Isaac says no apology necessary, as concerns about over-reliance on China are shared by right-thinking nationals

Chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP) D.Gisele Isaac is denying
claims by Prime Minister Gaston Browne that the Party is trying to undermine
Antigua and Barbuda’s decades-old relationship with the People’s Republic of
China.

Isaac was among a few UPP members who spoke with a Newsweek magazine
journalist about the country’s association with the Asian nation several weeks
ago.
 
According to Browne, the resulting article, published on April 19, placed
Antigua and Barbuda in a negative light, and he accused the UPP members of
being unpatriotic.
 
Isaac says that neither she nor the Party has any reason for apology, since her
statements reflect the concerns of many people who love this country.
She believes the Browne Administration has created an overreliance on China
– in terms of its borrowings – which could prove detrimental in the long run if
the country defaults on its loan obligations.

Isaac acknowledges that China has been a friendly government, especially
during the UPP’s tenure in office. However, what is happening now cannot be
compared to what took place 10 years ago, she says.

What she finds worrisome, she explains, is Browne’s admission that the Port
Authority has been unable to meet the interest payments on its expansion
loan, while the airport loan reportedly is in trouble, as well.

Given what has happened to other nations that failed to meet their payment
obligations to China, this is a serious cause for concern, the UPP chairman
says.
 
Reportedly, China has taken over ports in other countries, mainly in
developing nations, for non-payment of loans to build such facilities.  

Therefore, Isaac says, the Party is concerned that critical areas of the country’s
economy and the people’s patrimony could end up under the control of the
Chinese Government.
 
Accordingly, she says, she is at a loss to understand what could be considered
disloyal about the Party’s fears – which have been expressed by many other
right-thinking Antiguans and Barbudans.

Chairman of the United Progressive Party D.Gisele Isaac.