David Massiah Calls for Transport Board Audit Before Any New Road Tax Increases
Senate Minority Leader David Massiah has urged the government to provide a full account of the Transport Board’s finances before introducing any increases in road-related taxes. Speaking in the Senate on Monday, Massiah questioned the transparency of tax collections and called for a thorough audit of the agency responsible for road infrastructure.
Massiah highlighted concerns about the lack of publicly available financial reports, arguing that citizens deserve to know how funds collected through vehicle fees and road taxes are being used. He referenced the Transport Board Act, which mandates the submission of annual reports and financial statements to Parliament, and asked when such documents were last presented.
“If you’re asking people to pay more, they have a right to know where their money is going,” Massiah said. “We cannot continue increasing fees without proper accountability.”
The senator also pointed to the poor state of roads in Antigua and Barbuda, noting that despite ongoing collections, much-needed repairs have not kept pace. He questioned whether funds earmarked for road rehabilitation had been used effectively and called on the government to justify the proposed tax hikes.
Massiah further warned of the economic impact of increased vehicle fees, suggesting that higher costs for transport operators would eventually be passed on to consumers, driving up the price of goods and services.
The government has defended the tax adjustments, stating that additional revenue is necessary to fund critical infrastructure projects. However, Massiah insisted that before imposing further financial burdens on citizens, authorities must provide clear evidence of how existing funds have been managed.
