Part 1

Antigua and Barbuda Crisis: Social and Economic Dilemma

By Kwame Nkosi Romeo

Antigua and Barbuda's COVID-19 death rate is among the highest in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the lowest in testing per 1,000,000 million (m) people. Antigua and Barbuda's population is 98,262.

The figures are 4,679 people tested, 141 confirmed cases, and four deaths. The death rate per 1m is 41, ranking the twin-island nation at Level 4, the highest Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Travel Health Notices (THN). This revelation is troubling news for the Antigua Labor Party (ALP) Government of Prime Minister Gaston Browne, which depends on tourism and the general population. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Travelers' Recommendation). 

The CDC THN categorizes Barbados and St. Lucia with moderate to low death rates. Barbados had 275 confirmed cases with seven deaths, and St. Lucia had 257 confirmed cases with two deaths. The death rate per 1m for Barbados and St. Lucia was 24 and 11, along with more people tested, 46,638 and 16,034, respectively.

Antigua and Barbuda's COVID-19 testing of 4,679 represents 4.76% of the 98,262 population and pales in comparison to the British Virgin Island testing 5,193 people, 17.13% of the 30,314 people. Also, St. Lucia 8.72% and Barbados 16.22%, with populations of 183,973 and 287,520, respectively. (Calculation per million: COVID-19 deaths divided by the population and multiplied by 1,000,000). The adverse Level 4 classification caused Ronald Michael Sanders, Antigua and Barbuda Ambassador to the US, to query CDC results. 

Sanders disagrees with CDC data collection without evaluating the facts arising from the analysis. Primarily, the confirmed case fatality ratio (CFR), for example, the total number of COVID-19 deaths divided by the total number of confirmed cases multiplied by 100: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, and St. Lucia are 2.84, 2.54, and 0.78 percent consecutively. 

Without a doubt, the CDC will not update its findings until a country is eligible to move to a lower level: When a destination meets primary criteria for 28 consecutive days, secondary standards are reviewed. A destination's THN level is lowered if primary and secondary criteria are met. (How CDC Determines the Levels for COVID-19 Travel Health Notices)

Does Sanders believe the US State Department will lift its level 4 "Do Not Travel' Coronavirus advisory?

Calling for a change in the ranking doesn't mean the CDC will agree to lessen Antigua and Barbuda to a Level 2 without coordinating with the US State Department. Sanders prioritizes the life-or-death prospect of tourism, begging for a better result.

But where is this self-righteous compassion for people suffering a dreadful life and debt under the ALP structural adjustment of surging poverty, deteriorating living conditions, and disempowering local people? 

The CDC is unlikely to support Sanders's ridiculous dispute and may perceive it offensive to the CDC criteria procedure. (Antigua's 'very high' Covid risk set to be reconsidered by the US - The Daily Observer, November 25, 2020).

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Countries that do very few tests per confirmed cases are unlikely to be testing widely enough to find all cases. The WHO has suggested 10-30 tests per confirmed case as a general benchmark of adequate testing." (Our World in Data)

Because Antigua and Barbuda's lack of data keeps the number of confirmed cases absurdly low and may indicate a looming uncontrollable increase due to lack of testing: first COVID-19 issues were detected on March 13, 2020, and since then, neither the government nor privileged business stakeholders are making an effort to minimize the risk; as a result, the substantial uncontrolled spread will arise stemming from those who are above the law. 

One recent example is a 58-year-old engineer worker, Eduardo de la Plaza, who arrived in Antigua on November 6, died on the 13 and was buried on 17. Government's questionable COVID-19 protocols and special designation to work breached the established 14-day quarantine period. This violation of the health guidelines will likely endanger the population and sow panic. (Venezuelan Ambassador commends late countryman's colleagues for 'deserving' send-off - Orville Williams - Antigua Observer November 19, 2020)

Why was no one fined for being non-compliant?

Undoubtedly, one case is too many protocol failures since there are two laws, one partisan, the other indifferent. Many visitors to the island roam freely without wearing a mask, and celebrities are allowed to have parties past the curfew. Conversely, any local attending a bar, mingling without a mask, is heavily fined. That unfairness underscores a brutalizing regime of laws encompassing the beach to keep locals separated from their resources that visitors are free to enjoy, in addition to dumbing down the resistance movement depicted in Slanes' 1989 classic Calypso song Only In Antigua. The song captures the general apathy and political behavior based on political obedience to a specific political tradition. The advent of COVID did not stop protest marches and rallies in Jamaica, Barbados, St. Lucia, Guyana, Trinidad, and Tobago.

Before the advent of COVID-19, Antigua and Barbuda's economy was teetering at the edge of bankruptcy; today, that's a reality—it's time to examine the role of government and the abuse of office for private gain.

Antigua and Barbuda reminds me of the Mouseland narration by Tommy Douglas in 1944. The theme focuses on the mice's unbearable political subjection to the big, fat, black cats select to govern. Later, the big fat black cats plunder the economy and legislate criminal laws to exploit the country's resources. The mice voted in the big, fat, black cats to rule Mouseland in the common interest. Instead, the Chief of the big, fat black cats brought creative enrichment of land grabbing and systematic looting of the public treasury over the common good. 

Where is ALP government accountability regarding US$76 million of forfeiture funds belonging to former Ukraine Prime Minister Pavel Ivanovich Lazarenko? 

According to Transparency International (TI), the ALP corrupt officials set a terrible example contrary to the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) on assets recovery and return of stolen assets included in the Sustainable Development Goals under Goal 16.4 (ASSET RECOVERY AND THE THEFT OF PUBLIC MONEY)

For instance, in 2011, 104 United Nations (UN) members and two observer states suggested the US release the US$1.5 billion (b) of assets seized from former Libya President Muammar Qaddafi to the National Transitional Council (NTC) of Libya. This arrangement had political implications, seemingly linked to the NTC insurgency, so doubt persisted about the rebel group's disbursement of the funds. The UN approved a compromise sanctioned by South Africa and the African Union (AU) that the funds would go towards the humanitarian cause and essential services. Still, there were cloak-and-dagger operatives behind the scene. About two months following the release of the funds on October 11, 2011, a rebel group killed Qaddafi, which brought about long-lasting instability and chaos.

In like manner, lawyer Martha Boersch, who prosecuted Lazarenko in the United States in 2006, most likely saw a comparison to Libya concerning Ukraine funds and justly asserted: "..the money stolen from Ukraine should go back to the Ukrainian people."

 

But, Boersch acknowledges that without transparency and accountability, the people are unlikely to benefit, as the revolving door of corruption boosts the coffers of crooked politicians while repeatedly depriving the people. Subsequently, Boersch distrusted the corrupt regime in Antigua and Barbuda. The ending of the case was clear; the people of Ukraine's loss is ALP's gain, and Boersch's spoken words of reality are a lasting indictment 

 against the ALP government:

"..how do you accomplish that arguably the government of the country is just as corrupt as the people that you're prosecuting?" (What Happens When Foreign Assets Are Seized In The US September 28, 2013, by Richard Solash)

Offshore Alert alluded to the ALP government's influence over the courts, particularly regarding the forfeiture of funds. The first attempt to seize Lazarenko funds was in 2001: "In secret court hearings held in Antigua, the island's government has been trying to seize all or most of the $76 million of assets recovered so far in the liquidation of Eurofed Bank Ltd." 

Mission accomplished in 2016; the ALP government confiscated Lazarenko funds.

These funds relate to Lazarenko's misconduct in public office that TI named one of the world's ten most corrupt officials.

Likewise, ALP corrupt officials' extensive misuse and abuse of Japanese company Ikishawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (IHI) funds for personal gain are among ten Grand Corruption Case studies: Antigua and Barbuda number one. Yet the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) overlooked the ALP political criminals and their partners' pillage of public funds through pipelines to the offshore sectors as outlined in The Puppet Master Appendix D (The Puppet Masters - How the Corrupt Use Legal Structures to Hide Stolen Assets and What to Do about it)

 The IHI is number one among Grand Corruption Case Studies for misappropriated funds from December 31, 1996, to February 2006. This rip-off involved the ALP government and Bruce Rappaport embezzling monthly amounts of US$403,334 from the public treasury nine months before IHI's scheduled debt payment of US$199,740 commenced in September 1997. (Bermuda banks used to launder millions February 3, 2011, by Jonathan Kent - The Royal Gazette).

On September 1, 1997, Rappaport began paying IHI US$199,740 while pocketing US$203,594. Rappaport's US$203,594 was speedily reduced to US$69,576.75 in 2001 and continued until February 2006. This economic fleecing stopped because the United Progressive Party (UPP) won the election on March 23, 2004, and Robert Lindquist's investigation was in May 2004. Added to this political conspiracy to defraud the people of Antigua and Barbuda was the firebombing of Lindquist's office:  

"I flew out of Antigua on January 13, 2008, and my office, located above a doctor's office in St. John's, was subject to an early morning firebomb on January 17, 2008. Fortunately, my sixth sense gave me complete document protection; nothing was lost." (Lindquist Forensics refers to Cases 2000'S)

Some of Rappaport's extortion of hard-hit taxpayer-payers was deposited into HSBC Manx accounts in the Isle of Man to MP Asot Michael and Ambassador Ronald Michael Sanders of US$3.2m and US$1.4 m. This abuse of public money exacerbated poverty and long-lasting economic inequality. 

Today, the notorious Mouseland principal adviser corroborates Offshore Alert's analysis of the legal system! This fat black cat commonly directs the Judicial Branch to deliver unjust justice against the defenseless. In contrast, there is an absence of enforcement involving the ALP cronies. This prevailing practice connects to ALP's predominant economic corruption, which is the cause of the country's underdevelopment and failure.

Consequent to this economic and social dilemma are pensioners' unavailable benefits dating back as much as four months, and the authorities are unable to give any valid explanation as to future payment for public workers too. Nothing is done by legislation or regulation to assure stimulus provision for disadvantaged individuals. As the interest rate on loans keeps surging, food purchases skyrockets and the low availability of essential medicine is the norm. Government is in a state of paralysis since Antigua and Barbuda Social Security (ABSS) is in the red, and the country is dead broke. 

To be continued.