The Customs and Excise Division concluded the year 2023 with revenues reaching 403 million dollars, marking a historic milestone for the country’s first time to surpass the 400-million-dollar threshold.
This represents a notable 5.5% surge compared to the 2022 revenue of 382 million dollars. Notably, the highest revenue recorded prior to this was 390 million dollars in 2019.
The robust growth in revenues at Customs serves as a significant indicator of the flourishing economic activity.
The economy has experienced a robust recovery following the substantial contraction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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So how come drinking water cannot be bought for the different government offices?
How come ink can’t be bought?
How things so bad that the F.S. had to be paraded out to ‘explain’ matters to the public?
Somebody told me some things about this man (Badu) and if I am told I am sure ‘government officials and Members of Parliament’ have heard the same thing. Why don’t you all ask him some questions? Maybe, just maybe, records will fall again.
Looking forward to seeing how this $403 million windfall is going to be used to help Antigua’s economy recover.
As the Covid-19 pandemic has been mentioned, why not compensate those of us in business who lost vast amounts of money by being restricted by the ABLP’S mandates.
NOW THERE’S A GOOD START …
All of this record breaking revenue collected, yet the infrastructure and services in the country is at its worst! Why? Maybe because of mismanagement and blatant corruption. How else can this be rationally explained to any one?!
Yet there is a 2% increase on abst… when are you laborites going to learn?
UPP members just view everything from the surface without digging further. Revenues DO NOT exist without expenses , so please stop the HOGWASH and comment on this medium with substance. BRIXTONIAN would like the givernment to compensate all the businesses in Antigua because of COVID. What a dumb suggestion by a person who just spew garbage.in this medium daily. Dumb ass BRIXTONIAN.
Yet still we’re a borrowing state or country,poor people of this country
But there’s still some questions to be answered….in regards to the $3,000,000.00 forged signature fraud case…Ah who say Dem know the fraudster?
I believe in miracles…. Requesting an independent audit
@ Dion, you ah mek joke 🤣🤣🤣
With so many “illegal concessions” and Im sure there are thousands of unpaid warrant in the computer system…the duty-free on vehicles…..customs could have easily double its revenues….to the billion$ mark and hence better living and working conditions…
But I must add since custom’s revenues depend on importation of goods and services….the record breaking of 400+ million $ speaks volumes of our resilient and robust economic activities.
With this said hope the government tighten things up in 2024 plug all the loop holes that the rich and powerful feed on…so the vision of the economic powerhouse can become a reality….
“…With this said hope the government tighten things up in 2024 plug all the loop holes that the rich and powerful feed on …”
I hear you @ Dexter Pelle, and I would go further and say that for Gaston Browne to try and save his political skin, he must also bring financial transparency; accountability and Freedom of Information (FOI) to the citizens of Antigua & Barbuda.
RESTORING TRUST IS A MUST!
All the reasons why taxes and social security contributions should not be raised at this time. Governments perception of economic prosperity is not felt by the vast majority of citizens and the new taxes and increased social security contributions would only make a bad situation worse for everyone.
Use the money to pay off the Chinese deep water Harbour loan.
All this high revenue is because of the higher cost of imported goods. Prices all over the globe have increased and Antiguans are paying for this increase. The increased revenue has nothing to do with economic growth. As a matter of fact, the higher revenue means Antiguans pay more the imported products.
The issue is not how much is collected but how is it being spent. Let’s start with the Alfa Nero!
Again, these people must think we’re really stupid. Tge high revenues at the port are due to to higher duties and fees coming out of the pockets of the poor. There needs to be an independent audit of ALL Government revenues.
Badu was supposed to be gone long time. Why is he still there?
Our country abounds with these yesmen and a$$kissers who will sell their souls for a dollar. Wasn’t the DAWG complaining earlier this year about being unable to service the Chinese Exim bank?
Look, this country is rotten from top to bottom under this corrupt ALP government, with all kinds of civil servants involved in the corruption.
WAKE ME UP WHEN JESUS COMETH IN THE CLOUDS…IN THE MEAN LEAVE THE F%$K ALONE, DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THE CIRCUS SHOW.
MEHUL CHOKSI AND SO SO SHOULD BE ON THE SAME FLIGHT BACK HOME
Where that money gone.
I note the negative comments and wonder if things are as bad as the posters suggest, how is it there is a 13 million increase in comparison to pre covid{2019)? One would think if pockets were stretched we would see a decline. You then look at the other variables, new constructions starts, car purchases, saving deposits and they all show an increase.
There is the argument since there is an increase {customs), why then is there a need to increase taxes? The customs increase cannot cover the amounts needed to pay supplier arrears and wage increases (some 9 percent). The wage increase represents some 32 million ec, in 2024. Regarding SS, the actuary report done some years ago, makes clear without this increase, SS will be underfunded. A major reason why SS faced the problems it had was because it kept postponing increases.
@tenman you will say anything to seem relevant in support of this corrupt government.
How the hell is SS facing problems because of delayed increases? SS is in problems because of the “thiefing” party to try to prop up. Over half a billion dollars stolen by your government from SS. These crooks need to be jailed. People payed their hard-earned money for years only to have crooks steal it and they are trying to fix it by raising contributions.
Your red cool aid runs deep.
@Watching the actuarial report done before the 2014 makes clear upp for years was not paying. Anyway the outstanding amounts were rolled into a bond and this government has been paying that bond plus the current amounts. Again the actuary since before they ablp came into office recommended the increase. You need only google “Antigua actuarial report”. It was done by Derrick Osbourne and last I che kee was listed on the SS website . You can educate yourself or continue to spout garbage
@tenman, you continue to spurt your nonsensical, irrational BS. SS is in the mess it is because ALP stole in excess of half a billion dollars from the fund. How dunce of you to suggest that the fault is not your tiefing party’s? These culprits should be in prison.
Now they’re trying to fix it by burdening the people for the dishonesty of ALP. How is that fair? Tell you idiot DAWG to put back the people’s money instead of giving SS useless assets to reduce the debt.
Your red cool aid is really potent.
As to the proposed wage increase, where have you ever heard of rising taxes to fund increase? Only from the crazed mind of that economic dunce. Let’s not forget he was singing this same wage hike leading up to the last elections. Where is the wage increase? 2023 is done. Where is the promised backpay?
I don’t know about anybody else, but Gaston Browne has no credibility and I believe NOTHING he says. Absolutely nothing .
@tenman. As I told you before, you should seriously reconsider your position in this ALP party, and go find something better to do, because you are certainly not good at deflecting and the endless propaganda you try to spread.
The entire criticism of this “Corrupt” Government and it’s administration, is for them to be transparent about where the citizens of Antigua money is going.
That’s the beef many of us critics have with this Government.
Can you be honest and address that concern for so many of us please? But then again, I would not hold my breath on that.
@Islandm..you wrote “The entire criticism of this “Corrupt” Government and it’s administration, is for them to be transparent about where the citizens of Antigua money is going.”
Stop playing you are blind because my post clearly showed most of (some 40 million)it will go to fund the 9 percent (32 million) increase. Also note the audited statements are mostly online (auditor general website)and hence a Google search away
@tenman, you are really hopeless. You actually believe ANYTHING Gaston Browne says? After 10 years, you like the dunce in finance is still blaming UPP, Covid-19 or anything else you can find. The half a billion hole for SS was already there, not to mention the incredible unpaid debts ALP had incurred.
You dare to use the word transparency in reference to this government? You are truly delusional. What damn website? The audited reports are, by law, to be tabled and presented WITH the budget .
Gaston Browne was asked to provide the reports, hard copies; and he did not even have the decency to acknowledge the request.
You can continue singing your deceptions, we know this government is corrupt, especially the DAWG whose ass you so blindly kiss.
Spout garbage says @tenman. Anything to defend this corrupt party. I suppose the trash you spurt is facts? We know better.
You never rebutted the fact that Max Hurst admitted to ALP stealing SS monies. Heard some stats from Mr Hall supporting the tiefingness. Try to downplay that @tenman.
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