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**Dean** » 2012-04-03 11:06

This is a great take out Bombshell. Edwards was caught with his academic bat hanging off the edge of political gimmick posing as fairminded commentary. Your article was indeed a boomshell!

**Antiguan Woman** » 2012-04-02 14:44

Could not have said it any better. As a national icon,pleading the cause of peace and unity is within his rights,however stooping to the level of a politician,and a partisan one as that,leaves him open to criticisms,whic h in my view anyone is susceptible to.I sense some strong uncle tom mentality here,when persons think that because the comment came from a national hero,we should just be pleased and shut up,it was similar ways of thinking that allowed us to remain enslaved for the time we did. The massas would use the house slaves to keep the lesser fortunate ones in order,now it seem to be the haves and elitist that is been used to oppress.I will maintain to the day i die,his comment was an insult to all sensible Antiguan and should be retracted.

HC » 2012-04-02 12:21

Well said Dr Dredd,@ kWAME ROMEO,You say shame on Edwards,i say shame on you.your name reflects one that should be conscious,yet you seem to think that some some should be honoured at all cost,while some black picky headed poverty stricken people tremble at the sound of the voices of the high and mighty ones>@ Mr Pompey,with all due respect,but do you really believe that had it been the other way around that it would be supported by the icon,well i think you are dead off this time,and even if it was so, that would still not make it right.We pay plenty money for something then find out it is not what we paid for,we have a right to cuss quarrel and demand answers.

**Concerned national** » 2012-04-01 21:27

I like your sense of humor.... Let not forget Digecell, Finance and development,,, Woods food center! First Caribbean International Bank ,Bank of Nova Scotia.....
Mek awe bang them off and tek way what the have!,..
Remember your friend Assot tried a few year ago !

**Dr. Alson Patterson** » 2012-04-01 20:26

From a thought-limitin g viewpoint to a thought-freeing perspective, this author has pushed back our horizon. Unlike Dr. Edwards who gave no hard evidence to a soft concept, Bombshell's mind shines through bravely.

He did not leave any idea untouch. In the spirit of true scholarly wit and reason, Bombshell finds a heart for truth, a mind for incisive reflection and a hand that points to nation-building ideals. This is a clear example of careful response to a well thought out position that did not deliver what it claimed to undo.

**Assad** » 2012-04-01 18:19

Your forgot to mention AMP too! How could you not remember that?

**Assad xxxxx** » 2012-04-01 18:17

Concerned National,your only concern is your pocket book, remember the last deal you did was not fair. I know all the specifics, examine your offshore account in the next couple of hours....Only when all monies are returned will people be satisfied!

**Concerned national** » 2012-04-01 17:58

I just have to laugh at Assad. The truth hurts and the figures he through around come from his friends in the Arab arena....
It's all about tribal envy,greed and family feuds,,.
With our Pm taking sides......
Poor Antigua.

**tenman** » 2012-04-01 17:43

Dessalines perhaps you did not get the memo: APUA buys most of its electricity and water from other companies. 80% of its electricity generation comes from outside sources (eg APC). Where the internet was concerned for a long while they were simply a reseller for Lime. I do not recall them buying into the fiber line which was landed here and tried to block it, so the practice probably continues. They have now reentered the mobile segment but I think we can all agree its a waste due to Digicel & Lime's dominance. I say all of this to get across to you that APUA needs even less staff than it currently has, since in most cases its simply a reseller.
..

**tenman** » 2012-04-01 17:38

Dessalines as far as your strange assertion that I am comparing apples with oranges, let me suggest you look at feb/march, 2012 issue of Business Focus for an interview with Esworth Martin, APUA's GM. When asked about his staff count of over 800, its Martin who suggests they will have to look and perhaps copy LUCELEC and use a contract service model (see page 57). He also stated that APUA recently sent staff to LUCELEC to look at their model. APUA sees outsourcing as a way to deal with its over staffing. The problem historically has been after outsourcing, the staff cuts which should occur, never happen due probably to political interference.

..

**Concerned national** » 2012-04-01 17:37

It's not a secret that viv is a Upp supporter . But telling Antiguans they should keep quit on the Chineses power plant rip off,is going a bit too far,,,.
The same applies on the sport fences,Bencorp, woods Ird building.,,ever rett ,car park ect..
Is viv going to tell people to keep quit on that tooo!

**Comedy** » 2012-04-01 17:23

The real issue involving Sir Viv's 60th Birthday comment was that the quest of which party is more corrupt through forms of blame and blame is useless. Viv wanted listeners to move the discussion away from narrowness to nation buiding converns. In this case, he appealed to the angels in us to widen the matter to that of ownership without fattening out converns of ac**ability and transparency. What Bombshell did was to demonstrate that Edwards' commentary achieved no higher purpose than the twisted partisan politics that continues to defeat Caribbean SIDS development. To say that Sir Viv statement was untimely and inappropriate is not the same as saying that Sir Viv was guilty of voting partisan poision under guise of here worship. Bombshell did the honorable thing is revealing false logics and hidden agendas! I don't see that Bombshell hinted that APUA is being managed well, or that the goverment did not get value for money, or that the opposition should not trash the goverment for obvious mistakes. What I see Bombshell dong is expsoing a highly flawed argument puts forth so eloquently by Edwards. Story done!

**Dessalines** » 2012-04-01 15:31

How can you compare LUCELEC employees 243 to APUA's 800 when LUCELEC only provides electricity services compared to APUA's water, electricity, land and mobile telephone services plus Internet.
Secondly the term 'ownership' as it relates to APUA and other statutory bodies does not mean personal possession - i.e Antigua claims we are one of the ex British colonies who 'own' our land - however the last time I checked I still have to 'buy' crown lands from the government. Ownership here means (and I think this is what Viv was alluding to) the resources are managed and owned by Antiguans and more importantly the funds stay here in Antigua and are not repatriated to any foreign country or private bank account.

**Assad xxxxxx** » 2012-04-01 14:50

Concerned National is a veiled cloak SYRIAN with a monoply to lose, imagine controlling 75% of ANtigua power generation, and making $40 million yearly. Smoke that!

**RAWLSTON POMPEY** » 2012-04-01 14:39

When thoughts wandered off on tangent, minds and issues are confused.
Irrelevant to affiliation. Premise "...rational thinking." One migh easily be associated with comments of "...DR. DREDD/TENMAN."

Sir Viv might even disagree with these comments, since it appeared that he was merely concerned about the "...divisivenes s" among the citizenry and figured that national issues ought to be approached with a sense of purpose and unity. He had steered clear of the arrangements or even that which the writer had advanced in his analysis.

Seemingly, it was clear in Sir Viv's mind that "...old or new" he would have supported the venture by whomever had pursued it if it was in the interest of the nation. This would have spurred contentious debates, since his successes as a Cricket Captain was not based on "...mediocrity performances, neither of himself, nor his players."
The genisis of Dr. Edwwards' concern was that the "...time and place" for the sentiments expressed may have been inappropriate. He may have unwittingly veered off and added extraenous matters that had seemingly "...outraged" many, including the writer. HIGHER HEIGHTS- "...When will it end?''

**2 Cents** » 2012-04-01 14:18

Dr. Dredd misunderstands as a basis for reading. The argument is that Edwards accused Sir Viv as being a cutlass for the UPP. He framed the matter as a cultish behavior of politicians bleeding heros to deflect blame.
Bombshell showed that Edwards claims were dishonest because of his politican bias and also because he thought he could get away with academic dribble poorly applied. Stop your BS!

**Concerned national** » 2012-04-01 14:09

Why bombshell and the other cigar ! Smoking partners don't speek, of the above real monopolies? Apc is not a monopoly like the above companies ,but just happen to be locally owned. If it was foreign Bombshell and the smokies will be very happy .
The real issue is Why was the nation Scamed ,and why Bombshell and Corp what to hush it up.""" Oh Bombshell are you still sucking on those big fat cigars with your buddy Asot? Remember those big cigar bills Apc use to Pay,,,!, :sigh:

H:sigh:

**Donna Brown** » 2012-04-01 14:04

I can see Dean Jonas all over your comments and snake-like remarks. Dr. Newton has worked professionally for both the ALP and the UPP. In his weekly commentaries sometime ago he clarified that. So why continue to lie and hide?

I am sure if the Doc wanted to challenge anyone on any idea he would have gone public. He's not like you who are afraid of fireworks challenges of the highest intellectual type. And you are a dunce because there is public record of Dr. Newton and Dr. Edwards going back and forth on several discussions in the past. Now drop your redherring. What address the issues that Bombshell has raised. He showed that the attack on Sir Viv is baseless. It was simply high theory with a political agenda written all over it.

**Observer overseas** » 2012-04-01 14:01

I just want to add that we do not own APUA any more than we own so many of the other statutory bodies. Has anyone seen an audited financial statement from Social Security lately - or ever. Just do a look up online and you will find such information for all the other OECS social security equivalents (NIS). Why not Antigua?
The same goes for Medical Benefits, CMC, ABDB etc...etc.
I can only assume that the more information the give is the more questions the public will have. And that would not be a good thing!!

**Observer overseas** » 2012-04-01 13:47

Tenman I could not have said it better. Ownership should mean more than some abstract nationalistic sentiment. Ownership is meaningless if all if provides is expensive service of an inferior quality. If we were truly the owners of APUA, the government, board and management would show a sense of accountbility by at least providing information on the performance of the company and address concerns when they are raised. I suggest that PUBLIC OWNERSIP OF APUA EXISTS ONLY IN THE MINDS OF SOME PEOPLE.

**tenman** » 2012-04-01 13:05

Southern Beauty used some real strong language. Could your advocacy be due to either your being an employee at APUA? Can you point out to me specifically how the general public has benefited from APUA ownership? The company presently employs over 800 persons while LUCELEC with a population size more than twice ours, employs around 243 persons. Many of APUA employee count are there due to political interference. In the meantime consumers continue to cry over the high cost for services because of APUA. As way of comparison, are you aware that our telecom related costs are as much as double or more than that of many of our neighbors? Compare the cost of telephone call from Antigua to the US ($2.50 per min excluding tax) vs. one from one of the neighboring islands (St. Lucia $1.25) to the US. Also compare the cost for similar broadband internet (85-SLU vs 295+15% - 339.25 APUA Inet). The major difference is related to the cost Lime pays APUA. Does it really make sense to you to have to pay so much more for a service coming directly or indirectly from a company that its claimed we own?

**check the lime and apuainet website for rates

..

**Dr. DREDD** » 2012-04-01 12:37

Romeo displays a characteristic of many of us Antiguans. The inability to read and understand.
Nothing was wrong with Viv talking. There is free speech. Nothing was wrong with him calling for National unity. In fact as a living National Hero, it would have been great had he not tied it to an emotional political issue - generators.
Most sensible Antiguans recognise that we need our own generating capability. However, the question is did we get what we paid for? Are the 45 million dollars of generators new, used or reconditioned? Was there a rip off by the just formed middle man company? We, the tax payers, will have to repay this loan. Not Vivi. Not Baldwin. Not Lester Bird. We have a right to ask and demand answers. And as a National Hero of ALL the people, Viv should keep out and rise above the corruption and the politics.

**Southern Beauty** » 2012-04-01 12:12

Asusual we "niggers" get stuck arguing party politics instead of looking at the issue! We should not be held ransom by APC PERIOD! Own our, buy our own! The history is already repeating itself. The government has sold its soul to Digicel for 30 pieces of silver at the detriment of IMobile. I really wonder how we will afford our electric and water bills then since telecoms at APUA supplements water and light. There is nothing wrong with competition, but it must be fair. Government doesn't pay APUA, but they give Digicel concessions and contracts which they must pay, to allow Digicel to ruin IMobile and in essence APUA. As usual we thing someone other than US should get everything and we should go and beg them, instead of us owning and taking care of ourselves. NIGGERS are scared of revolution!

**tenman** » 2012-04-01 11:48

I support everyone's right to be critical. The arguments however occur when persons start to suggest that the criticism is being propelled by selfish motives. Romero supports Viv's statement because he probably sees Viv as batting for him on this issue. However, if he were on the other side and were to be accused of being bought off by business interest, I rather doubt he would be defending Viv.

The problem with the writers nationalism is he does not see the chain around our necks via the way APUA is being run. He lives in the fairy tale that APUA belongs to us. However, if you were to critically analyze the situation the truth is APUA belongs to the politicians and their friends. It like similar tools are used to ensure the ruling party stays in office. No one who listened to that cuss out between Robin Yearwood and Clavis Joseph could come to a different conclusion. Does it make sense to own something that you gain no real benefit from (no dividend, not even a financial statement) yet at the end of each month comes a bill that's beyond the regional average? The writers advocacy supports our new masters, the political class.

..

**peter josiah** » 2012-04-01 11:27

this article has dr newton all over it.....he definitely wrote parts of it. why does the doctor dislike edwards....oh yes its because one of the political parties engages edwards and neither of them would hire him.

**College Student** » 2012-04-01 11:00

I really like that Bombshell took on this Edwards guy head on. Clearly, Bombshell kept his counter argument tight and focused. He understood Edwards' perspective well and then picked him apart on the fundamentals. This is a perfect example of a powerful analytical critique. I hope every Secondary and College student look, listen and learn!

This is how you do it. Very historically enlightening, practically insightful and thoughtfully informative!

**Talking Truth** » 2012-04-01 08:54

You clearly don't understand Bombshell's commentary. He bells the cat and put the lights out of this incandescent bulb. Edwards is accommodating a ring tale wonder of pandering to the ALP politics. Sir Viv addressed the monopoly, without denying whether the government got value for money. He is saying that both parties were trying to score political points but they both should be concentrating on the truth of moving the nation away from self serving monopoly. When will Edwards and his ALP friends get it?

**Cool Ruler** » 2012-04-01 08:43

Well said bombshell, well said.

**Higher Heights** » 2012-04-01 07:04

When will this end? Bombshell is speaking as if he is anything but a "renking" UPP supporter! This makes you just as partisan as Edwards was in his missive.

I say what I said before, Vivi's comments regarding the power plant reeks of partisanship, and as grown people we should never be afraid to tell others (national heroes and the like) when they are wrong. According to Vivi, it doesn't matter whether the plants are new or not. I say that that is utter rubbish. WHether the plants are IS the question. Did Antigua and Barbuda get value for money? The answer clearly is NO! At the end of the day, some people are acting as if the PRC did Antigua and Barbuda a favour. Wake up! We are paying for these! This issue is not about APC's monopoly, it is about Antigua and Barbuda's spending and whether or not OUR money was spent wisely!

**Dr. Jerry Watson** » 2012-04-01 06:41

I read both Dr. Edwards' article and your commentary. If the history you painted is true, then I can't see how what Edwards argued could still hold up. As a nationla hero Sir Viv would have known that local nuances and political history of monopoly that you pointed out.

Not only are you defending the good name of Sir Viv, you have dropped this preacher/organi zational p**/scholar practitioner 's argument to the ground. I was very impressed with his commentary on hero worship but I wasn't aware of his political affiliation. Perhaps he was trying to give the ALP some political advantage because he assumed that Sir Viv's statement was designed to help the UPP out. Good for you Sir!

**Thinking Big** » 2012-04-01 06:30

Bombshell this is a thoroughly sound analysis. It's a masterblaster stroke against the half truth Dr. Edwards promoted. You are right, he used the Truth about hero worship observation to Lie about what Viv's statement meant. His analysis was ripped with misapplication of backed by political partisanship. Yet, he pretended that he was giving an novel and objective commentary. You nailed him to the cross. Now he's likely to come back and argue that you are guilty of heor worship that's why you missed Viv's statement for its political inappropriatene ss. But you have already dispatch the core of his thesis to the boundary. Good for you Bombshell!

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