Prime Minister Gaston Browne has dismissed claims that the government’s dredging activities in North Sound are causing environmental harm, stating that no seabeds or marine ecosystems have been destroyed in the process.
Speaking in Parliament, Browne refuted assertions made by Barbuda MP Trevor Walker, who alleged that the government’s actions were inconsistent with its international environmental commitments. Browne argued that Walker was deliberately misleading the public and insisted that the dredging was both necessary and environmentally sound.
“The Member for Barbuda has a propensity to deceive, and he does so unconscionably,” Browne said. “He never misses an opportunity to mislead the people of Antigua and Barbuda, especially the people of Barbuda.”
According to the Prime Minister, the area being dredged has a long history of such activities. He pointed out that the channel was previously dredged by the Americans decades ago, with the removed material used to create Maiden Island. He maintained that the dredging does not involve seagrass beds, as Walker had suggested, but rather consists of extracting bedrock and sand.
“There was no seagrass there,” Browne asserted. “The dredged material—rocks and sand—is clearly visible offshore. The assertion that we are destroying the environment is entirely false.”
Browne also defended the government’s environmental track record, emphasizing that Antigua and Barbuda is a recognized leader in climate action. He highlighted the country’s involvement in global climate negotiations, legal battles against major polluters, and efforts to secure greater climate financing for small island states.
“My administration is the most climate-responsible this country has ever seen,” he declared. “No other government has done more for climate action and sustainable development than mine.”
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