PM Browne Sees 5,000 Students at Five Islands as Major Expansion Advances
Prime minister says campus construction could begin by early 2027 and predicts the development will attract students from across the region.
Prime Minister Gaston Browne says The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus could grow to approximately 5,000 students within five years as a major expansion advances.
Browne said the development would include accommodation, improved facilities and additional capacity to attract students from elsewhere in the Caribbean.
“I can see us getting up within the next five years to five thousand students easily,” he said.
The prime minister referred to an expansion investment of approximately $200 million, although the currency was not clearly specified in the passage.
He said an issue affecting the tender process had been resolved and indicated that an announcement concerning the successful bids could follow shortly.
Browne said construction could begin before the end of 2026 or, failing that, during January or February 2027.
He predicted that the expanded campus would become a leading choice within the UWI system.
The prime minister also said construction spending would contribute to economic activity while the completed facilities would strengthen the country’s educational offering.
His enrolment projection was an expectation expressed during the broadcast, rather than a confirmed university forecast.
Browne urged Antiguans and Barbudans to use the opportunities being created and prepare themselves for an increasingly competitive regional employment market.
This story was first published by Antigua News on : antigua.news/2026/10/11/pm-browne-sees-5-000-students-at-five-islands-as-major-expansion-advances. © 2026 Antigua News. Republication without permission is not allowed.
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