Opposition MP Sherfield Bowen has accused the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) of politicizing the Social Security Board by appointing loyal party supporters instead of independent representatives, a move he claims has undermined the fund’s credibility and financial integrity.
Speaking at a United Progressive Party (UPP) townhall meeting at Freedom House, Bowen alleged that the ABLP abandoned the original governance structure of the Social Security Board in favour of political control, allowing party loyalists to dominate key decisions affecting the nation’s pension system.
“When it was created by the PLM government, the Social Security Board had two members representing workers, two representing employers, and others as neutral voices,” Bowen said. “Since the Labour Party took office, the board has been stacked with good old comrades — comrades who, when called upon to hand over some money, just say ‘bring the chequebook.’”
Bowen cited names including Comrade Joseph Myers and Comrade Jerry Aska as examples of politically aligned appointments under the ABLP’s watch. He warned that such politicization has contributed to mismanagement and the deterioration of the fund’s financial standing.
“This is the demise of Social Security,” Bowen declared. “We need, as the law envisioned, to have representatives of the workers and the employers — people who are looking out for themselves and for the public interest, not the whims and fancies of the government.”
He argued that restoring the board’s independence is crucial to rebuilding public confidence and protecting the interests of contributors and beneficiaries.
Bowen’s comments form part of a wider critique of the ABLP’s handling of the Social Security Fund, which he says has suffered from decades of unpaid loans, missed interest payments, and financial neglect. He has also accused the government of failing to pay rent on buildings owned by Social Security and defaulting on its own contributions.
No official response has yet been issued by the government regarding the composition of the board or Bowen’s accusations.