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Prime Minister Gaston Browne has renewed his call for Caribbean nations to unite in negotiations with cruise lines, warning that the current model of cruise tourism is unsustainable without a regional approach.
Browne’s remarks followed a World Bank report showing that the Caribbean generates the lowest revenue globally from cruise tourism, despite being the sector’s most popular destination.
For Antigua and Barbuda, he said, the imbalance between rising visitor numbers and modest financial returns has long been a concern.
The prime minister recalled Antigua and Barbuda’s past efforts to press for higher passenger head taxes, only to be undercut by rival destinations.
When Carnival Cruise Lines responded to Antigua’s demands by diverting ships elsewhere, Browne said other regional governments welcomed the traffic instead of closing ranks.
“Instead of the region collaborating with us, they were mocking us, encouraging Carnival to send ships their way,” he noted, pointing to the longstanding difficulty of securing a collective stance.
CARICOM leaders previously attempted to negotiate higher fees with Carnival through the bloc’s then-chairman, Amlod Dottin, but repeated appeals for better terms were dismissed.
Cruise lines have consistently stressed “volume” over revenue, Browne argued, while governments shouldered the costs of port maintenance, dredging, and land-side development.
Browne described the current revenue structure as “unsustainable,” highlighting that many ports charge as little as US$5–10 per passenger—far below the level needed to offset infrastructure strain.
“It requires a recalibration, and Caribbean countries must demand more,” he said.
The Antiguan leader also pointed to his administration’s 30-year lease agreement with Global Port Holding, which has committed nearly US$88 million in investments, as an alternative to heavy state spending that might otherwise have exceeded US$300 million with little guarantee of returns.
Browne has urged CARICOM to revive efforts to set a minimum regional head tax, arguing that a united front would prevent cruise operators from exploiting differences between individual states.
“Thirty years ago, CARICOM tried to set a common rate, but two countries broke ranks. This time, we must move together,” he insisted.
For Browne, the issue is not simply about increasing revenue but about ensuring fairness and sustainability in a sector central to the region’s economies.
Without collective action, he warned, Caribbean governments will continue to bear the burden of cruise tourism while reaping only modest rewards.
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Solidarity!!!
Convenience!!!!
Are our leaders always on a high?
What do they lace their joint with???
Is appears that they conveniently know when to call for Caricom and or OECS solidarity and unification.
Daily they cut each other islands throat.
They have no problem wiping out the economy of one.island and leaving it’s citizens to eat from the gutter.
However when their economy is threatened by a higher/greater/stronger power they want the very island which they just impoverished to join them to save their economy.
What hypocrisy!!
Should each island just go after what benefits them and to hell with which ever get crushed or should they consider investments so as not to destroy another island?
Barbados by the swipe of a pen took away 30 percent of Dominica’s GDP.
They following year they called for unity in dealing with the cruise sector.
Today Dominicans are scattered across the caribbean while Dominica becomes depopulated.
That’s the hypocrisy of the call for solidarity/unity/collective bargaining/negotiations.
I say no more, if the Caribbean is segmented and can’t come together, they are food to be eaten by the investors or business corporations, one Caribbean president or federation is the protectionism the Caribbean needs, each time these Caribbean prime minister a called like little boys to Washington, they take off for their candy, even as Gaston spout this melee as performative politics , should there be a called by Uncle trump to come to the USA at tax payers expense, he would be out of breath as he move with alacrity to get there.
Performative politics, just to have upmanship in talking.