The St John’s Development Corporation (SJDC) has come under fire for the planned demolition of the 50-year-old administration building at the bottom of High and Long streets, which formerly housed the Ministry of Health.

Antigua Labour Party MP Asot Michael has apologised to Chief Magistrate Joanne Walsh for missing a court appearance and for calling her in connection with the case.

A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of St Peter Member of Parliament (MP) Asot Michael.

Opposition Leader Lester Bird and OBSERVER chairman Winston Derrick are among well-known local personalities who have voiced concern about a recent position taken by Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, which effectively commits Antigua & Barbuda to siding with Argentina in its 180-year-old dispute with Britain over the Falkland Islands.

Chairman of the governing United Progressive Party (UPP) Harold Lovell has given his political party a B grade for its performance since being re-elected in 2009.

Labour Minister Dr Errol Cort is standing by an “estimate” that the country’s unemployment figure is 12 per cent despite the absence of statistical evidence.

Once again while rejecting the unemployment figures estimated by Opposition Leader Lester Bird, Education Minister Dr Jacqui Quinn-Leandro said he is undeserving of an apology unless he can show credible evidence to support that the unemployment among the youth is a staggering 45 per cent.

Opposition Leader Lester Bird is standing by claims he made four days ago at the opening of Parliamentary Debate on the 2012 budget that overall unemployment in Antigua & Barbuda stands at 25 per cent, and among the youth is as high as 45 per cent.

Deputy Speaker of the House Chester Hughes was forced to adjourn debate on the 2012 Budget, as there were fewer than six members in the 18-member House yesterday.