UPP Questions Whether Food Vouchers Will Be Honoured & Condemns The Politicization of The Programme
With food prices rising unchecked, and in the absence of any cost of living reduction measures, the UPP welcomes the announcement that Government plans to double the value of food vouchers.
However there are concerns as to whether these vouchers will be honoured, amid reports of vouchers being rejected due to Government non-payment. The situation was so grave that shoppers were asked to call ahead, to verify whether vouchers would be accepted, to avoid embarrassment at the checkout line.
“We hope they are not doubling the food vouchers and cutting the recipients in half,” UPP Political Leader Harold Lovell says, “I question the sincerity of Gaston Browne’s announcement. He says ‘UPP match dat!’. Is this an election gimmick or a serious programme? I say to Gaston Browne: stop your childish one-upmanship and politicization of something as essential as food.”
The UPP also condemns the political slant PM Browne has taken in his announcement. It has been widely reported that Government MPs have been engaged in the distribution of food vouchers issued by the Ministry of Social Transformation. The UPP views this as totally unacceptable.
“The needs assessments and distribution of vouchers should be conducted by social workers within the Ministry of Social Transformation, not Government Ministers,” Harold Lovell states. “The fact that Gaston Browne directed his ministers to spearhead the programme, undermines public trust in the fairness of the distribution.”
Lovell further recommends that the programme be immediately reorganized to remove all instances of political involvement.
Finally, the UPP Political Leader states, “Notwithstanding our support for the increase in the voucher value, we maintain our calls for the reduction of customs duties on certain essential food items. Lowering duties at the port will lower food prices everywhere, including at the small community businesses which are not part of the voucher programme.”
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Can the governor do anything without those wasteful pseudo politicians on the UPP side becoming critical and cry about things being political? Why do they think we should accept their pie in the sky ideas of being the saving grace for Antigua when they know to themselves it is all political. As the Banton said thief no love see thief with long bag!!!
UPP NAR LIE……THE SUPERMARKETS NOT ACCEPTING THE VOUCHERS FROM GOVERNMENT BECAUSE GOVERNMENT DON’T HAVE MONEY TO REPAY THEM.SIMPLE AS THAT.
THIS GOVERNMENT IS BANKRUPT, NO MONEY, NO IDEAS, UNPAID SUPLLIERS OF MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
ANTIGUA GONE, AND ONLY PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO FEAST AT THE TROUGH ARE HAPPY, WHEN THOUSANDS OF ANTIGUANS LIVING IN MISERY
Did you try to use the voucher and was refused? I bet not , hearsay, that’s the upp way!
Yes I did
The government that don’t like to pay workers backpay overtime say to a party that is not in power to match that
Chase Supermarket has not been accepting food vouchers since May. Gaston need to stop tell lie.
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