Chinese firm chooses Antigua for regional headquarters

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The China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) is constructing its regional headquarters here in Antigua.

CCECC is behind several major projects in Antigua and Barbuda, including the V. C. Bird International Airport terminal building. Prime Minister Gaston  Browne confirmed the development after he posted a photo on social media recently.

“China Construction design concept for its Caribbean Headquarters. The government sold them five acres of land at $10.00 per square foot to facilitate the construction of their headquarters located at the back of Sir Viv Richards Stadium,” the caption reads.

The announcement comes in the midst of heated nationwide speculation over development that has begun in the area north of the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.

Concerning the sale of land to CCECC, PM Browne continued, “My government transferred a total of ten acres of land to Chinese interests. Five of the ten acres were a gift to the People’s Republic of China to conduct a US$23M embassy and residence. It’s not unusual for countries to build embassy buildings in foreign countries. We also sold five acres to China Construction to build their headquarters for the Caribbean here in Antigua. The presence of China Construction will result in a transfer of technology to locals and the development of a building construction export market.”

The country’s leader went on to say that CCECC has been conducting business in Antigua and Barbuda for well over 10 years.

“China construction has been operating in Antigua for over a decade and is responsible for the construction of the airport, new cargo port facilities, and several other buildings gifted by the People’s Republic of China to the government of Antigua and Barbuda,” Browne said on Facebook.

Ground was broken on the project on September 16th. It is expected that it will be completed in eight to ten months. The project will include a corporate office building, housing quarters and recreational facility.

In 2018, during high level talks with the Chinese diplomatic core and the president of the China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Prime Minister Browne recommended that because of the CCECC’s strong ties with the people and Government of Antigua and Barbuda, Antigua would be the ideal location for its re gional headquarters.

According to reports, CCECC has been listed among the world’s top 100 international contractors for seventeen consecutive years by the Engineering News Record “ENR”.

According to ARUP, an international independent firm of designers, planners, engineers, architects, consultants and technical specialists, “CCECC has now established resident offices or project management headquarters in 101 countries around the world.”

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47 COMMENTS

  1. The Chinese are coming.The Chinese are coming. Oh no,they are already here.They are well entrenched into the fabric covertly of our Government.One day,some day,our country could be led by a Chinese born National.Heaven,help us all.

  2. Tabor, if UPP is victorious next election can you advise what will they do with the Chinese interest that is growing in Antigua?

    • We will certainly control the reckless give away of our lands to the Chinese and others. Yes the Chinese have provided assistance to support certain developments and we are grateful for that, but the whole process has to be carefully managed. Even the monstrosity that I look down at from my home (the so-called Embassy) must be the largest Embassy in the world. The amount of land given was unnecessary.

  3. 1 Antigua will become the first colony of China in this hemisphere.
    2 Collate the combine acreage of lands held by Chines interest in Antigua.
    3 Pay attention to the total amount of lands the GASTON BROWNE administration has handed over to Chines and Chinese interests.
    5 Remember Dean the Jonas said that 2000 acres was a minimum.
    6 Exam the capital, look at the gross amount of properties that is now in that is now in the hands of Chinese and Chinese interests.
    7 NOTICE that the GASTON BROWNE administration is not concerned with this express accumulation of property in a finite 108 square mile by this minority clandestine demographic.
    8 These things should be on the ONDCP radar and advise the government on the way forward.
    The GASTON BROWNE administration is totally responsible for this travesty.
    Scotia Bank is a private entity and he knew what to do, so no excuses.

  4. Hey Melchizedek …
    1 – Antigua is too small to become the first Chinese colony , just in san Francisco or ny there’s more Chinese than in Antigua in the next 100 years .
    2 – Chinese people are not criminal as Jamaican or Spanish
    3 – Every politician in the history think to put money in his poket
    4 – somebody has to come here and upgrade the island , is not possibile in 2020 that we have the most expensive electricity bills , most expensive water bills , no good road , no public transportations, no services, nothing works properly on this island .. you know why ??? Cuz we good to do nothing , so we need foreign people come and do everything..
    Until our politician stop to be a legal criminal will be like that .
    Probably you don’t know but all around the world the electrical power is very cheap , fast internet connection is available also in the Sahara desert now but not in Antigua … probably I never been oversea !!!

    • @Collustion. It is called the ‘cost of corruption’ and it is an ever increasing price. Everytime we excuse it; laugh at it; psrticipate in it; think others are badminded because they are upset at it, we are increasing that cost to the detriment of ourselves and generations to come.
      Lord, I pray the majority becomes enlightened before its too late.

  5. I would also like to know what the UPP’s stand/policy on China is and will be. China is the most racist country on this planet and their interest in Antigua has absolutely nothing to do with compassion/friendship for black people or any other race, but their own, for that matter. Absolutely nothing that the Chinese have done in Antigua has been done without a “payback” and their “debt trap” way overpriced loans are well known all over the world.
    China purposely sent the Wuhan Corona virus out into the outside world knowing full well what the results would be…crippling economies and killing loved ones.
    Any politician with any sense of obligation to their country would be filling a lawsuit for our financial and personal losses. It would appear that Nigeria has the fortitude to file a lawsuit for US$200 billion for corona virus damages but Antigua govt. is so weak and greedy that all they basically do is bow and scrape to these monsters and destroy the tourist industry in the process…what tourists are going to want to come to a Caribbean island overrun with and controlled by communist Chinese?
    One can only assume that (personal) money is at the root of all this. There is no past or present benefit financial or otherwise for the Antigua people from this invasion. WAKE UP ANTIGUA! What’s next on the Chinese agenda? Military? The defense force base? More substandard ugly buildings to mar the landscape?

  6. My God man, a dog Antiguans/Barbudans be for Gaston. Nothing for us, everything for Chinese Me trying fu get piece a land fu do farming and fu lib and me can’t get none and me born a Holberton Hospital..Both CHAPA and Agriculture have my applications nearly twenth-five times. Can someone please give me the Capital of Antigua.
    Lord, please help us here.

  7. Slowly but surely and steadily the PM is selling out Antigua to these people.

    The writing on the wall yet there are those people who will continue voting for this regime. If you think there are too many Chinese on the island now, soon we will be inundated with a lot more and it will be too late.

    On the other hand, maybe they will take better pride living on our island and it will be kept a lot cleaner but I am not betting on that either.

    Folks, keep voting for this imbecile and soon your families will have no where to live.

  8. Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” George Santayana!

    They say a Picture is worth a Thousand Words! The Office Complex/Campus comes complete with Living Facilities and Recreation Amenities in its Compound! Have Mercy Pon Us! This is not to throw shade on either GoAB, The PROC or CCECC! In the Bahamas is CSCEC and CCA(NJ)! In Barbados CSCEC! In Jamaica is CHEC! In Panama is the ROC’s OECC with its Purchasing & Procurement offices in Miami!

    We have gone from and continue to engage in practices which some would say are detrimental to, our independence, National Growth and Development and the building of a Caribbean Civilization, be it from the old colonial buccaneers or the new neo-colonial privateers!

    Here we are less than 53 years repeating the same old colonial practice! How many remember the Antigua Syndicates Sugar Factory and its village compound to accommodate its managerial and technical class including sugar boilers and chemists from other islands because Antiguans were shut out of such classes of employment! If The PM and his other cabinet colleagues, save for the MP’s for St. Phillip’s South and St. Mary’s North, given their youthful exuberance are not aware of that Historical Referent Point in Time and Space, The Honourable MP, representative for St. Phillips North and a progenitor of the Plantocracy, should be able to enlighten the Cabinet of such Historical Referent Points!

    If that example does not resonate with you, this mere voice shudders to think that you would leap to the Old Parham (Silk) Road and make a connection to the American Naval Compound at Crabbes and Coolidge!

    “My People, we are free this night. But Freedom cannot exist without responsibility. The full burden of our freedom now rests squarely upon our shoulders. What we do with that freedom is our responsibility, we can blame none other. //Part of the responsibility of freedom is its protection. As a small developing country with little resources other than beaches, land and people, we have to safeguard our freedom by ensuring that we never become dependent again. //The ultimate safeguard of Independence is productivity. This nation, born again tonight, must commit itself to work and to work hard. For if we fail to do so, the consequence of our failure will be dependence on a new master who will, once again, dictate our policies and direct our affairs. //We must not have struggled so long and with such fortitude to exchange one master for another.” – VCBird, Independence Speech 1st November 1981!

    • Work hard .. Yeah.. too hard.. US dominate our economy and you are looking to chinese.. just talk to police to show in the last 40 years.. how many crimes was committed in Antigua for foreign workers and how many of them was done by Chinese.. We have more serious issues with caribbean brothers who came here and mashup our peace..
      By the way,. Look the biggest suppliers in Antigua… Horizons,. Brydens, Island Provision, Kennedy, Premier Beverage, Hutchinson, etc… All supermarket. In Antigua sell product from US suppliera… Mean most of our money go to US not china… And that will be like that for the next generation because chinese can’t take over this thing… So most bank is from Canada and they have lot of property in mortgage.. so most of the island is owned by US and Canada… Chinese are learning from the big masters US… So don’t be fooled

      • Would you rather the suppliers of food and banks were Chinese? Thank goodness some food are still coming from US. Can anyone guarantee what is in Chinese foods? Don’t worry the Chinese are moving in the wholesale distribution of food. By the way I bought some bottles of Shandy and there are two flavours that taste like what we called beverage as kids. Check out their origin.

      • Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock! “From (Antiguan) chauvinism to (Barbudan) tribalism, there is but one small step. And consequently, wherever the petty-mindedness of the national bourgeoisie and the haziness of its ideological positions have been incapable of enlightening the people as a whole or have been unable to put the people first, wherever this national bourgeoisie has proven to be incapable of expanding its vision of the world, there is a return to tribalism, and we watch with a raging heart as ethnic tensions triumph. Since the only slogan of the bourgeoisie is “Replace the foreigners – Caribbean Brother,” and they rush into every sector to take the law into their own hands and fill the vacancies, the petty traders such as taxi drivers, cake sellers, and shoe shiners follow suit and call for the expulsion of the (Dominicans, Guyanese, Jamaicans, St. Lucians, etc.) or, taking tribalism to a new level, demand that the Fulani (Coromantees) go back to their bush or back up their Sherkerley mountains.” ― Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth!

        Just in case you missed it: “We have gone from and continue to engage in practices which some would say are detrimental to, our independence, National Growth and Development and the building of a Caribbean Civilization, be it from the OLD COLONIAL BUCCANEERS or the NEW NEO-COLONIAL PRIVATEERS!

        “Afrocentricity is a paradigm based on the idea that African people should reassert a sense of agency in order to achieve sanity. // The Afrocentric paradigm is a revolutionary shift in thinking proposed as a constructural adjustment to black disorientation, dislocation, decenteredness, and lack of agency.” – Dr. Molefi Asante, Afrocentricity, The Theory of Social Change!

  9. Well. The Chinese are taking over every country but some countries limit what they do but Antigua just give all.. out children will wake up one day and be told they no longer own the beds they sleep in. It’s so sad

    These Chinese aren’t doing something for nothing. The government is giving them rights to everything

  10. $10.00 per sq.ft for lands behind Sir Viv Stadium.Why so little for such a location.The property in my opinion should be sold for a minimum of at least $30 per sq.ft.That area has the infrastructure there.You Gaston Browne has just sold Antigua and Barbuda people lands for peanuts.To our new Colonizers,the Chinese.Because that Company could not invest in Antigua and Barbuda.Without the approval of the Chinese Communist Party giving it the okay so to do.An Acre of land is 43,560 sq.ft.So those 5 acres of land costs that Chinese Company,$2,178,000 at $ 10.00 per sq ft.If those lands were sold for $30 per sq.ft.The numbers would be $6,534,000.The differences would be net $4,356,000 more than they were sold for into the Government coffers.Who benefitted from the sales of a such properties?

  11. Just wondering what the reaction would be if the company was French, American, British or Canadian.
    The silence on the WTO case is deafening, although the US owes us (with interest) about a billion EC dollars by now. But I guess it is not Chinese, so while they keep robbing us we keep silent.

  12. It’s a shame. He should have leased the land for 100 yrs after which they are to vacate leaving the compound to the benefit of the country.

    Now we can’t ask them to leave . Gaston u’re a smart man. But sometimes ure a mad man.

  13. ONLY IN ANTIGUA WILL THE THIEVES BE REGROUPING TO TAKE THE COUNTRY BACK INTO COLONIALISM AND THE DUMB DOWNED PEOPLE ARE MERRY MAKING AND CELEBRATING THEIR DEMISE…

  14. Which awaken black conscious person takes any pride in a china town been erected in our midst,possibly even on our farmlands? just ask yourself if we can go to china and do the same there?what did we gain giving lands and duty free to Yilda? Are you so naive ,dumb or foolish to learn yet? A people without a land will be cultureless and slaves in their own land.who in their right mind will sell $10Ec/sqft of the people’s land to a big multinational company with projects in over 100 countries?Are you so stupid or you are in a deep sleep?

  15. Jeb and others who pretend they do not know the answer re UPP’s partnership with China:-2013:

    Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Ren Gonping On His Welcome Reception
    2013/06/14
    Ladies and Gentlemen,

    In recent years, we have experienced rapid development in our cooperation. This result could not be realized without the dedicated efforts of Prime Minister Spencer and his government, the hard working Chinese technicians and engineers, the oversea Chinese who called Antigua and Barbuda home for many years and all our friends who cared and supported our bilateral relations in this beautiful country.

    After 30 years, the potential of our cooperation is expanding. The importance of China – Antigua and Barbuda relations is more significant. The desire to explore more fields of cooperation and lift the living standard of our peoples is stronger than ever before.

    During his visit to Trinidad, President Xi stressed that China treasure the cooperation with Caribbean nations. In the near future, China will set up one or two demonstration centers to showcase agricultural technologies and train local Agri-technicians, send 100 medical staff, train 100 postgraduate students, provide government scholarship for 1,000 students and increase the limits of concessional loans for the region.

    The meeting of President Xi and Prime Minister Spencer was the first of eight bilateral meetings with regional leaders, and is a milestone of our relations. This signified the importance China has attached to our relations and exemplified the principals of equality and mutual respect that we have been promoting in international affairs.

    Besides the current projects, we will expand our cooperation into fields such as tourism, health, renewable energy, agriculture and etc (JEB PLEASE NOTE). In providing foreign aid, we hold the view that the priority of cooperation is to help the recipient countries to build self-development capacity and to lay a foundation for future development.

    • Hello tenman, I would have thought that by now you would know that I am not pro red or blue I am for the survival of Antigua! I know that the UPP were also in bed with the Chinese…the WPP is glaring evidence of that and GB made it worse. I want to know what the UPP stand on the Chinese is NOW.
      Antigua needs to sue China for virus damages. They won’t pay, of course, but I would think the damages could be laid against their assets which are the humongous loans and their embassy buildings. Calculate what this intentional virus (it is called biological warfare/terrorism) has cost the real people (including children) of this country and that cost is in every which way you can imagine! Westerners are not going to want to visit an island that is riddled with communist Chinese and ugly Chinese buildings hidden behind huge walls spying on USA and the free world, so if this continues we can kiss bye bye to a tourist industry…China has killed multi thousands of loved ones and destroyed economies (including their own) and we continue to kissass to them…something is terribly wrong with that scenario!!

      • Jeb its not the UPP via Tabor (son) who has argued on behalf of the UPP that CIP is falling short because its not selling the real estate option enough? He points to the better success places like SKN are having with that route. You recall who is the #1 CIP applicant? Its not Chinese? Check the CIP website if you don’t believe me. Guy pick sense from nonsense, Tabor (the father) long showed himself illogical. He can’t even acknowledge what’s right in-front his face, The indians used to have a name for people like Tabor (he too close to my family friend Lovell) : Forked Tongue

    • @ Tenman
      You think Gaston is the smartest man in the universe. Why is he making the same mistakes as Harold Lovell that you have to keep reminding us that Lovell did the same.

        • Again you keep calling me out of name, if you continue I will report you to ANR. I am in agreement with the government policy re China. Even agreed with the UPP push to diversify and push for Chinese tourists (need to do so also for the African continent). I am also a believer in teaching our chidden Mandarin (which I understand has started at Sir Novell Richards Academy). Happen to think its (China) our best partner for our developmental goals. I do not catch on to your Chinese scare probably because I have family who are Chinese. I hear you with your racist falsehood re UPP will stop Chinese from getting lands, yet the 2014 (some 30 days before the 2014 election) article made clear Harold Lovell (UPP admin.) was quite keen for Yida to get the former Stanford lands so the project would move forward:

          “Finance Minister Harold Lovell said Yida International Investment Antigua Limited, led by Yida Zhang, is seeking approval under the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) as well as incentives under the Business and Tourism (Special Incentives) Act for a mega resort and residential development on Guiana Island and surrounding areas.
          “Government has approved the project and is willing to give the necessary concessions,” Lovell said.
          “We have done everything we can to facilitate the project and get it moving,” he added. “The possibilities exist that we do what is necessary in order to ensure that the project comes off the ground.”…Lovell said the government has been doing its part to ensure the mega project can move ahead full speed, but is waiting for the group to finalise its purchase from the Stanford liquidators. see Gov’t keen to offer incentives for Guiana Island project Article Published: May 9, 2014, Daily Observer

    • Land in China can’t be privately own therefore China should not be allowed to buy land outside of China, its a communist country. There’s no such thing at a privately own business in China, every business is attached to the government communist party. A lender with bad intentions

  16. Jeb incase your head hard, this is Harold Lovell about 30 days before the 2014 election, speaking about your favorite banging post (YIDA):

    “Finance Minister Harold Lovell said Yida International Investment Antigua Limited, led by Yida Zhang, is seeking approval under the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) as well as incentives under the Business and Tourism (Special Incentives) Act for a mega resort and residential development on Guiana Island and surrounding areas.
    “Government has approved the project and is willing to give the necessary concessions,” Lovell said.
    “We have done everything we can to facilitate the project and get it moving,” he added. “The possibilities exist that we do what is necessary in order to ensure that the project comes off the ground.”…Lovell said the government has been doing its part to ensure the mega project can move ahead full speed, but is waiting for the group to finalise its purchase from the Stanford liquidators. see Gov’t keen to offer incentives for Guiana Island project Article Published: May 9, 2014, Daily Observer

  17. Did the Chinese also pay a commission? Just asking.
    The Chinese are going to build houses for whom? Does this mean that they will be bringing more Chinese to work and live in Antigua? Just wait and see they put a lot of Antiguans out of business with their cheap imported Chinese labour and cheap imported materials.
    The Chinese may have given Antigua some aid but all their businesses are taking out of Antigua far more than they give. There is nothing for nothing in this world.
    Gaston stop selling Antigua lands to foreigners. We know you have enough for your generations to come but the rest of future generations will need land in Antigua. They don’t grow land.

  18. Antigua & Barbuda is under serious Chinese debt and like the Chinese have done in other countries when you are unable to pay they will take over the assets and convert it into a military base to keep options ready to attack America. Antiguans will become proxy for Chinese fighting Americans!!!

  19. Money slipping under the table.

    Zero transparency. Laws should be in place to check and and all MP’s and their family’s bank accounts.

    • Wow!!! All this back and forth about which party did what…totally over shadowing the point made. While we sit idly by pointing fingers, a foreign entity is invading our shores. Ask all the other countries that they have invaded what the outcome shall be. Old people say what sweet in the mouth bitter in the belly. PAY ATTENTION MY PEOPLE.

  20. While other countries relying less on the Chinese, Our one man government sings draw me nearer. In a land of a 108 square miles this nothing for chinese to take over. Dont be suprise if he offers a piece of Barbuda.

  21. The PM knows that he will get some push back but he will redirect the focus to a new scandal and in a few days it will all be forgotten. Watch and see.

    Sad, but this is what the new Antigua has dwindled too…..

  22. History has repeat itself sale! sale! sale! We are being sold out by politicians for their best interest, until we learn to fight for our rights it will not change. We love the politicians more than ourselves and they love the money and foreign investors more than us.

  23. This is utter nonsense. This government needs to go! Recently giving Harris paints a monopoly in Antigua by Hitting every other paint dealer in Antigua besides Harris with crazy taxes on paint so Harris paints can dominate the market, it’s unfair and called cheating. Now selling off whatever they can to the Chinese, for what, in exchange for what?????

  24. The most important questions are how many permanent jobs will this provide for Antiguans and how many Chinese nationals will be required to help staff the HQ? Also, will this be a legitimate HQ or a front for PRC’s intelligence agency? We need to diversify the economy, so if this will result in significant employment, it may be worth it getting into bed with CCECC. Still too many unanswered questions. Where is the Leader of the Opposition???

  25. One thing i find very controversial and hypocritical we celebrate independence but sell out everything in this country. What would be left for us at the rate of these sales, i am not against development but against greed and deception . Each endevouring all achieving !Not some achieving!

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