Opposition Slams ABLP Administration’s Draconian Fiscal Measures in Budget Presentation

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Richard LEWIS

Opposition Member of Parliament Richard Lewis has used the People’s Parliament to deliver a searing critique of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Administration’s budget presentation, denouncing what he termed as draconian fiscal measures that could inflict untold hardships on the citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.

Lewis began by revisiting the ABLP’s unfulfilled promises of reduced taxes, expressing disappointment at the current administration’s apparent departure from these assurances. He highlighted a series of financial burdens imposed by the ABLP, including the UBT, a 50% increase in the environmental levy, and a windfall tax on key sectors.

Despite acknowledging the Customs Department’s record-breaking revenue collection of $403 million in 2023, Lewis accused the government of lacking accountability for these funds. He questioned the necessity of additional revenue through proposed tax hikes, emphasizing the government’s failure to address discretionary tax waivers, which he argued could yield four times the expected revenue from the ABST increase.

While expressing support for wage and salary increases for public servants, Lewis raised alarms about the government’s financial health, referencing a Cabinet decision requiring statutory corporations to remit 50% of profits. He called for transparency in accounting for these funds, especially those allocated for Social Security and the Medical Benefits Scheme.

The speaker then delved into the specific fiscal measures outlined in the budget, expressing concern over the lack of clarity on implementing a 10% excise tax on alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis products. He condemned the 150% increase in the Money Transfer Levy, labeling it as “wickedness of the highest order,” and warned of its progressive rise to 10%.

Lewis expressed deep reservations about the broadening of the ABST tax base and the increase in the ABST rate from 15% to 17%, particularly in the tourism sector. He demanded accountability from both the central government and statutory bodies, urging justification for the proposed tax hikes.

In a bid to offer alternative solutions to boost the economy, Lewis proposed reducing Corporate Income Tax to 15% to stimulate business establishment. He advocated for supporting local production by eliminating ABST on local produce and products and zero-rating ABST on the import of capital goods used in local manufacturing.

Amid citizens grappling with the looming specter of increased living costs, Lewis implored the people of Antigua and Barbuda to demand transparency and accountability from their government. He concluded by asserting that the proposed fiscal measures, as outlined in the budget, do nothing to address income inequality, poverty, or hunger in the nation.

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17 COMMENTS

  1. B L U E A N D Y E L L O W C L O W N S

    The place to have made these presentations was in the PARLIAMENT of Antigua and Barbuda. That is where you get paid to make a presentation and to officially register your disapproval with the Budget. Anything else is a damned clown show.

    Dinson A. Parker (God rest his soul) would be so disappointed right now with Richard Lewis to see a boy he had such high hopes for associating himself with the level of failure that the UPP represents.

    • RED FOR DANGEROUS CLOWNS

      Here again, we have an ABLP supporter that intentionally forgets that over the last 53 years that the ABLP were in charge for 40 of them, under the WASTEFUL guidance of Birdism and now Browneism; and yet @ Carter talks about “the level of failure that the UPP represents”.

      The delusion, self-deception and fallacy of these ABLP apologists – come what may – just beggars belief!

      RED DANGEROUS CLOWNS!!!

      • @ Brixtonian: The town hall meeting that was referred to the People’s Parliament that your brothers & sisters (UPP) had was COLOURFUL FAILURE.
        1. What was advocated by the MP’s & Senators was not officially on record in the nation’s parliament

        2. None of the MP’s or Senators debated the budget but regurgitated their maiden speeches from the session of parliament

        3. It was clearly seen that the opportunity used to do a dry run to brush or improve upon their weak areas in order to give a better representation during the next sitting of parliament

    • Sometimes I wonder whether or not the ABLP are now using the tactics of propaganda to hoodwink wink their core base and also the undecided.

      @ Carter comes over as an out and out illywhacker and flim-flammer.

    • Brixtonian , I know you are ASHAMED of the UPP MP’S performance last evening !!!. I am at a loss to find out if this presentation that They need a month to be prepared for…

      Brixtonian ..Where was ASOT MICHAEL ? Asot could not associate Himself with these UPP dumb AS”””SES. BIG UP ASOT. Asot is still an ABLP.

      • @ GILES, are you also a illywhacker or a flim-flammer like @ Carter?

        Must be … 😁

        AND HOW YOU LOVE CALL ME NAME SO?

    • Would the opposition be allowed to speak in parliament without being shouted at or heckled? Waste of time as they won’t be allowed to make a contribution. This necessitated the peoples parliament. I guess you like the monkey 🙈 performance that is the Labour Party parliament.

    • This is the most RIDICULOUS thing ever took in Antigua. How the hell can the UPP conducted a meeting outside Parliament to debate the Budget ? I watched it for a brief moment and was so ASHAMED. I watched the DUNCE elements of UPP just cursing. This was supported the Dunce elements of UPP which includes BRIXTONIAN. UPP will remain in opposition forever where They belong. Shame on UPP , BRIXTONIAN et Al.

  3. I concur with Mr. Lewis stance; as per the economic perils encroach on the people of my beloved home land. How in the he’ll could the UPP be expected to debate a budget pulled from a can, and presented for rebuttal in the allotted time allowed, was disingenuous and, an artful ploy of political gamesmanship of the People’s Patrimony. The opposition must be given adequate and reasonable time, for vetting the budget tabled and, not have it shoved as a piece of toilet paper to be flushed for septic disposal: thus giving cause and effect to the path for an alternative venue to produce and proffer the articulation of their stake on the budget stance tabled by the ABLP, which give rise to the appearance of budget gerrymandering for the purpose of evasion of their vaunted transparency, and accountability, and give rise for palpable cause to question the good faith veracity of the (ABLP) intent, such as to cause their descension in one rule of Governance by the people for the people; and not partisan patriotism. Thus, I stand A-political and, opine only as a conscientious son of the soil emotive of my people’s plight under the diabolic mantra of a delusional governance pandering to satiated a bamboozled partisan base.

  5. UPP is using Richard Lewis. You will never be the Political Leader of UPP because of your Jamaican Wife. UPP does NOT like Foreigners

  6. I have spoken to a few UPP supporters and They are very much DISAPPOINTED the UPP members in Parliament with Their presentation last evening. This was CIRCUS SHOW. This is what UPP members need a week to prepare for the debate ?????. WHAT A SHAME last evening.

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