Political Gaslighting Disguised as Patriotism
Dear ANR,
The Government of Antigua & Barbuda recently announced plans to increase the vehicle licensing fee by 40% in an attempt to overhaul the country’s dilapidated roadways. This move which is to be debated in the next Parliamentary sitting has caused quite some backlash from the general public.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who is also the Finance Minister responded to the concerns by many in the most pious way, teetering to the point of gaslighting. “Gaslighting” is an attempt to manipulate someone or a group of people into questioning their sanity and reasoning.
In a post to his Facebook page, the Prime Minister entreated the people he plans to hit with this high increase as “Dear friends” in hopes of tapping into their emotional means of reasoning, then went on to use the presumed cost for licensing what is probably the most affordable vehicle on the streets of Antigua, a Toyota Vitz.
He said that if you own a Vitz, the annual license cost is about $280 and the increase by 40% would be $108, which equals $9 a month.
The thing is, many people have a challenge with coming up with a lumpsum fee and do not have the option of paying an additional $9 per month versus at one time, therefore making the increase more onerous.
This challenge in coming up with lumpsum fees is known by the Prime Minister, who just a few years ago mentioned introducing rent- to- own properties as many lower-income people may be unable to come up with the fees banks require as a deposit for a mortgage. It stands to reason that the immediate increase of a whopping 40% in vehicle licensing could also be quite burdensome.
There are also individuals who own vehicles that are larger than a Vitz, and would therefore have to pay a higher licensing fee. One may suggests that if one wants the luxury of having a larger vehicle, they should be prepared to pay higher fees but I beg to differ.
Many Antiguans would like to move beyond having the bare minimum and would have worked to attain the dignity of choice through their hard work, but increasing costs of living have made it more difficult and such an increase can be taken as a blow to wanting to be upwardly mobile.
The Prime Minister and his apologists have actually worked to highlight the error of this government’s ways by stating that many Antiguans can afford to fete and should therefore be able to pay the increase. Well, thank you for mentioning it because recently we learnt that the government spent 1.5 MILLION DOLLARS on the One Nation concert and collected a measly $300,000.
They have not even collected HALF of the money spent, yet, they plan to extend the so- called festival in an industry that is already oversaturated both locally and regionally.
Let us also take into consideration that this is the first year that there was an entrance fee for this event which has been happening for almost TEN years.
Okay, Gaston Browne and people of Antigua, in the same way that some of you have broken down the licensing fee to a month- to- month basis or have calculated how much Antiguans spend on fetes annually without empirical data, take out your calculators and do this- tell me how much millions has the country lost on having the One Nation concert year after year as our roads wasted away??????????
In the same way that we are being expected to budget and prioritize paying this fee, why weren’t the basic needs of decent roads which support productivity, shorter commuting times, a better standard of living and uplift the aesthetics of our country prioritized?
Fixing our roads would have been a tangible move towards an economic powerhouse, instead, our government thought that the best they could do for us is provide us with another fete, similar to the ones we are now chided for paying to attend. Instead of taking the time to assess how private citizens spend their money, can we admit that the government has mismanaged our funds?
I am sure it is a heavy bill to revamp our roads at this time, but that is what happens when you neglect something for an extended period of time. It’s like when a tooth begins to decay, and instead of getting it treated immediately, you leave it to fester, increasing complications so when you finally visit the dentist, you are hit with an unnecessarily high bill.
Had our roads been fixed with a robust maintenance system in place during the now over 10 years that the current government has been in office, we would not now be saddled with the burden of possibly paying an exorbitant increase for basic roads.
Had the government said they were going to build a highway and charge a toll to recover the costs of construction, similar to what was done in Jamaica, I could be more understanding because that would be the cost of a luxury but we are not discussing that.
We are talking about basic, simple roads so that you can adequately maintain driving on the left without jutting out to the right because there are potholes galore keeping you from staying in your lane.
Trying to paint willingly paying this proposed increase as patriotism is nothing short of political gaslighting.
I, on the other hand like many Antiguans have run this through many robust syllogisms and have concluded the math simply ain’t mathing.
Signed,
Pissed Off.
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Well written piece. This highlights lack of vision and consultation on the behalf of the narcissistic PM.
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I am in total agreement with you pissed off.
They have their millions yet they pay for nothing, not light bill, not water bill, not internet bill, not phone bill, not vehicle licensing, not fuel for the vehicles they drive and they pay no TAX. We the poor and magenalize the same ghetto people they look down on except when they want our votes are the ones footing the bills for them.
They don’t give a damn about none of us.
They are greedy and badminded. They don’t want poor people to own anything. Even the houses they say they are building for low income families are going to their chosen few.
POOR people is crying out in this country and none of them give a damn. All they have to offer is stress , tax and more tax. AND I AM RED AS RED CAN BE. This is what you all are showing the people. Let us see different and we will talk different. We are not fools.
@ Pissed Off.
So you’re pissed off and hopefully pissed out. Hope you deposited all this piss in the appropriate receptacle large enough for you to piss on your lengthy, boring tirade, not against the proposed increase in vehicle registration fees but against our Hon. Prime Minister.
Entertainment of one kind or another is a natural component of human civilisation. So what does a One Nation Concert have to do with the expressed need to raise revenue for road repair and maintenance for the benefit of all, especially vehicle operators. And since you raised it, it’s not an apologists view but a fact that Antiguans and Barbudans spend millions annually patronizing all the pre and post-Carnival fetes without batting an eyelid – NBA (Nothing But Alcohol) fetes, LOL (Lots of Liquor) fetes, $400 Breakfast fetes, White Fetes, Blue Jeans Fetes – to name just a few.
How dare you question the loyalty of our PM to this blessed country. Indeed, it is you that should check yourself and the extent to which you oppose any and every developmental plan proposed.
CERTAINLY, there is a growing consensus that the size of the increase being proposed should be reconsidered, especially in light of the spiraling cost of living. But bashing the Hon. PM in the hope of picking up a few political strays is counter-priductive and childish. Instead, reasoned, intelligent discourse should be the order of the day. Don’t let the sound of barking dogs deafen what might possibly be an intelligent response from you.
Well said!
Political gaslighting is a strong term, but does the argument fully justify it? More examples of past government actions might help strengthen this claim.
Good points about the financial burden on citizens. Maybe include alternative solutions or proposals for balancing the budget without such a steep fee hike.
The frustration is clear, but adding some data or comparisons with other countries might make the argument even more compelling.
If the government claims the hike is necessary, perhaps addressing their justifications directly would make this argument even stronger.
it would be interesting to explore whether this increase will disproportionately impact lower-income citizens more than others.
It’s clear that people are upset, but does this letter reach across political lines, or does it only appeal to those already against the government?
Having read many of the recent comments in regards to Prime Minister Browne’s imminent 40% increase in vehicle licensing (and other imposing cost of living rises in the past), my only surprise is that his supporters are NOW surprised by his abhorrent over inflationary bump-up.
It goes without saying that Browne’s fiscal history has always been to hit on the already hardworking and hard-pressed Antiguans, when there’s clearly better financial solutions, for instance, like cutting the ongoing wastage in the public sector; and doing more due diligence on proposed private sector contracts.
In January 2023, the country had an amazing opportunity to change this ‘money wasting’ government, and – democratically – decided not to.
And now, two years further down the line, Antigua & Barbuda are now reaping what they have sowed in every QUAQUAVERSAL financial direction.
We only have ourselves to blame …
I absolutely feel the same way as the author of this letter.
I can’t tell when last I’ve bought a tkt to any of these fetes and have been constantly prioritizing areas of my life towards achieving upwards mobility in standard of living. Trying to pigeonhole everyone living within the borders of 268 as “wonton fete supporters” is a fallacy of epic proportions. We should have the right to try to improve our economic status, but it seems that we are not allowed to save one red cent, if a variety of taxes and a steady increase of cost of living is punctuated by a once in a blue moon meager salary increase for some.
Dear Prime Minister, the general public seems to agree that a One Nation Concert does not take priority over regular road maintenance.
Totally agree!!! Yet still no accounts of where the millions of CIP money is going. We also have no clue of what the government did with all their so call millions in relief money for previous hurricanes and natural disasters. The finance minister has all of you fooled. Go back and check the records of how many passports were sold each being $250,000. So I think we the public need some answers.
Faithful National #1 You disagree with what was posted by pissed off but I must admit he made much more sense than you I thought you were more sensible than that
I like your article it was very well written, but naturally there will always be naysayers. Ignore them and keep on writing. Just get an actual pen name. I know u r upset but u need a pen name.