Introduction and Financial Overview
In a powerful address to Parliament, Opposition Leader and United Progressive Party (UPP) Political Leader, the Honorable Jamale Pringle, delivered a blistering critique of the government’s 2025 Budget, characterizing it as “star-studded political theatre” that offered “little style and less substance”.
Opening with acknowledgements to his UPP colleagues and his constituents of All Saints East & St Luke, he extended condolences to the family of former MP Asot Michael. Pringle paid tribute to the mentorship of former Speaker Hon Gerry Watt, noting how his guidance strengthened his foundations as a young parliamentarian, and welcomed the new Speaker as a member of his constituency.
“When the Minister of Finance speaks of ‘we’ doing well, I must ask: Who are these fortunate few?” Pringle questioned. He pointed out that while a select, well-connected minority prospers, the majority of Antiguans and Barbudans struggle “from paycheck to paycheck, with their dignity tested by mounting bills, dwindling resources and increased taxes.”
“Our people labour under the twin burdens of economic mismanagement and systemic corruption, thus creating a society which is increasingly being divided between haves and have-nots. This budget, rather than closing this gap, threatens to further widen it,” Pringle declared.
“Mr Speaker, the economic indicators are deeply concerning. The high prices that are now straining household budgets show no signs of abating. Instead, our citizens face an impending wave of price increases across basic necessities – food, electricity and transportation. These price increases have been made worse by the actions of the Gaston Browne government,” he said.
The Opposition Leader pointed out that “these cost increases inevitably spread through our economy like ripples in a pond, touching every aspect of our daily life. The human cost of this economic mismanagement cannot be overstated.
“We face a scenario where every day working mothers struggle to put food on the table; where children risk hunger and malnutrition, and where even those fortunate enough to have a job, find their pay-cheques inadequate to meet their basic needs.” He lamented that “the minimum wage, already stretched thin, is proving woefully insufficient against this tide of rising prices.”
The Opposition Leader particularly condemned the government’s recent increase of the ABST sales tax to 17 per cent, describing it as a “wicked act” that contradicted earlier campaign promises.
With debt servicing of $798-million dollars and salary and wages amounting to $478-million, the total of $1.276-billion dollars nearly depletes the entire country’s projected revenue of $1.41 billion.
“This is clearly some sort of Gaston Brown voodoo economics!” Pringle declared, highlighting the unsustainability of the government’s financial management. Is this what the prime minister means when he says he will “BORROW US OUT OF DEBT”? he questioned, as there is no money left in the budget to do anything else! the Opposition Leader lamented.
Food Security and Agricultural Policy
Turning to food security, Pringle lambasted the government’s failure to support local farmers and meet CARICOM’s target of reducing imported agricultural goods by 25 per cent by 2025. This target, which demands a corresponding 25 per cent increase in local crop production, cannot materialize in a vacuum. It requires robust government support for our local farmers, the very backbone of our food security aspirations.
“Mr Speaker, as we grapple with imported inflation and the crushing weight of our cost-of-living crisis, the matter of food security stands not just as a challenge, but as the cornerstone of our national resilience. Yet, in a display of stunning oversight, the finance minister has chosen to sidestep any meaningful incentives for our nation’s farmers.”
He highlighted the struggles of local poultry farmers, caught between high feed costs and competition from artificially cheap imported eggs. It is against this background that he has called for subsidies for Antigua and Barbuda’s farmers.
At the heart of their struggle lies the crippling cost of quality feed, essential for egg production. Their plea is simple yet profound: “We need access to feed that is both cost-effective and high quality.”
Adding insult to injury, these same farmers find themselves in an uneven battle against imported eggs flooding our markets at artificially low prices. This is not just about competition – it’s about survival.
When we allow our local producers to be undercut by imports, we’re not just threatening their livelihoods; we’re compromising our nation’s food sovereignty. By investing in our farmers today – through targeted training, essential resources, and guaranteed market access – we’re not merely addressing immediate food security concerns.
We’re planting the seeds of economic independence, nurturing a harvest that will feed not just our present needs but nourish the aspirations of generations to come.
“While he trumpets a projected 7 per cent increase in Agricultural Production for 2024, his silence on our food security outlook for 2025 speaks volumes. Our dependence on imported food is more than a drain on our economy – it is a self-imposed vulnerability that leaves us dancing to the tune of global market whims and supply chain disruptions, allowing others to control our food destiny.
The Opposition Leader emphasized that Antigua’s geographical constraints should not be viewed as insurmountable barriers but as catalysts for innovation. He advocated for modern techniques like hydroponics and aquaponics to multiply food production while minimizing resource footprint, presenting a vision for agricultural self-sufficiency that has been notably absent from government planning.
Essential Services Crisis
The Opposition Leader’s critique of essential services was particularly pointed. “While water flows freely in some countries, in Antigua and Barbuda it flows with tears of despair!” he declared. He referenced the government’s 2017 claim that daily water production of 7.7 million gallons exceeded the 5.5-million-gallon demand, questioning why, seven years later and with several new RO plants, the water situation remains dire.
The promise of affordable air-conditioning units was cited as another broken pledge, while crushing electricity bills and frequent power outages continue to burden citizens. Pringle particularly criticized the government’s green energy initiatives, noting that flagship projects like the Bethesda solar farm and the airport solar farm lack adequate battery storage, rendering them ineffective.
Healthcare System Concerns
Healthcare emerged as a central concern, with Pringle describing the system as being “on life support.” He cited the closed clinic in All Saints East and St. Luke, forcing elderly residents to make arduous journeys to the Glanville’s Polyclinic for basic healthcare. The Old Road community’s degrading use of a bus shed as a clinic waiting room exemplified the system’s deterioration.
The state of Mount St. John Medical Centre, with rat infestations and broken elevators, drew particular criticism. Most alarming was the situation at Clarevue Psychiatric Hospital, where law enforcement had to discharge weapons at criminal elements who had transformed a maximum security ward into a drug-trading headquarters – a situation Pringle described as “not merely unacceptable – it is a national disgrace.”
Infrastructure and Technology
Digital infrastructure received scathing criticism. “Our citizens pay premium prices for substandard and unreliable service,” Pringle stated, noting lost opportunities to attract digital nomads and remote workers. He emphasized how the six-year delay in passing the Telecommunications Bill has stifled competition and investment in the sector.
Road infrastructure drew particular ire, with Pringle comparing driving on the All Saints Road to “driving on a Warri board.” He highlighted the incomplete Sir Sidney Walling Highway as a testament to the government’s inability to execute even fully-funded projects, while suggesting innovative solutions like recycling vehicle tires for road construction – a practice successfully implemented in other Caribbean nations.
Government Accountability and Employment
The Opposition Leader questioned the government’s decision to invite non-CARICOM workers for construction projects while local unemployment data remains undisclosed. “This ploy,” he suggested, “is yet another of the Finance Minister’s three-card-tricks,” designed to reduce wages for skilled local workers and manipulate electoral dynamics.
To address accountability concerns, Pringle proposed restructuring the Public Accounts Committee to include three opposition members: himself as chairman, along with Hon Trevor Walker from Barbuda and Hon Sherfield Bowen from St Phillips South. This restructuring would ensure regular meetings through guaranteed quorum.
Conclusion
In his powerful conclusion, Pringle stressed the gravity of budget decisions, comparing them to a family’s careful financial planning but with nationwide implications. “Just as every family must carefully plan their household budget, we in this House bear an even greater responsibility,” he stated. “Our decisions affect not just one household, but thousands of lives across our nation.”
The Opposition Leader closed by expressing heartfelt gratitude to his constituents, acknowledging their role in shaping his service through both support and constructive criticism.
“I stand here today as a better public servant because of you,” he declared, emphasizing the collaborative nature of effective representation and the shared responsibility for the nation’s future.
