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WEDNESDAY AUGUST 2021 | ISSUE 268 | WWW.POINTVILLE.AG TRIBUTES NO END: THE COMEBACK KID IMMORTALIZED! SEE PAGES 4-6 INSIDE: COVID active cases pass 100! Disease accelerates destruction of coral reefs! UK commits to absorbing Afghan refugees WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST 2021 PAGE 2 EDITORIAL On the question of personal freedoms Even the most rabid But perhaps the most services such as banking, troduced. Again, it’s worth opponent of the govern- strident call from the insurance, taxi, vendors repeating, the measures ment has conceded that protestors was for liber- and store owners. As one may be unpopular but – it has done a remarkably ty to ‘exercise their own economist stated, when importantly – they have good job in containing the personal rights’. The un- the tourism river dries up, worked! spread of the COVID-19 fortunate development all the industries that rely Now to the issue of per- virus. Measures instituted surrounding these calls on it are adversely affect- sonal freedoms: The by the government begin- for personal freedom and ed. Constitution guarantees ning in March 2020 have for Constitutional rights The measures imple- freedom of assembly, been effective in keeping have all ignored one key mented here in Anti- freedom of speech, and the spread of the virus at a factor: there are no ab- gua and Barbuda all fall other freedoms. It bears minimum. solute personal or other within the parameters of repeating, there are no It was notable that the rights guaranteed by the what other governments absolute freedoms. It is attorney for Freedom Constitution. around the world have in- not allowed to go into Fighters, Leon Chaku In fact, in some national Symester, in a moment of crises, the Constitution complete honesty, cred- allows governments to ited the government for take unusual steps that keeping the spread of the may include suspension virus at a minimum. of personal rights and Ironically, this acknowl- freedoms of individuals in edgment of the gov- favour of a national good. ernment’s successes in The current pandemic managing the crisis is an has affected all nations. integral part of the ar- But it is perhaps more gument from the peo- acutely felt in countries ple who took part in the such as Antigua and Bar- March of Sunday August buda that rely so heavily 8, 2021. They claimed on tourism. that due to the successes With tourism hurting, in containing the virus, that pain is felt through- there were no need for out the entire commu- a state of emergency or nity, affecting govern- for enforcing some of the ment’s revenues as well health protocols. as a myriad of ancillary Cont’d on pg 3 WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST 2021 EDITORIAL PAGE 3 a crowded room and shout ‘fire’ COVID-19. Some governments ment for all its workers. The tests when there is none. Such an act have, however, strongly recom- are free! Again, the request falls could ignite panic and cause a mended that their frontline work- within what other governments stampede which may lead to the ers ought to be vaccinated.Here in have introduced. Many years ago, deaths of many innocent people. Antigua and Barbuda, we have had King Short Shirt sang about ‘the In a public health emergency, a number of incentives for people unscrupulous politicians’ who are such as the one which the entire to get vaccinated. These include prepared to lead the people astray world is experiencing, government free gas, shopping vouchers, and to satisfy narrow political ends. must take action to protect the lives a raffle for a parcel of land, among The unfortunate development is and livelihoods of the collective. In others. No one has been forced to that unscrupulous politicians have doing so, some personal freedoms take the vaccine against his/her been manipulating individuals have had to be suspended in the will. The responsibility of the gov- who, understandably, want an end interest of public safety. Asking res- ernment, however, goes beyond to the health protocols by suggest- idents to wear masks in public, to one individual group of people in ing their rights and freedoms are socially distance, and not to con- its employment. being abridged. It is a lie! To prove gregate in crowds of more than 25 Therefore, part of the measures in- the point, ask any of the politicians persons, all fall within the univer- troduced is for the non-vaccinated who have (from the shadows) been sally accepted ‘new normals’ of this public sector workers to present a orchestrating the protests and an- global health pandemic. COVID-19 negative test result ev- ti-vaccine campaign, ‘What would No government in the Caribbe- ery two weeks. This is to ensure that you do differently?’ an has mandated vaccination for it is providing a safe work environ- Selah! PAGE 4 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST 2021 A national salute for National Hero, Sir Lester B. Bird The nation of Antigua and National Hero, Sir so that they too could pay of gigantic contributions and Barbuda, through its Lester Bryant Bird. tribute to the fallen hero. to the nation. parliament, paused on The occasion was a spe- Prime Minister Gaston “Our National Hero, Sir Tuesday to salute the con- cial joint sitting of the par- Browne, who led the trib- Lester Bird, gave over 40 tributions to the country’s liament where the House utes, described Sir Lester years to the development socio-political develop- of Representatives invited as a “towering giant” who of this country. He gave ment made by the late members of the Senate to was not only tall in stature all his adult life to pub- former prime minister participate in the sitting at 6ft 4in, but also a man lic service and he was Cont’d on pg 5 WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST 2021 LOCAL NEWS PAGE 5 Sir Lester B. Bird the individual who made the sec- world stage, particularly his annu- years in politics. He also recalled ond largest contribution to the so- al addresses at the United Nations’ some of the ‘fights’ that were en- cio-economic advancement of the General Assembly, during which countered as Sir Lester announced state of Antigua and Barbuda,” he he often brought the international plans to implement major projects noted. focus on issues of concern to small such as the Heritage Quay Pier and PM Browne described Sir Lester island developing states. Shopping Center. as a man who possessed many tal- In their tributes, both Sir Robin According to Sir Robin, despite ents; from athletics, to cricket, to Yearwood and Sir Molwyn Joseph opposition from within the gov- oratory, as well as an intellect. “He spoke of Sir Lester’s personal influ- ernment and outside, Sir Lester was easily one of the most talented ences on their lives and careers. For was determined to see the project individuals ever to grace the shores Sir Robin, he noted that they were through, and that determination of Antigua and Barbuda,” Browne elected to the House of Represen- is evidenced by the Heritage Quay declared. tatives at the same time and that development, a major hub for The prime minister also spoke of Sir Lester took him under his wings cruise tourism in the country. Sir Lester’s performances on the and helped to shepherd his early Sir Molwyn credited Sir Lester for Cont’d on pg 6 PAGE 6 LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY 18 AUGUST 2021 helping him to make the male Pringle noted that he sentative, Trevor Walker, plement its key recom- decision to leave a lu- has had few personal in- praised Sir Lester as one mendation; namely, the crative job in the United teractions with Sir Lester, who embodied what it establishment of a joint States to return to Antigua but recalled that one day meant to be prime min- consultative committee – and Barbuda to venture while the former prime ister. He recalled that chaired by Prime Minister into politics. Sir Molwyn minister was on a drive Sir Lester had asked the Lester Bird himself. was a candidate in the St through Old Road, he was Commonwealth Sec- After members of the Mary’s North constituen- introduced to him as the retariat to undertake a House spoke, members cy which at the time was ‘candidate who would study to make recom- of the Senate joined in of- represented by a political defeat whoever the ABLP mendations to improve fering their tributes to Sir giant, the late Robert Hall. named as a candidate the relationship between Lester. Molwyn Joseph was nev- for the area’. Pringle said the two islands that Sir Lester Bryant Bird er expected to win but, in even though he was an make up a unitary state will receive a state funeral the 1984 elections when opposition candidate, the of Antigua and Barbu- next Thursday, which has the last vote was count- senior statesman offered da. According to Walker, been declared a public ed, he emerged winner him very useful words of Sir Lester demonstrated holiday. He will be laid to and has won every elec- advice about politics and his commitment to im- rest next to his mother in tion since, except for 2004 what was needed to be proved relations not only the St. John’s public cem- when he lost to Bertrand successful. to request the study, but etery. Joseph. The Barbuda repre- he also took steps to im- Other notable contribu- tions came from Foreign Affairs Minister E.P Chet Greene who read the lyr- ics of a calypso that he composed in honour of Sir Lester. That song will be released on the air- waves over the weekend.

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