MP Watts says he chose between keeping Branch office and helping needy constituents
St. George MP Algernon “Serpent” Watts says the decision to surrender the premises that housed his Branch office in Potters was financially prudent.
“As I had expected, this has become political fodder,” Watts says. “But it was simply an expense that neither the Branch nor my constituency allowance of $2,000 a month could sustain any longer.
“Given how the cost of living has eroded people’s spending power – which, in turn, has increased demands on me for assistance – we had to let the building go. It is way more important at this time to be in the position to help my constituents survive,” Watts explains.
“Like families and small businesses all over this country, we had to prioritize. We couldn’t allow the rent to run up to $12 million, like other folks do,” the St. George representative says.
Other members of the Party’s leadership note that commercial rental fees are very high, and this is why, outside the election campaign season, it is extremely challenging for Branches to sustain offices.
They add that the political spin from detractors was expected; but it will not distract the Party from the pressing national issues at hand – such as the poor roads, the shortage of water, and the use of taxpayers’ money to pay private legal fees related to the Alfa Nero challenges.
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This is the best BS you could come up with!
LMAO LMAO who serpent ah help other than heself? He didn’t even help wit a dollar to help pay for his constituent cxc subject
Nutten wrong with being evicted, but be honest and Honorable and PAY the landlord what you OWE them, especially since you sublet the place and was collecting $800 a month from the landlord place. That was not your money to keep. Ah soo wicked ahyou be? Would serpent wan anybody rent 1 of his 10 vehicles then not pay? Or owe observer and not pay?
Do unto others as you would want done to you, pay what you owe. Serpent hab plenty rental cars and money now from politics
he didn’t explain why didnt he pay his outstanding bills before “giving it up”. you signed a lease. pay your obligcations until your break the lease. Also why continue pocketing the sublease money? how is this justified as a valid way of doing business?
Serpent u couldn’t come up with a better excuse. Clearly it’s political if the other side is moving right in. Boy this opposition na ready for Prime Time. Mr knight is so right. WEAK.
As a fellow St. George’s constituent and Antiguan; I cannot really believe the rubbish I just read. Brother Watt, this is absolutely ridiculous what you said. You are painting a picture that we in St. George’s are constantly begging you and you know that you have nothing to give other than a ride in the jeep you got since you won your seat. Maybe it’s the constituency allowance that is being used to pay for this jeep.
It is sad that economists is not a strong point for you guys in how to manage finances because raising funds to pay for that office should be at a party level.
Had you been in your branch office every now and again, people would have seen and offered to help but nooooo, that’s never opened .
Every blunder that you guys make and poor judgement, look how you find a way to blame this government. Come on, you paid in October for July – September and that’s the government fault? Not even a lil respect for the property owner to explain your shortfalls but you on radio day in and out discussing Alfa Nero as if that money has anything to do with us Antiguan & Barbudans.
I see that the members on the upp side has this knack of not paying people for their properties once you guys rent them.
It’s a shame how you intertwine at George’s people to be at fault for begging you down to the ground for not paying the branch office rent.
I HAVE TO INVESTIGATE IF AND HOW FAR BEHIND YOU ARE ON YOUR HOUSE TENT ON HONAS ROAD??!!
MP Watts shoulda shut-up n be SHAME to ever mention Alfa Nero again. He had his chance in parliament to ask the PM any question about the boat, and he got scared and no-showed. Serpent back your chat inna PARLIAMENT or SHUT TF UP
This makes sense. Spend the money on the people instead. I remembered how much I saved when my office was in a room in my home or when I began having a virtual office by taking clients telephonically. I saved so much that if I was in Antigua I could have 5 cars, 2 drivers and 3 houses with my monthly expenses that I saved. I could have afforded 10 girlfriends in Antigua two, when I just started off, from the savings I got from not having an office and other overhead expenses.
Now, I could afford a multiplier of all those. But it started from being smart about spending. I want to say you guys will not be reading from me for a while. I have emergent matters to tend to and need to focus on them, I love you all and thanks for reading my post with a ratiocinative, and fair mind for those few who did. For the others, I pray you better yourself for the sake of others and yourself.
ABLP is in power, they have access to crazy amount of money to use however they want, not the opposition. And this statement would apply if UPP was in power too.
I believe this opposition In bed with the government. There is no way serpent can hear all wa dem a say bout he and come out with this weak excuse. When j truth a cuss he bout having rental cars parked on the property. Get a grip serpent
You have done the prudent thing.
You didn’t do like the labour party.
They rented a property for a branch office in city east.
They refused to pay the rent.
When it became insurmountable they compulsorily acquired it..
Compulsory acquisition is supposed to be for public use.
Whatever is compulsorily acquired is paid for by the state.
So the state compulsorily acquired property for use as a labour party branch office.
How much more corrupt can that be.
To date they have not paid a cent for it.
So he who comes to equity must have clean hands.
You have acknowledged your short comings.
That’s when the name honorable comes into play. How do the laboRATs expect you to pay office staff for $2000.00 per month and office rental of office space for $1500.00 on a constituency allowance of $2000.00.
None of the labour representatives and care takers have office.
Their office is in a supermarket so that people see their constituents begging them.
You are good in my sight and feel good about yourself that you have done the right thing.
Two locks was evicted at some point for non payment of rent
Ya just wotless!!!!
Can’t keep a farm going nor a branch office despite someone paying half the bill and can barely run a radio station.
recently ah the most me ever hear mr knight try ah carry politicans water and try defend serpent n dem UPP politicians fu de bare sh@?t dem ah do. You ah stress de knight man out serpent, just pay up de rent money n cool
How can we as people with commonsense believe Serpent with his lame excuse. Remember Wilmoth Daniel warn us already from Serpant.He probably think we have selected memories. Wheel and come again
Not a satisfactory explanation, I expected something better