I wrote the article 'The Failure Of Leadership' on June 16, 2000, giving an overview of Antigua Labor Party (ALP) prime minister Lester Bryant Bird's politics of spite that disempowers local business people. Members of Parliament (MP) silence gave Bird the impetus to crush local people's enterprises and destroy the economy. At the same time, other government officials saw no evil during the tenure of Bird's autocracy.

Our business, La Casa Del Habano, got crushed two years later because of politics that I knew long before it was confirmed by a senior ALP Member of Parliament (MP). According to the MP, the people involved were Lester Bird and Asot Michael, and in the plot was a former ALP Minister of Finance. I was shocked when given the individual's name about two years ago, but I had no reason to doubt the information.

I weep when revolutionary martyrs die but celebrate when despots fall - Bombshell.

By Kwame Nkosi Romeo

The Failure Of Leadership

"When they have power and authority

They don't give a damn,

About nobody...

-Power & Authority - King Short Shirt

The ruling hierarchy neither respects nor recognizes anyone else's rights and imposes as a divine right their suppression laws against the masses. The significance of our human and civil liberties is being devalued, and as the Mexican patriot Benito Juarez relates: 'Respect for the rights of others is peace.'

But terrorism reigns in Antigua and Barbuda under prime minister Lester Bryant Bird. Without a demonstration of democracy and not class distinction, insurrection will be the beginning of the revolution that will create the change. They must remember that power is like ice in the sun and recount the list of despots from Haiti to South Africa now on the run.

Democracy should be an attitude toward life, and one of the parameters used to measure the democratic nature of a system is the so-called free elections.

Antigua and Barbuda government is unconstitutional. Dictatorial bandits and robber barons of our treasury administer it. This depiction illustrates systemic harassment, roadblocks, and house and business searches to humiliate local people with the hysterical and trigger-happy policy.

When the trigger is pulled, liberty will ensure that the influence peddlers, nefarious, deceptive, and corrupt administrators confront their judgment. Because I believe as Rafael Quevedo Infante - 'I believe in the apostles born in trenches in the fatigue under the singing trees.'

The social struggle will continue!

In Antigua and Barbuda, life is unfair; the politicians knowingly rip off the treasury, and the community pays for the abuse of power and fraud. The most dishonorable have a conspicuous lifestyle of impropriety related to the misrule of our economy and are conclusive evidence of economic plunder. They have failed due to a lack of responsibility and personal example. It is a failure of leadership.

On June 1, 2000, about ten police officers descended on my residency. They extended the search warrant to our enterprise: La Casa Del Habano, Heritage Quay, and The Cigar Shop at VC Bird Airport. What prompted stirred up their imagination; only they could search their conscience for an answer. Nevertheless, their intimidatory tactics failed, and I am fundamentally joyful because they embarrassed themselves.

I do not sell drugs, guns, bombs, corruption, or moral badness from my workplace - I retail cigars. Neither have I purchased a home for any family member. I never stole hurricane relief money, robbed the masses' purses, or received any monetary commission or gifts. I have never been investigated for onshore thievery and offshore profanation.

The suffering of our dreadful arthritic economy lies in the authorities' coffers in Switzerland, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, and the United Kingdom. The bones of our nation will haunt their souls while leaving us with greater poverty and dependency.

I suggest the police raise their heads just slightly above the smoke, and you will see clearly to whom the search warrants should be issued. But who would sanction such a move, or who in the police force is True to oppose the empowered? No one has the Heart.

My account is minimal; it is transparent and can be investigated. I have no foreign account, and my banking is with one bank only. Neither do I have a safety deposit box or a vault full of foreign currency at my home.

To maintain control, the subject of your business is the explanation. Our administrators related their objective to take over our enterprise, but neither their indirect language nor their proposition was successful.

Our enterprise has been subjected to their rings of smoke. I documented their condemnation of our business and their plan to arrest our enterprise, further frustrating Lester Bird and Asot Michael's devious plan.

Although Cuba is confronting an economic problem, they have principles, unlike our unfriendly administrators. Bird emissary related to the prime minister's aspiration to take over our business. On my most recent trip to Cuba on March 1, 2000, my suspicion was confirmed by Habanos at a business meeting in Havana. This takeover failed, but the narrative to further undermine local investment continued and was pellucid in an Outlet article dated June 2, 2000, with the headline: The Saga Of The Old Library Building.

Coincidentally, the above article was incorrect, but the framework became more evident to me, and in this instant, Tim Hector was wrong; I was involved, so I know the story. Lester Bird, Asot Michael, and Dr. Errol Cort know there is no escaping the truth. The narrative involved an Israeli and two other partners. I discussed the arrangement with a few people and decided to proceed cautiously.

At one particular meeting, prime minister Lester Bird, bespeckled in his stainless steel frame rectangular reading glasses, made an offer that I refused. Ask him!

We have never registered any company under Colonial Treasury Ltd's name, nor are we colonial in thought. The company- The National Development Company- was never recorded because the lease was not forthcoming. The government gave no reason for not confirming the lease, although there was a legal draft that was agreed to by Bird. Once again, ask him!

When the story emerged, we were unaware that a company was registered; someone did, but not us. This scheme was fraudulent since my name was not on any document connected with the so-called company.

Ask former ALP Finance Minister Dr. Errol Cort!

Our proposal to the Antigua and Barbuda government outlined our developmental plan for the Old Library. Our requirement was for the relocation of the General Post Office for the advancement of shopping. I can provide a historical account since the Israeli businessman trusted my judgment and convinced me to follow him to a few meetings. That was the first time and last time I ever went to prime minister Lester Bird's office with the Israeli businessman.

Our idea was to utilize our assets - The Old Library's 99-year lease and develop an architectural linkage to our heritage with a three-level concept. The first floor would consist of five specialized shops, the second floor - of restaurants, and the third floor -of luxury suites. Is this too good for black Antiguan to own?

We were never given a lease; that said, we had a legitimate expectation of its fulfillment and the development of our project and their subsequent decision to hand it over to a foreign company. The lease and concession are unlawful, illegal, and fraudulent. We were not part of the process and would not tolerate such high-handed action of our resources, which I emphasized. I believe all Antiguans and Barbudans want to know the relationship between the financier and developers.

I know that the Kiss From Corruption is far worse than the stench from Kentucky Fried Chicken, and the prime minister is the Colonel in that army. It is transparent as his deed and the open sore of the Caribbean. There is no tradition of democracy. But as Proverbs 4 verse 17 relates, For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.

A new century has come, and a new government needs to focus on a national plan. The central challenge should be to build a durable edifice of knowledge, one that will elevate the nation's development and benefit from industries like microelectronics, computers, robotics, and biotechnology. We must advocate the understanding and development of the Black Enterprise.

In Antigua and Barbuda, we witness continuing agitation between the forces of chaos and order, individualism and community, and cooperation and competition. The emphasis should be on the meaningful empowerment of our community and a better economic plan for the nation.

Prime minister Lester Bird should never forget the indigenous people and these words by President Fidel Castro: 'He who betrays the poor betrays Christ.'

To be continued...