WE ARE READY WHEN YOU ARE

The Citizen reached out to Prime Minister Gaston Browne for a message of reassurance in light of the current situation.

Antigua & Barbuda’s growth has been phenomenal over the last couple of years. What initiatives have been put in place for economic recovery?

My government has spurred hotel developers to continue construction of new properties and to upgrade existing properties throughout the crisis period. The plan is to ensure that hotels—the basis of tourism’s success—can function normally by providing arriving passengers with the assurance of a safe environment. In addition, the government will pursue several capital projects to include repairs to government buildings.

Antigua & Barbuda received its 300,000th overnight visitor for the year on December 31st, reaching the milestone for the first time in the country’s history. What approach are you taking to reopen the borders?

Our marketing machine is already rolling out a campaign to heighten confidence in the safety and beauty of our destination. Antigua & Barbuda expects to return to those 2019 numbers by 2021. An economic recovery committee made up of all sectors of the economy will also provide guidance to the government.

Acknowledging that the University of the West Indies’ (UWI) fourth landed campus in Antigua is close to your heart, what role does it play within your vision of transforming Antigua & Barbuda into an economic powerhouse?

No country can expect to lead in economic performance unless its citizens can access tertiary education with ease. The UWI fourth landed campus in Antigua remains the uppermost concern, buttressed by heightened expectations. Whatever the cost required to train our youth, my administration will bear it. My government expects UWI to apply greater creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship for our youth which are key ingredients to support a vibrant economy.

The country’s citizenship by investment programme (CIP) has continued to receive a steady stream of enquiries and its activity hasn’t noticeably diminished. How is Antigua continuing to ensure the competitiveness and attractiveness of the programme in the current international climate?

We have experienced a robust CIP record by giving the necessary assurances to the agents and the firms that advise those with an interest in a second citizenship. Our programme continues to attract high-net-worth individuals and fortunately interest has remained high. and is continuously increasing. The Antigua & Barbuda passport is still among the most attractive out there.

How challenging has it been to balance health and economy in this crisis situation?

It has been very challenging to engineer a balance between economic and health interests. My government’s objective is to balance lives and livelihoods and to ensure that no-one - or very few people - in Antigua & Barbuda become infected by the coronavirus. Our task is also to ensure that workers can earn wages and salaries during this crisis, sufficient to feed and to house their families. The Cabinet which I lead must take all circumstances into account when determining how long or how severe the lockdown must be in fighting the spread of the disease.

Do you foresee diversification of productive industries as a result of this pandemic?

Yes. We have started to plan the economic diversification. The challenges of previous decades remain; however, new energy and creativity are being readied for the new world, especially in agriculture, light manufacturing and in the knowledge industries, as well as commercial technologies to include apps, blockchain technologies, and crypto currencies. We are also diversifying into cannabis and medical education and medical tourism.

Antigua & Barbuda is a resilient country and more than ever, open to business. What is your message to the world?

During the five decades since 1967, when development decision-making moved from the colonisers to the colonised, Antigua & Barbuda experienced incredible growth. Since 1981, when sovereignty and independence were achieved, the country’s economy has grown ten times as large and productive. In the new era, post-Covid-19, when the world is likely to be reshuffled, our people’s creativity and resilience will again be put on display. In 2018, Antigua & Barbuda experienced 7.4 percent growth, and our passport was ranked the 10th most powerful in the world.