Are We Better Off?

Yesterday, three ALP MPs walked out of the budget presentation alleging "inappropriate" comments by the UPP's Dr. Errol Cort.

Here are the comments Dr. Cort made, as reported by the Observer, "The people of Antigua & Barbuda ... gave the United Progressive Party an overwhelming mandate to reverse the damage inflicted upon this nation by a band of misfits, tricksters and self-proclaimed specialists. This could not be an easy task since the former administration seemed to be quite proficient at procuring schemes that pushed our beloved twin-island nation ever closer to the brink of economic and social disaster. Over the past four and a half years, Antigua & Barbuda has experienced significant economic growth, improvements in the fiscal accounts and considerable progress towards debt sustainability. I look at these successes in greater detail to remind the people of the incredible journey we've taken together and to show our world-be adversaries what it means to govern by the people, for the people."

The important question for voters to ask is not whether or not these comments are insulting, but, whether or not these comments are true. In the end, we are going to elect a party to govern for the next five years or so and we should judge the two parties by their performance. While politeness is nice, in the end, performance is more important.