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St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda – The United Progressive Party (UPP) has strongly condemned the Gaston Browne administration’s plan to raise vehicle registration fees by 40%, calling it “wickedness of epic proportions” and urging citizens to resist the measure.
UPP Political Leader Jamale Pringle issued a statement denouncing the proposal, arguing that it amounts to a betrayal of public trust. He noted that no indication of the increase was given during the Budget Presentation or the subsequent debate in December, leaving citizens unprepared for the financial burden.
Pringle criticised the timing of the proposed hike, pointing out that the government recently touted record revenue collections at the port. He questioned whether those claims were exaggerated, suggesting that the administration may be in financial trouble.
“If, as reported, this increase is to secure a loan of $100 million, then we must ask why the lender is imposing such a harsh condition on the Browne administration,” Pringle said. “Has the government defaulted on other loans with that lender?”
The opposition leader also raised concerns about the impact of the increase on workers, pensioners, and businesses. He noted that while public servants have only received a 14% salary increase across three terms of the Browne administration, the government is now seeking to impose a 40% rise in vehicle registration fees. He further questioned how struggling businesses, some owed money by the government, would absorb the additional costs without passing them on to consumers.
Pringle accused the administration of imposing “taxation without representation” and called for widespread opposition to the measure. He urged citizens to push back through protests, demonstrations, or other means of resistance.
“The United Progressive Party calls on Finance Minister Gaston Browne to withdraw this punishment on the people,” he said. “If he fails to do so, we encourage the people to stand up, sit out, go slow, picket, demonstrate or boycott—use whatever means necessary to protest.”
The government has not yet responded to the UPP’s criticism.
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Lololol How Gaston wicked? You want road fixed so money have to come from somewhere. You want him to useoney from his retirement fund? Or peace university savings? Mek out
Exactly. De loveth a bunch of “freebs”
Anyhoo, speaking of wicked……will Pringle/UPP be donating anything towards Alex Browne medical treatment expenses?
P.S. – Sen. Alex Browne VOTED NO to government acquiring the Cancer Centre
LOUD UO THE MEDIA ANTIGUANEWSROOM!!! We all know Gaston just wicked. But it’s alright. I hope the pay increase too. Cause we gonna pay more to license vehicle and then the roads will still be the same. Let me hear the next excuse, cause our tax money was too small
Well well well. No more to say
All the money they made, record figures they brag about and still wanna take advantage of us..what is all that money being used for? By the way Pringle hush cus them a keep your rich. You don’t even look out for Swetes people 🙄 a want Lamin bang you up in the next election!!
Say one Say Two…Max Hurst could get loads of money for this car in the future. But frankly speaking, people can hardly manage to buy food. Gaston I support your party but please reconsider this evil.
We the Antiguan people are good at talking but are so politically blinded that we accept any shit the Gaston Brown administration throws at us. We cannot even afford to buy shocks for our vehicles, we can’t eat nutritious meals all that man can do is slap us with higher cost of living. That’s crazy.
The government should have phased in the increase gradually instead of dropping it all at once.
It’s funny how politicians always oppose these hikes when they’re not the ones in power.
Where exactly is this extra revenue going?
We can’t complain about bad roads and then oppose measures to fix them—can’t have it both ways!
A 40% increase is steep! The government needs to explain how this will benefit taxpayers.
If the economy is growing like they say, why do we need such a drastic fee increase?
I agree a stand off (Protest) against this nonsense that this present government is super- imposing upon the people of this nation is well im order. Once this is done then it will mean bus drivers will also demand a higher fare for passengers as well as taxi drivers. Because if it will cost them more, then why won’t they also place a demand to help alleviate the cost on them as well? Those who who see nothing is wrong with this you are just as much a part of the problem in this country. You have your opinion and so do I.
Where has all the CIP money garn ? There were 2,000 applications last summer. $1bn.
If the government were transparent, it would have audited Transport Board and presented figures indicating why this increase is necessary. Certainly Antiguans and Barbudans would be open to pay, albeit begrudgingly, if they saw why it was needed. But the virtue of transparency, which this government touts is just a fallacy. Anyone supporting arbitrary tax or fee increases is doing so solely to engage in political fellatio.
Well lord, my people are somethingelse. Fete fees went up from $200.00 to $350.00 and the fete venue were busting at the seams, nobody protest, drmonstrate, go slow or sit down. The fashion stores we busy last carnival as the fete outfits were bought. The beauty salon were filled to capacity and nobody demonstrate, sit in or riot. Ask to contribute to the massive road program and its genocide on the people of Antigua and Bsrbuda.
Happy to hear from the D-U-L-Y E-L-E-C-T-E-D Leader of the Opposition. The wannabe “Ambassador to JAMAICA” always trying to run ahead, undermine and usurp Mr. Pringle’s authority. But the CONVENTION RESULTS stand!!!!
There are some issues that transcends party politics and this is one of them. This whopping 40 percent increase would affect ABLP, UPP and Independent people alike. This noose around our necks is coming soon after government waste $1.5 million on One Nation Concert. People have to decide if they prefer to “jam and whine” and then “get tax in their spine.” That’s all!
How much the Domincan queen contestant get from you? Was it a WHOPPING 40% too?
Antiguan man says former pageant contestant defrauded him of over $20,000
“Audley Phillip told Dominica News Online that the young woman spent over $10,000 on his credit cards, as well as making phone calls to Germany and England costing over $4,800.”
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
all now she should a til a tek you to de cleaners. Mek young gayl lone. She nah want none old man 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Auditing Transport Board will not assist in enlightening the general public on much more than how much is collected in licence fees. Those monies are then sent to The Treasury to be deposited in the Consolidated Fund to be utilized by Government.
We need to be presented with not only a budget for an upcoming year but also with an actual Audited Financial Report from a reputable Auditor at the end of each fiscal year.
After reading all the above comments I now realize how correct Donald Trump was when he labeled us a shit hole country and the PM is intent on keeping it that way for himself and his cronies
@make out you have to be evil, wicked or just down right horrible to say what you said.
Yes let him use his own damn money. While poor people have utilities to pay politician don’t pay any. Not phone, not internet, not water or light bill. How dear you! making a joke about this when there is people in this country that can hardly survive and is trying with everything in them to get by. How dear you? Wicked ass set of people.
.
In situations like this there is no RED, BLUE, GO GREEN, ORANGE or independent. We are all in the same boat. You all must know when to leave politics alone and think about your self and your family. Because politics is sure not thinking about you all. OPEN YOU All EYES WIDE and see. Are you love politicians and dey nor love are you tarl tarl. It’s time to wake up from slumber.
This is not about RED, BLUE, GO GREEN ORANGE or independent this is about the poor people in this country that cannot catch a break.
Antigua people love to much politicians and politics. You all love people that don’t give a damn about you all or your children. Politicians don’t love you all at all. You all are just a mean to an end to them. OPEN YOU All EYES WIDE and see. Wake up out of this slumber you all are in. Ask you all selves this question, what did I vote for?
The roads them can’t be that bad if Max Hurst car last this long. LOL