Every Independence season, we hear about how strong our economy is. The Prime Minister tells us that Antigua and Barbuda is “growing,” that our “per-capita income” is rising, and that the country is “solid, stable, and soaring.”
But as an ordinary working Antiguan, I can’t help but wonder — where is this growth, and who is really feeling it?
Because it surely isn’t us, the everyday people.
I walk into the supermarket and watch the prices climb higher every week.
A bag of rice, a tin of milk, even basic fruits — everything costs more.
Light and water bills keep going up, and every time I hear about another “fuel surcharge,” I brace myself for a higher APUA bill.
Meanwhile, salaries remain the same. Most jobs still pay barely enough to cover rent, food, and transport. By the middle of the month, many of us are already broke.
So when the government says the economy is doing well, it honestly feels like someone is cooking the figures. Because the math doesn’t add up in our homes.
If the economy is “booming,” why does life feel harder? Why are young people leaving for better opportunities abroad? Why do small businesses struggle to stay open while a few well-connected ones seem to get every contract and concession?
They talk about “per-capita income,” but that’s just an average that hides the truth — a few people at the top are doing extremely well, while the rest of us are just trying to survive. You can’t eat GDP growth. You can’t pay your light bill with per-capita income.
Antiguans and Barbudans are hardworking people. We don’t expect miracles. We just want fairness, opportunity, and a system that gives everyone a chance — not just the friends and family of those in power.
After 44 years of independence, we should not still be struggling to afford groceries and utilities in a country that’s supposedly “soaring.” It’s time for real talk and real change. Growth means nothing if the people can’t feel it.
Signed,
A struggling Antiguan
