The government of Antigua and Barbuda is continuing to subsidise fuel and electricity costs as part of a broader effort to shield consumers from rising global prices, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said during his weekend radio programme.
Browne outlined the scale of the intervention, stating that “every dollar of diesel that is consumed in this country is subsidized at the rate of $1.67 per gallon,” adding that this support is being applied across the energy sector to limit the burden on households.
He explained that the subsidy is not limited to motorists, noting that “even the electricity that you’re burning today—every gallon of fuel that is utilized as diesel, utilized to produce electricity, is actually subsidized by the government at $1.67,” a measure he said is helping to prevent higher utility bills.
The Prime Minister framed the policy as part of ongoing cost-of-living support, arguing that without such intervention, consumers would already be facing steeper increases. “Ordinarily, if our government was not a caring government and we didn’t hold the prices steady, you’d have seen an increase in your electricity bills,” he said.
Browne also pointed to the direct benefit to consumers at the pump, explaining that “when you go to the gas station and you buy 10 gallons of gas, that’s $16.70 the government put into your pockets to pay for it.”
While defending the policy as necessary, he acknowledged the financial strain it places on the state and cautioned that it may not be sustainable under prolonged external pressures. He noted that global developments, including geopolitical tensions, could continue to influence fuel prices and place additional pressure on public finances.
“We’re doing all we can,” Browne said, adding that although the government is working to keep prices stable, it cannot guarantee indefinite support if global costs continue to rise.
The subsidy programme forms part of a wider package of measures introduced by the government to ease the cost of living, including tax relief initiatives and targeted social support, as officials seek to cushion the impact of international economic shocks on households.
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