Antigua Airways Carrier Mystery
The long-awaited formal agreement to create a new airline called Antigua Airways Carrier got signed by the Prime minister and his ALP-led government with the guarantee that it would become operational by October 2022. My first impression was. "Here we go again," another scandal and national embarrassment.
The inaugural flight landed at the VC: Bird International airport on November first and received a warm welcome from the government with great fanfare. What happened next remains a mystery. Just before the election, Antigua Airlines brought over five hundred people from west Africa to Antigua, leaving many Antiguans feeling suspicious that something shady must be happening.
International Investigation
So far, the re-elected ALP government explanation is conspicuously vague and leaves the public with more questions than answers. Is the ALP government involved in human trafficking from Africa? The apparent lack of transparency suggests the government knows more than its prepared to say, so it may require an international investigation to get to the bottom of this twisted saga.
How could hundreds of Africans end up on an island they knew practically nothing about and not have enough money for accommodations, food, or lodging in the twenty-first century? Based on an interview by a female journalist on Observer radio station, a lot was said, perhaps inadvertently, since the person refused to use his real name.
She decided to call him Devine to protect his identity and ask him to explain why they came to Antigua. I couldn't help laughing when Devine began telling his story. He said they were poor people who couldn't find work, and their government was killing all the young men in his country, so they were fleeing for their lives.
With that said. It was clear that Devine wasn't adequately prepared and skilled in deception. His feeble attempt to explain quickly became jaded and sounded like a poorly scripted riddle wrapt in layers of colorful nonsense. After he said the flight to Antigua cost them six thousand US dollars each, my draw dropped.
Irrational Empathy
She asked him how did they get the money? Devine replied. "People in their community and their families help them out." Do you have kids? "Yes, I have about three kids, yes, three kids. Do you have a wife? Yes, I left her back home with the kids. So how do you support your family? "I make furniture but don't make enough money."
He probably heard the rumors around town that they came to vote and anticipated the question, so before she asked, he took the opportunity to say that "they did not come to vote in the Antigua election." He claimed they were ostensibly heading to Suriname, but they're having problems with money and documents.
How are you making out in Antigua? The people here are like our brothers and sisters. They help us with food and money and offer to buy us drinks when they see us. What are you all going to do? She asks. "I do not know." Did anyone from the government get in touch with you? "No, nobody," he replied.
So how are you going to get back home? We cannot go back. We don't have money, and if the government finds out that we are here am sure they will send a plane to get us and kill us. The interviewer was emotionally disturbed, empathetic, and subbing when she said. "It looks like you all are stuck here. Yes, it seems so. Maybe if we can find a way to stay here, we will stay, he replied.
In raping up the interview, she continued crying and asked the public to help and support our brothers and sisters from Africa. It sounded like she was in pain listening to Devine and could not hold back the tears. To me, it was irrational empathy for nothing. I was more convinced Devine was making a fool of her and could not believe she fell for the ridiculous foolishness so callously without reservations.
If I am not mistaken, the interviewer sounds like the same reporter from Radio Observer that I saw interviewing Elton Thomas, a resident of the Point area and the owner of Tapa Hills Farm in Antigua. The interview was streamed live on Facebook, and what I saw brought tears to my eyes. No punt intended, but I find it Ironic that she did not shed a tear for the apparent destruction of Mr. Thomas's livelihood by the CCP but cried in agony over a palpable lie told by an unknown stranger.
Antigua Airways Scam Exposed
I knew it was an empty promise from the start. I wasn't surprised to hear that the new Antigua Airways Carrier scam was exposed and discontinued temporarily. The Prime Minister's explanation for halting the Airline was transparent, laughable, and shameless. In defense of his shallow and devious political stunt, he claimed that the investor would be engaged in a wet lease, "all that is required is the financial resources to lease the plane and personnel." Learn more about the sudden halting of Antigua Airways Carrier by the ALP government.
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