Lovell and Pringle decry government’s recent social initiatives as political ploys

Jamale Pringle, Leader of the Opposition and the United Progressive Party (UPP) Candidate for All Saints East and St Luke has condemned a move by the government to decrease the number of food vouchers that is due to him.

The food voucher programme is a government initiative intended to bring relief to vulnerable families. However, Pringle laments that as a Member of Parliament he received 75 vouchers for distribution while Antigua Labour Party (ALP) Candidates who are not MPs were receiving 150.

All government ministers and ALP senators are engaged in this programme which falls under the Ministry of Social Transformation, Pringle says.

The Opposition Leader cries shame on the Gaston Browne Administration for treating what was intended to be a national social programme as a political ploy.

Pringle says that based on an investigation which he launched, it was discovered he should actually be receiving 150 food vouchers valued at $50 each.

He says too many of these policies are being used as a political tool.

Harold Lovell, the Party’s political leader is also disgusted with the practice of the Browne government in taxpayers’ funded initiatives including the food voucher distribution and the water tank distribution programme.