Prime Minister and Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party leader Gaston Browne says he has not denied any eligible applicant access to duty-free vehicle concessions during his time in office and is open to formalising the system in law.

Speaking on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne Show, Browne defended the current approach to granting concessions, describing it as broadly accessible.

“I have never ever refused anybody in the almost 12 years I’ve been prime minister the opportunity to have a duty-free,” he said.

The prime minister’s comments come amid ongoing political debate over the transparency and consistency of duty-free waivers, which are granted on a discretionary basis.

Browne indicated that while the current system operates administratively, the government would not oppose introducing legislation to formalise the process.

“We have no difficulty codifying our duty-free regime in law,” he said.

He suggested that such a move could bring additional clarity to how concessions are granted, but maintained that the existing framework already allows broad access.

Duty-free vehicle concessions have long been a feature of government policy, with waivers typically granted to certain categories of applicants, including public servants and other qualifying individuals, subject to approval.

Browne’s remarks signal a willingness to address concerns about the system’s structure, while defending its current operation as fair and inclusive.

The opposition has previously raised questions about the administration of concessions, though no specific response to Browne’s latest comments was immediately available.