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Moderna COVID-19 vaccine works against U.K. and South Africa variants
Moderna today announced results from in vitro neutralization studies of sera from individuals vaccinated with Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine showing activity against emerging strains of SARS-CoV-2. Vaccination with the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine produced neutralizing titers against all key emerging variants tested, including B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, first identified in the UK and Republic of South Africa, respectively.…
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Opposition slams gov’t cannabis licence fee
Running a medical marijuana operation in Antigua and Barbuda will cost an investor a whopping EC$325,000 in a licence fee, a sum so steep that, some politicians believe it may shut out the local man. The United Progressive Party (UPP) for one, wants the government to go back to the drawing board and reduce the…
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Grant Thornton is Best Corporate Citizen 2020
Grant Thornton was presented with the Halo Foundation’s Corporate Citizen Award 2020 by Sir Rodney and Lady Williams on Jan. 21 at Government House. The award was received by the company’s Managing Partner Charles Walwyn. It is bestowed each year upon a business entity based in Antigua and Barbuda that has extended charitable assistance to…
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Does Bitcoin have a place in every investment portfolio?
Some investors have long believed everyone should allocate some of their portfolios to gold or other commodities. Gold, goes the argument, helps protect your investments from inflation and stock market drops. Now some are arguing the same thing about Bitcoin. “My personal belief is allocating to Bitcoin is a logical approach and should have a…
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WestJet halts Boeing 737 Max jet before takeoff after warning light in cockpit
WestJet temporarily grounded a Boeing 737 Max jet that was supposed to fly from Calgary to Toronto on Friday after a warning light came on in the cockpit prior to takeoff. Flight 658 was boarded and preparing to take off when a warning light came on. “After a normal engine start, a standard function of…
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DNA proposes more inclusive approach to development of Cannabis Industry
Economic Diversification is at the cornerstone of the Democratic National Alliance’s policy initiatives for Antigua and Barbuda. It is only through well thought out and purposefully developed policies and legislation that we will cultivate and advance a long-term, strategic, sustainable social and economic national redevelopment plan for Antigua and Barbuda. Given the recent attention and…
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Antigua and Barbuda plans to reduce fees for residency programme
Cabinet Notes: The Cabinet has agreed to make amendments to the Residency Program as it now exists, in order to make it more attractive to foreign-born workers who may not wish to be citizens but who wish to reside in Antigua and Barbuda lawfully. Currently, the cost of such a residency program is US$20,000. The Cabinet…
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$325K fee for a cannabis licence in Antigua
Cabinet Notes: Four representatives of that Board were invited to Cabinet to report on the progress made thus far. The Cabinet was informed that 5 applications for licenses have been received thus far, and one provisional license has been granted. The fee for a license is $325,000 and there are to be no waivers, the Cabinet…
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Over to shareholders for LIAT severance – Antigua
It’s up to LIAT’s former shareholder governments to foot the bill of outstanding severance payments to severed employees, said Antigua and Barbuda on Wednesday as it moves to get the regional administrations to compensate their nationals. In statements from Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting in St John’s, the Office of the Prime Minister said: The Cabinet agreed…
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All contracts regardless of size will go to tender from June 1
Cabinet Notes: The Procurement Act comes into effect on June 1, 2021, when the Tenders Board Act will no longer be the law. It will require that all contracts, regardless of size, come before the equivalent of the tenders board for approval. The discretion to waive tendering will have come to an end. Three officials from…
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Social Security introduces new pension payments plan
The Antigua and Barbuda Social Security Board (ABSSB) has announced the introduction of a new pension payment arrangement as it adopts measures to cope with falling collections. In an official statement Tuesday, the Board said the measure takes immediate effect and will likely last for the next six months. “As we begin 2021, the Antigua…