Prime Minister Gaston Browne says Antigua and Barbuda now ranks first in the Caribbean on the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) — an achievement he credits to the country’s sustained economic growth, expanding education system, and major investments in health care.
Speaking during his Independence Day address, Browne described the ranking as “an extraordinary achievement” and evidence that small island states can be global models of progress.
“This is proof that size does not determine significance, and that small states, when well governed, can be global models,” Browne said. “We are small, but substantial; modest in geography, but consequential in influence.”
Browne linked the HDI milestone to years of steady development and social investment. He noted that employment has reached a record 47,000 people, while per-capita income now exceeds EC $60,000 — the highest in the OECS and among the highest in CARICOM.
He also pointed to health-sector improvements, including the nearing completion of a Renal Centre for dialysis and kidney transplants and the conversion of the former Jehovah’s Witness headquarters into a modern mental health facility valued at about $12 million.
On education, Browne highlighted the $200 million expansion of the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus, as well as the creation of the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies (ABCAS), consolidating post-secondary institutions under one umbrella.
“Our investments in health care and education are saving lives and shaping futures,” Browne said. “They affirm that every citizen has worth and that every child deserves the opportunity to learn, to grow, and to succeed.”
The Prime Minister said the HDI ranking and the nation’s strong performance in multiple sectors reflect Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to good governance, equality, and people-centered development.
“Our voice is heard and respected because we stand on the principles of love, truth, and justice,” Browne said. “We speak with principle, purpose, and passion — and the world is taking notice.”
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Yep the UN recognize human development index is a validation from a few guys sitting in an office somewhere across the globe who heard of Robert deniro project in Barbuda and PLH housing project with plot sales in the $8 million USD range and that’s human development index even though it is Caucasians that drives that index due to concessions given by the black government on the back of the poor people who are 95% of the population that remains poor from since independence surviving from hand to mouth.
And the politicians drives that index with property they secretly bought up around the world which these organization know of but the population is oblivious of..
Which former Jehovah Witness property. Can’t be the one in Sea View Farm. I am begging the people please look at yourself and how you are living in a true form. I am tired of people begging and crying for help from friends and family outside the country. I am sure it’s the same inside the country. We have persons enticing pastors for money then cry foul. We have text messages of persons reaching politicians for gifts in exchange of sexual favors. We have persons running scams all over the country and this man says we are developed . WAKE UP MY PEOPLE AND STRUGGLE FOR BETTER . FIGHT THOSE WHO STEAL FROM YOU AND LET YOU BEG TO GET IT BACK AND TAKE CREDIT FOR HELPING YOU.
WUI was a good add addition but ACAS is not new other than the agricultural school which isn’t ready yet and ABCAS introduction so far can be best describe as growing pains at best and isn’t even fully implemented
I have an issue with the other staments made here employment reach 47,000 out of what? People joined the workforce in a specific time or total because Antigua’s population is around 100k don’t that’s 50%
Also the so the income per capita is annoying because it’s just takes total income divided by population Antigua already have a small population so let’s use Barbuda since they have 1000 so if we add De Niro to the population and his said salary of 14mil from a movie just off the internet plus saying everyone in Barbuda makes 0 the income per capita would be 14,000 per person. It doesn’t take account of the most common salary given to people of the country and can be inflated by the elites of the society being at a high number so Gaston, Hadeed other elites with high income can inflate the numbers about what is felt especially if the employment rate is 50%
And our contention as critical thinkers, is that Antigua should have been 15-20 years ahead of every other island in the Caribbean.
If this man was a better financial manager of the peoples purse, and not allowed the system to be looted and robbed by his cronies who he offered very generous concessions on goods and services, if he had the integrity to sure up the revenue collection laws, if he went after all the outstanding taxes that were not collected from the major cooperate players in Antigua, we would have been 15-20 years ahead of where we are right now.
I will continue to state the facts that this administration, and especially the finance minister who is also the PM, have squandered the golden era of Antigua’s lucative tourism economy.
There has been no time in the history of Antigua’s economy where money has been spent in good and services between the years of 2013 to present, none.
After the US economic recovery in 2013, Americans were spending money like sand, and most of that money were invested in the Caribbean. Many companies were diversifying their portfolios and expanding there market to places like Antigua. Trillions came in, and this tiny island was the benefactor of that expansion.
So our contention is GB, is that you have not manage the peoples purse as well as you may think. St johns does not look or bare the fruits of that economic growth, and that’s the capital.
So there you have it..where is all the revenues that were supposedly collected or should have been collected? Yes more cars were being bought, more houses were being built, more businesses were opened up by the public, but where is the taxes you were supposed to have collected?
And in spite of the growth, which even
me disputing, there is where you failed as a PM and a finance minister.
The peoples Treasury should have filed to the brim right now, but instead we have scandals and millions stolen from the peoples purse.
That’s your failure, and you should be removed from office for such failures. If you were working for any private company right now, you would have being already fired for those egregious failures.
*their*
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