Antigua to roll out tax relief and wage increases amid rising costs

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PM Gaston Browne

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced two rounds of sales tax relief this year, as part of measures aimed at easing the cost of living.

The government will remove ABST on food and school supplies in April and again in August, aligning the reductions with periods of increased household spending, including back-to-school preparations.

Mr Browne said the initiative, approved by Cabinet, stems from a policy decision taken earlier this year to provide targeted tax cuts. Plans for broader relief were scaled back following advice from the International Monetary Fund, which warned of potential impacts on government revenue.

The tax measures come alongside a five percent interim salary increase for public servants, due to take effect at the end of March, while wider wage negotiations continue.

The government has also raised the national minimum wage from about EC$9.00 to EC$11.50 per hour, with a longer-term goal of reaching EC$13.00 within two to three years.

Mr Browne said the policies are intended to cushion the effects of rising global prices, particularly for fuel and food, and noted that the government has absorbed recent increases in petroleum costs to keep local prices stable.

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7 COMMENTS

  1. It must be campaign season.
    Fool them Once, Fool them Twice, and Fool them Again. And Again!!!

  2. As another popular saying goes @living:

    “Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, [and fool we Antiguans thrice and you’ll get re-elected time and time again]”

  3. @ Brixtonian,
    Gaston is a man with an iron heart. He is cold, uncaring.
    He doesn’t hate Antiguans and Barbudans
    He sees them as a means a to an end, and to be exploited in getting to his goal.

  4. Caricom has made a decision to give a tax exemption on selected items from June 1st 2025 through July 30th 2026. Most, if not all, of the other islands have already implemented the order. Why the dishonesty?

  6. ELECTION COMING,ELECTION A COME.ARE WE GO GET TAX RELIEF AND WAGES INCREASES AND VOTE YOUR ARSE OUT.ENOUGH IS ENOUGH,WE THE PEOPLE HAVE HAD ENOUGH.

  7. Oh how we are chupit inna this Country. Where was this when we needed it? Oh,but election coming ya’ll putting such things in place. Majority of yall, red is bread but its not even show yall that is in fact red is bread because yall look how hungry asf and are indeed suffering and cursing behind this mans back but yet still yall chupit to still put him back there. Not saying he hasnt done good for the Country,but they live where they can afford almost or just anything. We still tryna make ends meet with a minimum wage and this Prime Minister increase license fee etc. If we put them back there we are done with this time. He and his party will do all they can to ketch yall and to get yall votes you see when 2027 comes trust me its going to get and will be harder for every single one of us in this Country. Yall gonna regret and yall will see what im talking about. A peaceful protest did not warrant police officers to use rubber bullets,goong against the public rights to take a vaccine which have killed so many people,(Social Security) sickness claims and maternity have moved from 3 months to 5 months,pension and its pensioners,the age of retirement benefits have been moving swiftly some of us dont even know if we gonna live to see 55,no water,but i bet we will get water up and running soon till election,gas gone up,cost of living so high,minimum wage,so what happen to increased wages???? Promised back pay?Aru really nah care bout people. Alot go happen in 2027.

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