ABLP Leader Gaston Browne has sharply criticised proposals by Jamale Pringle to remove taxes on items such as water equipment and potentially vehicle imports, warning that such measures could trigger a fiscal crisis and threaten public sector jobs.
In a social media post, Browne described the opposition’s approach as “senseless fiscal irresponsibility and reckless tax giveaways to win an election,” arguing that the country could face severe economic consequences if such policies were implemented.
“The consequences would be catastrophic. Public servants say goodbye to your jobs. Not even the IMF could solve the fiscal crisis that would follow,” Browne wrote.
The prime minister’s comments come after Pringle, speaking at the United Progressive Party’s campaign launch, outlined a series of cost-of-living relief measures, including a Water Tanks and Accessories Relief Program that would eliminate taxes on pumps, pressure systems and storage tanks to provide immediate assistance to households dealing with unreliable water supply.
Pringle also signalled broader efforts to reduce the cost of living, including making essential goods and services more affordable, though details on some proposals remain limited.
Browne’s response sets up a clear policy divide ahead of the April 30 general election, with the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party emphasising fiscal stability while the opposition promotes tax relief and direct support measures for households.
The exchange highlights the growing focus on economic management and cost-of-living pressures as central issues in the campaign, with both parties seeking to persuade voters that their approach offers the most sustainable path forward.
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Gaston parasitical debates and reaction to the UPP is disgusting, because Gaston stay at his radio station and give out duty free and even custom officer get killed because of Gaston duty free scheme and now Gaston is saying upp shouldn’t give duty free while he Gaston on the campaign trail dishing out duty free and amnesty and all promises.
Gaston is giving away ebry ting fu try and win one election but he is critical of Pringle for giving breaks. Gaston has to the worst hypocrite ever. He wussa than dem hypocrites that slide over from UPP. What a f**king man. How much more deceptive can this dude be. Satan haffu envy bwoy
Pringle really now ready yet. All he do is get up stage and read like a 10 year old whatever them write down for him to read without thinking, whether it mek any sense or not
Pringle really now ready yet. All he do is get up stage and read like a 10 year old whatever them write down for him to read without thinking, whether it mek any sense or not.
when is UPP’s convention? Will the UPP VIOLATE ITS OWN CONSTITUTION? Can they be trusted to uphold our Nation’s Constitution if they cannot honour theirs?
@ Gaston
The Labour Party seem to be panicking after the UPP leader announced duty free consessions on cars for private use, he seems to have forgotten the EC$40,000,000.00 in duties and taxes lost to the treasury in the recent Vehicle Gate scandal that he himself told us about.
Not to mention, the duty frees that have been floating all around Antigua in election giveaways. His radio station was the place where all and sundry wearing redshirts could get one.
Please Gaston wheel and come again.
If we eliminate how much duty free given to the rich we will be able to give everybody taxes off of vehicles food and other essentials
Same tick that lick the wild goat, will lick de tame one. Lest we forget. PIT and IMF. Nat dem again.
Only foreigners get tax concessions under this useless ALP government. It’s about time real Antiguans start enjoying some of the benefits.
In the US they was a fight against the NYC mayor before he was elected because he promised to give free daycare, free food supermarket for people who are food insecure and other things. Every one laughed and said it was impossible and he would destroy the city. During his first few months in office, there was a winter storm that dumped lots of snow in the city. He called on regular new yorkers to sign up for $30-45 ah hour to shovel the snow. 7,000 people signed up and NYC was cleaned and thecost was $150,000 compared to the 80, 000 000 it would have cost the city if contract companies were use. Sometimes things can be done differently that could benefit the people more than the politicians, but the ones who wants to get the most out of your tax dollars will never let you know other cost savings ways are available. Let a real fiscal policy analyst tell you what’s impossible, not the people who are the biggest beneficiaries of tax payers $$$.
In the US they was a fight against the NYC mayor before he was elected because he promised to give free daycare, free food supermarket for people who are food insecure and other things. Every one laughed and said it was impossible and he would destroy the city. During his first few months in office, there was a winter storm that dumped lots of snow in the city. He called on regular new yorkers to sign up for $30-45 ah hour to shovel the snow. 7,000 people signed up and NYC was cleaned and thecost was $150,000 compared to the 80, 000 000 it would have cost the city if contract companies were use. Sometimes things can be done differently that could benefit the people more than the politicians, but the ones who wants to get the most out of your tax dollars will never let you know other cost savings ways are available. Let a real fiscal policy analyst tell you what’s impossible, not the people who are the biggest beneficiaries of tax payers $$$.
@ Pringle dem
Just for your information Giselle is more intelligent than Gaston Browne. She jus no Bragy like he, so you check yourself when you chatting your crap. The only thing Gaston is better than her at is sleight of hand. That’s why we are mired in corruption
Pringle’s statement ignores our fiscal situation. Its out of place to make such statements without also stating how you will make up for the cuts. Its already known that the state of CIP is precarious hence how will we avoid the bad days of UPP when payment to public sector workers had to be made late due to fiscal challenges? Under UPP they argued enough taxes are not being collected, the tax to gdp number was low Harold argued, Under ABLP its now even lower, yet Pringle pushes tax cuts
Removing taxes and duties from import vehicles and whatever else sounds great on paper but I would hope most people are smart enough to understand that any government that does such a thing would just increase taxes and duties on other things to Antiguans (construction materials, utilities, fuel, you name it) to collect that lost revenue stream since governments everywhere do not operate on the concept of doing more with less. I’ve seen this type of thing happen with some taxes being removed on goods in Jamaica and Grenada only for them to be increased significantly on other items.
Pringle is placing a nice little pre-election appetizer on the table but if he wins, then the main course will be gruel, every single day. Are the majority of Antiguans really so gullible? I don’t think so.
@Capone. You are a whiny, pussy-ass bitch. Get fucked.🖕🏿
@ Anonymous
Do you realize what you are suggesting Pringle would do is exactly what Gaston is doing right now. Take your head out your behind
He’s nervous, that’s it. UPP winning this election!.
Gaston have the nerve to be talking about give aways, with all that you are giving away right now and you win this election you will be taxing us out of our draws. When are you going to stop being a hypocrite
It appears this general election is a CONTEST of FREEBIES, it reminds me of the song DOVE and PIGEON by LORD NELSON .I wonder who is the DOVE or PIGEON the electorate will decide.
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