Antigua and Barbuda will significantly expand its maritime security capabilities in 2026, with Prime Minister Gaston Browne announcing the acquisition of a 65–70 foot patrol vessel to strengthen deep-water operations and crack down on narcotics trafficking.
Delivering the 2026 national budget on Thursday, Browne said the new vessel will support an aggressive push to secure the nation’s borders, disrupt illegal entry points, and reinforce anti-drug efforts.
Earlier this year, the government handed over a 30-foot interceptor vessel to law enforcement — a move the Prime Minister said already signaled the government’s posture toward traffickers. “We’re going for the drug traffickers… We have a boat faster than yours,” he told Parliament.
The budget further outlines major investments in maritime surveillance. Browne revealed that Cabinet has approved US$1 million for new radar and communications upgrades designed to give authorities better real-time visibility across Antigua and Barbuda’s territorial waters.
The Prime Minister said these combined assets — faster boats, stronger radar coverage, and enhanced communication systems — will close gaps long exploited by smugglers and improve the country’s overall crime-fighting capacity.
The new offshore patrol vessel is expected to expand the Coast Guard’s reach far beyond coastal areas, allowing for longer missions, increased interdiction capability, and improved search-and-rescue support.
More details on the timeline for delivery and deployment are expected when the budget debate continues next week.
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This is the real proof that this is an elections budget.
For anyone who believes that this sweet sounding elections tune is going to become a reality i have a SLBMC and VCBIA to sell them.
We have heard of hundreds of promises from Gaston.
Some sounding very sweet.
Some not so sweet.
Some bitter.
The only ones that have materialized are the ones he never told us about.
So ludicrous was that promise that Gaston doesn’t know the size of the vessel.
It is between 60 and 65 feet according to him.
My people, a simple fishing boat of that length will cost way in excess of $10 million.
Please imagine the cost of a coast guard vessel.
That certainly will cost a quarter of Antigua’s budget.
Is it prudent to spend a quarter of our budget on one vessel, no matter how necessary it may be.??
Further this government doesn’t have the security of this nation at heart enough to invest so heavily in it.
Theor ulterior motives will not direct them to invest so heavily in border security and the police.
So when you hear the sweet sounding, elections vote buying peomises disturbing the atmosphere from Gaston’s mouth just let them slide on one side of your face.
Listen to all he has to say and believe nothing until you see them.
It’s about time.