Brussels, 2 September 2010,– The European Commission approved the first financing decisions under the EUR 264 million 2010 allocation for the so-called Vulnerability FLEX mechanism to help the most vulnerable African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries cope with the impact of the global financial crisis and economic downturn. The V-FLEX mechanism is a short-term instrument which provided... 

(September 2, 2010 – Brades, Montserrat): Travellers coming to Montserrat for the winter 2010-2011 period will benefit significantly from an expanded ferry service to the island from Antigua. From December 1st, 2010, the MV Fjortof ferry will operate a six (6) day schedule from Monday to Saturday. The ferry currently operates a four (4) schedule between the two islands. The schedule... 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has called on residents to monitor the passage of Tropical Storm Fiona as the island emerged virtually unscathed from its close encounter with Hurricane Earl on Monday. Spencer told citizens that it may become necessary for the Leeward Islands to be placed under a tropical storm watch as Fiona was formed in the Atlantic on Monday afternoon. The... 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Several persons were evacuated from their homes on Monday as a rampaging Hurricane Earl dumped seven inches of rain on Antigua and Barbuda, flooding low lying communities. Disaster officials said that the Category Three storm felled trees and utility poles and triggered an island wide blackout. Officials from the State-owned Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) were... 

Stanford HOUSTON, CMC – A witness for Lloyd’s of London insurance company has testified that a Caribbean bank belonging to Allen Stanford loaned more than three billion US dollars to the disgraced financier and his companies without properly disclosing the transaction. Forensic accountant with the Canadian-based NERA Economic Consulting, Mark Berenblut, told a civil hearing that international... 

THE VALLEY, Anguilla, CMC – Chief Minister and Minister of Finance, Hubert Hughes, said his government has borrowed 10 million EC dollars (3.74 million US dollars) from Dominica through the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) to pay civil servants’ salaries on Friday, he told reporters here. Hughes said in his weekly media briefing that he found an empty treasury when his administration assumed... 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Two Antiguan nationals are assisting police in their investigations following the seizure of nearly 50 kilogrammes of cocaine with a street value of seven million East Caribbean dollars (US$2.6 million). A statement from the Office of National Drug and Money Laundering Control Policy (ONDCP) said law enforcement officials had over the weekend intercepted a vehicle where... 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Coast Guard has recovered the body of a 24-year old life guard who had earlier attempted to retrieve a body floating in the waters at Devil’s Bridge on the north-eastern coast of the island. Police said that Travis Christopher had dived in into the sea after he and his girlfriend, Shermaine Jean-Baptiste, spotted the body floating on Monday. But it took rescue teams... 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The main opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) says it will renegotiate a multi-million dollar loan signed recently between the Baldwin Spencer government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). “We will change the terms and conditions of the IMF arrangements to allow better circumstances for our people which must include help for the elderly, assistance for the needy... 

Henry ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – A senior Antigua and Barbuda government official is urging Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to “espouse a unified voice against any perceived or actual attempts to pressure them into accepting a candidate” to replace outgoing Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretary General Edwin Carrington. Trade Coordinator Dr. Clarence Henry, in a newspaper... 

Simon ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda government says it will not meet the legal expenses of three members of the island’s Electoral Commission (ABEC) who are challenging the decision of Governor General Dame Louise Lake Tack to suspend them. Legal sources said that the combined legal fees could be in the vicinity of EC$75,000 (US$27,777). “The Government has no intention... 

Bird ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – A month after three members of Antigua and Barbuda’s Electoral Commission (ABEC) were suspended pending an investigation into allegations of misconduct, their replacements were sworn into office on Monday by Governor General Dame Louise Lake Tack. Former Deputy Commissioner Bruce Goodwin was sworn in as Chairman with Pastor Reverend Charlesworth Browne as his deputy.... 

Bird ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The main opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) says it will seek judicial review of the decision by the Governor General, Dame Louise Lake Tak, to remove three members of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC). “In the misuse of her position, the Governor-General has brought Her Majesty The Queen, as Head of State, into a constitutional crisis, for... 

Browne ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) has welcomed the decision of the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal that ruled in favour of opposition legislator, Gaston Browne, in a land disupte matter with the government. “The ALP celebrates the victory with Comrade Browne, and will demonstrate outside of the Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday morning,” the party... 

Stanford HOUSTON, Texas, CMC – Creditors of Allen Stanford have scored a legal victory having secured a judge’s approval to recoup losses from the disgraced financier’s alleged multi-billion dollar fraud. US District Judge David Godbey endorsed the accord between investors in Stanford’s alleged US$7 billion Ponzi scheme and Ralph Janvey, the receiver he named to run Stanford’s businesses... 

BONN, Germany, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda says the latest round of negotiations on a global agreement on climate change ended here on Monday with very little signs of overall progress. As a result, Antigua and Barbuda, which chaired the United Nations’ Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP), said many of the nearly 2000 delegates from 175 countries predict that the task of deciding the... 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The president of the Antigua and Barbuda Cruise Tourism Association, Nathan Dundas, has been charged with dangerous driving and driving under the influence of alcohol. Law enforcement authorities said that on July 31, Dundas was driving a vehicle along the Valley Road in a manner dangerous to the public and while under the influence of liquor. He was briefly detained... 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – One of the companies of  disgraced United States billionaire, Allan Stanford, that was closed after it failed to pay outstanding bills for utility services, re-opened on Friday under new management. The cricket-themed Sticky Wicket restaurant, which sits on the venue where the Stanford 20/20 cricket tournament had been played a few years ago, had amassed more than EC$2.8million... 

Spencer ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has confirmed former deputy commissioner of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, Bruce Goodwin as his nominee to temporarily fill the agency’s top post. Spencer’s decision to propose Goodwin to Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Tack follows the suspension of Chairman Sir Gerald Watt QC. A tribunal has been constituted... 

ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Keithroy “De Bear” Morson claimed his second Calypso Monarch crown on Sunday night as the annual Carnival celebrations neared fever pitch in Antigua. Morson displaced 2009 monarch, Trevor “Zacari” King, who finished in the first runner-up position. King’s daughter, Princess Thalia, was the second runner-up. The new monarch sang “Leopard Come Home” and... 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Finance Minister Harold Lovell has accused the main opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) of saddling the country with a significant amount of debt when it governed this Caribbean Community (CARICOM) country up until six years ago. Lovell said that Opposition Leader Lester Bird in his weekly radio broadcasts was not giving the true picture of the island’s economic... 

Bird ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Opposition Leader Lester Bird has written to Governor General, Dame Louise Lake-Tack, urging her to terminate the tribunal appointed to investigate the conduct of three members of the Antigua and Barbuda electoral Commission (ABEC). Bird said that the government has so far failed to abide by the Order for Directions of the tribunal given on June 24. According to the... 

Maxine Espirit PRESS RELEASE: Castries Saint. Lucia, Monday May 31st, 2010. The OECS Export Development Unit (OECS-EDU) and the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), in collaboration with the Government of Antigua & Barbuda, will be hosting professionals in the OECS music industry at a two-day training workshop in “Managing Intellectual Property in the Music Industry” June 1-2 at... 

Opposition Leader, Lester Bird. ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC –Opposition Leader, Lester Bird, has defended his decision to address the May Day rally here on Monday saying that unlike last year, there is no division between the opposition Antigua Labour Party (ALP) and the Antigua Trades & Labour Union (AT&LU). Bird and six opposition members are due to return to court on Friday on charges... 

ABEC Chairman Sir Gerald Watt QC adressing journalists at a press conference on Friday. ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC - Fast on the heels of an announcement of an investigation into the actions of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC), members quickly sought not only to defend their actions but to lay blame squarely at the feet of Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer. An early morning... 

“His letter to the Governor General asking for the removal of the existing Commissioners is a desperate act by a desperate man,” said Bird, the leader of the Antigua Labour Party (ALP). ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer has been described by his chief political rival as acting desperately over his call for an investigation into the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral... 

A High Court judge ruled that Antigua's Education Minister Jacqui Quinn-Leandro's election at the 2009 general elections was invalid. ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The main opposition Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ALP) Friday described as “noise and unlawful political manoeuvrings” statements by members of the ruling United Progressive Party (UPP) for a re-registration of... 

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer. ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission (ABEC) says it is “shocked at the malicious and unwarranted attacks” made against it by Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer at a public meeting last week as the fall-out continues from a recent High Court ruling voiding the election of Spencer and two Cabinet ministers. In a statement... 

Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. ST JOHN’S, Antigua, Apr 28, CMC – The Sir Vivian Richards Stadium will make its comeback to international cricket after the West Indies Cricket Board on Tuesday announced the venue would host matches switched from Trinidad and Tobago for next month’s South Africa tour. Two Twenty20 Internationals and two One-Day Internationals have been scheduled for the venue... 

Former member of Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission, Agnes Blaize. ST JOHN’S,  Antigua, CMC – A member of the Antigua and Barbuda Electoral Commission has resigned less than a week after Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer criticised the commission in the wake of a High Court ruling that declared his parliamentary seat and that of two other Cabinet ministers invalid. Speaking at a public meeting... 

Former head of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSCR), Leroy King. ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Chief Magistrate Ivan Walters has ordered the extradition of the former head of the Financial Services Regulatory Commission (FSCR), Leroy King, to the United States on charges that he helped disgraced Texan financier Allen Stanford conceal a US$ 7 billion dollar fraud scheme. King has... 

“The agreement and the construction project bothreflect our shared commitment to strengthening regional security. ST JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – The United States has signed a Proliferation Security Initiative Ship Boarding Agreement with Antigua and Barbuda that is aimed at enhancing maritime security and counter drug capabilities. A statement issued by the US Embassy to Barbados and the Eastern... 

“Whether we have by-elections or general elections, we are ready to take back our country from the incompetent, inept UPP regime,” Bird said. *Photo credit: www.antigua-barbuda.com ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Opposition Leader Lester Bird said Sunday that Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer’s recent hint at an early General Election indicates that he believes that the Court of Appeal will rule... 

Lovell WASHINGTON, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda’s Finance Minister Harold Lovell has ended a series of meetings here that could result in the World Bank being able to provide assistance for development projects on the island. “We are very encouraged by the discussions that we’ve held. It’s been a very hectic period for us, but overall, I’m satisfied with the outcome of these meetings,”... 

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda’s reigning king of calypso, Leston Jacobs (Young Destroyer), has been released on bail after spending five months behind bars on gun-related charges. Jacobs, 27, was released on EC$30,000 (US$11,472) bail and as part of the conditions for his release, will have no travel privileges and must report to the police three times a week. Jacobs...