Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Housing, Land and Urban Renewal, the Hon. Maria Browne has called on the international community and leading construction organizations in the People’s Republic of China to assist developing countries as they transform to sustainable development practices.
Minister Maria Browne was speaking at the 10th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum held in Macao, People’s Republic of China over the weekend.
“We urge you to devise ways in which we can upgrade our technical and managerial capacities in the construction industry through training methods. We also urge you to provide expertise in the use of non-waste and clean technologies and assist us in the provision of educational opportunities that will increase builder knowledge of available sustainable technologies,” she stated.
Minister Browne pointed out that embarking on a programme of sustainable development is a costly venture with numerous challenges. She outlined that it requires consistent flow of financial resources to address increased costs for the steps needed to tackle environmental concerns and to accelerate sustainability.
“The transforming of our economy to a green economy is paramount to my administration, however we depend on our partner governments and institutions represented here to recognize that the challenges we face in transitioning to sustainable development are great. As a small developing nation, it is our hope that conferences like these can provide guidance for us to adopt policies and technologies to enable our construction sector to not only meet our development goals, but to ensure that little or no harm comes to the environment or to human health,” Minister Browne said.
In calling for collaboration, Minister Maria Browne said that the end result must be affordable materials for construction, significantly low interest rates on loans for construction development, utilization of more local labour and the utilization of resources with minimal impact to the environment.
The Housing Minister was also quick to point out to the hundreds in attendance at the forum, that the Gaston Browne administration was doing its part in achieving sustainable development.
“On embarking on our urban renewal and development programme, we have implemented a number of measures that mitigates against damage to our environment and accelerates our green agenda,” she said.
She listed some of these measures as increasing labour-intensive construction and maintenance technologies which generate employment in the construction sector; providing tax exemptions on building materials making them affordable for persons who are in need of low income housing; decreasing the rates of interest on loans provided for low income families; and enforcing standards and other measure which promote increased use of energy-efficient designs and technologies.
While in China Minister Browne will also meet with a number of construction companies and hold bilateral discussions with officials of the Chinese Government.
Minister Maria Browne is accompanied by Deputy Town and Country Planner within the Development Control Authority Mr. Clement Antonio.
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What experience does this girl have to be giving any advice. I never see something like this. Where are all the seasoned women in this country who actually had to prepare budgets and negotiate for better living conditions for theirs as well as other households. Where are all the women who actually know about real life?
So a 29 year old adult to your mind is simply a girl? Its no wonder too many of our women run from politics because of persons like you who see the need to pull other females down. You are essentially lighting your own house on fire
women like who? Gisele Isaac and Miss Cleon Athill?
@ Chupz. Sexist, bigoted comment, even if it written by a woman.
So what are you saying? In a full year on her job she hasn’t learned anything?
I would think with her intelligence and degrees she can do a decent job.
Everybody starts from somewhere.
Wouldn’t the DIRECTOR OF HOUSING WHO HAS BEEN THERE FOR YEARS WITH MORE INSIGHTFUL KNOWLEDGE EXPERIENCES est speak on his matter instead of a welll curated speech written for her …. wouldn’t it be better to send CONSTRUCTION OWNERS and knowledgeable persons who actually know what they talking about until a year ago what does she KNOW CONCERNING HOUSING AND ALL ITS SUBSIDURIES…..TO BE OFFERING EXPERIENCE BULDING & ZONING …..
I GUESS SHE HAVE TO DO AS HER HUSBANDS SAYS AND WATCH HIS HOMES beg for better LOANS MATERIALS EQUIPMENT
So now she’s a expert I’m HOUSING MANAGEMENT….TO BE OFFERING ADVICE …..AND TO THINK I VOTED FOR HER….
HAS SHE EVER LIVED IN MEAGER ABODE….
HAS SHE EVER HAD TO GO TO BED HUNGRY …
HAS SHE EVER LEARNED TO READ BLUEPRINTS ….
CAN SHE REALLY INDENTIFY WITH PPL WHO LIVE IN WATTLE & DAUB HOMES…
You sound like a HATER!!
Surely the minister of Health is not a doctor or health expert. Surely a restaurant manager is not necessarily a chef, but knows how to manage.
certain comments/statements must come from who is in charge and in this case, the hon. maria browne is..
Yep well said, another UPP hater
Badmind is a hell of a thing. In Minister Maria Browne, we have an intelligent young woman who won her seat in the last, garnering the most votes by any single candidate. She is heading the ministry responsible for housing, and no one can doubt that this ministry is doing very, very well in terms of the rapid rate of housing construction. Obviously, it is under her guidance that the Ministry is flourishing, but in typical badminded fashion, some of you try to pour scorn on her youthfulness. No wonder some of you will never be prosperous: badmind ah kill ah you.
It was badmind why Mrs. Grant was asked to withdraw from running in that constituency, how about that? All who want to defend the indefensible by trying to put a political or sexist spin on this, come again.
She was asked to withdraw and did so of her own free will. She was not coerced into doing so. Further, the record shows that it was the right decision as Mrs Browne won the seat by a landslide. She got the MOST votes in the last elections. That’s the very definition of vindication. Now, go lick your wounds!!
`If you believe what you just stated you certainly are a lost cause.
Smdh you all really understand what we in for with China Antiguan needs to get self together and stop depending
Alincia send you ? Nope you took it up in your own. While you have this gripe, Alincia eating well and living life
Did the former PM of A&B along with the ministers had any knowledge of heading a government or being minister’s of state? We have to start from somewhere and with her intellect, her husband’s guidance and the people he had her shadowing, she may be a very successful government administrator. Don’t be surprised if after her husband decide to throw in the towel, she may enter the challenge for party leadership. Food for thought!
WHERE IGNORANCE IS BLISS
Just wait until two of GB sons become government ministers. The people will vote for them to. Did papa Bird not have two of his sons in government. What we have in Antigua are the royal families where the whole family feed at the government’s trough. Why should they find other work when the the government assets belong to them?
This week : I want to tell the min-nes-ta ‘lennox’ to finish fixing the roads.
I swear I was in Sunday school… JESUS wants me for a sunbeam
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