Lower House Parliament Approves Vehicle Licensing Fee Increase Amid Heated Debate
The Antigua and Barbuda Parliament has passed the Vehicles and Road Traffic Amendment Bill 2025, approving an increase in motor vehicle licensing fees despite strong objections from the opposition. The fee adjustment, which raises the annual licensing cost for motor cars by up to $100, was a key point of contention during Monday’s parliamentary session.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne, who introduced the bill, defended the increase as a necessary step to finance critical road repairs. He explained that the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board would now collect and retain licensing fees directly, rather than acting as an agent for Inland Revenue. This change, he said, was crucial for financial transparency and to satisfy banks providing a $100 million bond to accelerate roadworks.
Browne emphasized that licensing fees had remained largely unchanged for over 30 years, aside from a minor adjustment for SUVs in 2005. While an initial 40% across-the-board hike was proposed, the government revised its plan after consultations, capping the increase at $100 for motor cars. Larger SUV’s and heavy duty equipment will attract the 40%, public transport vehicles are exempt.
“Consultations do not mean seeking permission,” Browne stated. “We engaged in discussions through various fora, including social media and public debates. Many agreed that a $100 increase was reasonable.”
The Prime Minister argued that the additional revenue was essential to improving infrastructure and ensuring safer roads, noting that previous tax waivers on vehicle imports had benefited citizens. He dismissed opposition concerns as political opportunism, accusing them of rejecting the increase without offering viable alternatives.
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle, the Member for All Saints East and St. Luke, strongly opposed the fee hike, stating that it would disproportionately affect struggling citizens. He pointed out that for some small vehicles currently paying $250, the additional $100 represented a 40% increase.
“I will not support any increase on the people of Antigua and Barbuda,” Pringle declared, arguing that the government had failed to account for how past road maintenance funds were spent. “For the last 10 years, we have only seen two major roads repaired, and those were funded by a grant from the United Kingdom. Where has all the money collected for road repairs gone?”
Pringle criticized the government for placing additional financial strain on average citizens while high-income earners and government officials remain unaffected. He noted that business executives and ministers often have their vehicle expenses covered by their companies or the state, making the increase more burdensome for the working class.
“The government talks about empowering people by reducing vehicle import duties, but now they’re clawing back those benefits through this fee hike,” he said. “This increase will also raise the cost of goods and services because businesses will pass on the additional expenses to consumers.”
He also raised concerns about the financial management of the Antigua and Barbuda Transport Board, questioning why the agency had not produced audited financial statements for over a decade.
“How can we justify this increase when there is no accountability for how funds have been managed?” Pringle asked. “The Transport Board has been retaining revenue meant for Inland Revenue, and we still don’t know where that money has gone.”
Pringle further criticized the government’s handling of road construction projects, alleging that roads were often paved and then later excavated for drainage installation, leading to unnecessary deterioration and wasted funds.
“Citizens are being asked to pay more, yet roadworks remain poorly planned and executed,” he added. “Before increasing fees, the government must ensure transparency and efficiency in how road funds are managed.”
Despite the opposition’s objections, the government used its parliamentary majority to pass the bill. The new fees will take effect when passed in the Upper House and Gazetted with revenue earmarked for road repairs across the country.
While Browne insisted that the increase was necessary for national development, opposition members vowed to continue pressing for financial transparency and accountability in government spending.
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The roads are in terrible condition, but where has all the previous money gone? We keep paying more, yet the roads are still a mess!
Pensioners have not an increase except for those being adjusted when asked we are hearing about a tier system and it’s being worked out this not a fair practice now we are asked for this hike in vehicle licensing as a Labor party supporter I am not please Mr PM this is hurting our civil servants our pensions are already small and this move is not being considerate at this time with all the anticipated growth for this year and last year this could have looked at differently you need to come to the people and explain
This government keeps squeezing the little man while the big businesses and ministers don’t feel the pinch. Why don’t they start with cutting unnecessary government spending?
People complain about potholes every day, but when it’s time to raise funds to fix them, they don’t want to pay. You can’t have it both ways!
The opposition keeps saying ‘not one red cent,’ but what’s their solution? If they were in power, they’d probably do the same thing.
Oh shut up …..because there was a rally and majority didn’t go now look ya . Wicked government
Browne cannot now complain when a plethora of hardworking Antiguans make over inflationary financial demands for wage increases in the not too distant future.
This 40% rise in vehicle licensing fees will wake Antiguans up, because this government has stagnated; stiffled and stymied salaries and pensions for far too long now under his greed and failing stewardship.
Two things will now happen:
1), Antiguans will now say enough is enough, because families have to be fed and roofs kept over their heads.
Or 2), Gaston Browne will continue to raise prices here without any transparency or accountability as to how our money is REALLY being used.
This odious man comes over as a clumsy and loutish GALOOT …
This increase might not seem like a lot to some people, but for those living paycheck to paycheck, every dollar counts.
The Prime Minister says consultations were held, but who exactly did they consult?
This is just the beginning! Today it’s $100, tomorrow it will be $200.
Oh please! Pay the goddamn fee and stop complaining. Go to one less fete a year. Eat five roti wraps per year. It’s called prioritizing.
Things have to get done. You want better infrastructure, then pay…
What makes me have no confidence whatsoever that the roads in antigua will never be good is the fact that they will fix and then dig them up. For example valley road, for some reason they decide to dig across the smooth for what appears to be some drainage and the other I do not know. I give up on antigua ever having the capability or ability to do build proper road infrastructure.
He’s hell bent on tackling the roads because the limestone from their quarries must be sold. The pensioner who drives an older model burgundy Honda CRV who thinks that we are ungrateful for complaining, will now have to dig a bit deeper even though he’s not getting his dues timely. This is the Economic Powerhouse for you.
@Antiguan surf
WELL SAID 👏
Dave Ray and Gatson Browne has to be the two biggest idiots in Antigua’s history. The two have no financial acumen but just keeps running their mouths like the asswipes that they are.
Hear what dumb Dave Ray got to say ” pay the damn money”.
How many more monies the people of Antigua have to pay you dumb fool? They pay pay pay, and not a damn thing to show for it. What you and Gatson Browne should have done, instead of wasting money on obtaining a super yacht that wasn’t his, is to take that money and fix the damn roads, instead he supposedly put the little 40mil he made into debt relief. Then he went and wasted another 100mil in a dead-beat deal with the crooked Nigerians with Liat 2020, of which he would never see not one profit in the next 30yrs, because many still can’t afford these high plane tickets that are backloaded with taxes and then the rest goes to the corrupt Nigerian. That money should have gone into the damn roads and infrastructure around the island. Oh, and don’t forget the 1000 illegal Africans he brought in, of which he had to feed and housed before they simply disappeared into thin air. lol. then he turns around and say they were rich Africans who pay their own way and took care of themselves while in Antigua.
Let me remind you Dave Ray, since you and Gatson are so damn gullible with the taxpayer’s, money. rich people do not travel as refugees to try and evade their place of birth, but then again you and Gatson are too deep in the same Con, so y’all sit there and play stupid.
All those moneys could have gone into the roads. So, lift your arse up off the internet with your bullshyt, because quite frankly, people like me and many others be tired of the same ole garbage that spews out of you and Gatson Browne’s mouth every damn week.
So give it a bloody rest.. your PM is a Crook and a thief, and many of us knows it.
Fellow Antiguans, please read Dave Ray’s condescending comments about us again, and remember he doesn’t live here and resides in America.
A case of someone living abroad and telling us what to do. Laughable just Laughable…
Please inform me on the vagueness of convenient tax gouging, as it pertains to governance in my unfair land. The CC on my 2006 SUV Pathfinder was calculated; wherein I must pay $906 for.00 vehicle insurance and, $1932.00 for the privilege of driving on the moonscape buggy-cart roads for the last fifteen years. I dive a maximum of less than 3oo miles per year, as my driving is mostly confined to the St. Paul’s, for the occasional trips to the grocery store. As banking, gas and tax compliance is within its confines: there is hardly any reason for me to venture into St. John’s or, beyond. I am retired, and living on a fixed income, I might add. I do need my driving privilege and vehicle for mobility due to a chronic sciatic affliction. Now, after having to contend with the prevailing debilitating road conditions and, paying more for the registration than insurance: where is the justification for me to be facing a 40% increase for the privilege of which I’ve been thus gouged continuously? Where else in the world is registration more costly than insurance liability? The population would’ve benefited much more if decentralization take effect wherein; each parish is allocated a budget with disbursements vested in local Parish Councils: rather than a central government, beholden to elitist autocratic zealots, with no transparency or, accountability for the people’s partrimony.
**$1032 >registration fee<
Mek Dave Ray worry ’bout Donald Trump, and we worry about Gaston Browne.
@ Islanman26, take a bow sir … 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
No new taxes but this is administration have increased all the existing taxes and revenue streams. They have collected the most revenue in the history of this nation but all government infrastructure falling apart. Where all the money gone no accountability. The public accounts are years behind to be audited yet requesting more increases. The people in this country must under some sort of spells why so much is imposed on them and most of the time just sit back and allowed it.
Who in the kitchen feels the heat.
I guess since you as a native of 268 living in the USA don’t understand majority of the population earns anywhere between 1200 to 2500 per month struggling to pay mortgages and loans, still paying indirect taxes in the grocery store. Simply already over taxed. 100EC dollars is not much for you and our prime minister /ministers but a lot to most in this country.
Are you buy phones for $4000, wear designer brands, shoes that cost $1000 dollars like gucci and jordans, pay $3000 for cabanas, go to multiple fetes and 250 or more for tickets, mas customes for $1500, weaves for $600 and complaining about something that happens once a year which you can afford one you plan and structure your finances properly instead of squandered it. Yall don’t even save and invest your money, just clothes, shoes and braffing to impress people then end up broke, cant buy your needs and beggingbfor help…. please hush.
Are you buy phones for $4000, wear designer brands, shoes that cost $1000 dollars like gucci and jordans, pay $3000 for cabanas, go to multiple fetes and 250 or more for tickets, mas customes for $1500, weaves for $600 and complaining about something that happens once a year which you can afford one you plan and structure your finances properly instead of squandered it. Yall don’t even save and invest your money, just clothes, shoes and braffing to impress people then end up broke, cant buy your needs and begging for help…. please hush.
You know what is strange, Insurance Companies has been raising their vehicle insurance premium almost every year, but you never hear any protest from the car owners/drivers or from the opposition. But government raised the Road Licening Fee once in thirty years and that becomes like a big outcry for some of them. Keep it up UPP. You are the worst opposition party we have ever had. Instead of going to parliament with some contra proposals, all you went there to do is to pappy show your self. Try to talk tough. Not one red cent. And now that the bill is passed what says you now. Oh yes I forgot. The Opposition is there to oppose, not to give ideas.
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