St. John's -- Nov. 3, 2009:

Fellow Antiguans and Barbudans;
Residents and Visitors:

I greet you with warm wishes as we celebrate the 28th Anniversary of Antigua and Barbuda's Independence. I also greet you in the name of the One who showers us daily with His Blessings and gives us strength, enriches us with faith and empowers us with loyalty. Today we must give thanks to our Creator for his faithful love and His wonderful deeds to Antigua and Barbuda. It is my hope that today, everyday and always, that as a nation we remember to sing songs of Thanksgiving to our God for His Grace and Mercy.

Our celebration of Independence gives us the opportunity to reflect on our history as a people. To reflect on where we have come from as a nation and the struggles of those who have gone on before us, with their work paving the way for us to aspire and achieve great things as a people and as a nation.

Today we acknowledge with gratitude those who are being honoured this Independence for their outstanding contributions to the building of this nation of Antigua and Barbuda. On behalf of the Government and people of this great country, I congratulate all of our honourees and wish God's continued blessing on each one.

As we celebrate under the theme, "Antigua and Barbuda - One Family Reviving our National Pride," let us all realize that national pride is not a mere emotion; it is a call to action; a call to national service. Like faith, a profession of national pride which is not accompanied by tangible action is dead - it is nothing more than platitude and rhetoric. May the shining examples set by the honourees past and present motivate all of us to strive to be better citizens and true patriots.

My Fellow Antiguans and Barbudans;
Residents and Friends of Antigua and Barbuda:

As we celebrate our nation's 28th Anniversary of Political Independence, our nation is being tested by the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. In the face of these unprecedented challenges, the words of our national anthem ring true. It is indeed imperative that we all gird our loins and join the battle.

Steering the ship of state through these turbulent waters is not for the faint of heart; all hands are required on deck; there is no room for spectators. In fact, I challenge all citizens and residents to take to heart the words of author John Renesch who boldly stated
"Democracy is a team sport; it is not like going to a ballgame where you sit passively and decide if you like the players and evaluate their abilities after watching the game. We are the players, we are the team, in a democratic nation or a democratic world."

You might hasten to state that these problems are the responsibility of your government to solve. Indeed, you have elected us to serve and to take responsibility for the stewardship of this blessed country. However, each and every Antiguan and Barbudan and all those who have chosen to call this land their home - whether on a permanent or temporary basis - must join forces to address the challenges that come in the form of this global economic crisis that has thrust itself upon our pristine shores and is threatening to reek untold damage on our economy if we do not act and act now.

Citizens and Residents:

One of the quintessential elements of independence is the willingness and ability to make difficult decisions provided that such decisions are in the best interests of the country. As a responsible and independent government, having fully assessed the challenges presented by the global economic crisis and the debt burden and having engaged in widespread consultations, we have decided to present a fiscal consolidation programme to the IMF in an effort to secure technical and financial assistance in implementing the policies and measures identified in our National Economic and Social Transformation Plan.

I wish to say to you the citizens and residents of this nation, that the programme we will embark upon with the assistance of the IMF is not an IMF dictated programme. It is our programme. It is a programme conceptualized by an independent and responsible Antigua and Barbuda.

A few weeks ago, IMF representatives visited Antigua and we have agreed in principle on the parameters of the Fiscal Consolidation Programme, however there is still the need for some fine-tuning so that the targets presented by the government and endorsed by the Fund are manageable and attainable. The IMF will therefore return shortly to conclude arrangements.

As we move forward as a nation, we will encounter many challenges. That is an inevitable element in any process of growth and development. As parents we have seen our children struggle to overcome increasingly difficult challenges. However, we know that we cannot - and should not - shield them from these challenges. We know that in overcoming life's challenges, they grow stronger; they become more independent. The growth of our nation is no different. Therefore, as your Chief Servant, I call on each and every citizen and resident to renew your commitment to this fair land; to renew your national pride; to renew your commitment to becoming a part of the solution.

Citizens and Residents, Brothers and Sisters:

Prepare yourself to answer the call to action! Your government will present in further detail the contents of the country's Fiscal Consolidation Programme during the new parliamentary session on November 30th when the Budget Speech will be presented.

Our nation has survived serious crises and we have overcome momentous challenges. Whatever the challenges ahead, we shall overcome. Your government is fully prepared to face the challenges. We face them with a positive outlook and with the determination to overcome them. If we work as a family - it can be achieved.