{"id":274600,"date":"2026-04-29T12:49:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-29T16:49:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/?p=274600"},"modified":"2026-04-29T12:49:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-29T16:49:14","slug":"pm-browne-says-there-will-be-no-cuts-to-social-programmes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/pm-browne-says-there-will-be-no-cuts-to-social-programmes\/","title":{"rendered":"PM Browne says there will be NO Cuts to Social Programmes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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PM Backs Social Programme Consolidation but Rejects Cuts to Benefits<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Prime Minister Gaston Browne says his administration plans to consolidate dozens of social programmes across government, but insisted that no benefits will be reduced as part of the restructuring.<\/p>

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Browne said approximately 38 programmes currently spread across multiple ministries could be streamlined to improve efficiency, while maintaining the level of support provided to citizens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI accept that they should be consolidated\u2026 possibly under a single ministry,\u201d he said.<\/p>

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The proposal follows recommendations raised in recent economic discussions, including concerns about fragmentation and duplication within the social support system.<\/p>

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However, Browne pushed back against suggestions that consolidation should lead to tighter targeting or reduced access, warning that such approaches could limit assistance to those in need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe issue of targeting\u2026 I think that\u2019s a euphemism to say that we\u2019re too generous,\u201d he said.<\/p>

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He made clear that the government intends to preserve its broad-based approach to social support, describing generosity as a defining feature of the administration\u2019s policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will always be a generous government,\u201d Browne said, adding that assistance will continue to be made available to those who require it.<\/p>

\"\"<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n

While acknowledging that administrative improvements are needed, he drew a clear distinction between restructuring and cutting programmes.<\/p>

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\u201cConsolidate, yes \u2014 but not curtail,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Prime Minister said the government will examine options for bringing programmes under a more centralized framework in a new term, with the aim of improving coordination and service delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The comments come amid ongoing debate about social spending and economic management, as Antigua and Barbuda balances efforts to maintain fiscal discipline with expanding support for vulnerable groups.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PM Backs Social Programme Consolidation but Rejects Cuts to Benefits Prime Minister Gaston Browne says his administration plans to consolidate dozens of social programmes across government, but insisted that no benefits will be reduced as part of the restructuring. Browne said approximately 38 programmes currently spread across multiple ministries could be streamlined to improve efficiency, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":272035,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-274600","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\nPM Browne says there will be NO Cuts to Social Programmes - Antigua News Room<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/antiguanewsroom.com\/pm-browne-says-there-will-be-no-cuts-to-social-programmes\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"PM Browne says there will be NO Cuts to Social Programmes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"PM Backs Social Programme Consolidation but Rejects Cuts to Benefits Prime Minister Gaston Browne says his administration plans to consolidate dozens of social programmes across government, but insisted that no benefits will be reduced as part of the restructuring. 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