(REAL News) – MP Richard Lewis says that Antigua and Barbuda’s economy is in shambles, with numerous problems and issues plaguing the country and its respective communities.
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Lewis, who represents the Rural West constituency, says that Prime Minister Gaston Browne and the Antigua Labour Party have ruined the economy with their many bad decisions.
These have caused the inequality in income and the wealth-distribution gap to widen, the MP says.
Lewis recalls that, early in the first term of the ALP Administration, Browne told the people that he would seriously address the issue of wealth inequality to ensure that this gap is narrowed.
However,10 years later, instead of equality in wealth, the poor have gotten poorer while the rich have gotten only richer, making the gap significantly wider, the MP states.
Lewis also points to the country’s crumbling infrastructure – in spite of the Government having received millions and millions from the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP).
He compares Antigua and Barbuda with the smaller nation of St. Kitts & Nevis and notes how that government has been able to use CIP income to develop the islands for the upliftment of its people.
In the meantime, the United Progressive Party MP says, here at home, the various communities’ roads are in a deplorable condition, and the unbearable spike in the cost of living continues.
As proof, he cites the astonishing rise in the prices of simple grocery items, including bread.
With the cost of bread having gone up by almost 10 percent in recent weeks, he says, this is a clear demonstration that the country’s economy is not functioning in the way it should.
Lewis says that the cost for food, healthcare, rent, child care, utilities, and transportation is out of control, and the ALP Administration has done very little to bring relief to the people.
Further, he recalls the promises made by the ALP leading up to the January 18 General Election, including the assurance that public servants would receive a raise in pay.
The Administration even “sweetened the pot” by giving them an extra salary payment in December last year, he says.
However, the election came and went and the promise of a salary hike is yet to be fulfilled.
Not even the back pay due to public servants has been honoured, Lewis says, and he brands the Browne Administration as wicked and cruel.
Meanwhile, Lewis says, the unemployment rate is skyrocketing, with thousands without jobs – including the youth who have left school and now have nothing to do.
He says the Government has a responsibility to create an enabling environment where jobs can be created and young people, in particular, can be put to work.
Instead, Lewis says, the Browne Administration has failed to create opportunities and new school-leavers are on the breadline looking for something meaningful to do.
Finally, the Rural West MP says the country’s crime rate is out of control, and residents are asking what is the ALP Government’s plan to curb it.
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One response to “MP Lewis Criticizes Browne Administration’s Economic Management”
Though I respect the member of Rural West, Hon. Richard Lewis for pontificating as a duly elected opposition MP, the argument must be reasonable and responsible.
Disclaimer:
Opposition members do what they must to convince the masses to support them, and that’s understandable.
Where I have an issue is the constant comparison to the St. Kitts economy:
What is the size of their population?
What percentage of their people work for the government?
How much do they collect from the CIP in comparison to Antigua?
From my limited knowledge, they have much more disposable income from their CIP program than Antigua does.
I agree that many of the roads are still in deplorable conditions and need to addressed soonest but I believe that the new minister and her team have made significant strides in that area.
The poor is getting poorer? Really?
So how come Carnival was so successful?
How come all the those fetes were so well supported?
How come Big People Party got such great attendance every time it’s held?
How come so many new cars are being driven on our streets daily?
How come so many locals are creating new businesses?
How come so many people board to flights to New York, London, Canada every time the planes are ascending?
How are all these people able to afford costumes for Carnival?
I do agree that more can be done in many areas but I am not privy to the budget with which the ministry of finance is working.
It’s easier to criticize from the outside when you don’t have the knowledge as to the internal affairs.
I guess that I have to allow you to do all you can to secure leadership of the party. It’s your right.
Democracy rules…
Good luck, Sir. 🇦🇬