United Progressive Party Leader Jamale Pringle has pledged that a UPP government would prohibit cabinet ministers from competing with private businesses, warning that the current system puts entrepreneurs at a disadvantage.
According to Antigua News Room, Pringle made the commitment while addressing members of the business community at a rally in All Saints. "The United Progressive Party will not allow cabinet members to compete with you," he said.
Pringle also vowed to eliminate practices he described as barriers to independent business operation. "We will not ask you for a percentage of your shares in order to make the process easier for you," he said.
The opposition leader framed the proposals as part of a broader push to build a fairer business environment, free from political interference.
A UPP administration, he said, would ensure that applications for tax concessions on startups, expansions, and acquisitions are handled "fairly and professionally," with local investors treated on equal footing with foreign investors.
Pringle further pledged to enforce procurement rules, promising his government would "stamp out nepotism, cronyism, and unfair awarding of government contracts."
He said the measures are designed to restore confidence among business owners and establish a level playing field across the economy.
The general election is scheduled for April 30.
