Prime Minister Gaston Browne has stated that a significant portion of complaints surrounding outstanding government back pay are being driven by individuals who do not qualify for the payments.
According to Antigua.news, Browne made the remarks while responding to questions posed by MP Jamale Pringle during Tuesday's sitting of Parliament. He acknowledged that a small number of legitimate cases remain unresolved, but maintained that many claimants simply do not meet the eligibility requirements.
Among those filing complaints, the Prime Minister said, are former public servants who departed government service before the qualifying period, recently hired workers, and contract employees excluded from the arrangement.
"We have individuals who left the service over a decade ago going to the Treasury demanding back pay," Browne told Parliament.
Browne noted that some of these ineligible claimants, after being turned away, have taken to social media to air their grievances. He was clear that the problem is not one of insufficient government funds, but rather administrative challenges and incomplete documentation submitted by certain ministries and departments.
In some instances, he revealed, eligible workers were inadvertently left off payment lists due to missing information. Police officers were among those reportedly omitted from a submission through no fault of their own.
The Prime Minister also turned his attention to the standard of service being provided at the Treasury, saying he has received reports of members of the public being treated rudely when seeking information about their payments. In response, he has directed the Financial Secretary to arrange customer service training for Treasury staff.
Despite the remaining outstanding cases, Browne maintained that the overwhelming majority of eligible workers have already received their payments. He argued that his administration is the first government in the country's history to fully settle public sector back pay obligations.
"The greater majority of the people of this country have been paid in full and we owe them nothing," Browne said.
Government officials are aiming to resolve the remaining cases over the coming months.
