OPINION: Making Spanish An Official Language Is Still A Dangerous Idea

MAKING SPANISH AN OFFICAL LANGUAGE IS STILL A DANGEROUS IDEA

In the Daily Observer newspaper dated June 05, 2026, Ambassador Sir Ronald Sanders laid out the Antigua and Barbuda government’s case for unilaterally declaring Spanish as the second official language.

I appreciate him doing so, since this is the first time I have seen any attempt to provide the people with any details of the rationale for the government’s decision.

A decision of this nature should have been brought to the attention of the population prior to the elections so that the government could justly claim that they got a clear mandate to proceed with this il-considered idea.

Sir Ronald wrote:

“The decision by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda … to make Spanish the country’s second official language may prove to be one of those [significant] ideas”.

First off, I find it interesting that Sir Ronald used the word “may”. The use of that qualifier signifies a subliminal admission that this idea could very well turn out to be either insignificant or worst, a very dangerous and irreversible idea.

I must say that Sir Ronald’s article failed to demonstrate how NOT declaring Spanish as an official language specifically prevents Antigua and Barbuda from pursuing all of the well-meaning things he enumerated.

It needs to be emphasized that acquiring the skills to speak Spanish has absolutely nothing to do with making Spanish an official language.

Miami, Florida already benefits from all of the things that Sir Ronald has articulated and more yet, English is still the only official language there.

So how has Miami accomplished all of the things we crave without Spanish being declared an official language?

I contend that all of the things Sir Ronald has articulated are all achievable and I daresay were already in train before the declaration of Spanish being an official language.

I maintain that our Santo Dominican brothers and sisters were all already integrating well before the government’s decision to declare Spanish the second official language.

Sir Ronalds article further stated:

“Over many years, Antigua and Barbuda has become home to a substantial Spanish-speaking community, particularly from the Dominican Republic. Many have worked, invested, raised families, and become part of the country’s social and economic life. Their children and grandchildren are citizens by birth, while others seek citizenship after years of lawful residences and contribution to national development.”

That statement is an open admission that our Santo Dominican brothers and sisters were already integrating into the wider society for some time now. So, it begs the question, what is the problem that our government is trying to fix by making Spanish an official language?

Just like Miami naturally integrated, so too would Antigua and Barbuda without government interference.

Does the government of Antigua and Barbuda think that by declaring Spanish the second official language that OVERNIGHT everyone will magically speak Spanish?

Integration is always a slow process. Declaring Spanish an official language will not accelerate the process.

It is obvious to me that without any interference the integration process would have organically and naturally created a bi-lingual society on its own.

By the way, some of the benefits of which Sir Ronald speak are not guaranteed as he would suggest, even after declaring Spanish an official language.

What does our tourism product have that will attract our Latin American neighbors to Antigua and Barbuda in droves?

I surmise that the government’s unsubstantiated assumption is that by declaring to the World that Spanish as our second official language that this will spark a deluge of Latin American countries to flood our shores, immediately.

Really?

The so-called benefits that have been articulated by Sir Ronald cannot be achieved overnight or even within 12 months.

So, what exactly will declaring Spanish an official language do IMMEDIATELY other than causing the Latin American delegation to the OAS to respond with enthusiasm?

I must remind Sir Ronald that we got enthusiastic responses when we declared Boggy Peak renamed Mount Obama.

What did that get us?

I still maintain my support for promoting the learning of Spanish but not at the expense of the identity of the Antiguan and Barbudan people.

I believe that it is disingenuous to give the impression that making Spanish an official language and taking advantage of the skills of our Santo Dominican community are inextricably linked.

I still feel that we have not been told the real reason behind this move to declare Spanish as an official language

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