UPP CANDIDATE HAROLD LOVELL SAID: ALP Leaves Social Security in Shambles While Misleading the Public 
The facts speak for themselves: of the $550 million owed by the Government to Social Security as of 2010, over $464 million was incurred under ALP administrations. Yet, ALP propagandists have the audacity to blame the UPP for alleged shortfalls, despite the fact that the UPP never borrowed a single cent from Social Security during its 2004–2014 tenure.
Yes, the UPP had minor contribution delays, but these occurred while temporary and necessary fiscal adjustments—like the Personal Income Tax (PIT) and Antigua & Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST)—were being implemented to stabilize government finances. Unlike the ALP, which racked up debts through loans, development bonds, advances, and partial cash payments, the UPP paid its contributions entirely in cash, totaling $122.8 million in ten years—ten times what the ALP managed in 28 years.
Claims that the UPP caused a collapse in Social Security contributions are misleading. Contributors peaked at 40,818 in 2008 and only fell to 36,762 by 2012—a mere 10% drop. Government employment remained largely unchanged, proving there was no artificial job creation to offset private sector losses, contrary to ALP spin.
The irony is stark: while criticizing the UPP’s first term, the article features Harold Lovell, Finance Minister during the UPP’s second term—an obvious attempt to mislead.
Meanwhile, the current ALP administration continues to mishandle Social Security debt. By applying asset transfers to reduce the bond rather than the $220 million facility, they sacrificed interest income and left a large unsecured debt.
The message is clear: the ALP left a financial mess, mismanaged Social Security, and continues to rewrite history to mask their failures. The public deserves honesty, accountability, and leadership that prioritizes the nation over politics.
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I mean, I see what the former Minister of Finance is trying to do or showcase but it just does not add up.
As a wise man once said, People Lie, Numbers Don’t.
The fact remains that while the UPP administration did not start the boulder rolling down the hill, they certainly did not stop it or were perhaps powerless to do so. The measures the venerable Sir is pointing out were necessary but were eventually butchered and did not do enough to address all issues. Late salary payments to government workers were a common thing back then and they (UPP administration) also were, in part, contributors to the current water crisis that they indicated they would fix.
Overall, the issue at hand has nothing to do with who did what or who started it but really that it was never managed appropriately to begin with until now (being addressed by the current administration).
The sad thing is that the data came directly from the source rather than a political party, yet we refer to them as fake or misdirected.
If we are to truly solve our problems in this country, we must first be willing to accept responsibility and missteps then proceed to correct them. Collective action is the only thing that will see our country moving forward, not partisanship.
As it relates to the actions being taken now, even though late, they are certainly welcomed.
I would advise the former Minister to find another battle to fight as this looks intellectually disingenuous to say the least.
Harold was the worst Minister of finance ever, we suffered under him big time. His policies caused many small businesses to go under with all kinds of paper work which benefited his rich friends. Never want to see him again in power! Please please no!
And the government acolytes and the two-term wasted ABLP “terminites” are popping out the woodwork again, as soon as the Most Honourable Harold Lovell raises valid concerns about how this government is gambling and running down our tax-payer funded Social Security scheme.
And they always revert back to when UPP were last in power, but fail to address Gaston Browne’s 10 years of negligence and failed manifesto promises.
ADDRESS THAT NEGLECT GASTONITES …
This is what irritates me with people who eat, breath and s**t politics.
Everyone is always saying government is continuous. This is the problems that we inherited from the previous administration. There is no money in the treasury.
All that being said, the problem still exists. We are not stupid. We KNOW that allllll parties have milked Social Security and MBS, yet they do not put it back. Harold you too did the same thing.
I cannot fathom that you as a past finance minister can only focus on this one area and not highlight the other areas that you failed. Granted we were having an worldwide recession and Antigua was not immune to, but own up to what you also did and stop trying to point me in only one direction.
@Brix.
You don’t always have to be so sensitive.
If Harold can point out the failings of someone, then he is fair game to have his failings pointed out as well. Whether you support UPP or not, even you must remember their shortcomings and failures as well as celebrate what they did and got right.
Yes he paid in contributions, but as the party in power and we can all agree that the government is continuous regardless of who is in the power, what did he/UPP do to fix the problem? Nothing. They left it as they found it so they can do exactly what they are doing now…..making it political. I expect my government regardless of who I voted for to FIX problems no matter who caused them!
That is the crux of the matter and no matter who you voted for and who is in power, we can all attest that this happens across both parties and I say that it is SHAMEFUL for both ABLP and UPP. Yes, it may not be a problem caused by your party, BUT as a problem that is affecting ANTIGUA and BARBUDA, it needs to be fixed.
Put dem R’hole straight Mr. Lovell, because they control the media they think they can make wrong become right. UPP didn’t borrow one frigging cent
Max Hurst said it correctly. He reported that when they (ALP) won the elections, they realized that The Social security Scheme had so much money all over the place and that the UPP didn’t know how to spend money so they (ALP) borrowed and never repaid. It appears like Max had begun speaking out of turn as time went by so he was sidelined for probably a more contemporary spinner.
You know they say figures do not lie. So why does Lovell makes so much noice. I never heard anyone said they borrowed money for Social Security. But if we follow the logic of Pringle at the PAC he said a bond is like borrowing money. The UPP placed all their arrears into one big bond. So all one needs to do is take the amount owed to Social Security by the government Before the UPP took office in 2004 and the amount owed when they left office in 2014 and let nthe figures speak for themselves. And that is the exercise that the Director did which indicate the the debt increase during that period by almost 200 million. You can then go and see how this debt was made up. But the result is the same. The UPP did not pay in all that they own to Social Security in contributios, but they neither paid the interest on the bonds that were there. And as we say governmenrt is continious. If that was not sso, could the Gaston Browne administration tell the IMF that it was not hios administration that borrowed the $110million US Dollars and therefore he will not pay back a dime. But No. The ABLP under Gaston Browne paid back the IMF in record time without going on a new IMF profram. And one forget how they laugh at him saying he will be coming back crawling and begging the IMF.
Gaston Browne said his administration never borrowed either, but he adimitted not having paid into the fund for the past two years. Considering also that during Covid when there were no contributions coming in because businesses were close. It was this adminsitration that had to find funds to ensure pensions were paid. That is something he never received the kudos for. As if it was normal. Yes Gaston make running the country looks simple and easy. Maybe that is why Pringle thinks he can be Prime Minister one day. Not realizing he doesn;t have the capacity nor the quality to run a country as sophisticated as our is these days. We are punching far above our weight. Next year we will host the biggest diplomatic conference of the world. Second to the GA of the UN. And the the pinnacle of it is that we will have the King of the Commonwealth Chairing the meeting. Antigua and Barbuda will have made history Big time that day. This is only possible because the performance of our government on several world stages.
Ah tell U, Antigua is a cartoon country that the world sees as a laughing stock. If truth can’t be told from beginning, it’s useless following anything said after. Everybody so blinded by politics that d country suffers n fall in a deep dark hole n no one seems to care. Plain n simple!!!