The United Progressive Party (UPP) has rejected claims that it intends to reintroduce personal income tax, accusing the ruling Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) of circulating misinformation during the election campaign.
In a press release issued Monday, the opposition party said it “denies the naked lies” attributed to it and criticised the online platform Antigua Today for publishing what it described as false information.
The response follows a post suggesting the UPP would reintroduce income tax to offset revenue losses tied to a proposed removal of import duties on vehicles.
The UPP said its political leader, Jamale Pringle, had outlined a different policy during the party’s campaign launch on April 12 in St John’s Rural West. According to the party, Pringle pledged that a UPP administration would remove import duties on vehicles brought in for personal use, arguing the move would simplify the process and eliminate the need for discretionary waivers.
“This, he explained, would de-politicize the process and eliminate the need for residents to ‘check your minister’ for a waiver,” the statement said.
The party characterised the claims about income tax as a “fake meme” circulated by its political opponents and described the response as a “panicked” attempt to undermine its campaign.
“The United Progressive Party denies any such consideration or statement regarding income tax,” the release stated, adding that it also condemned Antigua Today for what it called a “perversion of the principles of journalism.”
The UPP also reiterated other campaign pledges, including a proposal to reduce import duty by 50% on commercial-use vehicles and to remove duties on farm vehicles and equipment.
The ABLP has not yet issued a formal response to the UPP’s latest statement.
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