The Big Issues

What have you heard about the Delta Variant of COVID-19? Reports from around the world say that it's more transmissible, and this is leading to many infections and greater loss of life. What's so different about the Delta variant? And what about the vaccines? How effective are they when it comes to Delta? In this episode we sat down for a one-on-one with the professor leading the UWI's Covid-19 Task Force to ask those very questions.

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guest is:

A vaccinated patrons only policy for bars and entertainment venues is supposed to come into force from the beginning of August. In this episode two proprietors tell us why they agree that such a policy is necessary. These are just two voices on the subject. Many more for and against will be heard as this debate goes on. The announcement, made recently by Information Minister Melford Nicholas has led to a surge in debate over vaccination and the freedom to refuse it, and the consequences of being unvaccinated. Many people are angry at the government for taking the move. And even those who support it are wondering whether it could be operationalized by the beginning of August, and how well it could be enforced. 

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 25th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

Anger and resentment are what many felt when the government announced that workers in some departments must either be vaccinated, be tested for Covid twice monthly at their own cost, or go home without pay. In this episode, we hear what the Antigua Trades and Labour Union thinks, and what a medical doctor had to say. We spoke to an employment lawyer and a political analyst as well.

Background:

The big issue, we thought, was that the new testing policy requires that unvaccinated persons pay for their own tests – a significant cost many would say, especially routinely, and on a government salary during an economic recession. What we learn here, is that not only is the requirement to test at your own cost part of the union's concern, but also the very idea of having to be tested twice a month. Apparently, the discomfort/irritation of being nasal swabbed is an issue as well. 

But what is the alternative? There are workers across the public sector who have no desire to be vaccinated. But how do they plan to make sure they don't have Covid, if not by getting tested? The policy affects only some departments, reportedly those whose workers mingle with travelers. But if you're not vaccinated and unwilling to be regularly tested, should you be allowed to remain at work?

Still, many see the policy as unjust and punitive, and feel it is another way of mandating the vaccine through financial pressure, even though the government said it would not make vaccination mandatory. And let's be  honest. It does increase the pressure to get jabbed, and that's exactly what the government says it wants to do. Is this the right approach? Has sensitization failed so utterly? 

This segment also demonstrates how rife misinformation about vaccines has become, as our analyst incorrectly called the vaccines available to the population in Antigua and Barbuda "experimental" vaccines, which is false. It prompted a response from the medical doctor on the panel, who stated that the vaccines have been tested rigorously, had passed their tests, had met established standards for safety and effectiveness, and had been authorized by regulators for use.

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 25th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

Street harassment includes unwanted sexualised comments, provocative gestures, noise making, flashing, stalking, and even touching by strangers in public places. It's a problem that women and girls deal with from a very young age, and it's so normal that complaining about it is usually met with dismissiveness. It's a compliment! Can't you take a compliment? It was a joke. What's your problem? 

Yet, there you are as a woman, being howled at, or hissed at, or told to smile, or told to be grateful for the 'compliment', or having your path being blocked by yet another male, and by this time, you've lost count of how many of them have done this on your short walk from point A to point B. Are you at the stage where you plan your movement around the likelihood that you will be harassed? You avoid a certain corner. You avoid a certain shop. You cross the street if you can. Maybe someone has even followed you once (frightening). In this episode we talk about street harassment, which includes cat calling, and why it isn't a trivial act.

By the way, cat calling is shouting, harassing and often making sexually suggestive, threatening, or derisive comments at someone publicly. So when a man tells you about your ***, your ***** or your *****, or maybe that he wants to **** you, that definitely fits the description. It doesn't have to be vulgar though. It could be milder, but still be cat calling. Street harassment is quite common, especially when you dare ignore, or worse yet, reject someone's advances. That's often when the vilest things are said. Women sometimes express how constant and burdensome it can be. 

Men can be subjected to street harassment too, though it happens far less. But gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people are also major targets for harassment. Street harassment does not always have to be sexual, but can be purely hateful and denigrating. In this episode, one of our guests says, if you cannot say it to your mother, sister, or daughter, then don't say it to anyone you've just met on the street.

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 18th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

Cubans recently protested the economic crisis, the management of COVID, and the political repression in their country. At least, that's what international media is reporting. But here in the Caribbean, we are the first to defend the communist government of Cuba, no matter what ills it's accused of committing. Uncritical and placatory - that's how you might describe our support for the communist government.

Political rights and freedoms that you and I enjoy in the rest of the Caribbean are not rights which the communist government of Cuba allows its citizens. It is a one-party state. Freedom of assembly is restricted. Freedom of speech is restricted. The internet is controlled by the government. There is censorship. Arbitrary arrest and detention is persistent. Dissent is suppressed. Musicians are jailed for lyrics critical of the government. You cannot speak out without the risk of harassment or worse victimization. 

But why? The reason, we are told in this episode, is because the Cuban government, which has been in perpetual conflict with its powerful, antagonistic neighbour, the United States (US) since the 1960s, is guarding against subversion by the US. There is always evidence or at least suspicion that anti-government or anti-communist sentiment is really the product of US sponsored or supported covert action. 

Throughout the Cold War, the US targeted Cuba through covert actions meant to foment discontent amongst the Cuban people with the ultimate aim of overthrowing the communist government. The centerpiece of that strategy has been a now universally condemned embargo which has survived the Cold War - an embargo which has been blamed by many for exponentially exacerbating the economic hardships in Cuba, especially now amidst the pandemic.

In the 21st century, whether the US intelligence community and US administrations have had a coherent policy on Cuba is debatable. Measures have been relaxed and tightened under different presidents. And in some cases, covert actions targeting Cuba are reportedly still occurring. The politics of US-Cuba relations is complex. It spans historical conflicts between both countries, and competition between them in Latin America. 

But in spite of all that, Cuba's government is still arresting its own activists and suppressing dissent amongst its own citizens. It blames the US and imperialists whenever it does so. Is everyone who opposes the government an agent of the US? Or an enemy of the state? Why has the rest of the Caribbean not called them out for it? Why smile and remain silent? Is it impossible for Caricom to condemn the embargo while also condemning rights abuses in Cuba? Are we still so helplessly enamored with Castro and the revolution 62 years on, that we cannot?

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 18th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

Will tourism in the Caribbean rebound strongly in the remaining months of 2021? We got three perspectives on that question in this episode. What's certain is that the sooner economic activity in the sector picks up strongly, the better it will be for the thousands affected by lay offs, closures, and shut-downs throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. But how do we guard against Covid be re-introduced into our countries by travelers? Well, most countries already have plans. We talk about that. And we also talk about the future of the sector, and its untapped potential for domestic investors and Caribbean citizens. 

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 18th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

He was around 70-years-old. Two of them were 13-years-old, and one 15-years-old. He offered money and top-ups (phone credit), as they often do. He groomed them, building trust, filling a need, and gaining control. He sent one of them to recruit others, even younger. And in the end, he got what he wanted: sex with underage teens and indecent photos for his gawking. Are you repulsed yet? 

This is David Brandt, a former Chief Minister of Montserrat. Brandt was days ago found guilty of exploiting minors for sex. His prosecution was the culmination of a lengthy court battle and persistence from the authorities involved. He even paid hush money (a bribe) to try and silence one of his victims. But who could have known he was doing these sordid things? He was a public figure of high standing. The honest answer: Probably damn near everyone. Word travels. 

How many have you heard of? The one in high office? Or the one who drives the bus? The one that lives on your street? Or do you mean the one that that stares into the schoolyard every single time he drives by? Those who say they are "checking" their "woman" who is actually a 14-year-old? Those who are "going with" their "gyal" who is barely 15-years-old? Those that "hang around" with girls who haven't sat their CXCs? Sometimes the abusers are older teens preying on their vastly younger peers. Sometimes it's men and women preying on boys.

But it goes deeper than them. We belong to the same society, all of us. And in our society, it seems that we double speak. Sex with children and underage teens is wrong we say. And still, sometimes, what goes on seems almost in the open, with the knowledge, or suspicion, or collusion, or indifference of the rest of us. Children and teens are being let down, mislead, and ignored by many of us. That's the truth. 

Then there's their trauma. Some will feel ashamed, neglected, exploited, and let down. Some learn to accept exploitative relationships, transactional sex, or risky sexual behaviour as normal in their adulthood. Some suffer deep emotional and psychological wounds. Some may self-harm. Some may bury it until it manifests in troubling ways. And when they act out and lose interest, we don't seem to know why they are failing, drinking, and getting high everyday. 

In this episode, we talk about child sexual exploitation and teen sexual exploitation. The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 11th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

We speak to Haitians Monique Clesca and Emmanuela Douyon, as well as retired Jamaican diplomat Curtis Ward about the rapidly unfolding situation in Haiti. President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated on July 7th 2021. The Caribbean nation was already in a political and security crisis with widespread gang violence, killings, and a defunct Haitian Senate. In this episode we speak about a solution to the political impasse developing; if there is a role for Caricom, the United States (US) and the international community in what happens next; and the credibility of the information coming out surrounding the President's assassination.

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 11th, 2021. The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

Background:

Jovenel Moïse left behind a newly designated, but never sworn-in nominee for prime minister, Ariel Henry. The nearly ousted prime minister who was about to be replaced, Claude Joseph, has taken the role of head of the interim government. The head of the supreme court, who would normally assume the role of President in cases like this, has died of Covid-19. The head of the defunct Senate, Joseph Lambert has been recognised as President by a cabal of Senators. The Senate itself remains defunct. 

Added to that, the constitutional legitimacy of Jovenel Moïse's ongoing tenure was disputed even before he was gruesomely killed. He was also being increasingly accused of governing like an authoritarian and of having links to criminal elements in Haiti. Now the world is being told of an assassination plot involving a platoon of Colombian mercenaries. They allegedly waltzed into Haiti, shot the President, and then botched their escape. This is the stuff of films. Unfortunately, it is a reality for the millions of Haitians who want security, peace and the rule of law in their country. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

Antigua and Barbuda’s immunization programme for COVID-19 has been ongoing since February and nearly thirty-seven thousand people have at least gotten a first dose. On this episode, we talk one-on-one to public health specialist Arvel Grant about the progress that has been made so far, and how much further vaccination can go in the face of hesitancy. 

It was reported this week that two of four public vaccination centres ceased operations due to the low traffic at those sites. Dashboard statistics suggest that 3,100+ people came forward for their first shot in June, and that 2,800 + people came forward for their first shot the month before in May. We also have to think about the increase in arriving tourists and how unvaccinated people with have to be planned for in that scenario.

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guest is:

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 11th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.

Physical violence, sexual violence, stalking, or psychological harm by a current or former partner or spouse is how we define intimate partner violence. It is a aspect of gender based violence (GBV). Recently, we spoke about the killing of Althea Henry. On this episode we are furthering the discussion on violence against people, most often women, by their intimate partner, or former partner. We got three perspectives from within the Caribbean, but from outside of Antigua and Barbuda.

Later in the discussion, the panelists talk of how and why in the course of raising awareness, some men appear to feel threatened or antagonized by discussions targeting the impacts that violent, toxic male behaviour has on women. They say it is important for all men to try and understand the message of awareness for what it is - a plea and a demand for change - and be open to participating in that change process, rather than becoming defensive and thereby unreceptive.

The host is Kieron Murdoch. The guests are:

This programme first aired on NewsCo Observer Radio 91.1 FM on July 4th, 2021. Get the latest news from Antigua and Barbuda at the Antigua Observer online.