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VIDEO: 90% of Proposed Buyers for Pensioners Beach Land are Arabs; PM Browne Declares Local Preference in Sales

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PM Browne speaks about local preference for land sales (file photo)

Prime Minister Gaston Browne addressed the ongoing sales of lands at Pensioners Beach, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing local residents in these transactions.

He highlighted that a significant portion—approximately ninety percent—of the individuals lined up to purchase the lands are Arabs.

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While the Prime Minister expressed no opposition to the sale of lands, he stressed his commitment to ensuring that local Antiguans have the first opportunity to acquire these valuable parcels.

This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2025/06/01/video-90-of-proposed-buyers-for-pensioners-beach-land-are-arabs-pm-browne-declares-local-preference-in-sales. © 2025 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.

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Shermain Bique-Charles

About the author

Shermain Bique-Charles is an accomplished journalist with over 24 years of dynamic experience in the industry. Renowned for her exceptional storytelling and investigative skills, she has garnered numerous awards that highlight her commitment to journalistic integrity and excellence. Her work not only informs but also inspires, making her a respected voice in the field.

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Comments (17)

  • TZen June 1, 2025, 12:20 PM

    Why should we be angry? The “Arabs” have the money and the clout to get what they want.
    Everybody else except the “locals” have command of the economy.
    Is either we put in the required work to be able to get these opportunities to come to us, or simply shut up.
    Tyad ah de complaining and not will to take action.
    Reply

    • Joshua Riley June 1, 2025, 12:36 PM

      I’m happy that the PM is concerned about blacka buying the lands. This story is deeper than many will understand. Although he won’t turn away those with money. His hope is that local people with the ability to buy the land goes ahead and buys it
      Reply

    • Hallelujah Amen June 1, 2025, 1:39 PM

      So what’s the desperation for relieving the state of the ownership of these lands.
      Just yesterday one supporter of the PM express to me he got into an accident, his car wasn’t licensed or insured because he is so broke.
      Mr. PM that’s the cry of vast majority of local people so we all know it will only be sold because the Arabs proposed to buy and they are the ones who can afford to buy
      Reply

  • Donna June 1, 2025, 2:22 PM

    Everything for Gaston is selling. He don’t know what they call lease of land from the people. What about the people in the area that use the beach on a regular basis?? Where would they go now? This Gaston don’t know what they call lease land from the people for investment? When it comes to that he can sell all of Antigua and Barbuda. We just tired of him now.
    Reply

    • Trend needs to change June 1, 2025, 3:00 PM

      Locals prefer to support arab businesses just of out bad mind because they hate to see a brother make it and especially if they know you. The arabs money is from their support because they came here with zero dollars. Its ashame how the people you grow up with doing things and going places with never remember to grant you their patronage but will drive further distances to support others. Buy them out arabs soon we antiguans will own in the minority because of grabb in bucket mentality.
      Reply

  • Trend needs to change June 1, 2025, 3:18 PM

    Please sell all the land to born black Antiguan family so our people can breath in their own country. Put a clause the land cannot be resold on 1000 years.
    Reply

    • Jasmine June 1, 2025, 3:54 PM

      Locals are buying pizza, sharwama and fast food from these Syrians and enriching them to buy our lands. Gaston needs to educate people on how to make money. Invest as small as you have. Save a 50 dollars a month. These goes a long way.
      Reply

  • Shelly June 1, 2025, 3:23 PM

    He’s back with this again? This was proposed before and each family had 4 or more persons
    The proposal was met with great opposition from the public and so it was pulled back We are a bit more docile now so he brings it back and from the look of it we are in agreement to have them here. Just imagine 60 families with 4 members each or more. May heaven help us because we are selling out this country little by little.
    Reply

  • Devorn Carter June 1, 2025, 5:45 PM

    Nothing much of a surprise. PM Browne why not talk about how a land that will be like $2,365,780.00 for a local will be cut by more that half for a Syrian, or Chinese or Arab. You don’t fight enough for your locals to have anything in our name. Everything is less for the fortunate and the foreigners.
    Reply

  • Tina June 1, 2025, 5:46 PM

    A cold yarn. One day Gaston will talk sense n truth
    Reply

  • Teacher for Life June 1, 2025, 7:05 PM

    Team work makes the dream work. Get together and purchase the land and divide it up accordingly. So many Antiguans want land and have access to funds so collaborate. I’m so tired of our land being sold off to outsiders. This has to stop if our children, grandchildren and their children’s children are to have ownership of the land on which their ancestors and they were born.
    Reply

  • Tired Of Gaston Governing June 1, 2025, 8:56 PM

    For me, any foreign investment want out land, they should be leasing not purchasing. It is time our government stop selling our lands to foreign so all investors. We hire the government to handle our country affairs not going around selling our birthright to outsiders. I am for leasing not for selling our lands. Once lease, money will continually pouring into our Treasury. We need the president of Burkino Faso, Capt Traore, to come and teach Gaston how to save the people lands from the hands of outsiders.
    Reply

    • Teacher for Life June 2, 2025, 9:24 AM

      Tired… I am in total agreement.
      Reply

  • Apex Jones June 2, 2025, 9:51 AM

    I never knew there was land for sale in that area. Maybe the Arabs knew something the locals didn’t.
    Maybe they have friends on the inside who gave them a scoop
    Reply

    • AAB June 2, 2025, 11:31 AM

      Apex Jones, ……….. Please TAKE NOTE OF THIS …… OUR P M is QUITE HAPPY To RE- ENSLAVE The LOCALS OF 🇦🇬!!!!! Or At LEAST To CREATE APARTHEID In 🇦🇬 ………. BEACHES That WE AND OUR FAMILIES HAVE BEEN GOING TO FOR GENERATIONS, With Established ENTRANCES for GENERATIONS, Are NOW INACCESSIBLE Under THIS GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION ….. ……. THEIR CALLING Card is “LABOUR” —— WORK WORK WORK …. No Help From THEM for US to be able to OWN Any Of The BEACH Lands that WE AND OUR ANCESTORS have PAID FOR At Least 3 TIMES Over, With BLOOD, LIVES, SWEAT, TEARS And $$$$!!!! …….. Hello!!! Please check the LAND OWNERSHIP Of The PERSONS Of Our Current Administration (? In Cabinet) ….. LET US DARE THEM —- To INDIVIDUALLY — to Tell US (THE PEOPLE) Just How Much LAND THEY OWN …… And WHERE Are THESE LANDS LOCATED …… …….. If They Can Provide US (IN TRUTH) With The CORRECT INFORMATION…… No LIES …… Then We can DETERMINE For Ourselves If, In Fact, These Administrators of 🇦🇬 Are Of THE PEOPLE, And FOR THE PEOPLE …. ……. You, THE PEOPLE Of 🇦🇬 MUST DECIDE Exactly WHAT You All DESIRE FOR Your Children, Grandchildren, GREAT Grandchildren, and GREAT GREAT Grandchildren!!!!! ——- The ARABS And THE CHINESE Plan for THEIR FOURTH & FIFTH Generations…….. …….. Perhaps Our Government ADMINISTRATORS (?In Cabinet) Have THIS Inside Knowledge …… They are Taking CARE of THEIR GENERATIONS ….. To HELL With The REST OF US And OUR 4th & 5th GENERATIONS!!!!! …… WAKE UP MY PEOPLE!!! WAKE UP!!!!! GIVE A SHOUT …… TO THE NEEDS OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF OUR 🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬🇦🇬!!!!!!
      Reply

  • StrongSupport June 2, 2025, 2:49 PM

    “Y’know, I really back what Prime Minister Gaston Browne is saying about the sales of land at Pensioners Beach. It’s about time we put our own locals first! We’ve got to make sure that the folks who call this place home get the chance to own a piece of it, instead of seeing it go to folks from overseas. With so many people in line looking to buy, and a big chunk of them being Arabs, it just feels right to prioritize our own. This is our heritage, our future, and we need to keep it in the hands of those who’ll truly cherish it. Let’s support our community!”
    Reply

  • Ben Simmons June 3, 2025, 1:17 PM

    I completely support Prime Minister Gaston Browne’s stance on prioritizing local residents in the sales at Pensioners Beach. We need to always put our black people first. And yes I am a racist. Seeing that ninety percent of those interested are from outside our community raises concerns about our local identity and heritage. They seem to have the chi-ching so they are rushing. But our PM is standing in solidarity with us. We need to ensure that our people have the chance to invest in their own future and preserve the character of this area for generations to come. This is about more than just land—it’s about our home and our families!
    Reply

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