Minister of State Freeland Heads to London for International Development Forum

Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Michael Freeland,Michael Freeland, is expected to depart Antigua and Barbuda on Monday to represent Prime Minister Gaston Browne at the upcoming Global Partnerships Conference in London.

The high-level forum, themed “Global Partnerships Conference: Common Challenges, Collective Action,” is scheduled to take place from May 19–20, 2026, and will convene world leaders, innovators, philanthropists, civil society representatives, and business stakeholders to examine the future of international development partnerships.

The conference is being co-hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom, the Republic of South Africa, the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), and British International Investment (BII).

Discussions during the two-day conference are expected to focus on strengthening international collaboration to address urgent global challenges, including climate change, economic instability, humanitarian crises, global health threats, and violence against women and girls.

Freeland’s participation comes just days after assuming duties as Junior Minister in the Ministry of Tourism following the recent General Election and subsequent Cabinet appointments.

His attendance at the international forum is expected to provide Antigua and Barbuda with an opportunity to deepen global partnerships, advance discussions on sustainable development, and explore investment and cooperation opportunities that can benefit the country and the wider Caribbean region.