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By Aabigayle McIntosh
Prime Minister and Leader of the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) Gaston Browne is celebrating his government’s achievements over the past 10 years, highlighting the highs, lows, and significant challenges faced over the decades.
During a broadcast message, he noted that his administration had endured high unemployment, significant business closures, unsustainable debt, and rampant crime and violence, including rapes and homicides. He further noted that the economy had come to a screeching halt, with the government defaulting on nearly all of its loans, including those from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and being unable to pay for fuel, electricity, and water, owing suppliers over $200 million without any formal credit terms.
“Notorious projects like the unfinished car park in St. John’s, the Wadadli Power Plant, and the ill-fated Half Moon Bay acquisition stand as stark reminders of those turbulent times characterized by unbridled corruption and incompetence. These bad policies were compounded by over $2 billion in borrowings and an overwhelming reliance on the IMF, which further strained our public services and the overall economy. However, ten years ago, you, the people of Antigua and Barbuda, chose a new direction. You placed your trust in the ABLP to rejuvenate and rebuild our nation,” Browne said.
With the help of the people, his administration has turned adversity into opportunity, transforming the economic landscape and ensuring a future where prosperity is shared by all. He stressed that under the ABLP’s leadership, they have acquired ownership of critical assets like the West Indies Oil Company Limited and the country’s water infrastructure, securing them for the public good.
The PM said they have also recovered 10 acres of beach property at Valley Church Beach, which was corruptly sold by the United Progressive Party (UPP) administration to a foreign entity for $1.
“The UPP reportedly spent $1.4 billion on roads during their tenure, yet all the roads were in a poor state of disrepair when we assumed office in 2014. Our administration has since repaired most of the main arteries and has now accelerated the community road program. My administration has recently invested $21 million in heavy equipment and machinery to equip the Public Works Department to accelerate the community road maintenance and upgrade program,” Browne said.
He stated further that during the last decade, they have made investments in infrastructure such as reverse osmosis plants, modern port facilities, and expanded electricity services, which have not only strengthened capacity but have also propelled economic growth and development.
Browne emphasized that, unlike the failed UPP regime, the ABLP did not seek bailout funds from the IMF. Instead, the party managed to steer the nation through perilous times, ensuring its health and economic stability remained intact.
“This resilience resulted in unprecedented post-COVID growth of 7.5 percent per annum, further cementing our path to economic development and social improvement. Today, through the steadfast commitment of the ABLP, Antiguans and Barbudans earn more per capita than practically every population within the Caribbean without paying Personal Income Tax,” Browne said.
The nation’s leader also explained that this decade has been marked by the government’s commitment to healing divisions and fostering unity across the twin island state.
“We have worked tirelessly amid constant protestations to integrate Barbuda more fully into our national life, rejecting the divisive politics of marginalization in the past. Despite the strident efforts of the obstructionists, we shall not relent on the advancement of Barbuda and our Barbudan brothers and sisters,” he insisted.
Browne credited these achievements to collective efforts, urging, “We should exploit these opportunities in pursuit of progress with unwavering courage and conviction. As we face the next decade, let us remain committed to the values of productivity, cooperation, unity, and perseverance that have brought us thus far. Together, we will continue to build a nation that is safe, resilient, prosperous, and inclusive, making Antigua and Barbuda a nation of progress and a testament to the power of collective determination.”
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