Isaac says withdrawal of contracts and concessions amounts to punishing contractors for Administration’s poor management

Chairperson of the United Progressive Party D. Gisele Isaac has challenged the management of contracts and concessions by the Gaston Browne Administration.  

Speaking on Twin Island Media’s Wake Up Call show on Wednesday, Isaac accused Browne, the minister of finance, of poorly managing the assignment of contracts from the get-go.

She was commenting on Browne’s declaration, in the Budget Presentation, that contracts awarded by the Public Works Department, Central Board of Health, and National Solid Waste Management Authority will be overhauled, because of Government’s inability to meet the financial obligations.

Isaac believes the abrupt withdrawal of contracts amounts to punishment of contractors for the Administration’s own failures.  Having provided labour, goods and services to the Government, she says, it appears that the people are now to be “rewarded” with the loss of any future work.

Regarding the Government’s plans to suspend concessions, Isaac

maintains that the UPP has always advocated judicious management of these, so that there are returns for the people.  

She notes that the Antigua and Barbuda Investment Authority was specifically created for the purpose of handling concessions and that these incentives were always commensurate with the level of investment.