Pringle and Lewis Call for Increase in Constituency Allowance
Opposition MPs Say $2,000 Too Low to Meet Community Needs
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle and MP Richard Lewis have called for an increase in the constituency allowance, saying the current allocation of $2,000 is insufficient to effectively meet the needs of residents.
During Thursday’s sitting of Parliament, Lewis said Members of Parliament “should be given the tools and resources necessary to do their work,” noting that the allowance “needs to be increased.” He proposed raising it to $5,000, describing that amount as a more realistic figure to cover community expenses.
“Antigua is a small place,” Lewis told the House. “We don’t have the kind of resources to do what other islands do, but we can do something, and it will benefit all of us.”
He added that the issue was not about politics but fairness, saying, “I’m an opposition MP today. Tomorrow, you might be an opposition MP. So this is not even about me. Who comes after me—and they’re in opposition—what happens to them?”
Opposition Leader Jamale Pringle supported the call and said that in the absence of an increase, state resources must be distributed more equitably. “In the absence of the increase in constituency allowance, the resources of state must be fairly distributed,” Pringle said.
The Opposition members said the small allowance makes it difficult to respond to constituents’ requests for help with minor repairs, community projects, and social assistance. They urged the government to review the system to ensure that all MPs, regardless of party, are able to serve their constituents effectively.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne acknowledged the concern and said the request could be reviewed, though he noted that any adjustment would have to be made within the country’s fiscal limits.
