As our people continue to struggle under the unaddressed high cost of living, I call on the Gaston Browne Administration to grant a full waiver on the payment of Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) on back-to-school items for two consecutive weekends: Friday 23rd August to Sunday 25th August and Friday 30th August to Sunday 1st September.
Making an early announcement of two weekends of ABST relief will empower all parents to take full advantage, and provide maximum benefits to our students.
Every effort must be made to ensure that there is no reoccurrence of the inconvenience and missed opportunities which resulted from last year’s late announcement of a single weekend of ABST relief.
Further, to ensure maximum benefit to our students, the full ABST waivers should be applied as broadly as possible, to school uniforms, school bags, exercise books and graph books, dictionaries, binders and books covers, stationery, calculators, rulers, geometry sets, lunch kits, and all other critical items required by students.
It must always be recalled that the Prime Minister promised to lower the cost of living, then mercilessly presided over record increases in the cost of goods and services, after the January 18th, 2023 elections. Parents are therefore under an even greater strain during the June to November tourism low season, making adequate back-to-school relief an urgent need.
I therefore call on the Gaston Browne Administration to move with haste to implement this commonsense relief measure to ensure that parents can fully equip our students for success in the new school year.
Dear Mr. Editor,
Permit me to say “Thank You” to MP Lewis ….. and to add that We (the People) shouldn’t have to BEG for THIS Consideration of The Gaston Brown Administration at all.
Please REMEMBER, that in the midst of Rising Cost of Living, THIS Gaston Brown Administration gave ITSELF an INCREASE in Salary —- was it something like 13 or 14% of Their Present MONTHLY Salaries ……. PLUS A Backpay (if I am not mistaken) of 1 YEAR’S Salary? …… I think this was backdated to JANUARY 2023. Please correct me if I am Wrong……
…….. I also Remember that the UPP Members of Parliament REFUSED to Accept ANY INCREASE IN THEIR MONTHLY SALARIES until and unless Our FAITHFUL (but Forgotten) PENSIONERS were provided the Increase promised them….
……. Was that INCREASE the Additional $150.00 – $200.00 per Month that took the Government Pensioners who were paid $800.00+ each Month to the $1,000.00 MINIMUM per Month for their Monthly Pension?
Can Someone from the UPP Members of Parliament explain All This for Us ……. because the Pensioners’ Association recently had a Meeting with the Cabinet about an INCREASE in the ??? Social Security Pensioners INCREASE In Monthly Pension Allowance…. What is the Minimum that Our Social Security Pensioners receive MONTHLY?
I call on the Pensioner’s Association to make CLEAR to the PUBLIC what was the Outcome of THIS Meeting they had With The CABINET concerning an INCREASE in Pensioners MONTHLY Allowances for ?? Social Security Pensioners please.
Let us ALL Keep These Important MATTERS in The Public Sphere —— “Lest We Forget” ……
……. Thanks to Anyone who can ADD any Clarity or ADDED information to what I am attempting to Recall in this Response to MP Lewis’ Request to The P M of our Beloved Nation. Peace! 🌻😇🙏🏿🇦🇬
So everything Mr have to come and make a comment over? Let the opposition leader speak. You are not relevant. And roo much talking will make you irrelevant. Hush
To Mr/Mrs/Ms UPPITE,
Your Views Is What is KILLING Our Nation …… TOO Many Of US Are TOO QUIET about the WRONGS that are carried out on Our People!!!!!
And when A Person does Speaks out ….. Persons who are ENCOURAGED in one way or another to UPHOLD The Current STATUS QUO denigrate these persons ……
Ask yourself What or Who encouraged you to respond as you did to the Comments made by me…… Praying you may find your ANSWER …..Peace! 🌻😇🇦🇬
You ain’t tired? Tap chat. Irrelevant MP
Richard please. Time to abandoned ship and move to ablp.
this WEAK, SPINELESS, COWARD of a CLOWN still licking giselle boots and she can’t stand he or he JAMAICAN WIFE! Wht an idiot!!! staying where he is not wanted…abused, misused and badplayed over and over…..subben wrong with you richard
SAD SAD SAD!!!!! Must be getting SOMETHING for ALL YOUR Efforts……..
Guess What Mr. Lewis follows His Conscience……
What say you about SPEAKING OUT Against The ILLS Evident in our Society …… Or …. Is it that You ALL have No Eyes to See and No Ears to Hear????
May the Good Lord Have MERCY on ALL OF US ……. Peace! 🌻😇🙏🏿