By Kisean Joseph
Opposition Member of Parliament Richard Lewis has criticised the government’s 2025 Budget presentation, positing that the administration’s portrayal of economic prosperity fails to address fundamental challenges facing citizens of Antigua and Barbuda.
Following Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s two-and-a-half-hour presentation yesterday, Lewis expressed skepticism about the government’s optimistic economic outlook.
“Every budget, he paints this glowing picture that there’s growth and that means that all is well,” Lewis said. “But there are other factors he has to consider with respect to human development, such as cost of living, bridging the wealth gap, and advancing social protection for the poor and vulnerable.”
Of particular concern to MP Lewis is the government’s unexpected announcement regarding foreign workers as the budget outlined plans to waive work permit fees for workers from outside the region, a proposal that Lewis finds troubling given current domestic employment challenges.
“With a population that maybe half of it is unemployed, it leaves the question, ‘what are we doing’?” he said. “He’s painting this picture that all is well and there’s basically full employment in Antigua and Barbuda, and that is certainly not the case.”
The St John’s Rural West MP also highlighted what he sees as significant gaps in the budget presentation’s employment data.
“The analysis of the data is not adding up,” he noted, pointing out that no specific unemployment rate was mentioned in the budget – an unusual omission for such a crucial economic indicator.
Meanwhile, a central criticism in his response focused on the disconnect between government revenue and the quality of life for citizens.
“It’s evident that there is high revenue collections in Antigua and Barbuda; record revenue collections,” he said, “and if we have record revenue collections, then the lives of the people of Antigua and Barbuda should be better. Our infrastructure should be better; cost of living should be down; people should not be struggling hand to mouth.”
On a positive note, Lewis acknowledged the government’s decision to remunerate back pay to public servants in December, rather than January as previously indicated. He attributed this change to public pressure, stating: “The people of Antigua and Barbuda need to understand they have a lot of power. When you put pressure on an administration, they have to govern and act in your interest.”
The Opposition MP also noted the Budget’s focus on Barbuda development initiatives, though he reserved judgment on their potential impact. “I’m hoping that whatever is done, it will be done in the best interest of the people of Barbuda,” he said, adding that Barbudans themselves would need to assess whether the government is governing in their interest.
MP Lewis is expected to present a detailed analysis of the 2025 Budget in Parliament next Tuesday, where he promises to “bore some holes into the Budget and bring the realities to the people of Antigua and Barbuda”.
