Browne Says Government to Clear Small Debts by Month-End, Settle Larger Arrears with Bonds
Prime Minister and Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party leader Gaston Browne says the government will clear all outstanding payments under $20,000 owed to local suppliers and contractors by the end of the month, while larger debts will be settled through a mix of cash payments and long-term bonds.
Speaking on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne Show, Browne outlined a plan to address longstanding arrears, some dating back decades, as part of efforts to regularise government payments and support local businesses.
“Anything under $20,000 will be eliminated in full,” Browne said, adding that “every single creditor to the government will have their debts… extinguished” for amounts below that threshold.
For larger sums, Browne said the government will make partial upfront payments and convert the remaining balances into bonds.
“We’ll do a combination of bonds and cash,” he said. “We give them a bond over maybe a 10-year period with some interest.”
He explained that in cases where significant sums are owed, creditors could receive between 10% and 20% in immediate cash, with the remainder paid over time through government-issued bonds that would generate periodic interest payments.
“The larger ones, we’re making payments to everybody,” Browne said, indicating that no creditors would be excluded from the settlement plan.
The prime minister said the government has already allocated more than $20 million toward clearing outstanding obligations and is continuing to process payments on a rolling basis.
He also addressed delays in back pay to public servants, saying over $30 million has been set aside to settle those payments, which he expects to be completed by the end of the month.
“The money is there… the issue is about the treasury staff having enough time to process these transactions,” Browne said, noting that calculations must be verified individually for thousands of workers.
Browne urged patience from those still awaiting payments, saying disbursements are being made weekly across various departments.
The initiative is part of a broader effort by the government to reduce arrears, improve cash flow management and strengthen confidence among local contractors and suppliers who rely on timely payments for their operations.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
This move and other financial inducements is bordering on Gaston Browne “buying” the election. How on earth is this allowed?
Isn’t there some sort of democratic international watchdog, where political enticements around General Elections should be legally challenged?
For years now Antiguans have been screaming out for better infrastructures; better housing; and no more years of delays in paying wages. Now there’s an election paying out money isn’t a problem???
Gaston Browne is the devil reincarnate…
@ Gaston
You are nothing but a cogger, just cog, cog, cog and have no shame about it, but if you think people are gonna believe you then think again.
You had 12 years and nearly 3 terms to pay the suppliers AND U DID NOT, why do you think they will believe you now because you want their vote?
They would be foolish to be fooled again, because as they say ‘a promise is a comfort to a fool’
Why didn’t you use the excessive per diem you and your entourage costs the coffers to pay the suppliers, or the $3,000,000.00 for an unnecessary sound system/stage, or some of the money from the $40,000,000.00 recouped from the VEHICLE GATE SCANDAL, or the money used by your entourage of 50 to attend King Charles coronation, again which was uncall for, or the excessive legal fees incurred for the Alfa Nero when you and your cabinet was warned not to TOUCH THE PEOPLE DEM BOAT, or the ‘enrichment’ profits through the CIP- there is much more but lets suffice it……..
Don’t worry Gaston you are not PM anymore and we wiping you out on the 30th and bring in upp so are we can get back to doing business with the USA and traveling once more and new banks come in, because you send you son to buy up shares in Caribbean union bank so you and your son can decide on Antigua people destiny, like who can get a loan, and you know how you Gaston bad minded everything is for you and you family and you political colleagues or white and Syrian people.
Gaston you so hungry for power put in that false hair locks and come sing and dance at freetown and entertain me for some vote, you will sing and gyrate til you drop because me a vote you out a power.
I can cleary remember when the UPP promised a similar policy 3 years ago you said you would match it, BUT NEVER DID.
Can anyone trust you to ever do what you say? LUCIFER?
The ministry of Education owe Security officers over time money since 2020. Holiday payment we worked on holidays when everyone else was at their homes comfortable, we worked at nights in mosquito infested places, in sun and rain getting wet many times because some of the places had no proper shelter, and up till now 6 years later we have not been paid. We need our money Mr prime minister.
Go to the ministry of Education they say go to Treasury, We go to Treasury department they said go to the ministry of Education. I am fed up of begging for money I worked very very very hard for in horrible conditions.
Ministry of Education please pay us and give us all our money one time.
Me R’hole, what is Gaston afraid of why he is coming of with all these schemes this could have been done long, long, time. Me want he lose to find out what is he so afraid of. Hope my wish comes true