My attention was drawn to an article published on
Caribarena last week which I was told suggested that the new leader of the
Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party, Gaston Browne, is, and will continue to be a
puppet to Asot Michael.
With some reluctance, I decided to read the article and
following which I came away with a bad taste in my mouth. Most of the people
who read this article would know that between 2010 and the first half of 2013,
I was a major contributor to Caribarena. I am aware of the ongoing feud between
OferShaked and Asot Michael and it is because of that feud that I decided to
severe my ties with Caribarena. It was clear that the newspaper was merely a
tool in this seemingly never-ending war. I wanted no part of that!
I have no interest in nor any desire to get involved in
any fight between the off-springs of Abraham, but what I have an issue with is
when anyone, off-springs of Abraham or whomever, could feel that we of African
descent can only be puppets or marionettes dancing to the music of a
master-class or master-race.
It is no secret that there is deep-seated hatred
emanating from Ofer towards Asot Michael. I have never been anywhere near Asot
to hear him discuss Ofer so I can’t say the feelings are mutual.
What I do know is that sometime early last year, Ofer
and I had a meeting at his home in Renfrew and he informed me that he had
submitted a proposal to ABLP Political Leader, Gaston Browne, handle the election
campaign for the party as a political/marketing/social media consultant. At
that time he had recently launched the hard-copy of the internet-based news
portal called Caribarena Today.
His master plan was to set up a media conglomerate in
Antigua that would include the website, the newspaper and a television station.
I was designated to manage Caribarena TV
based on my past experiences in media.
I am not sure what price tag he placed on the proposal,
but I know that later when I had an opportunity to speak with Gaston Browne
one-on-one, he confirmed that he had received the proposal from Ofer and when I
inquired about what he thought about it, his only response was that ‘he (Ofer)
was asking for a lot of money’.
Now, as I stated earlier in this piece, I don’t want to
get involved in any Arab-Jewish conflict, that is going on for millennia and
quite frankly, I see no end in sight. However, I find it more than passing
strange, that since the ABLP did not accept Ofer’s offer to manage their
campaign, a campaign mark you that he would have to work along with his
arch-enemy, Asot Michael, that there suddenly is all this doom and gloom.
As someone who traces his lineage back to Africa, same
as Gaston Browne, and someone who is proud of the struggles of our ancestors
through slavery and colonialism to independence and nationhood, I am offended
by when someone who has no knowledge or understanding of our past and our
Caribbean civilization, can feel that they have the right to throw around words
like ‘slavery’ at will.
Anybody who knows Gaston Browne, who understands his
struggles as a child raised in the depths of poverty, and who despite all that,
he has been able to achieve the successes that he has in such a short time, did
not really take the time out to appreciate him and to take a measure of his
achievements. No wonder that that individual’s attempt to work for, and on
behalf of the ABLP, led by Gaston Browne, was rejected. To suggest that Gaston
Browne is or will ever be the puppet of anyone, is really an insult to this
proud leader of the ABLP and everyone who celebrate his success.
It might be interesting to note that Ofer, who after
the publication of the newspaper began to see himself as “King-maker’ for
Antigua and Barbuda. He was having conversations with some politicians telling
them he could make them Prime Minister. This is the same man who was involved
in the jelly-bean side-walk project in some streets in St John’s. Some
left-over materials are still present at the Renfrew home.(From jelly-bean
contractor to King-Maker, what a leap!)
The question though is why hehas inserted himself into
Antigua and Barbuda politics. He has no roots, no history, nor real
businesshere. If he appears at High and Market Streets today no one would
recognize nor care about him.
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