OECS Must Move Beyond ‘Routine Leadership,’ Says Browne

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called on leaders of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) to pursue bolder and more transformative initiatives, arguing that the region’s current leadership has greater resources at its disposal but is not achieving enough for its people.

Speaking during a recent interview with state media, Browne said previous generations of OECS leaders accomplished significant regional milestones despite having fewer financial resources and less access to expertise.

According to the prime minister, today’s leaders must move beyond what he described as “routine leadership” and focus on projects that can create lasting benefits for future generations.

“We have to start providing major things that will have a lasting impact, not just for this generation but for generations to come,” Browne said.
A key priority identified by the Antigua and Barbuda leader is improving regional air transportation, an issue he believes continues to hinder economic growth and integration across the sub-region.

Browne voiced support for ongoing discussions surrounding the creation of an OECS-owned airline and argued that responsibility for regional air travel should be shared among all member states.

He said the current model, in which only a few countries bear the burden of maintaining regional air services, is unsustainable and should be replaced by a system of joint investment and shared benefits.

The prime minister also highlighted energy cooperation as another area requiring urgent regional action. He revealed that Antigua and Barbuda is engaged in advanced discussions with Saint Kitts and Nevis regarding the potential purchase of geothermal energy generated there.

Browne said Antigua and Barbuda is prepared to participate in financing arrangements and work with regional and international partners, including the European Union, to support the development of geothermal energy projects.

The prime minister is set to assume the rotating chairmanship of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States later this month when regional leaders meet in Antigua and Barbuda, where greater regional cooperation is expected to be high on the agenda