Antigua & Barbuda

Prev    Next Antigua-Barbuda minister pleased with trades union dialogue Published on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 Email To Friend    Print Version ST JOHN'S, Antigua --  Antigua and Barbuda's Minister of Finance, the Economy and Public Administration, Harold Lovell said he was extremely pleased with the frank and cordial nature of Monday's meeting with trades union representatives. Harold Lovell The meeting with the workers advocates was the first in a series of consultations scheduled for this week to examine the government’s proposals to bring revenue in line with expenditure. It was attended by representatives of the Antigua and Barbuda Trade Union Congress and the Antigua Trades and Labour Union. The Fiscal Consolidation and Debt Sustainability Programme was presented by newly appointed Deputy Financial Secretary, Kevin Silston. On the plan to examine which of government’s services could be divested, the unionists agreed in principle with the concept, but advised that before buying in they would want to see proper administrative measures in place to guard against cronyism, inefficiencies and other abuses. Similarly, when asked to work with the government’s plan to institute wage freezes in 2011 and 2012, they cautioned that the administration would also need to show it was eliminating wastage, with transportation cited as one critical area. Lovell assured those present that the government had in fact already started to address some of those very concerns. Gas allowances for eligible public servants, for example, have been halved, and there is a proposal on the table that no government vehicle should be more than four cylinders. Speaking on behalf of the Trade Union Congress participants, President Maurice Christian said he was also pleased with the interaction. He recommended that a tripartite task force be set up, and hoped the government would always facilitate this kind of dialogue. Both parties agreed to meet before the next sitting of Parliament for an update on the zero-rated items in the ABST basket. Meetings were also held on Monday with social groups and the financial sector representatives.   Reads : 447   Prev    Next

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