REAL NEWS: In spite of public criticism, it appears that the Gaston Browne Administration intends to stage its annual “One Nation Concert” – even while it hints at increasing taxes.
The prime minister is considering a 2 percent hike in the Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) in order to meet salary increases for public servants and other financial obligations.
In a social-media post, it was confirmed that January 13, 2024 has been selected as the date for the “free” concert, which is expected to feature some of the region’s top reggae and soca artistes.
The post reads, “Get ready for an unforgettable night of diverse music at the One Nation Concert presented by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda under the esteemed auspices of Prime Minister Gaston Browne!”
Some of the names that have been bandied about include high- priced Jamaican artistes Beenie Man and Beres Hammond and Trinidadian soca diva Patrice.
The event is being promoted to celebrate what the Administration describes as the spirit of togetherness and the rich cultural heritage of Antigua and Barbuda.
However, as recently as last week, residents said they were not happy with the idea of a free event at the taxpayers’ expense.
Most still believe the concert is unnecessary, given the country’s dire financial situation, with public-sector workers owed back pay, overtime, and overdue raises.
One person responded to the announcement by declaring, “You have got to be kidding me. This government [has] its priorities [messed]
up.”
Others have concluded that staging the concert will be a waste of money, with so many things already having gone wrong financially.
They are asking why taxpayers are being made to spend millions of dollars “on a stupid concert that the politicians think [will] ingratiate them with the people.”
Suggestions are being made for alternative uses for the money.
Among them is the renovation of the General Post Office and its sub- stations – which are in a deplorable condition, forcing the staff to be engaged in weeks of industrial action – or the repair of the many run-down government offices, so that civil servants can be more
comfortable at work.
The critics say the concert funds could also be used to address issues at the public hospital, such as mold infestation in at least two operating theatres, or to pay government creditors, many of whom are owed millions of dollars.
“There are so many other useful things that the Government can do
with this money,” a man says.
The prevailing opinion is that staging this free concert is basically flushing money down a toilet.
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All we have to do is to remain resolute and vote out this alp government at the next general elections.
As we wait for that day, all we have to do is protest in our own way (I or no-one in my household will be going), or with whatever numbers.
Do not be down-hearted with the size of crowd or the number of those protesting.
Election day is the most important protest day.
Look at what happened in St. Mary’s South. Lots and lots of monies were spent and then gaston still lost.
Just let us remain resolute. Who want to go to the concert let them go. They will still have to deal with all of this government shortcoming after. The pain will still be there waiting for them.
Let us keep educating the electors so come next general election, we will see the back of gaston and his cabal.
The concert is an opportunity for all of us ro listen to some excellent music and enjoy ourselves as a people. Yes there are always things to do with money and our budget may be tight.
The positives to the concert is that we get to enjoy some of our favourite artists both local and regional live and we are experiencing pure joy. That is therapeutic and relieving our stress. Yes we should have our concert. Respect to our peoples!!!
@Sharon: So, while you are listening to some nice music and experiencing joy, the government creditors cannot pay their bills because they cannot get paid monies that the government owes them. So long as you get your therapeutic stress relief, to hell with everyone else.
Pay 2018 backpay first please. People done work hard for their monies and can’t get it. Not fair!! No fair!!!
The Romantic Rhythm has cost the tax payers over EC$7 million and to date Lovell cannot account for the monies spend. But none of you guys and girls like to talk about that.
Every time we have this One Nation Concert the Prime Minister has come to the public and explain that it doesn’t cost the tax payers a cent, still you going out and spread false rumors that it cost the Tax Payers hundred of thousand of dollars. Why then has Pringle never ask the Prime Minister a question in Parliament during the “Questions to Prime Minister half hour? How long will you hang on to lies. And even if it cost the tax payers. it is accounted for. And since the government of the day can spend monies according to the budget go and look whether or not this is mentioned in the budget. If it is not budgeted than they need to bring a ‘Special Warrant’ to Parliament for approval and debate and the Opposition can then question them.
You guys always like to dumb down people with your lies. is that how opposition is run? With lies and more lies?
You f*****g idiot. Your government has been in power for 9 years. Your government has access to all the books. What have you heard from your government? You people as so damn stupid.
Sadly enough Gaston Browne has refused to used scares government resources to investogate the UPP missdeeds. While the UPP when they were in power spend millions to lock up labour party officials. And all failed. They even brought in special investigator from Trinidad.
@From The Sideline…so, because the UPP did it, and the taxpayers got screwed, the People is supposed to allow the ABLP Government to keep screwing them into the ground.
You never fail, to come up with your nonsense, as excuses to cover the ABLP Government’s shit that they do.
According to your logic, #Mrs_Condescending, if Dave robs you and get away with it, then Maria can rob you and get away too, but you’ll tell your children, it’s Dave’s fault.
Again, yet again; the shit, that comes out from the brains of political lackies like you is not even recyclable, on any level, much less the #Next_Level which is trendy in today’s business environment.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
No nut it shows the hypocracy of people like you who had nothing to say when the UPP could not account for the monies spend on Romantic Rhythm.
Please tell us who accounted for the EBooks and how much did we lose. We also want to know about the Dato Tan ( Guiana Farms Ltd) deal. Do you remember the Heritage Market costing some $M84 and the APUA Funding? I am not surprised that they are forging ahead with this program. As long as money is involved just look for the kleptomaniac. As you are the one to be echoing your Puppeteer, tell us exactly how this concert will be funded.
FROM THE SIDELINES:IF GASTON GAVE YOU SHIT TO EAT YOU WOULD EAT IT,YUM,YUM.I HAVE NEVER SEEN .WHERE YOU HAVE EVER DISAGREED WITH GASTON BROWNE ON ANY ISSUES.
Wow 😳 wow wow here this wet pussycat again an audit was done just ask former junior minister Weston I can get a copy I’ll share it with you
when was the 7 million spent? and what has what lovell did way back at least 9/10 years ago still being brought up today?
move on and get with the programs it’s 2023 ablp are in government snd they broke snd csnt pay workers etc . csnt fix the post office the court thr clinics etc etc etc. but people want to look back instead of addressing the problems we have TODAY!
“Every time we have this One Nation Concert the Prime Minister has come to the public and explain that it doesn’t cost the tax payers a cent, still you going out and spread false rumors that it cost the Tax Payers hundred of thousand of dollars”
Is that so difficult to understand. It doesn’t cost the tax payers a dime.
While it is true that Antiguans and Barbudans love their fetes and parties and these events plays an important role in their lives, tax payers should not be the ones funding these events. It should not be the role of taxpayers to provide a partway for Government to entertain its supporters. Our elected officials should stop playing a game of their own and quit wasting taxpayers money. These wanton waste would continue as long as we just sit idly by and do nothing but talk
.
@Audley Phillip November 23, 2023 At 8:42 pm
Do you like to repeat the lie. ” tax payers should not be the ones funding these events.”
Do you have evidence that tax payers monies paid for it. I told you many times, stick with what you know. Unless you are trying to be relevant. Government cannot spend what they have not budgeted for. Or they have to go to parliament to pass a Special Warrant.
@From The Sidelines aka Mrs. Condescending…who do you thing, you’re indoctrinating, your grabdkids?
You can’t be this ignorant, not even in drag. “It doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime.”
So law enforcement provide some form of security? Think overtime pay!
Do sanitation workers provide any service(s), such as stage hands to trash pickup? Think overtime pay!
Are government transportations involved in any way? Drivers to gasoline, think more public funds!
Mrs Condescending…that’s a lot of wasted pennies being thrown away. Is this how we should transfer generational wealth to our future generations?
One thing, that your jewish friends and family knows, EVERY PENNY ADDS UP.
I guarantee you, your Chinese proprietors will collect every penny on the price which they charge you for their inferior products.
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
Carnival contestants and performers still haven’t received their prize monies. Why arent they being paid first before all these foreign acts that are going to take the money out of the country.
Our tax dollars are wasted on this garbage instead of paying LIAT workers, government workers, pensions, medical benefits, social security, fixing our infrastructure.
We don’t pay taxes for “free” entertainment.
IT IS NOT FREE, THE GOVERNMENT IS USING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR IT
We pay taxes for education, updating infrastructure and overall quality of life for everyone. The government only proving it is taking advantage of poor people.
The only way to send a message to government is by voting wisely and not for this garbage.
Remember, the government works for us not the other way around.
Raising ABST from 15% to 17% is not a 2% increase in your taxes. It’s at 13.33% increase.
A 2% increase in ABST, as the government claims (and the media echos) would take ABST from 15% to 15.3%
Antiguans should not stand for this.
It is just nothing short of amazing to hear@Sideline spilling his trash. Waste of time really, trying to present this individual logical reasoning.
Any idiot with half an ounce of common sense would condemn this wastage. How the hell is this free? These artist have to be paid. Is the money going to come out of Gaston Browne’s 30 million? I suppose that the 5 million spent in SMS was not taxpayers money?
People will go to this wastage, reflecting the inherent, delusional, sickness that runs like a curse through this society. Civil servants are owed backpay from 2018, former government contractors are owed millions, the LIAT workers are owed millions, why not make a dent into one of these?
This concert should be boycotted as a show of protest. Let Sidey and Sharon go.
Part of our problem in Antigua is that most of us normally only see things from our narrow political and partisan lens. So when we support a party, whatever that party does is considered right and well done. That kind of politics is long outdated and has outlived its usefulness. When certain category of people benefit from government mismanagement and waste, they turn a blind eye to everything. We need more independent minded persons who are not afraid to speak out regardless which side of the political directorate is affected. When corruption favours some they call it “links”
Yes Audley we need more people speaking with facts not fiction. I have always counter your arguments with facts, but you have never come back debunking them with facts. Did you go and read the Finance and Administration Act to know Government cannot spend what it did not budgeted. The people in the Treasury cannot make payments if their is no head and line item to charge. And when it comes to the authority of the Cabinet and that of the Board, did you go and read the law. Statutory boards serve at the pleasure of the Cabinet who has final say over the corporation. Who is the chair of Cabinet? The prime minister. Before you speak do your research. Please.
Could it be at the sidelines is Gaston? Agree with everything gaston does
LMFAO!!!!! One Nation is held almost every year from since 2017 except 2021 and every year its same crap. I can garentee that where ever one nation going to be held the place go be pack well not everyone maybe the one miserable person on here who using 100 different moniker
@Sidelines
Sidelines is not Gaston; TenMan is Sidelines and Sidelines is TenMan. First check out the writing styles; then look at the mental health personality disorder frequently displayed of being pathological liars.
Very quick to classify a disagreement as the other party lying. That the trick of a personality disorder… Sidelines
The suggestion that one reads the Finance and Administration Act is a red herring just like you are an Executive in a major Financial Firm … give me a break with that BS. You have no credibility. It’s called projection by Psychologists.
You keep insisting that it’s not taxpayers’ money covering the cost of the Concert.
Since you know so much where the money is coming from to cover the costs “Sidelines”?.
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