In protest to the length of time given to them the prepare for the 2024 budget debate in parliament, members of the opposition United Progressive Party did not show up to the budget debate today.
A motion last week set the debate on the budget presented by Prime Minister Gaston Browne on Friday, to Tuesday.
The opposition MPs presented a counter motion for Thursday which was defeated.
They argue that one weekend is not enough time to consider the budget and prepare their presentations.
They are expected in Parliament this week.
Government MP’s have criticized their decision.
The debate on the budget is now at a record pace since only government MP’s are there to present without the usual cross-talk.
So far, 4 government MP’s have made their presentation on the budget.
They are Sports Minister Daryl Matthew, Housing Minister Maria Browne, Tourism Minister Max Fernandez and Foreign Affairs Minister EP Chet Greene.
At this pace, it is likely that the debate may be concluded very early.
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This is exactly what the government wanted. Now the government can debate the budget with themselves only and no opposition. UPP made a mistake on this one. Now you will not be able to say anything at all on the budget. You have given the government an ease on the budget. Bad mistake, bad move.
I agree they should hv attend since govt did nothing against the law so there debate is legal an now wat ever they say goes the opposition is weak an to me do things on there own behalf they dam well no the law not supporting dem staying away we supporters risk our Jobs go support there meeting there protest so they could hv jus go represent us on dat one smh
@ Biggs
can you please provide a translation of the garbage you just wrote and as dictated by your bosses
@ Not So Common
I do not share your opinion and we are all entitled to one.
The government and the Speaker has no regard nor respect for the opposition members. Gaston looks down on them in disdain. I think their absence sends a stronger message than if they were in parliament debating it and giving Gaston a bigger stage than he deserves.
Great stand against disrespect, arrogance AND LIES
@not so common …. Maybe you are not so common after all. This is Antigua , what sense and difference it makes if the opposition to give their presentstion inside or outside parliament ??? If they did not get reasonable time, what are they going to present???? Are they going to have them selves looking like an arse ?????? You think UPP should bow to ALP bullshit ???? Bad move ? Not so common ??? I will be looking forward to the UPP’s presentation on whatever forum they choose . Gone are the days when ALP believes they can call the shots and UPP lap tail and follow …….. bad move ???? not so common!?? I’d say you are a not so common labourite
Say they wanted to represent you. Now its time to represent, all are absent.
Well done UPP, keep up the good work.
@ Stay Focused
Do you think you saying this and Daryl talking about coward will stop people from supporting?
Go ahead wishing useful idiots.
Who laugh last, laugh best
I agree with the opposition on this one.
I think they made a mistake by going to the Budget Speech but that’s just me…
Time will ultimately tell.
When Rosa Parks said, up with this ignorance i will not put, who knew what a defining moment that would have become.
Time will tell.
@Audley Dave Joseph(Beef)…while Rosa Parks became the face of the Civil Rights Movement, through the Montgomery Bus Boycott, a fifteen(15) year old young lady, by the name of Claudette Colvin had refused to give up her seat, to a white woman some eight months prior to Rosa Parks taking her stance.
Claudette Colvin was not chosen by the NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of CERTAIN(Coloured) People, and the Black Boule Fraternal Order, since, allegedly, Ms. Colvin did not fit the IMAGE which they needed to make their case Nationallu and Internationally.
This is not, to take anything away from Rosa Parks and the stance which she took, since, she was already fighting for the Civil Rights of the Coloureds, as a Member and organiser for the NAACP.
It’s similar to Vere C. Bird Snr, getting most of the credit, for the work(s), of the #Thirty_Niners!
Jumbee_Picknee aka Ras Smood
De ‘ole Dutty Peg🦶🏿Garrat_Bastard
Vere C. Edwards
LEARN TO LEAVE THE TABLE WHEN RESPECT IS NO LONGER BEING SERVED.
YOU CAN’T STAY IN THE MUD AND HOPE TO GET THE PIG CLEAN
Great move UPP …I SUPPORT IT 100%.
HERE IS A BIG MIRROR FOR THOSE IN PARLIAMENT, LOOK AT YOURSELVES AND HAVE A GRAND TIME, MERRY XMAS. THE AYES HAVE IT
@Dion Pelle, I agree with what you expressed. Sometimes you have to walk-away and run.
What the hell sense does this make? Time and time again the opposition does nonsense like this. How does it serve the interest of the people?
@ Antigua First
Well at least it caused you to pay attention to what’s happening- that in itself is a victory.
Gaston and Molwyn and Cutie and Robin never boycott parliament? Was it nonsense then? Answer that one simple question, am waiting.
I was paying attention in the first place. The budget is televised and sent out in both print and digital formats. Don’t deflect from the primary issue. The UPP is not doing its job. They need to stop walking out of Parliament like petulant children. The only thing that they are constantly showing the country is that they don’t have solutions. Instead of presenting solutions they continue to point fingers at the obvious issues the country is having. That is not what they are being paid for. When they get back into power the ABLP will do the same nonsense, pointing fingers and not providing solutions.
Wow wow wow you are s wet pussycat I can assure you that one day you will Take that comment back they have proven themselves before don’t forget the Alpha Nehro we castergate them for the action taken they prove to us that they were right are we stock with a costly problem
Well done UPP.
We had a debate today with all the members talking to granny and wishing granny a happy birthday!!
Happy birthday granny and may you live to see many more!!
You old fart!!!!🤔😂😁
Quite honestly, there really need to be consensus on how Parliamentary proceedings are conducted. Every single elected member of parliament must be heard during the budgetary debates. What is so hard in sitting with the Opposition and agreeing on an amicable timetable when the debates can commence. I have to agree with the Parliamentary Opposition that time is needed in order to properly and meaningfully prepare for debates on the budgetary proposals and I fail to see why this could not have been done. The manner in which Parliament is being conducted doesn’t lend itself to any cordial and orderly process as everything seem to be a tussle and a war these days. It is very sad and regrettable how things are headed. We badly need a consensus approach to things or we would always have this hostility and animosity plaguing our Parliamentary proceedings.
@Audley Phillip December 19, 2023 At 6:08 pm
So tell me how do you agree if one side doesn’t want to compromise. The ABLP said Monday, the UPP said Thursday. The ABLP came with a counter proposal and said Tuesday and the UPP said NO Thursday, no compromise.
You guys are so politically blind, you just cannot see that these guys are not ready for prime time. And many other solutions were offered. Molwyn suggested that the more experience member of the UPP go first and then the ABLP that would have taken them to Wednesday and Thursday for that matter. But no not showing up at all is their answer.
This morning on Twin Island Media Regional analysts Don Anderson was ask if he thought the opposition was given enough time. He said two to three days is enough to prepare and speak on the budget since there were not substancial changes between 2023 budget and this one. This is coming from an outsider. And as a accounting and finance professional I agree with him. You do not speak in detail on the budegt anyway. That is for the technical people. You can speak in terms of where the government focusses on spending the money. Which department is getting the most funds. And how they planning to finance the shortfall. But I guess they will now hold public parliament with their supporters. They forget that our democracy is run in the parliament building not on the street, or on social media or on the radio. What a set of stupid people. You get what you vote for.
Excellent decision. The idiot PM is behind this blatant disregard for law and order. Just look at how he manhandles the other ALP clowns. That Tub of Lard AG has got to be the biggest failure in every aspect of his portfolio. Alpha Nero should suffice as an example although the man who knows all the “Hotspots” and needed 500 cops to keep law and order, sits on his a$$ while crime rages out of control.
Why the short notice when instructions are clear that seven days is required? After the embarrassment and blatant errors earlier this year, Gassy did not want his incompetence exposed again.
Competent minds know the value of preparation; dunceses advocate haste.
I would have warned them that if they failed again to give the time given to them while in opposition, we will boycott the debate.
Knowing that what ABLP did was deliberate, they would probably do it again but Sideline and others would have had less to say
I like this message sent by the UPP..if you do not support something, why show up like a hypocrite pretending to be a part of something you had absolutely no say in?
And like I said again and again. This pompous Prime Minister of Antigua has never shown any propensity to listen to anyone outside his circle, so why show up this to be embarrassed by this partisan garbage budget meeting!!
I back this move, cause it’s time to move on from this failed experiment call Gatson Browne.
Let him go dance abroad like he’s so accustomed to,and stop lying to the Antiguan people.
I told you’ll some time back that the US Embassy is not coming back to Antigua, and that’s a direct result because of Gatson Brownes corruption and his relationship with Nigerians and the Saudi’s.
THEY CANNOT TRUST HIM.
CURRUPT CURRUPT CURRUPT.
https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=watch_permalink&v=225801353892927
I think you guys should listen to the reasoning from one of your own Sister Jacqui Quinn for making the case why she is of the opinion that the UPP made a big mistake not to attend the debate. Even though she prefaced her statement that she know she will step on some shoes and hurt some egos. I hope you guys don’t crucify her for being so honest and forthright. It must have taken her lots of courage to do so. But knowing the UPP in the past they have killed their own for speaking out against the party. Remember the voting in the Senate against the CIP bill.
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