As Finance Minister Gaston Browne continues to brag about the national rate of growth and residents continue to ask where it is, members of the United Progressive Party (UPP) are asking for the use of a new measuring instrument.
Joan Underwood, former ambassador to Latin America under the UPP, is suggesting that the Government stop tracking economic growth using the traditional markers of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Rather, she suggests the GINI Co-Efficient, which measures the distribution of income or wealth inequality among the population.
Given the disparities in living standards that clearly exist among residents, use of the GINI Co-Efficient has long been argued by spokespersons for the UPP, including St. Peter’s Caretaker Colin Isaac.
Both Isaac and Underwood agree that this would be a much more accurate reading of what is taking place in an economy that appears to be skewed to the advantage of those who are politically connected.
Many experts have expressed doubt in the growth figures published which relies heavily on the pronouncements of ECLAC to bolster its claims. While the statistics provided by the ECLAC are reliant on numbers submitted by the Government.
On the other hand, the annual IMF Reports can provide a more objective measurement of the country’s economic progress.
However, Junior Minister of Finance Lennox Weston shared that Browne Administration’s continues refuse to publish the document because, in short, the Agency could not be trusted not to undermine confidence in the local economy.
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JOAN UNDERWOOD do not KNOW what the HELL She is talking about. ALL what Joan Underwood is doing …She following all UPP OPERATIVES to show Their TIRED and WASTED energy to comment just for comment sake..Antiguans DO NOT want to hear anyone from the UPP.Your Party is completely FINISHED . Joan Underwood why don’t you disclose the amount of money you made from Barbuda for writing JOB Descriptions. Have you completed the PROJECT ? ALL UPP MEMBERS are a bunch of HYPRCRITES.
The upp need for power makes their “brightest” dumb. The ECLAC, CDB and IMF reports points out the growth stems from foremost the Hotel industry (eg record breaking stay over tourists) and the Construction Industry. Am I to understand from these UPP people that only ABLP supporters work at Hotels? Only ABLP work for the construction companies involved in extending existing plants or building new hotel plants? I get that things are more challenging for them since they can no longer control the public purse. Them days of being paid for consultations where only garbage is produced, yet they get paid thousands, are gone
“SPOKESPERSON”??? Is that what you call a person who bails on the party right before a general election? The COWARD swore up and down that she would beat Max Fernandez (her classmate she said). And then suddenly she claimed to have gotten a job. Goes to show that her heart was not truly in it from the get go. Why does the UPP think that deserves to be a spokesperson? Another “spokesperson” who refuses to give Jamal Pringle any help with “spoke-ing”
@HYPOCRICY…
You are correct JOAN UNDERWOOD is an OPPORTUNIST. She wants POWER which Her UPP will never see again in ANTIGUA .Joan Underwood is an ELITIST …She cannot associate Herself with ordinary Antiguans. She should go back in Her corner and Hide. She will help UPP to LOSE ELECTION 2023. UPP is FINISHED.
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