Prime Minister Gaston Browne says the government will begin vacating privately owned buildings with high rental costs as part of efforts to reduce public spending and make better use of state-owned facilities.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show on Pointe FM, Browne said the decision forms part of a broader cost-saving initiative to lower recurrent expenses and improve the government’s financial efficiency.
“We are vacating some of those buildings where the rents are too high,” Browne said. “We have our own buildings — we’ll be moving ministries into those.”
He said the review of government leases found that several departments were occupying expensive office spaces that could instead be relocated to properties already owned by the state.
“We cannot continue to enrich landlords at the expense of the state,” Browne said. “We’re cutting back on rentals, and wherever possible, we’ll use government-owned properties.”
The prime minister said the relocations will take place in phases, with ministries and departments gradually transitioning to available government buildings. He added that the plan will not only save money but also consolidate operations to improve efficiency.
Browne said the move is one of several fiscal management measures being implemented to contain costs while maintaining essential public services.
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Gaston, the day you do dat me bruk de law and vote fu ALP in at least 5 or 6 constituencies and probably vote mo dan 1 time in ah fu you
Government must not only talk, they must act. The days of spending tax payers money recklessly and carelessly as if it is in unlimited supply must cease. Government must begin to treat its finances as members of the private sector would – with prudence, tact and frugality. People rent to Government because they think that Government can and will foot the bill, regardless of the price tag. And in many instances, Government pays it without question because they see it as helping and supporting the business sector and private individuals. Government must seek to reduce its rent demands by 50 percent by 2030. It is doable and it makes sense.
This administration had almost three terms to shrink the government, instead the government expenditures has gotten bigger and bigger over the years..so when I said that this government has been the most fortunate government ever in Antigua, where they came into power in the most lucrative investment time in history, well these are some of the thing I was talking about..bad bad bad spending.
Gatson Browne has squandered those funds with a massive government that has been sucking up all the funds for years. Every minute they are traveling overseas to the tunes of millions each year,and don’t forget the blatant corruption that has taken place, where in many incidents like the one where the police just go and collect cars at dealerships without the approval of the finance department.
This has been going on for years, and Antigua has been making beaucoup money in investments for the last fifteen years, from CIP, to land sale and big billion dollar hotel investments.
So when we ask for accountability Gatson, it’s because we know you have squandered the peoples purse, and nothing much to show for it. The math ain’t mathing!
Investment like Lait20 were not correctly negotiated, same as the contract for road work, school, the port, a and much more. Many of these deals were rushed and badly negotiated, where Antigua got the lesser and foreign investors walk away with their pockets loaded.
So yes Mr PM, we hope that this is not just more talk.
Is the government renting from the PM? If so, how much does the government of Antigua and Barbuda is paying PM Browne for properties the PM is renting to the Government of Antigua he is the PM of? Is it fair market price? How was the fair market price determined? How was his properties selected to be rented? Were there public bidding?
Who determine when to make payments? Were there late payments made to the PM, ever? Were there late payments made to other landlords who are not the PM?
I am interested in knowing who helped the PM with this personal matter to get the government as tenants but my personal matter of having my applications expedited could not be assisted by the PM.
Good-faith questions being asked here.