ISSUE No.106 January 2006 Inside • International Fashion Designer buys home in Antigua (page 4) • Prime Minister Spencer receives first Antigua and Barbuda Machine Readable Passport (page 6) • Government commences Public Sector Audit (page 7) • Antigua and Barbuda at Caribbean marketplace (11) 2nd floor, 45 Crawford Place, London W1H 4LP Tel: 020 7258 0070 · Fax: 020 7258 7486 http://www.antigua-barbuda.com A MESSAGE FROM HIS EXCELLENCY DR CARL ROBERTS, HIGH COMMISSIONER Osborne joins our family with a Masters Degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Miss Osborne is British born of Antiguan parentage and I am extremely delighted that she has now joined the Tourism staff. The Ministry of Tourism came out of 2005 on a high note, with the re-inaugural flight of Condor, a successful tourism week, Delta’s Inaugural Flight, among other things. The year ahead will see technical staff planning ahead for what is forecasted to be a very busy tourist season with the 2007 ICC World Cup Cricket. Many activities will be planned and executed as a precursor to this major regional event. “The nation of Antigua and Barbuda will be celebrating its Silver Jubilee year of independence, however, although the homecoming festivals do not fall under the ambit of the tourism Ministry, any activity Dear Readers, that involves increased visitor arrivals tend to mean increased activities for the tourism technical staff,“ say This is a new beginning for the Antigua and Communications Officer in the Ministry of Tourism Barbuda High Commission and Tourist Office. and Civil Aviation, Samoya Kirby. On the 17th of January 2006, I along with my Tourism Minister Harold Lovell informed wife and staff, representatives from our Tourism technical officers of impending changes to staff Public Relations Firm (KTA), Father Ronald Farley, inclusive mainly of new additions to come in areas the President Mrs Manners and a few members of which are deemed important for improvements if the the Executive of the Antigua and Barbuda National Ministry is to accomplish major goals for 2006. Association and former President of the Association Mr Alphonso Peters came together to witness the Kirby also stated that emphasis is being Blessing by Father Farley of our new premises at 45 placed on moving forward with discussions for the Crawford Place. development of The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority as well as the development of the National In my short presentation I reiterated Tourism Master plan. Government’s intention to institute change where it is needed so that the wheels of government will run better for the benefit of nationals both here and at home. I also took the opportunity to introduce to the Dr Carl Roberts gathering a new member of Staff. Miss Cherrie High Commissioner 2 GOVERNMENT NEWS Issue No. 106 January 2006 followed in their father’s footsteps in pursuing legal education as a second degree using the distance learning approach. Nationals pursue course in Social Work Three nationals have been awarded full scholarships and are pursuing studies in the Principles and Practice of Social Work at the University of West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica. This was announced by Emmanuel Gordor, Project Manager for the European Union (EU) Drug Demand Reduction Unit, which falls Megan Samuel-Fields (left), Dr John Roberts,Q.C., Master Bencher, Grays Inn under the Ministry of Housing, and Clement Samuel (right) Culture & Social Transformation. company, Cable & Wireless, moreover, in The recipients are Reha V. Antiguan brother and both instances, Clement and Megan’s Joseph, Marissa Benjamin, and education in law is a move in a different Causilda Anthony. They will spend sister called to the Bar in direction from their first degrees and areas the next three months in Jamaica. England and Wales of discipline. Both new lawyers intend to use their qualifications to bolster their The course is designed to Brother and sister study existing careers. meet the needs of persons working in partners, Clement Samuel and Megan the broad field of social welfare, Samuel-Fields were called to the Bar of In Clement’s case, he holds a either as professionals or voluntary England and Wales on November 24, degree in Engineering, and worked with workers in recognized agencies, who 2005 after teaming up to complete the Cable & Wireless for over 20 years. Having have not had professional training in Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Bar left the company in 2003 as Chief social work. Vocational Course (BVC), for which they Engineer, he intends to combine his years received honours. of experience in the management of Mr Gordor said he is telecommunications with up-to-date legal delighted that the European Union During an intensive three-year expertise in his current position as the could assist the country’s quest to period, the duo studied for the LLB via government’s Telecommunications Officer. develop a cadre of persons who can distance learning while working full-time Megan holds a degree in accounting and adequately assist in drug education and being active parents. They both has been a Certified Public Accountant and reduction. He said this is in travelled to University of Cardiff, Wales (CPA) since 1992. She is in her 11th year keeping with the EU’s overall mission to complete the Bar Vocational Course with Cable & Wireless and is currently the and hopes that the relationship with (BVC) and were called as members of company’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). the Government/Ministry of Housing, the renowned Grays Inn in London. Culture and Social Transformation Clement and Megan are the and the EU can continue for a very This has been a story of sibling children of the Honourable and Mrs. long time. camaraderie for this accomplished Charlesworth Samuel and credit their brother-sister team. For many years, success to moral support that they they shared a significant part of their received from family and friends. In professional careers at the same addition, the brother-sister team has 2nd floor, 45 Crawford Place, London W1H 4LP Tel: 020 7258 0070 · Fax: 020 7258 7486 3 http://www.antigua-barbuda.com GOVERNMENT NEWS Issue No. 106 January 2006 Mr. Armani related much of Fiennes Institute what he likes about Antigua and Barbuda, a receives timely place which he stated donation abounds in “Beauty isolated!” The Very Intimate Places of Antigua (VIP) Antigua Group – which “I am very intrigued at represents many of the small hotels the diversity of cultures in the country, recently donated 20 present on the island and bedside tables to the Fiennes the ease and flexibility with Institute. The bedside tables, which the peoples co- estimated at over EC$3,000.00, was exist,” he said. This, he donated to the health institution as said, he enjoys observing part of the on-going commitment by Tourism Minister Harold Lovell and Giorgio Armani each day during his regular the group to support the Fiennes jogs on the outskirts of his Institute. property. International Fashion In presenting the supplies to He said that he feels very safe the institution, VIP Antigua’s Designer buys and the people are warm and helpful. “It is Chairman, Eustace Potter said the not a case where I feel like a captive in my home in Antigua V.I.P. Antigua Group’s giving will be own home, beauty, and serenity abounds continual to ensure that the staff and here, but I can indulge in a little island patients are comfortable. He Renowned Italian clothing and entertainment in nearby St. John’s.” appealed to the public to offer textiles designer Giorgio Armani has assistance in caring for the inmates made Antigua and Barbuda his “I can visit the pizzeria when I in Fiennes. destination of choice. want, the club when I want, and the casino when I want,” “It’s all here in Antigua!” he Delores Jardine who is also Just recently, after visiting adds. a member of the Group noted that Antigua and Barbuda for many years on they will be monitoring the Ministry of board his yacht, Armani decided to Giorgio Armani also has major Health’s wish list to see how they can spend more time in Antigua by interests in investing in the island as he is assist in future donations. purchasing a home, which he very much interested in preserving nature. remodelled using everything Armani. His words of advice to Minister Lovell were, Junior Minister in the “ensure that all developers respect your Ministry of Health Winston Williams In a recent visit to the home of islands’ resources.” “They should not build who accepted the contributions for Giorgio Armani, Tourism Minister Harold too close to the shoreline and they should the institution, said he is delighted Lovell sat and spoke with the man who not build too many high rise buildings.” he that the group saw it fit to make such has a net worth of about 1.7 billion as concluded. timely donations. He called on the estimated by Forbes magazine in 2001. public to play their role in making Armani seldom travels to Antigua contributions to the Fiennes Institute The Minister thanked Mr. alone, and is usually accompanied by an and to the other health institutions Armani for choosing Antigua and entourage of ten or more persons who are across Antigua and Barbuda. Barbuda to be the Caribbean island of themselves VIP’s. His staff is mostly choice for his home. He presented Mr. Antiguan and he buys Antiguan. Matron for the Fiennes Armani with his very own edition of “A Institute Imelda Southwell expressed Little Bit of Paradise” as well as samples Minister Lovell said that this type her gratitude for the timely gifts and of the islands’ famous ‘Cavalier rum ‘and of relationship could only prove beneficial indicated that with such generosity world renowned ‘Susie’s Hot Sauce’.