Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Gaston Browne, says the government will not be giving out direct cash grants to private individuals or enterprises affected the imposed lockdown in response to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Browne justified this move saying giving out money to people and entrepreneurs such as taxi drivers would not achieve national economic objectives.
“They want the government to strain itself and to say we’re going to give out $100 million in cheques to people … Whatever money that we raise will be to invest in capital projects that will generate revenue. We are not going to take scarce resources – monies that we
have to borrow and struggle to pay back – and put them into dead projects or spending that would not create any value,” he stated.
Browne recalls the plight made by the former United Progressive Party administration where they garnered $600 million in loans collectively from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the Venezuelan government.
“We have to learn from prior experiences. The $600 million that they got … they spent the money on non-revenue-generating projects; so, by the end of their term, they had nothing
to show and they really did not stimulate the economy.” he explained.
Instead he stated that the government will borrow massively in order to meet its fiscal obligations and reignite the major productive sectors like tourism, which has been completely shut down because of the pandemic.
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Why you do not concentrate on the NOW.I do not want to hear about the UPP.They have not been in Administration now for 6 years.You have been there.So do your work and lead the damn country.You are not above being criticized.The people of Gray’s Green and Point need their stimulus,NOW NOT TOMORROW.
Well said Tuna.
Just like the hurricane funds donated for Barbuda. Where is it? Was it invested too? What kind of Prime Minister are you? I am sure the funds raised were to help the people during these hard times and all you can talk about is investing. Trust me Antigua will not see any of this so-called investment, just like we haven’t seen any since you were elected. Another debt added to the rest. Which country do you know borrow money to invest when they are already drowning in debt? Infrastructure improvements can stay on the back burner as they generate no income.
Hand out cash and Antiguans will benefit in some way. So call invest and ask where the money Gawn. He cares about the little man? Doubt it. Give them packages with sardines and corn beef.
PM , your track record in business both in the private sector and in the public sector is NOT impressive. In plain language you DONT and seemingly CANT manage the economy. Please, give it up and move on.
All these people been elected promising the people of the country that they are going to do this and that for the country. But at the end of the day we don’t see anything but promises and bigger deaths on the country. All we see is most of our lands been sold off to so much outsiders and less funds staying in the country. When you borrow funds I thought 💭 it was for you to use some to pay off the deaths that were there before and use the rest to invest in things in the country to keep turning over funds. The prime minister need to use the money 💴 that they borrow to pay back the borrowers like the Chinese and others, have them lease the lands instead of selling it of to them.
I listened to Joanne Messiah from DNA this morning on Observer with Darren Matthew Ward. Joanne took over the Program .She said NOTHING. She was trying Her best to sound relevant. Wish Her in the next Election. Hope She will get back Her DEPOSIT.
Guess what, Mistah Hair Lip Gaston Brownie? Putting money in de pockets of average poor Antiguans stimulates the island economy. People have bills. People need to eat, pay rent, etc. Even that American loser Donald Trump recognized that money helps. Why can’t you?
The STIMULUS is on the way . Be Patient.
What kind of man do we have running Antigua? Does he think he is still in banking? Which country do you hear of borrowing money to invest. Governments are elected to look after the people and leave investments to the private sector. Those private public partnerships, guess who the private partner is?
Only election time and other voting related events they can pass out money to people
Mr PM passing out money at 3lection time, when people are not as pressed for cash does what to the economy?
Why do you get so much cash from the bank close to the weekends? And it is in small Bills.
The truth is unbelievable.
How he gonna give what the country dont have? ….still putting on a facade for the people that choose not to see
Where is the CIP money? Not even a bag of groceries? Wait till election time to start giving out money. Some people will still vote for this man again.
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