medieval head injury to a Prime Minister, suggests real weaknesses in the protective detail of the Vincentian leader.
The assassination of the President of Haiti, killed Caribbean democratic innocence; The (more recent) attempted assassination of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, buried it. Furthermore, both murderous acts, are loud calls for enhanced security for our national and regional leaders. Walk good until next time.
By Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst
Authorized for publication without changes or modifications.
All rights reserved.
There is an increasing body of respected opinions, suggesting that Cuba and Haiti could be on the verge of significant outward population movements.
In my opinion, in order for this to happen at scale, there would have to be co-mingling with International criminal organizations, to facilitate efficient and sustained mass movement of people out of Cuba and Haiti.
Sustained mass movement toward the United States, is unlikely, given the command and control of the US Coast guards in waters between Cuba Haiti and US territories.
More tempting will be Central and South America as well as Caribbean States and territories.
In light of current COVID conditions, the thought of having to receive and accommodate thousands of people, under refugee conditions, is most disconcerting, even among best of friends.
You may find the attached piece particularly interesting especially regarding its focus on Cuba.
Arvel Grant, Political and Current Affairs Analyst
Categories
RNA Vaccines
I worry that those RNA vaccines may be too fragile and are not as robust as vaccines made using more traditional materials and technologies. And they are so darned expensive. I think developing countries should keep an eye on them and avoid them if we can for the time being.
Reference: Pfizer, BioNTech to seek authorization for COVID booster shot as Delta variant spreads
Arvel
Categories
Miss Avant-garde
Only the first black US citizen to win the script spelling bee contest in almost 100 years. She is the second black person to win the competition. The first being Jody-Anne Maxwell of Jamaica in 1998.
You should share this with your grandkids, your kids, your little brothers and sisters and your nieces and nephews.
Truly inspirational stuff.
Arvel
…rests in the hands of these two talented politicians.
In 2018, when Gaston Browne led the Antigua & Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) to a 15-1 victory, it confirmed its position as the majority party in Antigua. With Trevor Walker leading the Barbuda People’s Movement (BPM) to a clean sweep of available seats on the Council, in the 2021 elections, it confirmed its position as the majority party in Barbuda. So, what next?
MP Trevor Walker seems to believe the results of the 2021 Council Elections suggest a majority of Barbudans, are upset with the treatment of Barbuda by the central government.
PM Gaston Browne seems unphased by his party’s defeat, believing that the strategy of large-scale development and initiatives to move from communal to freehold land rights will be vindicated.
The Barbuda People’s Movement appears to have a different vision of development. A preference for communal land rights; small boutique (niche-type) economic activities; living off the land and sea; minimum population growth; preserving traditional Barbudan values.
Conversely, it appears the ABLP believes:
· Tradeable land ownership, gives Barbudans and other investors equity, powering growth.
· New areas for immediate impact being: banking, insurance, and construction.
· Under-written losses from disasters would be covered by the insurance sector.
· That commercial land tenure will drive expansion in GDP; increasing the island’s input to The Consolidated Fund; boosting Barbuda’s recurrent and capital receipts.
Given the way the world works, both these positions have very strong merits. Communal land rights can co-exist with leasehold and freehold rights in Barbuda. Indications are it does on every continent and in many regions around the World. For that to happen in Barbuda, PM Brown and MP Walker must commit their undisputed political talents to honing the well-developed state-craft of negotiation and compromise. After all, isn’t “politics the art of the possible?”
There are no good reasons why a negotiated land-use policy for Barbuda, cannot achieve mutually acceptable zoning. Producing an arrangement that protects the communal land rights of Barbudans, while advancing opportunities for modern economic activities.
Done right, such an arrangement could drive development at scales which earn sufficient revenue to fund Barbuda’s recurrent and capital requirements; while protecting the traditional values of Barbudans.
A just and equitable arrangement on the basis of “one island, two systems” may even achieve surplus as reserves to fund the management of major natural disasters.
When it comes to issues involving communal land rights, national governments should be wary of opting for settlement by the judicial route. Indications are, there are more than 100 countries in which communal land rights issues are of public interest. The further up the judicial food-chain these disputes climb, the more likely judges (in the Commonwealth Jurisprudence) will see arguments between national governments and aggrieved communities as human rights cases. Often, the human rights of aggrieved: Individuals, groups, or communities overwhelm the arguments of national authorities.
Further, indications are, recognition of communal holdings in the official land register is gaining in ascendency around the World. In Barbuda, zoning for private commercial development, in exchange for communal registration of the rest may be too big a carrot, for Mr. Walker to resist.
Walk good until next time
Arvel Grant, Political & Current Affairs Analyst
It is Saturday afternoon, approaching 1:30pm. I have a date with an immunization officer in a nearby town. The automobile crawled tentatively out of the mountains, inching closer to sea level. Each winding turn, sent a gentle breeze across the cabin, taking with it a nice aroma of perfume. The lady driver (in rapped silence), picked every mound and depression in the winding road with easy caution.
As we dropped out of the cool air of a dying mountain side winter, into the warm embrace of the coming spring, loitering on the planes below, it occurred to me that the air was getting warmer and quite sticky. For, once at sea level we must hurry we are late.
It is a brisk wind huffing and puffing through the cabin, we are now moving along at a quick glide. The smell of cow’s dung, changing place with the balmy scent of a salty swamp, yielding to the smell of petroleum products, giving way to the noise and rough sent of a town and its neighbourhood ocean.
In minutes, we were turning into the designated vaccination centre.
Aware of a voice saying, lots of cars around but not many people in sight; I requested a quick description of what is happening. An over-flow tent with two employee-types sitting at a table, with no one waiting to be served. A quite large health facility. Compound quite clean and well kept. Suggested we check out the tent. No, why? Let us see what is happening inside, insisted my colleague.
Approaching the entrance, a male person welcomed us and enquired about our purpose. We want to be vaccinated. Someone said something about temperature. A few minutes passed before we were ushered toward an automatic hand sanitizer station.
With a bit of help, I stuck a hand under the thing. It delivered 2 quick blasts of the slimy stuff we now revere as hand sanitizer. I rubbed both hands gleefully. Swiped one set of fingers between the others, back and forth. Merry in the thought that I was about to be vaccinated.
A woman called, come this way. I sat down to a warm but focused round of medical interrogation. She wanted to know: Name, Age, Address, ID info, Profession, and (of course) that # which lawful residents must keep and carry to do official business.
Then she asked about a long list of medical conditions. I disowned them all, not having met them. She wanted to know if I was allergic to any medicines. I admitted innocence, confessing that I (sometimes) reacted moderately to some dairy products and orange juice. She made a chuckley sound.
Then she asked, can you see to sign sir? A blast of mischief danced in my brain. I can’t see to sign Mi’lady, but I can sign. She laughed heartily and shuffled what felt like a sheet of legal paper in my direction. Passing the page to my colleague for a “once-over”; She took it and started to hum. Went on with the low-level chant for a couple of minutes. Looks fine to me. You want to sign? Sign I did.
We then moved to an inner room. Approaching another bank of chairs, a happy-sounding woman asked us to “come this way”. Next stop? An examination-type room. The woman introduced herself as nurse…. and went silent for a long couple of seconds. I know this name she exclaimed; Good I said, Is it hot? Nothing to worry about. And when you are not sticking people with needles, what do you do? I am the Nurse at…. clinic. Oh, you are? Yes. Are you from this area? Yes: Born, grew up, left for school, and back working in the area. May I video my shot? Yes, the more people see it, the more will come.
Nurse counselled me about the side effects. All of which I have, written or argued about. Are you ready? Yes. She rubbed my upper arm with something quite cool. My excitement rising. Imagining that I felt a faint touch. Is that it? Yes she said as she placed a cotton swab on the area. Eventually replacing the swab with a neat strip of medicated tape. Did you get it on camera (I wondered to my colleague) Yes! Every bit.
The lady nurse escorted me to an observation area. I was dizzy with excitement.
Tried to read some of my favourite news sites but could not concentrate. Stabbed opened one of my book apps. Hit the first icon “The return of Sherlock Holmes” announced my screen reader.
Bounced down the content page and decided to read “A scandal in Bohemia”. Somehow, the masterful piece of fiction did the trick. Well into my read, someone called my name. I see you are quite relaxed and reading. Yes Yes! Let me know if you feel anything unusual. Yes Yes! And back to A Scandal in Bohemia. About 20 minutes later, the lady re-entered my consciousness. You look fine. How are you feeling? Fine, very fine! This is your Immunization card. You must come back for your next shot on the … of. . I took the card; Memorized my batch #; Stuck it in my billfold and back to A Scandal in Bohemia.
The next interruption came from my colleague. Are you ready? I abandoned Holmes’ fictitious gossip and emerged into the outdoors, happy that I am on the way to escaping the grasp of a quite nasty virus. Because of it, a lot of personal, business, and professional ends have been messed up.
Back at home, it is near 6:00 PM. Suddenly, my body is covered with a layer of warm sticky perspiration. What is this?! Then I remembered, side effects?! Within an hour, I began to feel quite fluey. By 9:00, I felt very fatigued. Went to lie down, returning to Mr. Sherlock Holms and Dr. Watson, in search of relief. All amidst my sense of rising excitement, driven by increasing joint and muscle pains. I was elated that the vaccine is “kicking in”.
By 12:00 mid-night, I was in the grips of a real knock-down flue. Getting off my bed to use the toilet, took real painful effort. If they did not tell me about this, I would have sworn I am about to die.
It is just past 3:00 in the morning. I am awakened by a strong desire to defecate. In my fright, I got out of bed in a flash. Only when I was safely perched on the toilet, delivering the first of 3 quick bouts of diarrhea, that I realized that the pain had all but disappeared.
Now about 8:30 Sunday morning. Someone was calling me and shaking me gently, come get something to eat. I tidied up and ate like a hungry horse. Felt quite jaded through Sunday. Nursed a nagging headache and pain in the back of both eyes. Slept very well Sunday night. By Monday morning, I was “fighting fit”. All past week I kept wondering, can a vaccine really make a human feel so fine???
Get your vaccine and walk good.
Arvel Grant
Public Health & International Development Specialist