Browne Says Antigua No Longer a ‘Poor Black Country’ in Global Terms

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda’s economic progress has fundamentally changed how the country should be viewed internationally, arguing that it can no longer be described as a poor state on the global stage.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show on Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne linked rising incomes and economic performance to international perception, travel treatment and diplomatic respect.

“On the basis that we get up to about $30,000 per head, those developed countries cannot look at us and say that we’re like a poor black country,” Browne said. “They have to start to respect us as a significant, wealthy country within the Caribbean.”

He said Antigua and Barbuda’s per-capita income currently stands at about $22,000 and is on a trajectory to rise further within the next several years, strengthening the country’s standing abroad.

Browne said economic strength directly affects how citizens are treated internationally, particularly when travelling. He argued that higher incomes demonstrate that Antiguans and Barbudans are not a burden on other countries’ public resources.

“Our people don’t represent any risk when they travel to their countries,” he said. “They have enough money to take care of their expenses and there are not going to be any charge on public resources.”

The prime minister said this shift in economic status should also change national self-perception, urging citizens to recognise the advantages of living at home rather than assuming opportunities exist only overseas.

He pointed to improvements in education, healthcare and access to goods as evidence that Antigua and Barbuda now offers opportunities that once required migration. Browne noted that university education and advanced medical procedures, including kidney transplants, are now available locally.

He also said global changes in commerce, particularly e-commerce, have reduced the need for physical travel to conduct business or purchase goods, weakening one of the traditional drivers of migration.

Browne said appreciating the country’s natural environment and quality of life is essential to building confidence and retaining talent, warning that continued outward migration could weaken national development.

The prime minister said economic growth must be accompanied by a shift in mindset, with citizens recognising Antigua and Barbuda as a country capable of sustaining prosperity and commanding respect internationally.

Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]