PRIME MINISTER
THE HONOURABLE
BALDWIN SPENCER

REMARKS AT INAUGURAL INDEPENDENCE HOMECOMING FESTIVAL

MONDAY AUGUST 9, 2004
OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER
ST. JOHN’S ANTIGUA

The second of those killings brought a premature end to Las’ Lap.

In my address to the nation on Friday night, I cautioned that the country should be concerned that the current upsurge in crime could place our tourism business in jeopardy.

The travel warnings that the British and Canadian governments have just issued to citizens of those countries traveling to a nearby Caribbean destination are of telling relevance.

While the government and our law enforcement agencies move swiftly and aggressively to implement the key measures of an initial coordinated offensive against lawlessness, it is critical strategy that we effectively – and productively - present our country’s considerable attributes to the world.

Antigua and Barbuda’s natural attributes are already well established in our tourism markets.

Indeed they are universally recognized as among the finest to be found in any of the premier resort destinations of the world.

Antigua and Barbuda has also won global recognition for Sailing Week which is now a major spring event.

From time to time, Antigua becomes the centre of the cricketing world with stunning achievements by West Indian cricketers that seem to routinely rewrite the record books.

We experienced this earlier this year.

These events bring traction to Antigua and Barbuda tourism beyond the winter season. 

The Independence Homecoming Festival is designed to generate an autumn peak, a fall peak in our tourism calendar.

This will go a long way to reducing the seasonality of tourism revenues.

The Independence Homecoming Festival is designed to achieve a number of additional objectives.

We want Antiguans and Barbudans who have been swept along in the extensive and extended brain drain to other countries to come home to sense what is happening in a nation fashioning a new direction.

We want Antiguans and Barbudans in voluntary exile in other countries to come home to a new Antigua and Barbuda in this momentous year of change.

We want the skills and the capital of Antigua and Barbuda’s sons and daughters to enrich our homeland after benefiting other lands.

The Independence Homecoming Festival invites the Antigua and Barbuda Diaspora to come for Independence, and to ultimately come home for good.

At the same time, the Independence Homecoming Festival is an all-inclusive effort that reaches out to every person in the society. 

It reaches out to every section of the society. 

It reaches out to every community in our two islands.

The Community Pride Programme is conceived as an all embracing opportunity to rekindle latent traditions.

The Community Pride Programme can be the prime catalyst to country-wide involvement in the Independence Homecoming programme.

The Caribbean Festival Park will start to take shape during the Independence Homecoming Festival.

This will include a ceremonial project startup that will unveil an imposing “Spirit of the Caribbean” Totem which will thereafter define Antigua and Barbuda’s ever growing diversity.

I urge our business community to support the Independence Homecoming Festival and the Caribbean Festival Park project generously.

Business support for any component of the Independence Homecoming Festival and the Caribbean Festival Park will be a gilt edged investment.

Sponsors will enjoy Tax Credits of up to $250, 000 for funds supporting activities for the Homecoming Festival and the Caribbean Festival Park.

The Independence Home Coming Festival and the Caribbean Festival Park will be key components in attracting visitors for Cricket World Cup in 2007.

They will also be key catalysts in converting those who come for cricket into loyal repeat vacation visitors.

The Independence Homecoming Festival and the Caribbean Festival Park can be significant contributors to a healthier economy and to a more united nation.

I urge every citizen and resident, individual and corporate, participate to the fullest extent possible in making Antigua and Barbuda the place to be, the only place to be come October and into November. 

The Independence Homecoming Festival and the Caribbean Festival Park are a grateful government’s gift to the people of Antigua and Barbuda, inclusive of all, exclusive of none.

The government has thrown the switch and started the action with an outstanding team on the Steering Committee, and in our Project leaders.

I thank you all, I thank them all, for the tremendous commitment and time they are putting into the Independence Homecoming projects.

The energy of the people, the energy of all of the people of Antigua and Barbuda, will make the Independence Homecoming Festival and the Caribbean Festival Park resounding and enduring successes.

I am happy to present them both to the nation.

Thank you.

Queen Elizabeth Highway, St. John’s, Antigua/Barbuda

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