Antigua : Antigua & Barbuda’s newest tactic in the Internet gaming fight with the United States is likely to cost millions of dollars – racking up a whopping US $40,000 tab a month.
But Finance Minister Harold Lovell does not want taxpayers to foot the entire bill – instead he is seeking outside help.
The minister has reportedly written to online gaming mogul Calvin Ayre seeking money to pay Washington-based public relations (PR) firm LEVICK for its services.
Ayre said in a posting on his website, www.calvinayre.com, that government could be forking up about US $600,000 for the services.
“LEVICK will be charging the country US $40,000 a month plus expenses which are estimated to be another US $10,000,” the site said.
“The Antiguan government figures the total cost of the campaign will be about US $600,000 as it runs its course, which includes government travel and legal fees,” it added.
The website, however, describes the sum as a “bargain” given the millions currently in circulation in Washington as a result of the presidential elections.
LEVICK did not confirm the figures.
Lovell may not know how he will fund this campaign but he knows what he wants to achieve by embarking on the publicity stunt.
According to the letter Ayre claims he received, in which he quotes the minister directly, Lovell outlines his goals, and perhaps more importantly, his strategy.
They include creating “painful and immediate consequences for the US and, specifically for influential companies in the US, if it fails to comply with the WTO decision by incrementally moving towards the implementation of the IP sanctions against vulnerable targets such as the motion picture and recording industries as well as key computer software companies in America.”
The letter apparently continues, “Organise a delegation from Antigua to the US to meet with policymakers and advocates to increase support for the Antiguan position. Additionally, organise a delegation of US lawmakers, media, and advocates to attend a policy summit in Antigua focused squarely on ending the blockade of online gaming.”
It adds, “Mobilise and deploy US-based think tanks, third-party organisations, and advocates to support Antigua’s position.”
If Antigua & Barbuda is to win the hearts and minds of people that matter in the United States, the country may first have to put its money where it wants its message heard.
Up to press time OBSERVER Media had not received a copy of the letter requested from Ayre.
The businessman was among those impacted when the US clamped down on Internet gaming.
The planned spending has angered deputy leader of the main opposition Antigua Labour Party Gaston Browne. He has rubbished the idea of engaging LEVICK to rally on the country’s behalf.
“When you’re talking about US $600,000 a year for an effort that is likely to fail, that is not cost effective. And when you look at the level of unemployment and poverty, I think that is excessive,” Browne added.
A better solution, according to the ALP chairman, is through “effective” diplomacy.
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has determined that the US violated the treaty agreement it signed as part of the commitment to free e-commerce and trade.
Antigua & Barbuda won the argument regarding the prohibition of online gambling operations in the US, but has not yet received any compensation from the US government.
In 2007, the WTO awarded Antigua damages that amounted to a cash value of US $21 million. That value has now accumulated to over US $120 million.
Finance Minister Harold Lovell did not reply to text messages nor phone calls seeking his comments on the story.
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