{"id":221792,"date":"2025-01-13T19:03:27","date_gmt":"2025-01-13T23:03:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=221792"},"modified":"2025-01-13T20:40:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-14T00:40:48","slug":"pm-browne-issues-swift-and-sharp-retort-to-abwu-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/pm-browne-issues-swift-and-sharp-retort-to-abwu-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"PM Browne Issues Swift and Sharp Retort to ABWU Statement"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"antig-217588794\" class=\"antig-ecab antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Postpaid_Come Cross Postpaid 1200x400_Opt.1_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-3145531040\" class=\"antig-before-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/medicalbenefitsscheme\" aria-label=\"mbs may\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-may.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1200\/h:400\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-may.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-may.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:341\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-may.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/mbs-may.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1200\" height=\"400\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n<p><strong><em>Prime Minister Gaston Browne said:<\/em><\/strong> The ABWU recommended a minimum wage of $12.50 per hour. That translates to $2,000 monthly. The irony is that this would have exceeded the minimum wage for hotel workers whom the ABWU represents.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2577446051\" class=\"antig-content_5 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com\/\" aria-label=\"culinary\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:843\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:843\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:132\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:450\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:337\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:675\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:842\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1124\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Who is really involved in gimmickry? A minimum wage of $2,000 monthly would result in an additional increase of $450 monthly in the minimum wage for workers the Union does not represent. Meanwhile, the ABWU recently accepted an increase of $20 monthly for hotel workers. You well know that such an increase would be unsustainable, resulting in small business closures and job losses. But that is exactly what your malevolent organization seeks to achieve: poverty and mayhem in pursuit of political power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The latter point exposes your lies and deception.<\/p><div id=\"antig-3055440832\" class=\"antig-content_4 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Postpaid_Come Cross Postpaid 1200x400_Opt.1_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div><div id=\"antig-1846666986\" class=\"antig-content_12 antig-entity-placement\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1152\/h:512\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Carnival-2026_Digital_Screen_Pageantry.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1152\/h:512\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Carnival-2026_Digital_Screen_Pageantry.png 1152w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:133\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Carnival-2026_Digital_Screen_Pageantry.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:455\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Carnival-2026_Digital_Screen_Pageantry.png 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:341\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/11\/Carnival-2026_Digital_Screen_Pageantry.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1152\" height=\"512\"   \/><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Public sector wages would also have to increase by $450 to maintain parity. When you add the other benefits for public servants, including a non-contributory occupational pension and job security, public workers\u2019 salaries and wages would far exceed those of non-executive and supervisory workers in the hotel sector.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2607159768\" class=\"antig-content antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.antiguabarbudaculinarymonth.com\/\" aria-label=\"culinary\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:843\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:843\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:132\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:450\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:337\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 768w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1536\/h:675\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1920\/h:842\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/culinary-scaled.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1124\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result of the ABWU&#8217;s under-representation, the pay differential between public sector workers and minimum wage workers has narrowed over the years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s the dismal record of an uncaring union that has failed the hotel workers it represents. The only thing the union seems interested in is collecting dues to pay over one million dollars in salaries and wages to executive members and others. The $3.7 million in annual dues\u2014most of which come from hotel workers\u2014is being wasted. That\u2019s not surprising because the union officials simply do not care about workers. The ABWU is a dues-grabbing union that does little for its members.<\/p><div id=\"antig-2336011916\" class=\"antig-content_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"500X500\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/500X500.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:500\/h:500\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/500X500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/500X500.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:150\/h:150\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/500X500.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s a case in point: Instead of pursuing my administration\u2019s suggestion to acquire land and build homes for sale to its members, the union invested nearly $2 million to build an apartment complex with eight one-bedroom units in Yorks Village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The monthly loan payment at 7.5 percent per annum is approximately $18K. Depreciation at 2.5 percent is $4K monthly, maintenance $2K monthly, and insurance $2K monthly.<\/p><div id=\"antig-1764577043\" class=\"antig-content_3 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.courts.com\/antigua\/\" aria-label=\"IMG_1115\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/IMG_1115.jpeg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:864\/h:1080\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/IMG_1115.jpeg 1080w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:240\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/IMG_1115.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:819\/h:1024\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/IMG_1115.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/IMG_1115.jpeg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Total monthly expenses, including the loan payment, are $26K, while the rental income is about $12K monthly. This results in net monthly losses of $14K, or $168,000 annually.<\/p><div id=\"antig-3763818496\" class=\"antig-content_6 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverflow.co\/web\/antigua\" aria-label=\"ANU CVP Digital Postpaid_Come Cross Postpaid 1200x400_Opt.1_1\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1201\/h:401\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 1201w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:100\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1024\/h:342\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:256\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/ANU-CVP-Digital-Postpaid_Come-Cross-Postpaid-1200x400_Opt.1_1.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1201\" height=\"401\"   \/><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The ABWU also loses over $400K annually on a caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2023, the caf\u00e9 located on Newgate Street at the Union Headquarters recorded a loss of $442K, with total revenue at $332K.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I challenge Massiah or any other executive member of the union to direct me to any business that incurs a loss exceeding its revenue intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is indicative of gross incompetence, among other things I will not raise in this response.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let the hotel workers know what you plan to do to improve their conditions. They too must share equitably in the astronomical growth our country is experiencing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When will the union fight for the advancement of these workers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aren\u2019t you concerned about the repressive tip policy at Sandals, in which staff were fired for accepting tips while others had to turn over tips to the Sandals Foundation?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aren\u2019t you concerned that Sandals and another hotel group have vested their hotel assets in a separate company from the one employing the staff?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our government will amend the Companies Act to hold the company with the assets that generate hotel activity responsible for staff severance and other benefits in the event of liquidation or sale of the hotel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Instead of trying to score cheap political points, why doesn\u2019t the ABWU work with our government to secure improved benefits and increased protection for hotel workers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stop the drama and join us in empowering hotel workers. Failing that, we will continue to encourage them to jettison the ABWU and form their own representative union, governed by hotel workers for the benefit of hotel workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Massiah\/Chester\u2014should realign their leadership and cease your malevolent and selfish behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Workers first! Not ABWU and its executive members first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>ADDED:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Should union profits be taxed ? Below you will see that the union collects $3.7M in dues, pays $1.0M in salaries and wages and squandered the dues on a cafe that loses over $420K annually. They also invested in an apt complex in Yorks Village that will lose $14K monthly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Hospitality workers should form their own union to managed by their members and for the sole benefit of workers. Supporting institutions to this Hospitality Union should include a credit union, super <a><\/a>market and construction company to build affordable homes for its members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ABWU does not care about workers. See financials below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" data-id=\"221796\" src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-221796\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:720\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm1.jpg 720w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:225\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm1.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" data-id=\"221797\" src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-221797\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:720\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm2.jpg 720w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:225\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm2.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" data-id=\"221799\" src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-221799\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:720\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm3.jpg 720w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:225\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm3.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"960\" data-id=\"221800\" src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:auto\/h:auto\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-221800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:720\/h:960\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm4.jpg 720w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:225\/h:300\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/pm4.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n<div id=\"antig-2422969628\" class=\"antig-in-comments_2 antig-entity-placement\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/@hadeedmotorsltd\" aria-label=\"Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2\"><img src=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png\" alt=\"\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:1000\/h:250\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 1000w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:300\/h:75\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 300w, https:\/\/mlavawteztbj.i.optimole.com\/w:768\/h:192\/q:mauto\/f:best\/https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Hadeed_WEB_Banner_MG-2.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 696px) 100vw, 696px\" width=\"1000\" height=\"250\"   \/><\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Prime Minister Gaston Browne said: The ABWU recommended a minimum wage of $12.50 per hour. That translates to $2,000 monthly. The irony is that this would have exceeded the minimum wage for hotel workers whom the ABWU represents. Who is really involved in gimmickry? A minimum wage of $2,000 monthly would result in an additional [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":192604,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-221792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v24.1 (Yoast SEO v24.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>PM Browne Issues Swift and Sharp Retort to ABWU Statement - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/pm-browne-issues-swift-and-sharp-retort-to-abwu-statement\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PM Browne Issues Swift and Sharp Retort to ABWU Statement\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Prime Minister Gaston Browne said: The ABWU recommended a minimum wage of $12.50 per hour. 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