The Real Issues vs. Gossip: A Call for Accountability in Antigua Too often, we allow the noise of gossip and distractions to drown out the real issues that affect you and me daily. But let’s be clear—our nation is in crisis, and we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the problems plaguing Antigua and Barbuda. The opposition has a critical role in mobilizing its supporters, but beyond politics, it is the people—the taxpayers, the workers, the everyday citizens—who must demand better governance. The State of St. John’s: A City in Decay Take a walk through St. John’s, and the reality hits you—the city is stink! Trash piles up, drains overflow, and the smell of neglect hangs heavy in the air. We, the taxpayers, fund public services, yet our capital reflects mismanagement. Why are we paying for a system that does not work? Public sanitation must be a priority, and instead of placing the blame on individuals, accountability should fall on the government departments responsible for maintenance. We need a proper waste disposal strategy, regular street cleaning, and a crackdown on illegal dumping. Other Caribbean nations, like Barbados, have implemented successful urban renewal programs—why can’t we? We paid $900 EACH for garbage bins in St. John’s that are harboring rats and roaches, also making the city look awful. Health Care: A System on Life Support Our health care is at its worst. Patients wait endlessly for treatment, supplies are scarce, and the level of service is unacceptable. Yet, millions are spent elsewhere without real improvement in our hospitals and clinics. Solution: Allocate a greater percentage of public funds to essential medical services instead of unnecessary projects. Implement transparency in medical supply contracts to avoid corruption and shortages. Offer incentives for qualified Antiguan doctors and nurses abroad to return home and serve in our hospitals. Set up an independent watchdog committee to monitor public health spending. Scandals with No Accountability We have seen scandal after scandal, with high-level officials implicated in corruption, yet no serious investigations. Where is the accountability? Where is the justice? From unexplained public spending to questionable loans and contracts being handed to government friends, the taxpayers are left carrying the burden. Solution: Establish an independent anti-corruption commission with prosecutorial powers. Pass legislation ensuring full transparency in government contracts and tenders. Strengthen whistleblower protection to encourage public servants to expose corruption. Public Spending, Loans, and Contracts: Where Is the Barbuda Millions? We hear about loans, we hear about contracts, we hear about millions meant for Barbuda—but where is the tangible development? Who benefits? Certainly not the ordinary citizen struggling with high living costs. Solution: Demand a full audit of public expenditures by international financial bodies to ensure transparency. Limit the government’s ability to take out unchecked loans without proper parliamentary approval. Strengthen laws against government officials awarding contracts to their friends and families. Easing the Squeeze on Taxpayers Amid High Cost of Living It is no secret that the cost of living in Antigua and Barbuda is skyrocketing. Food, fuel, electricity—everything is hitting the average citizen hard. Meanwhile, government waste and mismanagement continue unchecked. Solution: Reduce import taxes on essential goods to lower food prices. Re-evaluate energy policies and incentivize alternative energy to reduce electricity bills. Enforce fair pricing laws to prevent price gouging by major retailers. Invest in local agriculture to lessen dependency on imported goods, bringing prices down. The bottom line? The people of Antigua and Barbuda deserve better. Accountability must be demanded, not requested. We need action, not excuses. We need leadership that serves the people, not itself. The time for distractions is over—it’s time to focus on the real issues that affect every single citizen, every single day. J.WILLIAM ZEZE THOMAS
