UPP to picket parliament on Thursday

Pringle Calls for Protest Over Social Security Crisis

Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle has issued a call for public action over what he described as a deepening financial crisis at Antigua and Barbuda’s Social Security Scheme, blaming decades of alleged mismanagement and misuse of funds by successive Antigua Labour Party (ALP) administrations.

In a public address, Pringle traced the roots of the crisis to what he said was a $550 million shortfall left behind by the ALP government between 1976 and 2004. “For 28 years, the ALP administration raided $550 million from the coffers of Social Security and did not repay,” he said, referencing the findings of a 2009 actuarial review that projected the scheme’s reserves would be depleted by 2025.

He commended the former United Progressive Party (UPP) administration for attempting to address the crisis in 2010 by passing a $550 million bond, which he said generated revenue and injected $30 million into the scheme over four years.

Pringle sharply criticised the current Gaston Browne administration for failing to continue those efforts. “For over a decade, the present Gaston Browne administration has failed to put revenue into the Social Security scheme by refusing to substantially service the $550 million bond,” he said. He also accused the government of accumulating arrears for rent, contributions, and loan repayments owed to the fund.

“It is time to say no more. It is time to say hands off our Social Security,” Pringle declared, urging citizens and residents to join him in picketing the Parliament building on Thursday, 31 July at 8:30 a.m., when the government is expected to seek parliamentary approval for what he described as the “continued abuse” of the scheme.

The government has not yet publicly responded to the Opposition Leader’s statement.

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