WHY IS THERE A NEWS BLACKOUT FROM GOVERNMENT REGARDING ANTIGUA'S NEW PRISON PROJECT?

Our sources inside Antigua government have disclosed that there is, at long, last, a prison project set for construction, to replace the vastly overcrowded His Majesty's Prison, which has been the subject of exposure by international human rights organizations. They have seen three dimensional architectural renderings in the office of the Prime Minister, but no public statement has been issued, and our repeated official inquiries have gone unanswered.

There is a reason for all this secrecy; we have been informed that the new prison will be built by a Chinese contractor, with a one hundred percent foreign (Chinese)crew. No Antiguan jobs will be created by the project, which is the reason that Prime Minister Gaston Browne is keeping the matter under wraps, with no date set for public release of the news.

Given the recent publicity regarding the issuance of a $100m Chinese loan for housing construction, we understand Browne's reluctance in releasing details of yet another Chinese-run construction project, which will also deny Antiguan contractors and workers gainful employment, as the news of yet another new building that will not help Antiguans might be met with public protests that the government-controlled local media will not be able to spin abroad. Photographs of unrest in Antigua will not play well with potential foreign investors, and Browne fears that, hence his failure to release to the people anything about the prison project.

We suggest that voters demand all details of the prison project be publicly released forthwith, and that expat Antiguan building contractors be allowed t o bid on its construction; they will surely employ local talent for the project. Additionally, any other pending projects due to be, or already, assigned to Chinese companies be subject to an immediate audit, to insure that local contractors have a change to bid upon, and share in, the work involved. Stop blocking Antiguans from sharing in the benefits of progress,