LETTER: If the Economy Is Growing, Why Am I Still Struggling?

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP

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.”

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP

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.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP

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

CLICK HERE TO JOIN OUR WHAT’S APP GROUP

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]

Related News

PM Says $5 Million Allocated to National Housing for Jolly Beach Upgrades

Antigua and Barbuda Marks One Year Since Death of MP Asot Michael

Hurricane Melissa Clears Caribbean, Leaving Trail of Destruction

King Young Destroyer Wins Independence Calypso Monarch Title