Opposition Muzzled

Details

Politics

Wednesday, 02 May 2012 02:30

By Ian Magic Hughes

Antigua St John's - On the heels of a letter of ultimatum to the government of the People's Republic of China, member of the Lone Wolf group Vere Bird III has accused members of the opposition of being muzzled by the government.

The Wadadli Power Plant (WPP) has been a hot button topic in Antigua & Barbuda in recent times, after information surfaced that the government was accused of purchasing a used plant instead of the stated new plant for US$47 M.

Pictures of the plant on Caribarena.com supported claims that the plant was not new.

Additionally, it was alleged that the loan agreement to purchase the plant was never tabled in Parliament as prescribed by law.

According to Bird, there is more than enough information available for the opposition to get into gear and force the government to come clean on the matter.

To date, the opposition, led by former prime minister Lester Bird, has been relatively quiet except for two of the seven opposition members.

“Except for a couple of letters, one to the governor general (asking for a commission of inquiry) and a  few  speeches on the radio,  the opposition members (except Molwyn and Robin) have been silent,” Bird told Caribarena.com. “They have not really done a lot to address this issue.”

Bird added: “I do not understand what’s happening here. I am not an elected member. None of the Lone Wolf marchers are elected members, yet we are doing more than those elected members in Parliament.”

Along with the protest marches, there have been a number of public meetings held in various constituencies to address the matter of the WPP.

Bird made it very clear that it is not the opposition that organised the public gatherings.

“Those meetings were not held by the Antigua Labour Party (ALP), but rather the Antigua Trades and Labour Union’s Industrial and Political Action Committee (IPAC),” the Lone Wolf member clarified.

But while Bird does not understand the reasons behind the opposition’s silence, he said this is not the first time that he has questioned their calm.

“When the government got the $50 M loan from Venezuela, I understand that it was not tabled in parliament and the opposition was just as silent,” Bird alleged. “I don’t know why they are taking the stands they are taking, and that’s the $47 M question.”

Last week, the leader of the opposition wrote to Governor General Dame Louise Lake-Take asking for a commission of inquiry into the WPP and the public fencing scandal.

The opposition leader also said he would move a motion of no-confidence in Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer the next time Parliament convenes.

This, said Bird, was not a smart move.

“This does not make much sense,” Bird said. “Rather than make it a surprise, you (opposition leader) get on a bullhorn and announce your intentions. Why not keep silent and go to Parliament and move the motion? What they have done is tell the government of their plans, and surely the government will making the necessary deals to ensure that its members stay loyal. That motion, in my view, will not be successful.”

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As for the protesters’ letter to the PRC, Bird said he does not believe that the requests were unreasonable, and he will wait for a response.

“We simply ask for transparency and accountability on a loan that we will have to burden, and I don’t believe that we are asking too much,” Bird concluded.

The issue of the WPP has been such a hot button issue that Minister of Health Wilmoth Daniel wrote to Spencer asking for a commission of inquiry into the matter as well.

Along with Lester Bird, Robin Yearwood, and Molwyn Joseph, the other opposition members are Gaston Browne, Asot Michael, Steadroy “Cutie” Benjamin, and Eustace “Teko” Lake.

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