PM Browne Accuses Opposition of Misleading Public on Youth Unemployment
Prime Minister Gaston Browne has accused the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) of deliberately misleading the public by recycling outdated statistics on youth unemployment.
Speaking on Pointe FM, Browne dismissed claims by the UPP that youth unemployment in Antigua and Barbuda currently stands at 26%, insisting the figure was based on a 2018 UNESCO report that he described as “absolute rubbish.”
He said the opposition was using flawed data covering the 15–24 age group, which included many students who were still in school and not part of the workforce.
Government officials argued that Antigua and Barbuda was “almost at full employment,” estimating the true unemployment rate to be closer to 2–2.5% once students and informal sector workers are taken into account.
Browne said the opposition’s reliance on outdated numbers was part of a pattern of “disinformation and misinformation,” accusing them of attempting to discredit the government’s record on job creation.
He contrasted the present situation with unemployment levels under the former administration, which he claimed were above 20% overall and over 40% among young people. “By 2018, we had already brought it down to 26% in line with regional averages, and the position is much better now, seven years later,” he said.
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Can someone explain to me how this information is gathered?
Minus the politics
No Gaston the unemployment rate is 0%- anybody can claim anything. Back up with statistics.
UPP like most Caribbean institution is unfortunately not up to the task that they have given themselves or are assigned.
This issue of employment is a soft ball for UPP to knock out the Park.
There is hardly any a single political than employment.
Economic Policies are promoted and are crafted by data. Employment data is chief among them If the data is not available, then that’s an issue.
Is it because it is not collected? Then that’s an issue
Is it because the data is defective? Then that’s an issue.
If clean employment data it’s not collected or it’s defective then that’s a problem and is a major political issue.
Interesting Gaston Brown has argued that Trump is following his policy of enrichment.
When Trump did not like the employment figures he fired the head of the agency.
PM Gaston Browne don’t need to do any such thing, like firing government officials; for he tells the country what are the employment figures see and how to interpret them.
The Prime Minister provides the UPP with information and political assets for building their case against him, most times when he opens his mouth.
The question is: which fraction of the UPP is able to take advantage of the opportunities given?