**Antigua Public Utilities Authority Writes Off Several Million Dollars in Election‑Period Amnesty**
*St. John’s, Antigua –* The Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) has written off a “several‑million‑dollar” balance of outstanding customer debt that was included in a utility amnesty program introduced in the lead‑up to the 2024 general election.
Acting Financial Controller Sabrina Benjamin disclosed the magnitude of the write‑off, confirming that the amount removed from the authority’s books amounted to multiple millions of dollars. According to APUA officials, the majority of the debt cleared under the amnesty had been outstanding for an extended period and was already classified as uncollectible.
The amnesty, which was announced as part of the pre‑election initiatives, allowed customers with overdue utility bills to have their balances forgiven, provided they met the program’s eligibility criteria. The authority has not released a precise figure for the write‑off, nor has it detailed the number of accounts affected.
APUA’s statement emphasized that the decision to clear the debt was based on the age of the arrears and the low likelihood of successful recovery, rather than any political considerations. The authority also noted that the write‑off will be reflected in its upcoming financial statements.
No further comment was provided on whether the amnesty will be repeated in future election cycles or on the impact of the write‑off on APUA’s overall financial health.
Article source: antiguaobserver.com | Image credit: Antigua Observer Newspaper
