Prime Minister Gaston Browne has defended the government’s decision to bring in 50 skilled workers from the Dominican Republic, saying the move was necessary to address a shortage of local labour.
Speaking on the Browne and Browne Show, Mr Browne said the workers, mainly carpenters and masons, were contracted to accelerate the delivery of homes under the National Housing programme. He explained that despite two years of advertising, there had been insufficient local applicants with the required skills.
“There are many people who have been waiting years now to get their homes. Some of them have made deposits. What are we supposed to do, sit back and do nothing?” he saidBrowne and Browne Show.
The Prime Minister dismissed opposition criticism, accusing elements of the United Progressive Party (UPP) of spreading a narrative that nationals were being sidelined. He argued that some in the opposition were “hateful” toward CARICOM nationals and Dominicans, while showing no objection to workers from other countries.
Mr Browne also noted that Antigua and Barbuda had previously welcomed foreign labour from Cuba for road rehabilitation projects, questioning why there had been no objections at that time
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