Leader of the UPP Jamal Pringle.

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Leader of the United Progressive Party Jamal Pringle says the recent announcement of an increase in fuel prices at the pump has highlighted the government’s insensitivity towards the people’s plight, especially given the country’s current economic condition.

In a statement on Thursday, Pringle said that despite the increase in gasoline prices on the world market, this imposition of further hardship on the country’s already struggling people is unjustified.

The people of Antigua and Barbuda are already grappling with almost weekly price hikes at the supermarket, a hike in the ABST, and a hike in Social Security contributions, among other increases that came into effect from January 1 this year, according to Pringle

He said businesses are already paying more at the Port, and to add to their woes, they will soon be paying even more to APUA in water rates from April.

The UPP leader said it is disheartening to see that while families are finding it harder to put food on the table and pay for basic necessities like housing, utilities, insurance, and healthcare, the Browne Cabinet is giving lifetime tax exemptions to so-called investors in another Special Economic Zone and sweetheart tax breaks to relatives.

This is a gross injustice according to Pringle, to the people who are already shouldering the burden of the government’s poor decisions.

According to him, it is high time that the government realized the people’s struggles and stopped being callous towards them.

Pringle said with the hardships that residents, including the uncompensated former LIAT workers, have endured since the COVID-19 pandemic, it is unacceptable to add to their burden.

He believes that Finance Minister Gaston Browne should take responsibility and treat the people of the country like his own family by allowing the government to absorb this fuel hike instead of hiding behind the West Indies Oil Company and making it a strictly business decision.