Molwyn Joseph
Sir Molwyn Joseph | |
---|---|
Member of the John Eugene St. Luce | |
Personal details | |
Born | Molwyn Morgorson Joseph Antigua Labour Party |
Profession | politician |
Sir Molwyn Joseph,
Outside of his ministerial duties, he also met with Jiang Zhenghua, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, having led the official Antiguan delegation to Beijing. Following a power struggle in 2003, Joseph was given the Economic Development and Investment Promotion portfolio, to hold at the same time as his Tourism and the Environment position. Despite a scandal surrounding donations he had received from Texan businessman
Early career
Joseph entered Cabinet-level politics on 19 April 1984 when, following the ALP's general election victory, he was made a Minister without Portfolio.
Within Parliament, Joseph campaigned for the Business Licensing Bill, a statute which aimed to impose licensing fees, ranging from 40 to 20,000
Resignation
In 1996, Joseph left his position as
Reappointment
Joseph's position on the backbenches did not last long; on 3 December 1997, less than two years after his resignation, he was recalled to take up the Planning, Implementation and the Environment portfolio, with Bird saying that "his managerial skills are required at this juncture of our economic history when several projects require implementation to get off the ground quickly".
As Minister, Joseph oversaw a "back-to-basics approach" to tourism, attempting to have the nation perceived as one known "for its cleanliness, tidiness, natural beauty and pristine environment". As part of this, the Antiguan government invested 2 million US dollars in boosting the number of hotel rooms available, from 3,000 to 5,000, and opened the Antigua Hotel Institute, seeking to train Antiguans in how to more efficiently and effectively work in the tourism industry.[17] Joseph also oversaw the government buying a third of the Jolly Beach Resort in an attempt to save it from bankruptcy, establishing a management company to oversee the property.[18] In February 2000 he led the government delegation in an official visit to Beijing, where they met with Jiang Zhenghua, Vice-Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, to discuss "bilateral relations and the issues of common concern".[19] He also led the Antiguan delegation to the World Travel Market in 2001.[20] Following Joseph's promise of government investiture in the route, Air Jamaica resumed flights to Antigua in 2002, having ceased flying there six years earlier.[21] This was followed by the announcement that Air Luxor would similarly begin offering flights to the islands.[22]
After a financial scandal in early 2003, the ALP backbencher Sherfield Bowen asked for a vote of no confidence in Bird's government on 19 May, calling for him to step down and "accusing him of being involved corrupt practices and governing without accountability".[23] When Bowen was threatened with being thrown out of the Party, he claimed that several other MPs and government ministers were prepared to resign if he was dismissed, including Joseph. The dispute remained unresolved, with Bowen accusing the government of vesting too much power in Senator Asot Michael; Bowen, Hilroy Humpheys, Bernard Percival and Longford Jeremy eventually all resigned from the ALP administration, with further suggestions that Joseph, as well as trade minister Gaston Browne, could also leave.[24] Joseph eventually announced on 19 June, that he would resign if Michael was not immediately removed; within a few hours, Michael's resignation had been formally tendered.[25] Soon afterwards, Joseph was given the Economic Development and Investment Promotion portfolio, to hold at the same time as his Tourism and the Environment position.[26]
Later career
In late 2003, it was discovered that Texan businessman Allen Stanford had given both Joseph and fellow minister Gaston Browne cheques worth 100,000 East Caribbean dollars. While Browne denied suggestions that this had constituted bribery, claiming that the money had gone towards community projects, Leader of the Opposition Baldwin Spencer demanded that both ministers resign.[27] Both ministers were part of a team negotiating with Stanford over a land exchange in St. John's, and the news led to protesters picketing their offices.[28] Prime Minister Lester Bird affirmed his support in both ministers,[29] and despite a motion of censure brought by the opposition and more protests, Stanford publicly made a second set of donations to Joseph and Browne.[30]
Antigua had a
In 2020 Molwyn was made a Knight Grand Cross (KGCN) of Order of the Nation.[38][39]
References
- ^ <Caribbean Elections Molwyn Morgorson Joseph | http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/joseph_molwyn.asp>
- ^ <Caribbean Elections Molwyn Morgorson Joseph | http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/joseph_molwyn.asp%7CCaribbean Elections>
- ^ "Our Campaigns - Candidate - Molwyn Joseph".
- ^ <Caribbean Elections Molwyn Morgorson Joseph | http://www.caribbeanelections.com/knowledge/biography/bios/joseph_molwyn.asp>
- ^ "New Cabinet for Antigua and Barbuda". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. BBC. 23 April 1984.
- ^ "ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA; Talks held with European creditors on debt rescheduling". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. BBC. 23 April 1991.
- ^ "ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA; Finance Minister presents 1992 budget". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. BBC. 17 March 1992.
- ^ "Antigua & Barbuda: Government Announces Income Tax-Free Budget". IPS-Inter Press Service. 8 March 1993.
- ^ "ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA; Finance Minister presents tax-free budget". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. BBC. 16 March 1993.
- ^ "ANTIGUA/BARBUDA: PROPOSED BUSINESS LICENSING ACT IN DEEP TROUBLE". IPS-Inter Press Service. 30 April 1993.
- ^ Smikle, Patrick (25 September 1996). "ANTIGUA/BARBUDA-POLITICS: GOVERNMENT FIGHTING CORRUPTION CHARGES". IPS-Inter Press Service. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2011.
- ISBN 978-1-85743-118-6.
- ^ "Antigua wants Montserrat refugee help". United Press International. 23 August 1997.
- ^ "Former finance minister recalled to post". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. BBC. 5 December 1997.
- ^ "CARIBBEAN: ANTIGUA'S NEW CABINET IS SWORN IN". BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political. BBC. 13 March 1999.
- ^ "PEOPLE IN POWER: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA". Cambridge International Reference on Current Affairs. May 1999.
- ^ "Antigua's Tourism Strategy". Travel Agent Caribbean & Bahamas Supplement. 17 May 1999.
- ^ "RESORT SHARE". Cana Business. 1 October 1999.
- ^ "NPC Vice-Chairman Meets Antigua and Barbuda Guests". Xinhua General News Service. 21 February 2000. Retrieved 7 July 2011.[dead link]
- ^ "CARIBBEAN REPORT: WHAT'S ON". Travel Trade Gazette UK & Ireland. 12 November 2001. Archived from the original on 12 October 2012. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "A package of news briefs from the Caribbean". Associated Press State & Local Wire. 21 June 2002.
- ^ "Air Luxor to begin weekly service to Antigua and Barbuda". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. BBC. 13 February 2003.
- ^ "Antigua's Premier Lester Bird says he may dissolve parliament, call elections". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. BBC. 17 June 2003. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
- ^ "Four MPs leave the government in Antigua". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. BBC. 18 June 2003.
- ^ "Antigua: Pressure mounting on Prime Minister Bird as junior minister resigns". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 19 June 2003.
- ^ "PEOPLE IN POWER: ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA". Cambridge International Reference on Current Affairs. 16 July 2003.
- ^ "The Associated Press State & Local Wire". A package of news briefs from the Caribbean. 16 November 2003.
- ^ "Dozens protest outside the offices of beleaguered planning minister in Antigua". Associated Press Worldstream. 20 November 2003. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ "Antigua's prime minister defends beleaguered Cabinet ministers". Associated Press Worldstream. 23 November 2003. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ "Texas millionaire gives more donations to Antiguan ministers". Associated Press Worldstream. 27 November 2003. Archived from the original on 6 November 2012. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ "Antigua ruling party names candidates for general elections". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 24 February 2004. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ "Antigua: New ministry created; full cabinet list published". BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 25 March 2004.
- ^ "BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political". BBC. 11 April 2005.
- ^ "Antigua premier appoints political rival as his deputy". BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political. BBC. 8 February 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ "Antigua's ruling party on course for reelection". BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political. BBC. 13 March 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2011.
- ^ "Antigua opposition leader charged over May Day rally". BBC Monitoring Latin America. BBC. 7 May 2009.
- ^ "Antigua-Barbuda opposition members fined for contravening Public Order Act". Caribbean News Now. McClatchy-Tribune Business News. 25 December 2010. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
- ^ "Health Minister Molwyn Joseph confirmed for knighthood". 26 October 2020.
- ^ "Introducing Sir Molwyn Joseph". 2 November 2020.