Dear Editor,
Living in Antigua and Barbuda has become increasingly stressful for many of us, and it seems that the harder we try to keep up, the more difficult things become. We are constantly being taxed on almost everything, yet the quality of basic services continues to decline.
We continue to experience frequent water interruptions, badly damaged roads, and poor customer service at many government offices. It’s frustrating to know that despite all the taxes collected from citizens, we are not seeing any meaningful improvements in the quality of life. If the community is being asked to contribute so much, shouldn’t we at least have reliable water, smoother roads, and courteous, efficient service when conducting business with government departments?
The cost of living is another major burden. Food prices remain extremely high, gas prices are steadily increasing, and yet there seems to be no relief in sight. To make matters worse, there is now a $2 radio taxbeing implemented at the Transport Board and many of us are left wondering why. Where does it end? Every new tax feels like another weight added to the shoulders of ordinary citizens who are already struggling to get by.
Earlier this year, the government stated in an article that road works would commence in October for All Saints Road. Yet today is October 24th, and there are still no visible signs that any work has begun or is about to start. Promises are made, but the people are left waiting and hoping for change that never seems to come.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the temporary practices that were put in place remain in effect. The question is, why? Is it out of necessity, or has it become a matter of convenience and complacency? Some of these outdated practices make it harder for citizens to access services and complete simple transactions and this only adds to our frustration.
Those who have the power to make meaningful change need to take responsibility and hold the right people accountable. The people of Antigua and Barbuda deserve better, better infrastructure, better public services, and better leadership that truly prioritizes the well-being of its citizens.
At the end of the day, we are not asking for luxury or special treatment, we are simply asking for fairness and respect. We are hardworking citizens who continue to pay our taxes and contribute to the development of this country. The least we deserve is a government that values our contribution by providing the basic necessities and dignity of everyday life. Stop taking from the people without giving back something of value in return. Give us clean, reliable water, safe and well-maintained roads, and efficient, respectful service.
Antigua and Barbuda is our home, a beautiful country with so much potential. But potential means nothing if those in authority refuse to act. It’s time for leadership that listens, leadership that delivers, and leadership that cares.
Sincerely,
A Exhausted Citizen
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Did this writer just buy his/her first car? I have owned and licensed my vehicles since 1985 and there was always a $2.00 radio tax.
Exhausted Citizen, this letter will not get any response, this Administration doesn’t give a crap about the people’s interest, all we get from them is a lot of sweet sounding nothings to trap a gullible population into voting for them to rip this country off for another five years. But not this Tom
My biggest problem is the 15,000 members of the Public Service with a need for only 5,000 at the most. All the rest are there for their X. And now they are to receive back pay and pay increase next year. When you get pay and either do no work or don’t even go to work, that is corruption. That is criminal. That is a crime. And when we, the people who encourage that nonsense, talk about corruption like if we are not a part of it. The system is corrup and breathes corruption. And we are all a part of it. All of us,UPP and ABLP. None better than none. That is why we have to pay more and more for taxes. To support this system.
I 100% agree with the author. The people of Antigua/Barbuda deserves better.
So true T. Davis, you only have to visit the tax revenues office to witness so many people doing ajob that 1-2:people could easily do.
When you first enter, there’s normally 2-3 persons behind the booth. One then goes upstairs (for God knows how long), then when you get your paperwork to line-up pay your taxes, there’s Half-a-dozen people behind the screen with one to take your payment, another to clip your receipts together and someone that verifies everything is in order.
What a waste and overuse of manpower.
To be fair, it’s not just the tax office, it is across the whole island.
So vote for better, not for ham and turkey
Antigua will drive any one mental foreigners refuse to live here because the houses too expensive now what’s gonna happen wen they go back there home Antigua gonna bank rumpt why are house so expensive government not looking into it this is unfair mon!!!! More time I feel to run away we not getting lot a money for pay yet still house expensive plus every yr social security raise yet still our bloodclaat pay not fucking raising we tiat!!!
I just minutes ago got home from the supermarket and belive me their has to be a conspiracy being perpetrated against the people of this country. God alone can convince me this is not so, last week I bought broccoli and brussle sprouts and this week the prices are so very different. Government is planning to raise the price on sugary drinks but the price on healthy foods is also increasing. This is murder. I am not hopeful that this will be published by ANR because I believe government is part of that conspiracy.to secure their campaign funds. They care nothing about people, the love of power is what they are all about
A government that is a burden to the people have to go, simple.
Yes Antigua has a very corrupt “systems”, but systems of corruption can be eradicated..so, it starts from the leader.
It can happen for Antigua, just like it happens to many curropt nations. Laws has to be implemented and also executed to bring perpetrators to justice, and this administration has done a terrible job of doing the latter.
They have been implicit directly and indirectly.
Are we saying that we cannot find a leader that’s not greedy like this current leader?
I say yes we can.
A government that is a burden to the people have to go, simple.
Yes Antigua has a very corrupt “system”, but systems of corruption can be eradicated..so, it starts from the leader.
It can happen for Antigua, just like it happens to many curropt nations. Laws has to be implemented and also executed to bring perpetrators to justice, and this administration has done a terrible job of doing the latter.
They have been implicit directly and indirectly.
Are we saying that we cannot find a leader that’s not greedy like this current leader?
I say yes we can.
Joan, people like you are what is wrong with this country. The writer mentioned soooo many different issues that are in Antigua and you decide to comment on the $2 dollar road tax that has supposedly been there for a long time, taking away from all the other issues???
Just clownish
An economy never ever works for a hundred percent of the citizens. If so ALL American would be rich. Aren’t they the richest country in the world. And don’t they have large pockets of people living in poverty. If you want to remain blind go ahead and keep sticking your head in the sand. How does one measure the growth of any country and the nation in that country. By looking at certain indexes from international agencies that have no interest in the outcome of theifindings. Take e.g. the World Bank, The IMF, the ECLAC, the CDB and the ECCB. Antigua and Barbuda is constantly now for years rated as the fastest growing economy in the region except for Guyana. The ECCB rate that the deposits in banks in Antigua and Barbuda is growing astronomically by $200million. We are now ranked at 54 among 193 countries on the Human Development Index. We are the highest ranked in the Caribbean. Many do not understand what that means, but let me tell you it says alot about our little country’s growth of the population. And with the UWI FIC producing more and more graduates, this year they produced over 200 university graduates. Soon as the vision from the prime minister have it, we will have 2 to 3 person in every household being a univeristy graduate. The construction sector which is the measuring stick of un-emplyement has shown us so robust growth that we have to import labour out of Dominican Republic. Santa Domingans who used to be the cheapest of labour for gardening work are now amoungst the well paid gardeners. Nothing less then $200 to cut a quarter acre plot of land. And that job will take them about two to three hours work. That will give you an hourly rate of $67. No office worker will get that pay. Washing your car start from as low as $60 for only the outside. Yes a socalled poor man cannot afford this. But guess what, these are poor man’s businesses. So who is making the money washing all these cars for all these monies. Who are cutting the years for all these monies. Who are building the houses for all these monies. I’m tired of people just putting pen to paper without having done any study and making statements about the economy and how bad poor people have it in this country. I keep saying my house keeper lives in a very small house now for many years. But in her small home she has everything that I have in my big home. And she goes almost every year to her home country St. Lucia on vacation and send money home to support her mother and her child who lives with her mother. That is how poor people live in this country. And guess what she hasd two mobile phones. My gardener drives a van. He is so poor he goes to Santa Domingo also once a year to visit family. That is what you call poor in this country. Mind you, their are many pockets of poverty in this country. And as a Rotarian I can tell you about it first hand. But those are pockets. Mainly people who did not put money aside for their old age. Any healthy body young men or women who is broke, is because they refuse to take up any kind of job and are too lazy to work. Cause anyone come to me and say I’ll wash your car for $40 or $50 has that job. Or anyone who wants to cut my grass for $100 has that job as well.
Let me show you how the average Antiguan and Barbudam spend their free time and money these days. They go on various cruises and go on groud tours. A company who I support as his father was my good Rotarian friend is Zorel Bartley with his company DizzyB tours and sports, https://www.facebook.com/dizzybsports
He takes groups of Antiguans all over the world these days. And the reason why he is so successful is becasue Antiguans have money to spend. They do not live from paycheck to paycheck. And another point is they have credit cards and spend money all over the world. Not many of the other Islands Citizens can do that. Our Visa Cards and Master Cards are internationally accepted. Because our banks have International Corresponding Banks with US Banks. And we have the foreign exchange to back it up. Trinidadians can not do that. Anyway your misrepresenting of the economic condition in this country will always be exposed by me.
@ Godspeaks.
Getting better from the Government is not something that falls from the sky.
The public has to speak up and be relentless.
Hold the leaders accountable:
Why hasn’t assistant Commissioner Jeffries made Commissioner after all these months? The Police Service Commission recommended him.
What is the hold up? Record crime and the AG answer is neighborhood watch groups.
Why hasn’t the DDP made a public statement on the “Vehicle-gate” matter? Shuffling the responsible people around is like a cover up
The DDP is relatively new on the job but he is failing the public. Who owns the DDP? Those are questions that should be raised.
Why hasn’t the DDP come before the public?
Yes The people deserves better. But they aren’t going to get it unless they demand and work for it.
Incident and matters as serious as “vehicle-gate” should result in consequences from public action demanding a preservation of records an investigation.
Should the Government not act then there should be rolling mass demonstrations.
Right now The Prime Minister and his teams controls the narrative and dictate what happens.
I agree with what I have read in this article, except for this section “poor customer service at many government offices”. This is inaccurate, the poor customer service is not at many government offices but at all government offices, including at the ABLP ministers’ offices. Every one of them. Other than that, I agree with what I have read.