The handling of the dispute between the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda and the United States of America by the World Trade Organisation has been well-documented elsewhere.
What beggars belief is that the World Trade Organisation, sitting in far-off, sanitised and cushioned Switzerland, is taken in by claims of propriety and regulated governance made by this rogue State, especially given its deplorable history of links to international crime, money laundering, arms and narcotic trafficking and providing fugitives from justice with a safe haven.
Moreover, it is astounding that an international custodial organisation would advocate international piracy though copyright and intellectual property theft as a fit and proper remedy to an alleged trade dispute.
For hardworking and creative individuals and companies to have to face the threat that their intellectual property could be abused officially and even stolen by a sovereign nation is bad enough but for a "trade fairness" agency to sanction same is wicked and outrageous.
Nevertheless, it is important to stop and consider these latest shocking findings against the scope of previously condoned actions taken by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.
Antigua's stated intention to engage in piracy of intellectual property is only the next logical step to its piracy of private property and businesses.
As the expropriation of the Half Moon Bay Resort, the Allen Stanford debacle and the breach of bi-lateral treaties with the United States have had little, if any effect or repercussions, either with the World Bank or the various lending agencies of the United States itself, then why not, take the next step on what appears to be a safe road to riches?
Just how far will the Government of Antigua and Barbuda be allowed to go?
How many innocent entities and people will it be allowed to harm before it is recognised for what it is and treated accordingly?
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