The increase on licensing fees has been passed. It has been 30 years since they have been adjusted.
The Vehicles and Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill, 2025, went before Parliament today (Monday) where a spirited debate took place but despite several objections from Opposition members, the bill was passed.
When parliament met last Thursday, several individuals associated with the opposition United Progressive Party (UPP) staged a picket in the area outside of the parliament building. The picket was to protest the planned increases in licence fees.
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle while in agreement that specific measures must be taken to improve road infrastructure was totally against the increase.
He termed it as an unnecessary hit on the pockets of the people.
Pringle questioned the initiative mentioning that since the Gaston Browne-led administration took office, the amount of road repairs has been unsatisfactory.
But Prime Minister Gaston Browne argued that the fact the increase is going towards the repairs and infrastructure of the roads is more than enough reason to support.
He added that with these repairs it will aid in lessening the costs motorists have accumulated for car repairs due to the bad roads.
PM Browne assured that there will be a committee in place to ensure there isn’t a misuse of these funds specifically when contracts are being awarded for road repairs.
“The banks will issue a bond or a loan in the amount of a hundred million dollars, and they will have an engineer that will work exclusively for the bank to make sure that every single drawing that the government gets from this loan would have been completed. So, there has to be a certificate of completion confirming that the roads were built.
“The loan will be withdrawn systematically until it is depleted. We anticipate that it can be over a 10-month period,” PM Browne explained.
These funds will not be made available or redirected for any other aspect of government business. Only for contractors to do the roads.
There will be equity in the awarding of contracts including the Director and Secretary of Public Works who will serve on the committee.
Since its initial announcement, adjustments have been made in response to public concerns.
While certain vehicles like tractors, hearses and ambulances will be exempt, the flat $100 increase for motor cars and a 40% hike for Sport Utility Vehicles and heavy-duty equipment remain in place.
Was shuggy there to his voice to the Debate?
By when it will be increased?
Bug dutty chupsssss. So u fair. This scale sure ain’t balance. So suv drivers carrying the weight of this increase.
Let me see how long it will take to see improvement in the road quality
And there’s nothing we can do, or are willing to do about it. Of course when these bills become due, we can refuse to pay them and lock down the country like protesters in other parts of the world would do and have done, but in Antigua our backs have no bones..if you know what I mean.. wicked set a people
I feel for the people protesting No one likes higher fees especially when the roads have been in such poor condition for so long
How does SUVs poses a threat to the roads? Our money will just be going into their pockets.its easy to raise taxes when you don’t pay them….. but Go head Gaston! The same donkey will come bite you. I hope we get proper drainage as well for our 40%. I also hope they clean these gutters