UPP calls for protest action against withdrawal
of Christmas ABST-reduction
The United Progressive Party (UPP) condemns the Gaston Browne Administration’s heartless and cowardly announcement that there will be no ABST-reduction weekend this Christmas Season.
That decision is unconscionable a time like this – when the Statistics Division has just confirmed a second consecutive hike in bread and flour products and a 5.6% increase in inflation for the year ending September 2023; when the Administration is planning a 2% hike in the ABST; and when the period for importing Christmas barrels has been shortened.
The UPP began this tradition of “giving back” to the people at Christmas time, and residents have long grown accustomed to planning their major purchases around the annual sales-tax reduction.
The business community also looks forward to the reduction, as it is the peak season for sales, especially of large items like vehicles, equipment, building supplies, and furniture.
Therefore, to abruptly remove it without consulting the buying public or the businesses they patronize, again, is a unilateral decision by an increasingly insensitive government. And to do so while the Minister of Finance is conveniently out of the country is nothing short of cowardly.
We have little doubt that, on his return, Prime Minister Gaston Browne will claim that his hands are tied by the curiously timed statements of Comptroller of Customs Raju Boddu. But we have no doubt that this abuse of the people’s trust was carefully orchestrated.
To add insult to injury, Government spokesman Lionel Hurst has feebly stated that the Government will hold consultations on the ABST increase at some unspecified time – but that it will not consult with the UPP, whom he accuses of making mischief.
For the record, and to expunge Mr. Hurst’s barefaced lie, the UPP has called for consultations with THE PEOPLE since we are a people-first institution; not with the Party.
And, clearly, the mischief being made is with the people’s ability to save while they spend this Christmas Season after this cruel act by the Browne Administration.
It is time for the people – both businesses and consumers – to take protest action in the face of such disadvantage, and the UPP again calls on the public to support such action when it is called.
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I’m a huge ABLP supporter and when it comes to politics I don’t talk about I watch actions and honestly I can’t Take the way My ABLP leader anymore seems like the so call tans transparency is more like what he wants you to see if you’re a man of the people before making some dramatical or drastic decision speak to your people communicate with your people instead of losing votes you win trust again more votes my party my fellow comrades what is really happening times are getting harder we can’t deny that but where does our government try to make things easier somewhat towards the people…..
Red is bread and 100% believe that but when it comes to a point that you see the same bread that we need to feed our children may not be there tomorrow as a parent as a mother as a father as a leader wouldn’t you say that we should look for ways and means to make it affordable or explain ways and means that we could afford to me things comfortable for the people why just wild out and just throw ys it seems like every now and again and if it’s not your way then it’s no way at all….
Uncle Gaston Fix This And Please we as ANTIGUA’S shouldn’t beg you that should be your only goal to make you county and it’s citizens more especially the lower class citizens some form of ease from all the squeeze
Support your party but speak truthfully to the issues. I hope that one day,very soon, Sideline, Tenman, Eric The Dead and the other stoopers will acquire some honesty and credibility and follow your lead.
I’m not looking for no support as I said I don’t talk politics…. I vote for the one that put in work str8 up…. But when u mess up and it can affect a whole country come on man common sense has to come in…. But then again common sense not so common especially amongst our leadership….. Red, Blue, Green, White or any color all a dem still going talk up a storm and make the biggest promises and still do what favors their own pockets I believe in strong leadership not in Party leaders please don’t get it twisted….. As history continuously repeats itself all our party leaders I don’t care what color what you ever back they all have done the same enriching themselves and then the finance department you know what let me not go down that road have a great weekend
But also you’d do well to remember, that even though the UPP were in governance for 12-13 years, even as erudite with your previous communications, you realise that the ABLP had FOUR DECADES to make life so much easier for those of us who reside here.
But overall, I take on board what you are saying.
Much respect @ Tony Hawks. This is one of the most balanced comments that I’ve heard from an ABLP supporter in ages.
As I read your piece, I was expecting the same blind loyalty (as I once did way back in 2014) to the party, and Gaston Browne, but you recognised that even ABLP supporters – and their children – are feeling the pinch as well as the majority of Antiguans.
I’d be interested to know the views about what you’ve said, from the likes of:
Dave Ray; tenman; GILES; Eric THE RED (btw, whey him dey?); Curious; Hmmmmm; Fitzroy; From The Sideline, and the many ‘Gaston Can’t Do Wrong’ followers. I’m intrigued!
Hopefully, even they’ll accept this comment from one of their own without putting some sort of NEGATIVE spin on your comment.
Once again the upp is standing up for a bunch of antiguans who are not capable of standing up for themselves
True dat @ John 👍🏾
Gov’t must be really hurting financially. The Controller of Customs just announced a record take in Customs duties and the PM said we have the best growth (GDP) in the Caribbean. Somebody not telling the truth. “WHE DE MONEY GORN”
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
For those who won’t be able to protest, just remember that the ultimate protest is when you vote against the wicked labour party administration in the upcoming general elections.
In all constituencies, vote against the labour party candidate. Let us show them who is boss around here.
@ Tony Hawks
I find your comments very interesting. It speaks to our state as a nation.
Rarely does any ALBP supporter who is so much of the fraternity of Comrades and the fraternity of political family of Uncle Gaston publicly ask its leadership to look out for the poor.
We live in a Country where its each man and woman for themselves, trying to keep up with the Jones.
The late Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. emerged as a labor leader when he battled the Sugar Syndicate on behalf of these two islands immerging destitute out of slavery with the feet of colonialism on our necks. VC his actions made him one of our heroes today. His legacy as a labor leader and the organization AT&LU fighting for the welfare and upliftment of the poor worker has been lost.
The ABLP today has subverted and inverted the economic model spearheaded by
Vere Cornwall Bird Sr.; who was among the first in the Caribbean pursuing the economic policy of Foreign Direct Investments (FDI)
Antigua and Barbuda similar to many islands of he Eastern Caribbean has a poverty trap model economy unfortunately we are missing the window of diversifying our economy and are solely dependent on FDI and imports.
We are now chasing our tail for FDI in the Middle East for down to the poor masses so in fact they remain in a cycle of poverty from generation to generation.
The poor are victims of “The poverty trap model” economy, where wages are low unemployment is high. They have no say or control on prices, taxes from which they cannot escape. They are at the mercy of the very people who are suppose to be looking out for them.
Tony Hawks many like yourself have benefited from the trickle-down economics which is practiced in Antigua and Barbuda. That’s the reason why you live by the motto red is bread 100%.
A very large portion of the world thinks the way you do. Let me get mine. The difference is the cultural the corruption has been normalized in Antigua and Barbuda to create a large proportion of beggars Most single mothers that go to see the Minister is caught in the poverty trap.
We are fortunate to have the outlet of North America and Europe, otherwise we would be like a number of failed states in Africa. Resulting in the Dyaspora being larger than the local communities. We have 30,000 Barbudans in the Dyaspora and 1,200 on Barbuda .
Like some places in South East Asia, ABLP practices destitution and poverty politics. Pressure on the streets can do some good; but putting forward practical policies starting with education is the partway out of poverty, not handouts.
Handout are poverty traps into dependency. As the holiday season arrives, ABLP envision more beggars, which for them means more votes.
@Brix.
Quite frankly I do not want to hear anything from the likes just you mentioned above (especially the pompous Sideline) not because of hate, it because they do not have anything useful to say to the people Antigua, and right now we need to hear viable arguments so we can be better informed going forward.
These old farts won’t change their spots, and therefore I for one do not want to come on here and read all their dumb constant rants as to how great this “failed” government is.
HELL NO. So good riddance if I don’t see the likes of tenman and rest on here stinking up the place.
I hear you boss 🤜🏽🤛🏽
Some how the UPP really thinks that this Gaston Browne government is listening to them. Well guys you can play dolly house with yourself. But this government has a country to run and you guys are no where in that. Not even in parliament you guys have any meaningful contribution to make. And when you are invited to do so. Like the last time you guys claim to want to be part of the water solution, when you got invited you declined the invitation and looked for all sorts of excuses. The same thing happened during Covid. You guys are just a bunch of noise makers and obstructionists. But we know how to deal with you when time comes. Tear Gas is ready to keep law and order. Democracy is held in parliament, not on the streets. And don’t get me wrong. You have the right to protest. But keep it peaceful. Because when you disturb the peace, the police will have to uphold LAW AND ORDER. Next election is four years away. See you then.
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