The Antigua Labor Party (ALP) Is A Threat To People's Livelihood and Indigenous Justice

By Kwame Nkosi Romeo

Why celebrate Labor Day? 

Labor is under siege by prime minister Gaston Browne's Antigua Labor Party (ALP). Local people are disempowered, and land and beaches are colonized. Yet we march on Labor Day without protest, vote our oppressors into public office, and disregard their economic plunder and human rights violations against the community!

The ALP's arbitrary wickedness in demolishing Peter Kelsick's beach bar, Sneaky Pete, on Monday, April 22, 2024, is a clear example. Prime Minister Gaston Browne deviously tore down the beach bar to make way for another Sunwing venture of a foreign hotel—The Royalton Chic on Dickenson Bay, Antigua's northwest coast. 

Simply put, Sneaky Pete is one of six local businesses demolished by the ALP 'rattatrap' government between November 15, 2019, and April 22, 2024! 

The ALP government habitually ignores the fact that actions such as these impact the livelihoods of the locals. The Government needs to show more concern for local businesses and resources. 

This corrupt deal, from the genesis of Hyatt Halcyon to Cove Antigua Limited paying Antigua Isle Company Limited (AICL) instead of the Accountant General, is a public concern. The Director of Audit must urgently investigate this case.

According to Laws of Antigua and Barbuda Cap168 Finance and Audit Part 111-Control of Public Finance 10, The Accountant General shall maintain the Government's accounts and be responsible for the conduct of the Treasury. 

Moreover, ensure that all monies received and paid by the Government are brought promptly and adequately to account for, including Corbkinons, Newport Antigua Limited, AICL, Antigua Aggregates Limited, Deep Bay Development Company (DBDC), that operated under the guise of government interest, which it is not. That practice only sucks the lifeblood of the country for 40 years. (Finance and Audit Act (Antigua and Barbuda). https://www.global-regulation.com/law/antigua-and-barbuda/2935207/finance-and-audit-act.html 

These companies are under the Ministry of Tourism portfolio of Charles 'Max' Fernandez. Many questions as to the ownership of these corporations, paying of taxes, and business operations, including real estate ventures, are limited to what Ferndanez knows. 

But other associates of the ALP must be cross-examined:

• One of the eight Opposition members of Parliament, 
• A former ALP government Attorney General,   
• Six government officials.
• Three lawyers, 
•  Magistrate,
• Four assumed investors.
• One banker 
• Former Director of Public Prosecution (DPP)

Instances of disempowerment spread over all constituents, such as what occurred with local vendors from Jolly Harbor to Paraham. 

On November 15, 2019, Jolly Harbor vendors' beach chairs were demolished, and owners were forced to move. The precursor to that incident was investor Calvin Ayre's property development, declaring that no local should vend on the beach. 

Ayre is one of ALP's primary benefactors, saying the beach belongs to him. He will have it renamed Bodog Beach, which a bought-and-sold politician who betrayed the people's inheritance for a few dollars more agreed to.

Next, on January 14, 2022, the youth business place in Paraham was demolished, Barrows Chill Bar in April 2022, followed by three incidents in St. John's Naturally Levity on February 16, 2022, Mary's Bar on July 26, 2022, Sneaky Pete on April 22, 2024!

There have been howls of protest but no defiance, such as when hotelier Robert Allen Barrett, a barefoot buccaneer, encircled a public beach in the Hammock Cove plan; the hotel opened on December 1, 2019, saying it was for tourists. 

Again, depriving the locals of yet another beach, then four years later built a monstrous beach bar that obstructs beachgoers' view and relaxation, with prime minister Browne asserting, "If this is Crown land at Long Bay that they are developing, instructions will be given to DCA to have the structure removed."  

Browne gave no such instructions, so DCA took no action to demolish that structure nor tear down the fence encircling the beach, sending a message of existing unequal justice and Machiavellian democracy. 

In Philbert 'Barrow' Philip's words, Browne intentionally stopped him from rebuilding following the fire that razed Barrow's Chill Bar, the popular beach bar, paving the way for the buccaneer Barrett to take hold of local patrimony. (Barrow says it's him building back his restaurant at Long Bay)

Barrett's Beach Bar was given DCA approval to take over the area once occupied by Barrows Chill Bar. At the same time, Barrow's Chill Bar was denied permission to rebuild, continuing the process of indigenous justice's failure!

What more does Barrett want? 

Arriving as a barefoot investor, working from a beach boy to general manager, and owning six hotels, three major supermarkets, and a significant food distribution network is not the end. 

There is no lesson to learn, not if the business arena is a minefield of danger hindering local progression. At the same time, the beneficiaries of ALP politics business collusion proceed with their greed. 

No one doubts that the transformation would have been progressive if local people were not treated unfairly.

Also, the ALP led the protest while, in Opposition, opposed the establishment of the Beaches Hotel project for Sandals owner and foremost Caribeaneer Entrepreneur Gordon 'Butch' Stewart. 

Dreadful to a genuine business person who sought to create a meaningful environment for locals and tourists alike.

So, Robert DeNiro's apprehension about the absence of efficient leadership is warranted, and that's why it's baffling. 

It's baffling to see DeNiro's selective criticism of political figures. Despite being vocal about his disdain for Donald Trump, he has yet to address similar traits and characteristics in Gaston Browne. 

This thought occurred to me after watching DeNiro's "Pure Evil" interview on MSNBC in May 2024, where he expressed his strong opinions about Trump.

Individuals should be held accountable for their actions, regardless of their political affiliations or personal relationships.

It's time for DeNiro to acknowledge and take a firm stance against Browne's wrongdoings. 

The fact that there is a link between DeNiro, Browne, and Peace Love and Happiness colonizing thousands of acres of land in Barbuda with bought-and-sold politicians complicit in the deals makes it even more imperative for DeNiro to act.

Joy Reid added to that discussion with Lawrence O'Donnell, MSNBC Trump on Trial, that Trump will have to account for his transgressions:

"Donald Trump is being held to account by the very multicultural, multiracial democracy he's trying to dismantle."

Decency, morality, and justice are supposed to be at the heart of democracy, but that hardly happens. To uphold a flourishing democracy, acting responsibly and empathizing with others is crucial. Unfortunately, Browne falls short on both counts!

Policies such as beach privatization that favor white investors and tourists are examples of a colonial mindset that needs to be overcome. 

The ALP Government should prioritize the locals' livelihood over foreign investors and tourists to ensure the country's sustainable development.

ALP's priority is not to build but to destroy, as was seen with the destruction of agriculture farms and primary research stations at Dunbar's. 

The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) uses Dunbars as an experimenting station in the region's quest for climate resilience and food security. The ALP government repeatedly demonstrates nothing about food security, climate resilience, or small businesses!

So, hosting the AOSIS Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Fourth conference from May 27-30 is a hypocritical policy of extracting funds from numerous climate change institutions for purposes other than its intended use. 

Today, we are witnessing many environmental transgressions and human rights abuses, a plan by the ALP to take over the people of Barbuda land, and the time for urgent public action is necessary!

(Senior Research Officer says Dunbars has great regional scientific value amidst govt's social housing plans -Daily Observer January 3, 2024)