Antigua and Barbuda gas station operators threaten Tuesday strike

Gas station operators in Antigua and Barbuda are threatening to strike this Tuesday to demand an increase in their profit margins. Prime Minister Gaston Browne has criticized the move, describing the timing as “bad” and “poor” due to escalating international fuel prices.

Browne stated that the government has already eliminated its own margin to help keep consumer prices down and is attempting to shield the public from rising global costs. While the strike was reportedly organized “clandestinely,” the Prime Minister confirmed that certain stations, including the West Indies Oil Company service station on Friars Hill Road, are expected to remain open.

The potential industrial action could cause significant disruptions for motorists and businesses across the country if multiple privately operated stations close simultaneously. As of Monday night, operators had not issued a formal statement regarding the specific size of the margin increase they are seeking or the intended duration of the strike.