A concerned public sector employee has written to the Antiguan Herald calling on the Government of Antigua and Barbuda to provide an urgent update on outstanding COVID-19 salary and wage compensation payments owed to public sector workers.
The Government previously announced that Permanent Secretaries were instructed to identify, compile, and verify claims from eligible employees whose income was discontinued or disrupted during the pandemic. Affected employees were required to submit their claims by December 31, 2025, with verified claims to be forwarded to the Treasury Department and payments expected to commence in January 2026.
It is now June 2026 — six months past the anticipated payment start date — and numerous claimants who complied with the submission process report that they have yet to receive any payment.
The letter writer is calling on the relevant authorities to provide a clear update on the status of these payments, noting that many workers have been patiently waiting and that an official response would provide much-needed clarity and reassurance.
"Many workers have been patiently awaiting these payments, and an official update would provide much-needed clarity and reassurance," the letter states.
The Antiguan Herald invites the relevant government ministries and the Treasury Department to respond to the concerns raised.
