Dear Editor,
I wish to express my deep appreciation for Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s eloquent and compelling presentation of the 2025 Budget. His confident delivery, marked by clarity, purpose, and a genuine connection with the people, has provided a roadmap to a brighter future for Antigua and Barbuda.
Titled “Creating a Resilient, Harmonious, and Prosperous Nation,” this Budget encapsulates the aspirations of families across the country. It goes beyond numbers and statistics to touch the very fabric of our society, addressing the needs of the most vulnerable while paving the way for sustainable economic growth.
For many families, the increase in the Social Security minimum pension from $350 to $500 per month is a welcome relief. Pensioners who have served this nation will now have greater financial security, allowing them to meet their basic needs with dignity. Coupled with the recent increase in the government’s minimum pension to $1,000, this move shows a government that prioritizes its citizens’ well-being.
The investments in housing, such as the Louis Hill Housing Development in Barbuda and the Booby Alley Housing Project, are transformative. These projects promise not only better living conditions but also opportunities for ownership and community development. For young families dreaming of a home, these initiatives are a beacon of hope.
The focus on water infrastructure upgrades, with nearly $40 million allocated to reverse osmosis plants and distribution systems, addresses a longstanding issue that has affected countless households. Reliable access to water will mean fewer interruptions to daily life and greater comfort for families.
The Prime Minister’s articulation of how the Budget supports job creation was particularly heartening. Over 2,000 new jobs are expected in 2025, driven by investments in tourism, construction, and agriculture. These jobs will provide income and stability for households, enabling parents to better support their children’s education and futures.
Furthermore, the announcement of major international conferences to be hosted in Antigua and Barbuda, such as the Caribbean Travel Marketplace and the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, is an inspiring testament to our country’s growing prominence. These events will not only showcase our nation’s beauty and hospitality but also boost local businesses and tourism, benefiting families and small entrepreneurs alike.
I was also struck by the government’s focus on education, particularly the expansion of the UWI Five Islands Campus. This initiative will open doors for many young people, offering opportunities for higher education right here at home. For families who value education as the key to a better life, this is monumental.
Prime Minister Browne’s ability to address complex topics like fiscal performance, debt reduction, and renewable energy in a way that felt accessible and inclusive was a testament to his mastery of public speaking. His poise and eloquence underscored the seriousness of the issues while inspiring confidence in the government’s plans.
For many families, this Budget represents hope. Hope for more affordable living with controlled fuel and LPG prices. Hope for better roads and utilities. Hope for the security that comes with reliable emergency services, bolstered by new fire tenders and a ladder truck.
The Prime Minister’s repeated emphasis on resilience resonated with me. As we face global uncertainties, from climate change to economic volatility, this Budget reassures us that Antigua and Barbuda is prepared to weather these storms and emerge stronger.
I commend Prime Minister Browne for delivering a Budget that is comprehensive, visionary, and compassionate. His leadership continues to inspire confidence, and his presentation of this Budget was a reminder of the heights we can achieve when we work together as a nation.
Sincerely,
University Cartel
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
As a Deep 🌚State overseer he will be given the tools to keep bamboozling his own People. Spreadsheets can be easily manipulated, tweaked to fit any narrative. Tell him to open the books to independent auditors.
This sounds like a paid political announcement of Gaston Browne’s Budget pronouncements for sure and absolutely nothing less. If this person is so moved and believe so much in this wordsmith, they should come forward and let the world knows, whom exactly they are, by attaching their name to this article, instead of firing blank shots into the dark.
It’s only the people whom are getting scholarships to university, free houses and Government Vouchers to spend freely, are the ones whom thinks and see’s things in this myopic manner my friend.
Not all Antiguan and Barbudan are as gullible as you are, inspite of the glaring mismanagement of this country, while Gaston Browne and his Government is over taxing the poor to enrich himself, families and friends.
Social Security along with medical benefits and the Education Levy subventions will increase in January automatically and I am sure that from time to time, you have heard citizens crying out for help, as APUA continues to over billed it’s consumers, month after month. People are suffering severely in this country, pensioners are in need of proper health care, while the Infrastructure of the country is in a state of decay. These are just a few of the many things which I persistently write about, which Gaston Browne needs to address and for you to highlight, instead of being so treasonous, by you trying desperately to misleading the population with your pile of garbage, while hiding behind a fictitious identity of university Cartel.
You think all Antiguans and Barbudans stupid..
Parliament will be interesting.
I am curious to see if the UPP parliamentarians question the jobs numbers after they would have used the same Social Security active contributor figures to point out the job losses during the Covid pandemic. If Social Security was reliable to them then, what about now, when they have captured and reported that we are in strong recovery?
Now that there is healthy growth and faster moving investment after the drag of Covid, can we expect a little honesty from UPP?
The labour shortages are real.
The increase in savings banks report because more are working and working for more are real.
Many yet-to-be-fixed roads are also real, so the UPP needs not think lying is mandatory to try to progress politically.
Right now, with the UPP’s credibility so low, it would be political suicide to come with anything less than reasonable criticisms as the budget debate starts tomorrow.
He was good indeed, both in delivering and substance, except for the poor audio system. Not acceptable in this era.
He was not strong on Road construction and infrastructure development/ especially roads and agriculture. I see him easing up on the Lazy direct of PWD, who seems to be clueless. Mr. PM don’t know how or where Crump got his degree but I am sure any sensible layman can spin circles around this guy. He is fake and the sooner you get him out the better. By the way he is on payroll of one of PWD big supplier.
I can hear the effort to solve the water problem. It’s a long haul but the efforts are being made.
All in all it was a good presentation.
It is my belief that he is several times better than each and every one of Antigua politicians and most in the region.
I still don’t support the quest for wealth and the use of inside knowledge to gain the UPP hand.
Upper hand
Someone asked if Pringle would be able to deliver a budget speech like that? Well just look at the past UPP budget presentation. The PM then was not the Finance Minister. He didn’t dare to take that portfolio. Should the UPP by fluke form the government under the leadership of Pringle, he will never take the finance portfolio. He will give that to either Bowen or Lewis. And if not those two, he will promote an outsider if that is permitted by the constitution. Rosona would not want to go back to the days where she was the defacto Finance Minister, because Lovell had no clue what to do and Withfield was already wioth one foot out. But should that scenario really play out, I would really want for Lennox Weston to jump ship and help them out.
Comments are closed.