Browne urges citizens to help keep Antigua and Barbuda clean amid tourism growth

Prime Minister Gaston Browne has called on citizens to take greater responsibility for keeping Antigua and Barbuda clean, warning that littering and derelict buildings threaten the country’s tourism appeal.

Speaking at the opening of a new cruise terminal on Thursday, Mr Browne said environmental standards were as important as government investment in infrastructure.

He criticised what he described as widespread indiscriminate dumping and neglected properties, while noting that the government was demolishing derelict homes and working to beautify public spaces.

Mr Browne said public investment in tourism was intended to improve living standards, but stressed that citizens must play their part by maintaining a clean environment and providing high-quality service.

“We’re investing heavily in our people, but our people now have to reciprocate,” he said.

The appeal comes as Antigua and Barbuda positions itself as a leading Caribbean cruise destination, with the new terminal expected to bring a sharp rise in visitor numbers.

Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez said the port area had undergone a major transformation since the government took office 11 years ago, replacing what he described as an embarrassing waterfront of sunken vessels.

Further cruise-related developments are planned for Barbuda, Barnacle Point and other sites over the next three to five years, with officials warning that environmental standards must keep pace with the upgraded facilities.

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