Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called on the workers of Antigua and Barbuda
to unite on issues of national interest and not engage in the ‘scorched earth politics’
of those seeking power at any cost.
Prime Minister Browne was speaking at the annual Labour Day celebrations
organized by the Antigua Trades and Labour Union and the Antigua and Barbuda
Labour Party in St. John’s on Monday. The Prime Minister referred to an article in
Newsweek magazine which attempted to cast a negative shadow over the 41-year
relations between Antigua and Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China.
“I say to workers in this country, when it comes to issues of the national interest
we must unite. We cannot follow and should not follow the scorched earth politics
of those who want power at all cost, to tear down every institution, to tear down
every relationship in this country. I bring to the attention of workers in this
country the recent pronouncement by the senior leadership of the UPP in which
they joined with Newsweek to literally tear down Antiguans and Barbudans, to tear
down our country and to undermine the relationship with the People’s Republic of
China; one of the most benevolent countries in the world that has contributed
significantly to the development of Antigua and Barbuda,” said Prime Minister
Browne.
The country’s leader was referring to an article in Newsweek Magazine by Didi
Kirsten Tatlow which attempted to paint a distorted picture of Chinese
involvement in Antigua and Barbuda. Among other things stated in the article, and
supported by members of the opposition party here, it claimed to reveal
information from leaked documents referring to a “Chinese-run special economic
zone.” This has been proven as false as the economic zone is a private venture and
not operated by the government of China.
Prime Minister in his remarks on Labour Day, spoke of the many positive
contributions made by the Chinese government towards the development of
Antigua and Barbuda.
“They did not have the decency to remember and recall that during the leadership
of the UPP, it is the same People’s Republic of China that built out the airport
facility with a concessional loan along with the Wadadli Power Plant, that ill-fated
investment; the same People’s Republic of China funded it under the UPP,” said
the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister also mentioned the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, which was a
gift to the government and people of Antigua and Barbuda, along with the Five
Islands facility that was repurposed to house the University of the West Indies Five
Islands Campus – that too was gifted to the people and government of Antigua and
Barbuda during the tenure of the UPP, but yet still they have sought to demonize
the People’s Republic of China and the relationship with Antigua and Barbuda,”
said the country’s leader.
Prime Minister Browne however warned members of the Opposition that
“ungratefulness is worse than witchcraft and I say to you my comrades, no matter
the circumstances, never fail to give thanks. No matter how small your
achievement, never fail to give thanks,” he said.
