Every year, the budget of the Antigua and Barbuda government grows larger and larger.
Surprisingly, most people appear unconcerned. Politicians speak as if spending more is a badge of honour.
It is as if the citizens of this country believe that government’s increased spending has no impact on the cost of living, whatsoever.
Here is what the government had estimated it would have spent for the last 5 years:
2021 – $1.499B
2022 – $1.642B
2023 – $1.802B
2024 – $1.865B
2025 – $2.001B
The budget grew 33.5% over those five years.
The government now plans to spend $2.078B in 2026. A 38.6% increase over 2021.
Wonder why the cost of living keeps skyrocketing?
It is the indirect (hidden) taxation that is making life increasingly unbearable!
What is not immediately apparent to the people of this country is that for government to spend a single dollar, is must first take that dollar from the citizens of this country. The money that government spends does not come out of thin air. It comes out of YOUR pocket!
Even if the government borrows the money to spend, that just merely delays when we will inevitably have to pay. But pay we all will, even if our children wind up paying it back.
As citizens we have to decide how much we are willing to allow the government to fleece us before we are prepared to push back and say enough is enough.
Because the majority of taxes we pay are hidden in our consumption, it is not immediately apparent how much taxes we are actually paying out of your paycheck.
It is my intent in this post to demonstrate from the data that is already in the public domain how much tax you pay as an individual.
In the 2026 budget, we are told that our national income (GDP) is taxed 18%. We can extrapolate that the average individual income is taxed at 18%, based on indirect taxation. I make this assumption in the absence of data to the contrary.
It is noteworthy, that our government subtly implied that Antigua and Barbuda citizens are somehow better off than our neighbours in the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union, who are taxed on average, 20%.
I do not think that this is a good benchmark. To me the goal should be based on how little the government spends compared to tax revenues. We do not want the government to waste resources which comparison can promote.
The government’s objective, in my opinion, is to make sure we, citizens keep as much of our income for ourselves so that we can realise and support ourselves and dreams.
18% GDP, in my objective opinion is too high.
18% indirect taxation, effectively equates to the government mulcting $1 of every $5 that you earn. If I had it my way, I would aim to limit the size of the government’s budget to never be more than 10% of the national income.
Any reasonable person would agree that government spending cannot be open ended.
It should be understood that these indirect taxes must be paid in addition to the statutory deductions taken by the government, which includes Social Security, Medical Benefit and Education Levy.
Below, I will demonstrate by way of an example how you are being affected by the indirect taxes.
We are told that the average salary in Antigua and Barbuda is EC$3000.00 per month, so if we assume this, then here is how a typical single person’s budget may look like:
SALARY: $3000.00
LESS DEDUCTIONS:
– MB/SS/EL $376.00 (statutory deductions)
– Housing $900.00 (could be rent, mortgage, etc)
– Utilities: $500.00 (topups, electricity, water, internet)
– Indirect Taxes: $540.00 (based on 18% of national income)
– Daily Meals: $200.00 ($10 per meal for a 5 day work week)
– Groceries: $400.00 ($100 per week for a single person)
TOTAL DEDUCTIONS: $2916.00
SURPLUS: $84.00
Out of the surplus of $84.00, you have to pay for cooking gas, bus fare, incidentals, entertainment.
It is clear that anyone making $3000.00 per month in Antigua and Barbuda is having a very rough time and no increase in the minimum wage would make that better.
As you can see a total of $916.00 ($376.00+$540.00) per month goes to the government both directly and indirectly. This means that 30.5% of your income goes to the government every month.
Yes, 30.5%!
This is why so many people are feeling the crunch. You wonder why there is so much month left at the end of the pay? This is your answer!
With no appreciable salary increase in your near future any increase of government’s annual budget will naturally give you less money in your hand to support yourself.
Knowing what you now know, are you still excited for government to continue ballooning its annual budget?
Are you prepared to give more than $916 per month to the government out of your $3000 salary?
If you say no, then you must join me vociferously to tell the government: “NO to budget increases!”
For someone being paid $3000.00 per month, if we look at what you pay annually in indirect taxes (18%), that equates to working for the government for free for two months a year.
As it stands now, you are already working 2 full months a year to pay for all of your indirect taxes, alone. The 10 month income you receive is required to pay your bills and statutory deductions for 12 months a year.
The two months free labour is already a great sacrifice in my opinion.
Some may argue that as a citizen, that is the price you pay for nation building.
Granted!
But I must remind you that one definition of a slave is a person where 100% of his effort benefits a third party. If we do not curb government’s spending, the 18% could easily grow to 80%, making virtual slaves of everyone.
The government is supposed to be slave to the people and not the other way round!
Government needs to reduce its spending, now!
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
Actually a good read.
Let me add some expenses to that Salary…The Churches ties of 10%.
Government also keep Churches alive. Because most of Government workers, are member of some church and they get from their salary the 10% and give it to the church.
Too much of an abstract read. The numbers math but the reality is not that fictional.
Lets look at the surplus for instance, a portion of which you claim go towards entertainment. How then are the fetes costing a minimum $250 etc financed?
This more satire than anything else.
While you say ALL of that, do not forget the fetes they cannot afford (or so we say), and they still find the money to go. If they save the fete monies, they will see what their savings may be like. I am not trying to take leisure from anyone, but if you doing the budget, factor in that because this is a BIG part of who we are.
I love this break down, the writer was even generous about $3000 per month. The folks I met while in Antigua was making about $2000 a month.
But the break down clearly conveyed reality. The reality is that things are hard for most, and that the $30,000 per month I heard the ABLP PM said his son is making is more than what most Antiguans and Barbudans make per year.
I also find a significant problem with the large amount of money being sent from Antigua and Barbuda to Jamaica and Guyana. The money needs to be circulated more locally in Antigua and Barbuda to have substantial impact on the economy. This is one of the main reasons I encourage the ABLP PM Gaston Browne to allow locals to invest in locally in businesses through bonds, stocks, loans, etcetera. Keep some of those money being spent outside the country, inside the country.
I believe salaries would be better had we not flood the country with people from other countries so that wage could be higher, and locals had better options for work as in having multiple jobs, if they want.
There are too many people in such small country with such small economy.
Then add the ABST on every retail purchase, heaven forbid you order something online and then get slammed with another 52% in duties/taxes/fees although you already paid tax at the point of sale plus they include the shipping cost in the calculation. Go figure 🤷🏽♂️
The last 5 years of Antiguan’s budget reads exactly like a Ponzi scheme. The numbers are widely inflated, but very little to show for its use.
Here is one major example. Last years 2025 budget was the biggest in Antigua’s history, expenditures within every department were increased, but yet still, this government increased the ABST by 2% in the middle of the
of the year . Then they came and borrowed another $100 to fix and upgrade the road by increasing licensing fees for vehicle owners.
Why these two major additions in the middle of the year after the budget was already passed and in effect? Wasn’t these expenditures already covered in the budget?
The answer is, yes..so where did the money went that were already allocated to these infrastructures in the budget, that the government had to further burdened the people with these increases in the middle of the year?
The answer is that the budget was a fraud, a Ponzi Scheme aimed at ripping off the people.
Typical ponzi scheme. Give you some numbers up front, then come back later, when you have already moved on from the first update, then swindle some more funds out of you with very little resistance.
The biggest trick in the book..and it’s the biggest sales man trick in the book, and this has been played out perfectly here by this government in the past 5 years or so.
Most sales men would hide the fine-print from you in any contract..their biggest trick is to hide the hidden fees from you, why, well they would say it’s your job to read them.
Well read the fine print Antiguan’s, please.
This government has played that to a T in these budgets..You are getting taken folks, and this writer is on point when it comes to that..that’s the bottom line here.
You’re getting took, all the way to their bank, not yours!!!
The $15 million is cars stolen is one such clue..many more monies have vanished, and that’s why the government comes back for more money in the middle of the year, after they have already passed they budget.
They are stealing your money and lying to you.
So in hindsight, the 2025 budget was actually millions more than the numbers that were put out..but they never told you that did they.
But it’s for us to read and understand the budget, and more so read the fine-print, because this administration is counting on the fact that you don’t.
Kaiso_Thyme…
…I’m gonna wait, on POMPEY’S “WHAT THE HELL,
…’cause, he’ll be coming in; like that, #TRINI_SKETELL!
…but, in the mean time!
…this is, the usual time!
…when we buss, #ah_lyme!
…singing plenty #PARANG!
PARANG!….PARANG! PARANG!
…chipping all over, de land!
…wid de! Sweet! Sweet! Iron Band!
…Luk, it #SWEET_SWEET!
CHIPPING! CHIPPING! ChIPPING!
…chipping on de street!
…nevertheless, this has come to me, on this day.
Through gad! Your god! Their gog!
…it’s time for, the parliament to ease up, off the GROG!
…the Old English Harbour, have their brains in a fog!
It’s FOGGY! FOGGY! REAL FOGGY!
…so, as I read ANR piece TODAY!
…the commenters, and their comment
…have a whole lot, to say!
…as well as, having plenty relevance.
…I’ll start with, @Islanman26
…he’s usually, on point with his lyrics!
…beating Gaston, like a child getting whipped!
…now, here comes Mr. Victory Meldrew!
…and, some of those words, do ring true!
SO TRUE! U HEAR TRUTH! SO TRUE!
…how can I leave out, my way of helping!
…his analysis, through LEGALESE!
…gives him pump & pride; of which he’s very pleased!
…then, look who’s peeping around the corner!
CORNER! BAKERS CORNER!
…it don’t look like Jack de HORNER!
…neither, de drunking TRINI; #BAM_SEE
…if, I’m not mistaken, it looks like @FC
…but, he’s jamming in a black hoodie🧕🏿
…behind, de BROCOGATE_GYAL!
…wid she sweet! Sweet! Sexy BAMSY!
…I thinking, Gaston? How could he FC!
…or, is it BAM SEE! Do this to his pal.
…I had to leave, the best for last!
…as #., Mr. Smith and Jay Jay
…will bring down the curtain!
..yes, of this I’m very certain!
CERTAIN! CERTAIN!
…even though what they say,
…will not ease, the burden
…not, even by a farthing!
…yet, I still have one last question!
…Mr. Smith, please step to the podium
…and, help us to understand
…what do you mean?
…when the church TALLY their take
…they don’t have to wait?
…for, the People; to drop the envelope
…in, the Ushers Collection Plate!
…to pay for their FAITH, CHARITY & HOPE!
…at a specific time and date!
…due to an ongoing arrangement
…between the church and the government
…we know, they’re crooks heading for the same FATE
…but, do they? Really? Oh really
…yes, indeed? Indeed! Yes, indeed
…take an extra ten percent.
…for, the gangsterz #who’re heaven sent!
…this is not only blasphemy!
…it’s downright, HIGHWAY ROBBERY!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De’ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere Edwards
Folks, it must be,
For those of you living under a rock, this is how the world works🤣. You’re not supposed to like it! The tax obligations on some other islands is no different or worse. And for the bigger countries look up tax freedom day in the US and Canada.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/canadians-celebrate-tax-freedom-day-june-8-2025
Guys take a seat and grab a calculator.
How many workers on Government payroll?
How many of those workers are part of any kind of Religion?
What is the total amount of Salary coming out from the Government Treasure to those workers?
Then calculate the 10% of that plus the every event they have that also contribute for extra activities expenses.
Then you will have rough figure how many millions and millions of dollars are being drained from the churches.
Let’s talk now from Mortgages and bank Loans
How many Government Workers have a mortgage, car loan, or others loan from Banks
Same story..Government is paying those.
Millions and millions of dollars are being drained in that matter. Who Government workers is going to give up that?
They don’t care, they will need to borrow more and more and increase taxes because they need to feed Banks and Churches. Remove all the mask.
I don’t care if some feelings are being hurt with my comment..But This is the reality.
@Smith.
Yes indeed, the cabal is at work for sure..lol.
This took years of brain washing, and it has worked perfectly in Antigua.
But you are absolutely on point here. The audacity of these people to throw out these numbers with a straight face, is just amazing.
And @Ras.
I don’t hate GB, but I hate what he is and what he represents for the people of A&B, and that is he is as corrupt as they come.. I know that personally.
Myself and GB are about the same age,maybe I’m a little younger, but the fact is, I grew-up in the same background as GB. I came from nothing and have made a decent life for myself and family, but one thing i didn’t do, is to let money blind me.
So that’s my disappointment from this man, is that he should have known better, and shouldn’t have used his position for greed. He should have understood the pour better than most people, because he came from that.
So there is my issue with this man..he is not good for Antigua. And I’ll keep saying that, because that’s the truth. I know “John the Baptist” was beheaded for the truth, but someone must speak it. Apparently the church ain’t doing it, because according to @Smith, they all are in the same bed.
And @Ras.
I don’t hate GB, but I hate what he is and what he represents for the people of A&B, and that is he is as corrupt as they come.. I know that personally.
Myself and GB are about the same age,maybe I’m a little younger, but the fact is, I grew-up in the same background as GB. I came from nothing and have made a decent life for myself and family, but one thing i didn’t do, is to let money blind me.
So that’s my disappointment from this man, is that he should have known better, and shouldn’t have used his position for greed. He should have understood the pour better than most people, because he came from that.
So there is my issue with this man..he is not good for Antigua. And I’ll keep saying that, because that’s the truth. I know “John the Baptist” was beheaded for the truth, but someone must speak it. Apparently the church ain’t doing it, because according to @Smith, they all are in the same bed.
Comments are closed.