Antigua opposition leader claims government press release was misleading

Monday, January 5, 2004

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua: In his weekly radio address Mr Baldwin Spencer, leader of the Opposition in Antigua and Barbuda, accused Prime Minister Lester Bird of deliberately setting out to mislead the country into believing that he has been appointed the new Chairman of CARICOM by choice and approbation.

He further accused Prime Minister Lester Bird of delaying the Election date so that he will have the chance to take the spotlight as CARICOM Chairman

Mr Spencer claimed that, notwithstanding the wording of a press release the Prime Minister's Office issued last week, the truth is that the disposition of other Heads of Government toward Antigua and Barbuda's Prime Minister has nothing to do with his appointment as CARICOM Chairman. 

According to Mr Spencer, the Chairmanship is determined by rotation, not by choice, selection or election. Every CARICOM member state chairs the Conference by rotation; nothing more, and it is now Antigua and Barbuda's turn, nothing else.

Nonetheless, Mr Spencer said, the release would also have the public believe that by the choice and acclamation of other CARICOM leaders, the Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister has been appointed to sit on the organisation's Bureau of Heads. The fact is, since its establishment, the members of CARICOM's Bureau of Heads have always been the incumbent Chairman of the Conference of Heads, the immediate past Chairman and the incoming Chairman.

In other words, in both instances, it is Antigua and Barbuda's turn, irrespective of who might be the incumbent Prime Minister.

Mr Spencer claimed that Prime Minister Bird is likely to delay the Election date so that he will have the chance to take the spotlight as CARICOM Chairman when Antigua and Barbuda hosts the next Summit, this coming March 25th and 26th.

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