Azille says MPs are competing with ordinary citizens for government contracts
United Progressive Party candidate Ashworth Azille has accused cabinet ministers and members of parliament of competing directly with ordinary citizens for government contracts, arguing that the practice undermines fairness and economic opportunity.
Speaking at a virtual UPP public rally, Azille said elected officials have placed themselves in direct competition with the very people they are supposed to govern, across multiple sectors of the economy.
“What we have seen over the last several years is that members of parliament — members who sit in cabinet — are openly competing with the ordinary men and women in Antigua and Barbuda,” Azille told supporters.
He listed construction, garbage collection, sewage services, water delivery and agriculture among the areas where he said politicians have entered the marketplace.
“They’re competing in garbage collection. They’re competing in sewage collection. They’re competing in water collection and delivery. They’re competing in construction,” Azille said. “Oh my goodness, they’re competing in agriculture.”
Azille argued that this places elected officials in a position of unfair advantage, particularly where those same officials have influence over procurement decisions, access to state resources or oversight of public spending.
According to Azille, the issue reflects a deeper problem within the procurement system, where political authority and commercial interest are allowed to overlap.
“The same politicians decide on what is needed and also influence who gets the contracts to fix what is needed,” he said. “That is a recipe that is ripe for abuse.”
He said the result is an uneven playing field that disadvantages small contractors, entrepreneurs and ordinary citizens who rely on government work to earn a living.
“When we put people in office to empower everyone and they instead empower themselves and their families, something has gone painfully wrong,” Azille said.
Azille warned that the practice erodes trust in government and weakens confidence in public institutions.
“You cannot expect fairness when the referee is also on the field,” he said, arguing that economic opportunity should not depend on political connections.
He said the consequences are visible in deteriorating infrastructure, strained public services and growing public frustration.
Azille said a future UPP administration would seek to separate political authority from commercial activity involving government contracts, arguing that transparency and clear rules are essential to restoring confidence.
“Government and, by extension, our tax dollars must work for the people and not against them,” he said.
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Ashworth NO ZEAL from DOMIMICA which MP competed with ordinary citizens for the DEAD DARG Contract??????
Kudos to all on The Antigua Newsroom. Your positive coverage on the UPP is very much welcomed.
The all round political bias towards the ABLP by the other media outlets (and ABS are their biggest propagandists) isn’t fair and doesn’t paint a balanced picture of how the country has voted in the past and how they are feeling today.
I’ll tell you also how bad the lack of UPP coverage is here in Antigua & Barbuda. I bet the majority of readers here probably don’t even know who the Honourable Ashworth Azille is?
Thank you once again ANR, I look forward to more positive coverage of the country’s main opposition party because the other media outlets will not. 👍🏾
The Antigua News Room ahould not give coverage to dis-information, mis-information and outright lies. Pearl Quinn knows that english is the official language of Ghana yet sprout such foolishness as ” speaking Ghananian”. Shame on her and shame on UPP.
So wait, a DOMINICAN is good enough to be a UPP candidate, but not an Antiguan who marry a JAMAICAN???
Make it make sense Richard Lewis
@ ‘Hypocrisy!!’ and ‘Gisele say NO JAMAICAN First Lady for UPP or Antgua!!
I GUESS ANTHONY ASTHAPHAN who the ABLP employs as its mouthpiece and LAWYER IS AN ANTIGUAN AND NOT FROM DOMINICA.
YOUR MONIKER IS VERY IRONIC……”Hypocrisy!!”- all you ABLP supporters are a bunch of hypocrites and hangerons. Lets see when power leaves all of you.
@Gisele say NO JAMAICAN First Lady for UPP or Antigua The man has been in Antigua almost his entire life. He is a citizen of Antigua. And most importantly he is loyal to Antigua. Unlike you who seem to be loyal to a political party and not the country.
The ABLP does NOT have a problem with Astaphan
UPP has a BIG BIG PROBLEM with Richard Lewis JAMAICAN WIFE!!
What’s is new here…Politicians world over do the same.
@D’Onally is that all you got and can muster on the UPP and the Honourable Pearl Quinn-Williams while Prime Minister Browne shows his utter contempt for our democratic process and a lack of transparency in Antigua’s financial matters? Mercy!!!
I bet some ABLP supporters don’t even realise that Gaston Browne is not only the Prime Minister, but also Minister of Finance as well – you think mi ah joke? Tarl!!!
I swear, the ABLP sycophants, acolytes and Gastonites just do not think – or even re-read – before posting dem whole heap ah claptrap!
Everytime I think of having a good long break from this ANR platform, the ABLP keep supplying me with so much material to take them down on. Just wonderful! 👍🏾
Actually it’s very soothing and cathartic in a strange sort of way 😉
Imagine during the party leadership runoff between Richard Lewis and Lovell….Lipstick Hag INSTRUCT THE WOMEN’S FORUM TO VOTE FOR LOVELL. The reason?? “A fu are we subben and no foreigner suppose to in day”
Richard Lewis is ANTIGUA
Richard wife is JAMAICAN
Ashworth is DOMINICAN
Ashworth wife is ______________
U guessed it!! The blatant double standard and dictatorship from the CHAOS DEMON has choked upp.
DOMINICA ok
JAMAICAN no
Your very own “leader” Jamale Pringle got the contract from government to pick up dead dogs 🐕 😑
Where were you 😕?
You’re already off to a bad start in politics with your SELECTIVE AMNESIA Ashworth.
Makes you look like a bold face LIAR with no backbone.
AZILLE, you have been in Antigua a long, long time, and now a legitimate citizen and only now know ABLP ministers do not give a heck about people, they greedy, selfish and wicked, even with their fat monthly salaries they still want to compete for all the contracts. These people have no conscience. HELL IS THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACE
I guess the term * friends to all and enemy to none* only suits these ABLP bastards when it’s about their money and power.
Bunch losers like their lying leader.
Just look at some of their comments.
All the man is asking is for the corruption to stop..jeez la weezzz!
But hey, these blood suckers will always show their true intentions..just look at the $15 mil in car theft, who you think all them cars went to, these same ABLP scum’s.
They will never ask for fairness, you kidding me! Money too good bwoi.
The late Lester Bird, former Prime Minister was not born in ANtigua. He ran on the Labor Party ticket.That was okay. Now,you people in Gaston Browne Labor Party are complaining because Azille was born in Dominica.Is Maria Browne still on West Indies Oil Board? Isn’t that a conflict of interest? There is no wonder.Her performance is sub-par. Managing a substantive Ministry and working for West Indies Oil Board.How many damn paychecks is she getting? While many of you are penniless and poor as dirt and still supporting them.
No one in Laboir Party is complaining about Ashworth Azille being DOMINICAN!!!
We calling out the UPP double standard. Richard Lewis is ANTIGUAN but hated by UPP because hearty a YARDEE
Because he married a YARDEE aka JAMAICAN
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