Antigua and Barbuda has seen its economy expand significantly over the past 43 years, growing from a GDP of $336 million in Eastern Caribbean dollars at independence in 1981 to over $5 billion today. Governor General Sir Rodney Williams highlighted this transformation during his Throne Speech, crediting strategic investments and fiscal policies for the dramatic increase.
“On the 1st of November 1981, the new state of Antigua and Barbuda was declared sovereign, and our GDP stood at $336 million. Today, our country’s GDP exceeds $5 billion,” Sir Rodney said, outlining the nation’s progress.
The Governor General noted that this growth reflects deliberate efforts to build a robust economy, including investments in tourism, infrastructure, and foreign direct investment. Projects such as the Peace, Love, and Happiness (PLH) development and the Rosewood Luxury Hotel in Barbuda were cited as key contributors to job creation and economic expansion.
The government has also focused on fiscal discipline, achieving a debt-to-GDP ratio of approximately 60%, a level deemed sustainable by international financial institutions. Sir Rodney commended the Ministry of Finance and the Cabinet for their role in managing the country’s finances.
“My government set about to make Antigua and Barbuda’s economy produce sufficient jobs while lowering taxes and attracting significant investments,” he said, describing the administration’s approach to fostering economic growth.
Tourism remains a critical driver of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, with ongoing investments in luxury resorts and improved connectivity. The new airport terminal and the planned deepwater harbor in Barbuda are expected to enhance both tourism and trade, further strengthening the nation’s economic outlook.
However, challenges remain, including the country’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters and global economic fluctuations. Despite these hurdles, the government has expressed optimism about its ability to sustain growth through diversification and investments in renewable energy, healthcare, and education.
Antigua and Barbuda’s economic journey underscores the progress made since independence, though questions about the inclusivity of this growth and its resilience to external shocks remain topics for ongoing discussion.
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And about 17% of that GDP goes to the government to pay their salaries and to improve the schools and infrastructure,but yet still we can’t see any improvement to the infrastructure of Antigua.
We don’t even have public toilets for people to relieve themselves, but yet still here we are bragging about 5B economy.
Where is all that 17% GB? Almost a billion dollars. Take out say 35% for salaries and expenses, and you still have around 500mil to work with and improve the damn place.
So where is all that tax money that the people paid into the system?
GB took over the Government is the most lucrative times in Antigua’s history, but yet still the place is dirtier and stinker than it’s ever been in the history of Antigua.
Why is that so? The answer is that we have a government that have squandered the people’s money and have borrowed more than what they can pay back and buried themselves in debt with terrible deal after terrible deal.
The fact is, we have the worse financial officer in Antigua’s history..a man that doesn’t know how to negotiate proper deals on Antiguan’s behalf.
So if Government is not to blame, then who is?
Everything a government gets is paid for by the people, but here in Antigua we have a government that just takes and takes and give nothing back to the people, other than some free turkey and ham at Christmas.
This government has to go, and this article is a telling indictment as to why.
So keep bosting About Antiguan’s GDP GB.
Ineptitude and corruption at its best in this country.
Why this administration is always talking about growth and the ordinary man and woman cannot feel or see it the country and town the place is stink and dirty, some of the beggy, beggy cronies will support this growth theory but if you cannot feel it it makes no sense when some of you walk in to Epicurean you keep cussing when you see the prices rising daily
Why is there always talk of ‘the ordinary man canot feel it’ ? Is it to say that the government should give the ‘ordinary man’ huge handouts or loads of cash? I think i hear your PM always stressing to take advantage of the initiatives to obtain wealth and become entrepreneurs…yet the funds that are available are not being subscribed.
Lets face it, ANTIGUANS are a Lazy and NASTY (just look at the side of the roads and beaches) bunch of people. They just COMPLAIN and grudge the foreign investors…I know of the so called FOREIGNERS who have taken advantage of what the government is offering…
Keep complaining the ‘THE ORDINARY MAN NOT FEELING it…while others are prospering…
We love it
Fellow Antiguans, do not let the misleading rhetoric and verbiage from the ABLP; instead look around your surroundings: Parishes; Village; St John’s. Also how do the roads around your home (if you have one) look like?
Furthermore, when you drive around the country, do you come across traffic lights 🚥 that aren’t working?
Food wise, how much are eggs 🥚🥚🥚 nowadays?
REMEMBER, LET WHAT YOU SEE 👀 AND WITNESS, NOT WHA’ GASSSSSTON SAY … TARL!
A way de money garne? It’s not in infrastructure. It’s not in healthcare. It’s not in education. Is this really more than sweet sounding nothing? Answer me.
Wow! If 336m in 1981 equates to 5b in 2024, and Tanner Street and St. John’s still looks and, smells worse off than a shanty town: please tell or, show us, Mr.GG. You: with your honorable rhetorical appeasing posturing, where and on whom the growth of which you so eloquently proffered, is being manifest to impact on. Is it the foreigners who so boastful and gleefully ascribed to your postulated rhetoric? Those who might have migrated here, only because the grass is seemingly much greener that what is obtained from whence they had come? Sir. You have mentioned the tourism sector that in reality, is a concerted practice of apartheid servitude and, the invocation of Neo Colonization revisited; as through your sense of Education is the acceptance of overcoming physical servitude, equating to house-nigers vs field-nigers, as a salient plus; stage to attain your sense of elated dignity. I also note, that there is no mention of technology transfer or, material to improve the bastard’s infrastructure inherited from our Ancestral fortitude, and only of GDP: as money without common sense, deemed to be buffet against the tide of invited interlopers ploy to satiate your captivated belief of being children’s of a lesser God: without pride of self.
THEN WHY DOES THIS DUMPY LITTLE ISLAND LOOK LIKE A DECRIPID THIRD WORLD COUNTRY AND SMELLS LIKE A UNCLEANED TOILET BOWL???
If Antigua is so rich, then why is the town dutty, the roads full of potholes, the Healthcare system so inferior, massive water problems? Low wages, food and rent prices astronomically high? What’s the point of living in a wealthy country if the ordinary citizen cannot reap the benefits? This article should be ASHAMED of itself! Boasting like that, yet the average Antiguan is living in poverty.
What the Governor General doing talk about economic development in Antigua? Isn’t there someone more suited for that job? Like the finance minister.
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