Why I hate monopolies!!!

Paying my water and electricity bills this morning reinforced my utter dislike for monopolies. Thinking I could take advantage of the time of the month, when there's likely to be less congestion at the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) branch on High Street, I traipsed in a few minutes after 8 a.m.

A number of people also had the same idea, but I was not overly worried thinking it would not take too much time. After a few minutes standing in line, I realised that only two cashiers - one for the general public and the other for senior citizens and pensioners - were open out of a total of eight (8). From the mutterings around me, it came to my attention that the paying public were not happy with this particular situation as some of them were trying to pay before heading in for work.

I noticed an APUA supervisor scurrying in the background, but no one came forward to tell John Public what was causing the delay. A few people left the queue not wanting to raise their employers wrath by arriving late for work. It eventually transpired after listening in to another customer asking the cashier what was happening, that their computer system is down.

This brings to the fore the importance of communicating with the public and promting good will. A notice at the entrance could have prevented some customers from wasting their time in line and eventually leaving or at least prepare them for the delay.

Am happy to saw I didn't give up and a few minutes before the hour of 9, I paid my bills; however, I still don't like monopolies!

Politics galore!!!

Its a new year with new hopes and aspirations. We saw history made with the swearing in of Barack Obama as the United States 1st African-American president.

I hope the rest of the world will look at Michelle Obama as more than a fashion icon but as an educated black woman who is also able to stand side by side by her husband. May the rest of the world also look at their children as an example of how black children are well-behaved and not the stereotyping so evident on TV and movies!!

Well after a long hiatus that's my spiel to kick off the new year.

Politics is heating up in Antigua & Barbuda as the main political parties -the ruling UPP & opposition ALP- jockey for votes in the upcoming elections this year. My wish is for the political leaders to advise and caution their supporters that violence of any kind will not be tolerated as we choose who will lead us for the next five years!!! That should be left for when voters cast their ballots they mark their X. After all we still have to live with each other after the dust has settled and wouldn't want to plunge our beloved country into chaos like we see on TV.

Having lived with refugees back in Zambia, as the country is a haven for those escaping conflict in trouble torn countries, I speak from experience about the heart ache these people suffer. Not knowing where some of the family members are or if they are even alive! So let us agree to differ and restrict our "war" to words.

Snail danger!!!

We really must watch what we eat and I say this not only for the obvious health reasons, but also to prevent fatalities from happening.

Take for instance the workshop organised by the Ministry of Agriculture here in Antigua in collaboration with UNAIDS and the University of the West Indies. The workshop wants to increase awareness about the Giant African Land Snail, that was sighted in the Jolly Beach/Bolans areas in March of 2008.

The workshop drew numerous participants from the private, business and government sectors to help spread the word why the Giant African snail is not to be trifled with. Minister of State responsible for Agriculture Senator Joanne Massiah called on the relevant agencies to educate students especially those in primaries schools about the danger this snail poses to humans.

To the untrained eye, it looks like any other harmless slug, but according to the experts be very cautious and Do NOT HANDLE with your bare hands!

It feeds on anything ... vegetation, animal excretions and its own dead! It decimates agriculture affecting a country's economy and not only that, humans can contract meningitis(deadly infection which can kill in a few hours).

Dark in colour and growing to huge proportions this is not dinner nor a delicacy to be enjoyed by my Creole or French friends! Any sightings should be reported to the nearest plant protection agency.
www.wvagriculture.org

And to my beloved friends who love smuggling plant cuttings/fruits for the fun of it, or because they look pleasing to the eye ... STOP!! ... as hidden pests and diseases often lurk and cannot be seen by the naked eye. By bringing in these problems you introduce a threat to the local flora which incidentally will not have any known controls for the new invader.

So do the right thing and use the proper channels to import a plant or better still just take a photograph.

Stanford 20/20 cricket for $20m

I will always uphold the peoples right to free speech, but sometimes certain individuals should think before they utter a word!

Take for instance the negative comments from certain individuals about why the Stanford 20/20 for $20 million should be included in the country's independence celebrations!!

Not only has Sir Allen Stanford revived interest among the Caribbean islands through his cricket tournament, but it has also enabled talent that would not have come to the fore thru the West Indies Cricket team be actively pursued!

But say we forget that particular aspect, what about the business it generates with people coming into Antigua spending their money on taxis, accommodation, restaurants and souvenirs! With Big brother America coming to grips with economic recession shouldn't we be thankful that the country is getting some hard foreign exchange that will eventually help government improve the services they continually cry need to be improved?

Some may argue that it is not much , but in my book every little in these times of rising costs helps.

So instead of crying foul especially whenever the Stanford name is mentioned, think about how you can also cash in!

Insightful HIV workshop

I was recently in Barbados for a Live Up the show programming (iliveup.com) workshop for journalists, organised by the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/Aids & the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Usually when you attend such functions you can't wait to finish for the day, but this one held from the 27-28th of October was quite exceptional.

The format was very interactive and allowed media practitioners from Antigua (yours truly), Belize, British Virgin islands, Cayman islands, Turks and Caicos,St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Tobago, Trinidad and not least Nevis to learn from each country's experiences.

Much kudos to the organisers and various speakers who gave of their time and experiences about the need to educate our audiences of the importance of protecting against HIV infection.

My memories will forever be enriched by the brave HIV+ persons who came to speak to us about how as journalists we should look beyond the story and meeting deadlines. The negative images in the past of HIV infected persons have played a part in fostering stigma and discrimination, but nowadays the message should be of love, protection and respect!

Remember it is a chronic illness and if you reject someone because of your misinformation, you may just find yourself in the same place if we don't change our sexual habits.

Get tested today.

College Students in windfalll

The Antigua and Barbuda government in line with its people first policy has rolled out another initiative that will benefit atleast 200 students at the Antigua State College.

In collaboration with Cable and Wireless under the Connect Antigua Initiative, which seeks to make the country's citizens technologically savvy, second year students in the business and A level faculties will be provided with an hp laptop. Apart from this, the mobile company has also pledged to connect each student's home with free internet service for at least one year.

Each student will be required to make a down payment of EC$350, which will be reimbursed if the laptop is returned in good condition.

Makes you want to go back to college and get on the band wagon doesn't it?

Congratulations to the government and Cable & Wireless for investing in our youth. We pray that the students will put the laptops and internet service to good use so that that programme can be extended to other students at the college.

Reprive!!!

The last time I was complaining of the restrictions concerning coverage of Antigua & Barbuda's Romantic Rhythms festival, but fortunately for the media some of these have been lifted.

Knowing how some unscrupulous individuals will use footage from the event for monetary gain, the festival's committee and artists management are trying to safeguard their product from being exploited.

So far media personnel will now be able to record audio, video footage and photos of the artists for the first 10 minutes of two songs. This is far much better than the proposed deal where no audio or video was to be entertained.

Also on the plus side, we will now be able to interview the artists for 10 minutes after each show, though in the case of Country & Western musician Kenny Rogers, this will be one hour before he goes on stage on Saturday the 14th of June.

So be cool you will certainly get the scoop on the artists from Antigua & Barbuda's Romantic Rhythms music festival.