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Nearly 1 Billion Owed to Statutory Boards

Nearly 1 Billion Owed to Statutory BoardsThe government owes nearly $1 bn in outstanding arrears to the Social Security and Medical Benefits Schemes. That disclosure was made on Wednesday by Finance and Economy Minister Harold Lovell during a press conference.

He said the amount represents just over $600,000,000 owed in arrears to the Social Security Board and a little more than $300,000,000 owed to the MBS.

The minister also disclosed that this amount represents about one third of the government's overall outstanding debt of just over $3 billion.

“Our debt to the statutory boards is a significant portion of our overall indebtedness, and we have been having talks with these entities to see how best we can clear up these arrears,” Lovell told journalists.

The finance minister conceded that this level of outstanding money owed by the government has put the solvency of these institutions at risk. The ongoing talks between the government and the boards have been designed to arrive at ways to prevent the statutory boards from going broke.

Successive governments have been delinquent in paying money deducted from workers' salaries into the schemes.

Lovell said monies are also owed to the Board of Education, but this amount is much smaller compared with those owed to SS and MBS.

According to the minister, overall local debt represents two-thirds of all the country’s indebtedness of just over $3 billion.


The minister convened the press conference to report on his recent trip to Paris for talks with members of the Paris Club, a group of international creditors, about rescheduling Antigua & Barbuda's long-term debts with six of its 19 members.

Lovell said debts to the Paris Club total $133(US) million and date back to the 1960’s and 1970’s in some cases. He reported that he was successful in having the Paris Club agree to re-schedule the debt and offer new payback terms.

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48 Comments In This Article   

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RE: Nearly 1 Billion Owed to Statutory Boards

#48 Fed Up » 2012-04-18 09:22

If I was an employer and I made a deduction from my employees pay and did not hand it over to whoever was due to receive it wouldn't that constitude fraud ???
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Fed Up

@ Tenman

#47 Morris » 2010-09-24 19:52

I am not sure of the reason for the price increase, but I can assure you that there is no price increase set to happen here in the US on Monday. Would definitely be interesting to hear why that is happening in Antigua.
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Morris

carvaa

#46 IMF » 2010-09-24 17:43

People of Antigua all these numbers you are now seeing are numbers minister Lovell knew about long before the IMF saga, but because of the IMF involvement in the back ground we are now getting the full picture. My fellow Antiguans keep your seat belts fasten cause the road ahead will be rough. The IMF open it's office in Antigua for one purpose and that is to go through the books and run things, so every hardship minister Lovell bring on us or every trip he takes to beg he just taking orders from the IMF. Remember they all boasted that they took there plan to the IMF, like they tell the IMF this is it take it or leave it and we all believe that now we are seeing who really run things. Next up loads of LAY OFF.
Most company used the recession as an excuse to do what they wanted to do all along, we are using the IMF to do just that.
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IMF

Freedom of Imformation Act

#45 Atilla » 2010-09-24 14:36

Dear Tenman, have you ever heard of the Freedom of Information Act. If so you should know that you can request to see how the price in made up. It is not a secrect. Only if it were a private company. We should get to know our laws and make use of our rights. The problem I have is that our so called journalist in this country of ours never take the time to properly educate us by investigating things. So it simply means we have to do it ourselves. In the USA you see all the time journalists doing indebt investigations and bringing their findings to the public. Our journalists are just taking things from hearsay and or political handout.
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Atilla

gas prices up on monday

#44 tenman » 2010-09-24 13:02

Gas will be 4.48 usd or 12.10 EC per gallon, oh what a life. Would love for a real breakdown so I can figure out why this thing is so expensive and what we can do to end it. I already know government is guaranteed at least 2.60 ec per gallon but would love a real breakdown.
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tenman

Harrold you are a JOKE!!

#43 Smoke n Mirrors » 2010-09-24 11:45

You go to the Paris Club to ask them how you can repay them and leave all the banks, and statutory bodies you have sxxxxn money from bankrupt and you run over seas to ask them how you can help to repay their loans when the people here in Antigua hungry? Harold shame and God curse on you and the UPP. God bless the man that takes care of his own first.
I hope when the ALP is returned to power they are not going to be soft on you and your party. They will run an investigation and who really deserve to get lock up get it. Dear God deliver us from Evil and the UPP please, Lord I am begging you cause I cannot take much more of the hardship.
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Smoke n Mirrors

re: tenman

#42 fnpsr » 2010-09-24 11:40

Tenman, I appreciate, as always, your response to my comment and value your input. I am glad you took the time to bring me up to date on past happenings. While the outrage was expressed and demonstrated some six years ago when the issue first surfaced, I was specifically commenting on this article. I wrote, in part, “When you take money that was entrusted to you and use it for something other than it was intended, I believe that is a crime. I am sad to say that I have not seen any outrage expressed by the commenters to this article.”

Base d on what you described, the situation is more serious since the ruling party knew of and demonstrated against such illegal practices but continued the same illegal practices.

I can understand why the people may be frustrated and tired and be at the point of giving up. But that is exactly what the politicians want. The race is not for the swift, it is for the one who has endurance. Keep hope alive!!
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fnpsr

No comparison

#41 No comparison » 2010-09-24 11:01

I can't believe that there are still people in Antigua who are stupid enough to be comparing debt payments from the ALP tenure with the debt payments of the current administration. With the UPP getting so much extra money via taxes they should be ashamed that their debt figures are being compared to the ALP 28 years vs their 6 years in office. This is just laughable.
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No comparison

@TRUE SON OF THE SOIL

#40 ANTIGUAN » 2010-09-24 10:50

You should be given a Certificate in recognition for the most senseless comment ever posted on Carib Arena, Give your self a big pat on the Back,you're truly a son of the Soil, just an Ignorant one.
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ANTIGUAN

LOVELL( please--------- --------------- --------------)

#39 ANTIGUAN » 2010-09-24 10:46

I was a Baby in the sixties,do you really want us to think that if these debts dating back to almost a half century is not been paid that this would have a great effect on us? What happened to the vast amount of progress we made all these years gone by, now that you and Baldwin& Cort have destroyed our Country, you are now telling us it is because of monies owed almost 50 yrs ago, do you all realize just how senseless this sounds? BTW, the PLM govt ruled Antigua for the better part of the 70,s any idea what amt they left behind?
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ANTIGUAN

#38 Disguted » 2010-09-24 10:37

This thing about owing debts from the sixties sounds like a freaking Joke to me, Antigua gained Statehood in 1967,i stand to be corrected!! Why under Gods heavens should we pay anything whatsoever to the very persons who governed us during those periods,i agree with the host of uncut.,we should not pay them one red Penney!What did they leave us with after taking what our fore-parents sweat for, as far as i am concerned we have already paid those Debts.The UPP is only trying to use those Debts as a crutch to hide they Incompetence and theft,they know if those Debts are ignored it will show what they really are responsible for in the Few short yrs,when compared to the ALP. Bunch of fools!
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Disguted

@npsr

#37 tenman » 2010-09-24 09:49

fnpsr you are wrong. There was outrage. This was one of the major reasons why the ALP lost power. Persons just prior to 2004 were marching against these issues. The UPP lead the charge. We had the medical benefit hearings that brought a lot of these issues to persons in the public. People were told that one of the reasons why the scheme is limited and cannot be turned into something that offers full insurance was because the government at the time was not making the contributions. They were told that they were not getting value for money that a private sector health insurance (offering full benefits covering all illness) would cost less than they were currently paying. MP Spencer lead persons through the streets demanding that the A:P institute the findings. Well the UPP was elected and basically continued the trend. and blaming their inability to pay on past ALP sins. Keep in mind these are the same people who suggested that a bunch of persons get to together and file a suit against the ALP government for not paying. fnspr perhaps p[people are just tired.
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tenman

a call for an investigation

#36 fnpsr » 2010-09-24 09:12

One of the reasons why politicians in Antigua can do as they please is because there are no consequences for bad acts. Therefore, they operate with impunity. When you take money that was entrusted to you and use it for something other than it was intended, I believe that is a crime. I am sad to say that I have not seen any outrage expressed by the commenters to this article. I have called for an investigation into these criminal acts and the commenters have seemed to have overlooked it. How, then can you claim to want to hold your politicians accountable? Talk is cheap, good whiskey costs money!!!
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fnpsr

ALP hack vs UPP lie & @In The Know

#35 tenman » 2010-09-23 14:14

Many a times I get accused of being an ALP operative. All I try to do is state the truths I know. I really don't care what political party anyone votes for as long as they do it from an informed position. I dislike when people blatantly lie to me. To my mind that persons is telling you that you are a fool. Tonight via ABS TV, Lovell made the charge that the ALP never paid social secerity or medical benefit. @In The Know even suggests that atleast the UPP paid more than the ALP did. The IMF Press Information Notice (PIN) Number 97/38 December 17, 1997 url ( http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pn/1997/pn9738.htm ) states:

An improved budgetary performance in 1996 led the government to make partial payments of social security contributions for the first time since 1990.
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tenman

@Cool Ruler

#34 Dig It » 2010-09-23 13:56

Oh please, give me a break! Isn't APUA a state-owned utility company, which is run by a board of the government's puppets? I hope you don't have any outstanding bills with them! It's good to see that Lovell was able to get some burden off Antigua for this debt with the Paris Club! However, that's his job, and he should have been doing that a long time ago! I could see your face smiling right now because I am giving this Ninja Turtle some credit! According to Caribbean360 a "large chunk of Antigua and Barbuda’s US$133 million debt and given the country an ease from making payments for the next seven years."
caribbean360.c om/index.php/bu siness/41235.ht ml. Cool Ruler, now, you could at least stop talking about Paris Club's loans from the 60s and 70s. Antigua wasn't even quite developed back then. We were still going through severe hardships. I don't think have to remind you. You remembered the song "Starvation?"
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Dig It

#33 Skyewill » 2010-09-23 13:39

How will APUA utilize the Bencorp Building. The location is all wrong for APUA. With trucks and heavy equipment, storage and heavy traffic. I want to see this one unless the finish the car park and use it for customer parking and still use Roberts place for equipment. The why buy the building? I want to understand. I just don't
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Skyewill

What is really behind this?

#32 CountryMan » 2010-09-23 13:35

The statutory body's boards are filled with political party hacks. Both parrty uses the Statutory Boards to compensate their most loyal political operatives. Most of these individuals have no knowledge in the various operating areas of the Board. Who vets these people the same politicians. who put them there to expand the candy store staffing at the cash register.
You the people are just the pawns who will pay for this for generations to come.Just like in the U S V I many of you will not be able to afford to live in your place of birth. So continue the ignoramus arguments of UPPvs. ALP while they clean you out and keep you in perpetual poverty.
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CountryMan

#31 Skyewill » 2010-09-23 13:31

fnpsr...AMEN
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Skyewill

Just blowing smoke up your you know what

#30 CountryMan » 2010-09-23 13:22

Isn't one of the villain here Errol "Goldman Sachs Billionaire" Cort? He claimed he was servicing the debts neglected by his mentor Lester Bird. In real democracies he would be forced to explain or at least address the issue.
In a country of low social capital this what you get on an issue that will have an effect on the quality of life for generations to come.
As Morris said the politicians are laughing all the way to the bank while you scratch each others eyes out on their behalf. This will not change until NGOs and Civil society is allowed to flourish; and the rule of law are enforced.
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CountryMan

#29 Skyewill » 2010-09-23 13:18

Genious move. Create bonds and sell them to yourself.....Wh o ever came up with that one should be in Jail. Think about it. and the commissions and insentives for the sale of the bonds
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Skyewill

What is really behind this?

#28 CountryMan » 2010-09-23 13:06

Why do I say bankrupt? These posts shows the low social capital of the population. When it comes to business intelligence and marginal advantage most including the politicians have no clue. Party change is just going to be more of the same.
Your out put costs are high. There is nothing appealing or special any longer of the pristine environment. Crime and the increase in hooliganism is a deterrent to North American visitors. The Brits are a bit more adventurous, and they love the vestiges colonial stuff like English Harbour and cricket. So they will venture as tourists.
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CountryMan

#27 Cool Ruler » 2010-09-23 12:57

Dig it you need to stop misleading the public, the Bancorp building was purchase by APUP which is a statutory. The decision was made by the board not the government, I am not even sure if cabinet needed to approve of the board’s actions to purchase the building, now to the Paris club I am quite sure that you have heard before but you choose to ignore that the members of the Paris club refuse to negotiate with the Government of Antigua until they enter into an IMF program regarding the loans that are outstanding since the 60’s and 70’s.
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Cool Ruler

What is really behind this?

#26 CountryMan » 2010-09-23 12:57

@ Atilia I fell your pain. This will continue for generation and Barbuda and Antigua will fall further behind with the quality of life. What could bring about change is to get rid of the outdated political system. It is the system that enables the politicians who are mostly ego**s to continue to run Antigua and Barbuda like a candy shop where each of you are like a coin in the til.
The Party in power then used the shop as their personal piggy bank. This is no longer a UPP or ALP issue; its an issue of a bankrupt political system of governance. Antiguan's like to say "Government is a continuum" . The truism is ironic in that its a continuation of a system of no statement, no leadership, no ideas of what to do
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CountryMan

The Antigua Ponzi Scheme

#25 fnpsr » 2010-09-23 12:30

All of this is very interesting, but I would like to know what CEO of a $4Billion dollar corporation, with approximately 80K to 100K stakeholders, shareowners, shareholders, call it what ever you like, stole a $1 Billion of their assets, and admits he stole The $1 Billion and says he does not know how and when or if, he is going to pay it back, but turns around and asks the stakeholders to exercise their votes and give him another chance.

This is a very serious offense. They have taken money from workers pay and did not do what was required by law, but instead squandered it. I see a parallel here with Stanford. Stanford took investors money promised them high returns and used the money for other things, and is now unable to repay those investors.

Sta nford is in jail awaiting trial for his alleged Ponzi scheme. I believe that all involved in the “Antigua Ponzi Scheme” should be brought to justice. Therefore, I call upon the DPP and the Police Commissioner to launch a criminal investigation into this Ponzi scheme.
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fnpsr

@ Fed Up & Atilla

#24 Morris » 2010-09-23 11:52

I agree with both of you. You guys are practically expressing the same things that some of us have been saying for a very long time now. I think that Antiguans have been more than contortionists, bending every which way that the politicians require them to bend, but our politicians have not been living up to their end of the deal. It is time we give them all a one-way ticket to political exile.
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Morris

Lovell-bad decisions pt 3

#23 Dig It » 2010-09-23 11:51

And, may I not forget the millions and billions collected in ABST! It's about time Lovell put up or shut up! It seems like he's talking more since he's baby-sitting for his PM!
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Dig It

Lovell-bad decisions pt 2

#22 Dig It » 2010-09-23 11:17

For the Lovell and the UPP biggest supporter to talk about debts to the Paris Club in the 60s and 70s is political pondering. Cool Ruler, since you so believe in him, ask Lovell what was the agreements "in having the Paris Club agree to re-schedule the debt and offer new payback terms?" Ask him why he waited six years to talk the Paris Club? Ask him why a super power like the U.S. still owes the Chinese billions of dollars in debts? Tenman, a very good article, by the way! I wonder if your nemesis took a look at it?
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Dig It

Lovell-bad decisions pt 1

#21 Dig It » 2010-09-23 11:14

Rather than talking about ways to pay the outstanding debts to the SS and MBS, Finance Minister Lovell tries to score political points! This is just typical of him, anyway. The debt to these statutory boards could have paid off a long time ago, if the government have gotten their priorities in order, in terms of being fiscal conservative. First of all, I don't believe the UPP government should brought the Bencorp building for $9 million because it wasn't a high priority at that time! And, yet, Lovell said he's "convinced that APUA’s purchase of the Bencorp building was a good buy, and disagrees that the authority should not act on its own on such major transactions." See artcle: http://www.caribarena.com/antigua/news/latest/statutory-boards-not-puppets-says-lovell-200911096619.html
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Dig It

Don't cry for me Antigua (part 3)

#20 Atilla » 2010-09-23 11:05

Fair Antigua and Barbuda
We thy sons and daughters stand,
Strong and firm in peace or danger
To safe guard our native land.
We commit ourselves to building
A true nation brave and free.
Ever striving ever seeking
Dwell in love and unity.

Raise the standard! Raise it boldly!
Answer now to duty's call
To the service of thy country,
Sparin g nothing, giving all;
Gird your loins and join the battle
'Gainst fear, hate and poverty,
Each endeavouring, all achieving,
Live in peace where man is free.

God of nations, let Thy blessings
Fall upon this land of ours;
Rain and sunshine ever sending,
Fill her fields with crops and flowers;
We her children do implore Thee,
Give us strength, faith, loyalty,
Never failing, all enduring
To defend her liberty.
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Atilla

Don't cry for me Antigua (part 2)

#19 Atilla » 2010-09-23 11:05

Maybe we don’t get it. This is my money, your money your children’s money that we are talking about. I know it was not stolen out of your house directly. But guess what those statutory bodies are yours and mine, just like the country. We need to stand up and make Antigua a better place by demanding that accountability is put in place and that persons are called to account for their stewardship. We need oversight committees that have power to subpoena. Not the jokey commission of inquiry that is called only by the party in power and how many years now after MBS hearing we are still nowhere accept for some people having made deals, when all of us know some persons should have been in 1735 already. The more things change the more they remain the same. Let us pray not for Antigua but for Antiguans, that we may have the courage to stand up for our country and demand a better place and let the words of our National Anthem come a live:
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Atilla

Don't cry for me Antigua (part 1)

#18 Atilla » 2010-09-23 11:04

With sadness I see that my people are divided along political lines. Blinded by this they will never see what is good for our beloved country. It is further saddened that the political pundits can openly confess their misdeeds to the people with impunity. Let’s put this confession from the minister in a different perspective. John Do comes on TV or Radio and admits never to have paid in to the Social Security, Medical Benefit and Education Levy and he now owes the schemes $1bln. I guess we do not need to ask. All hell would break lose. Now why then can a politician come to us and confess the same. Where are the board members of the schemes? What is their fiduciary responsibility? What is that of the minister? Is no one accountable for anything at all? Will we ever put politics aside and demand accountability from whomever? So that a person that aspires to be a politician will know the standard that he/she has to meet. Very sad if things will never change! And even worst when I think of Antigua’s future generations. No one to stand up for Antigua. And we pride ourselves for what? It is bad enough to steel from a stranger but stealing from your own is to be charged with treason.
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Atilla

#17 Fed Up » 2010-09-23 09:54

For a long time now I have been saying that there is no difference between ALP &
UPP, this article proves that belief. Antigua has always been governed by a bunch of
rogues and scamps, and we allow them to do it. If my employer fails to remit my SS,
MBS or Education Levy there would soon be an 'invigilator' banging on their door.
Why should we continue to allow a set of vagabonds mess up our country ? This is not
about party politics, it's time we rose above that, it's more important. If we don't then
our great grandchildren will inherit a lump of debt and wonder why WE were so dumb,
ignorant and very very stupid.
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Fed Up

@In The Know

#16 tenman » 2010-09-23 09:52

@In The Know - The MP in expressing the reason why moneys are owed states ":Successive governments have been delinquent in paying money deducted from workers' salaries into the schemes." He said nothing about loans or bonds or such. Would be interesting to learn if the 1 billion also includes the bonds/ loans and such. I just find it interesting that you @In The Know could conclude those figures are included when the minister himself said nothing about them.

@In The Know can you tell the public how the government plans to solve this indebtness by incurring more debt though the issue of a bond? Let me ask you @In The Know what will be the interest rate of this bond?

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tenman

@In The Know

#15 tenman » 2010-09-23 09:22

In The Know you claim i attempt to mislead the public. All I did was quote the figures stated by the IMF. You also have a post here stating that Dr. Cort confirmed the figure of around 400 million. Can you point me to a url that lists those bonds issued under the ALP (I wish to know the total amount)? Let me also point out to you that I know for a fact that Social Security bought some of those bonds in about 2006 that the UPP government sold to the public. The great Doctor personally suggested to them that they do this therefore you need to stop your lies (whether purposefully or not).
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tenman

#14 TC » 2010-09-23 08:52

I can't believe that telephone and electricity for MP's, Senior Civil Servants and other government workers are still being paid from the public purse. And who are these OTHER GOVERNMENT WORKERS? In times of these, when the government is strapped for cash, only former PM Lester and PM Spencer's bill should be paid.
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TC

@ Antiguan Abroad & Tenman

#13 Morris » 2010-09-23 08:15

It would appear that Social Security and MBS were not only the personal piggy banks of the previous administration as is being presently proclaimed, but that they were/are also used as the funding sources for most of the grandiose projects implemented under the present administration. It has always been my belief that they gov't should not have as easy an access to the funds of those statutory bodies as it presently does. But then again, who am I to decide? I agree with you Tenman that it is very hypocritical to accuse one administration of gross negligence regarding its responsibilitie s, while you are engaged in the same practice.
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Morris

Get Real Tenman

#12 In The Know » 2010-09-23 08:02

Tenman, I know that you know better, but you seem inclined to mislead the public. While it may be true that "unpaid contributions" amounted to EC$435.51 million, this was not the full extent of the Government's indebtedness to Social Security and other statutory bodies. You have to include the loans made to your ALP administration; questionable treasury bills and bonds issued by the ALP administration to compensate for funds raided from Social Security and Medical Benefits to pay salaries, wages and provide funds for hurricane relief. Then add to the principal the interest accumulated over the years on the loans, bonds and treasury bills. Hope you will be honest enough to paint the full picture, as you are aware that since 2004 the Govt has not borrowed one cent from Social Security or Medical Benefits, and in the last six years they paid more in contributions than the ALP did in 28 years. I could go on, but let this suffice for the moment.
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In The Know

thinking

#11 me » 2010-09-23 07:13

Was it not Dr Cort that went on record to say that it was only his UPP gov. that paid into SS and MB. Alp never paid G**. I think that was about 6yrs ago and $400m oweing. What DE Fork Happen Now.
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me

in addition

#10 tenman » 2010-09-23 06:45

In a press release "Lovell Answers Bird's Broadcast" Friday, 30 July 2010 06:55 press release Antigua News responding to MP Bird Lovell stated that the outstanding amounts owed to social security was nearly $600 million now today he says it is over 600 million. In the prior statement he said more than $880 million was owed to statutory corporations today he says nearly $1 billion (social over 600 and medical ben. over 300 and education levy not disclosed). The only thing that has changed is time which means that the government is still not paying those statutory corporations, yet it has the hypocrisy to point fingers at the former government. Which is worse, the person who does wrong and has been punished by losing power for that act and others or the person who does wrong, know its wrong and continues to do it?
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tenman

@Cool Ruler

#9 tenman » 2010-09-23 06:29

Ruler after listening to Lovell today, it simply reaffirmed for me why voting for the UPP is a bad idea. As far as this article goes most of the debt owed to Social security were incurred during the UPP times in office. All one needs to do is to check the owed amount in 2004 and compare it to now which is something I have done in the past ( Lovell Answers Bird's Broadcast Friday, 30 July 2010). The IMF April 2006 Country Report No. 06/145 (http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/scr/2006/cr06145.pdf) shows via the table on page 14 that monies owed to statutory corporations (Unpaid contributions) stood at 161.3 (435.51 million EC Dollars) at the end of 2004. Ruler, according to you however, the figures that the IMF obtained from the UPP government should not be believed so why should we even discuss the now stated close to 1 billion figure?
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tenman

#8 Antiguan Abroad » 2010-09-23 06:04

Morris, I wholly concur with your statements. These politicians take gross advantage of the docility of the general Antiguan population, and enrich themselves (and perhaps their most strident supporters) without fear of retribution. If the day eventually comes when they are caught and prosecuted, I suspect they can always make plea deals with the DPS, as in the MBS cases, and return a fraction of what they stole and live happily ever after......Some things simply never change in Antigua it seems.
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Antiguan Abroad

"I believe the U.P.P. has made a few bad decisions over the past 6 years" OFFICIAL JOKE OF THE DAY

#7 Have Mercy » 2010-09-23 06:04

@ True Son of the Soil
You seem to be a true son of the blue ocean more than a true son of the soil. You seem like one of those stuck on the dead 28years argument. Thank God Antigua and Barbuda was discovered in 2004. How much do you really love your country as you claim? Maybe you should first honestly compare the tenure of Lester Bird (not even even the 28years of the entire ALP) and that of Baldwin Spencer and the UPP. If it were possible for you to be honest you would certainly change you're tune after weighing all the good and bad equally!

I thought the UPP's mantra was, we're repaying all these bad loans the ALP had outstanding as well as making the necessary contributions to statutory bodies which the ALP neglected???

C ool Ruler once again you are just displaying to the world exactly how much of a blind and totally partisan individual you are. By the way please point me to where Tenman disputed Antigua and Barbuda had loans dating back to the 60's and 70's.
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Have Mercy

Scary

#6 Morris » 2010-09-23 05:41

By law, every tax payer must faithfully contribute a portion of their earnings to Social Security and MBS with the assurance that these entities will provide for them in their time of need (retirement/med ical). Now that the baby-boomers who have made their contributions are qualified to collect on their investment, they are going to be told "sorry we've squandered your contributions and never invested a dime of your money." I have asked before, how can our leaders, in good conscience, sleep at nights knowing that the've been misleading the nation for so many decades? Consequently, I have to ask, how can Antiguans be so stupid to allow themselves to be duped time and time again by these politicians. This proves exactly what I have said time and time again: our politicians MO is to create division along color/party lines and instigate hatred for each other, while they laugh all the way to the bank. I think it is time for there to be a comprehensive audit of each politician's personal account.
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Morris

A question??

#5 B.Berry » 2010-09-23 03:41

"Successive governments have been delinquent in paying money deducted from workers' salaries into the schemes". H. Lovell words, quoted from above story.

Is Mr. Lovell admitting that his and Baldwin Spencer's UPP administration also DID NOT pay in workers' monies to these two statutory schemes? Just wondering!
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The Results of the Prostituting of our nation by the ALP

#4 True Son of the Soil » 2010-09-23 03:26

It's so ashame what the former ruling ALP has caused our eloved country. Because of their greed and the
prostituting of our nation thourhgout their 28 years of ruling we are a tiny nation with a very montrous debt. Here they are today still brainwashing and still able to brain wash many Antiguans & Barbudans to put them back in office. They were in office whe there was'nt a global recession and what did they do. I believe the U.P.P. has made a few bad decisions over the past 6 years of their ruling but it's nothing compared to that of the former A.L.P. especially under the leader ship of Lest Bird. Many of us Antiguans & Barbudans need to first learn and master love of country before we open up our mouths to critisize. It should no longer be what the polician is going to do for me or my family but what are they going to do for our beautiful Antigua & Barbuda.
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True Son of the Soil

#3 Cool Ruler » 2010-09-23 03:22

Tenman are you still disputing that we owe loans to the Paris club from as far back as the 60’s and 70’s debt incurred by the ALP for most part which they never bothered to repay are you also aware the vast majority of the debt so statutory bodies was incurred during their tenure? What makes you feel that after voting for Max and should they be returned to government they will do anything different from the way they operated before? I keep reminding you that all of the same principal players are still in place within the ALP. It will simply be “as you were”
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WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

#2 I PRAY TOO » 2010-09-23 02:44

IN WHAT WAYS HAS THE UPP DONE BETTER THAN THE ALP WHOM THEY ACCUSED OF MISMANAGEMENT AND CORRUPTION? CLEARLY THE UPP'S IMCOMPETENCE IS ABOVE REPROACH. LOVELL AND HIS EMPTY ADVISORS CAN'T COME UP WITH ANY SOLUTION OF SUBSTANCE EXCEPT STUPID BOOT AND NEST POLITICAL COINAGES. FIRE THEM NOW
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@PLM - retrenchment

#1 tenman » 2010-09-23 02:42

PLM I hope you heard his interview on Observer radio today (this morning just before the 7:45 news) where he made is clear that there are no retrenchment plans. He stated that the 20% reduction is more about cutting out overtime and persons retiring and not being replaced. His main thrust seems to be increasing government revenue. Will provide required audio if needed

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