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Prime Minister the Honourable Gaston Browne of Antigua and Barbuda has concluded one of the most active and impactful weeks of his leadership at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), using the global platform to advance bold and transformative agendas on behalf of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the vulnerable, and the people of Antigua and Barbuda.
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Describing the week as “among the busiest and most significant”, Prime Minister Browne said the demands of the packed schedule were “well worth the effort” as they served to amplify the voices of those too often marginalized in international decision-making.
“This was about more than diplomacy,” he remarked. “It was about justice, survival, and the dignity of people and nations that refuse to be overlooked.”
Championing Climate Justice: “Our Lived Reality Is Not a Con”
At the centre of Prime Minister Browne’s UNGA80 participation was an unyielding focus on climate change, an existential crisis that continues to disproportionately affect SIDS — nations that contribute less than 1% of global greenhouse gas emissions but bear the brunt of rising seas, extreme weather, and economic disruption.
“Despite rhetoric from some quarters that climate change is a hoax or a con,” Prime Minister Browne declared during his national address to the General Debate, “our lived reality tells a starkly different story.
It is one of coastal erosion, intensifying hurricanes, and livelihoods under threat. It is not theory — it is our existence.”
He reiterated the urgent call for climate justice, demanding that major polluters honour their commitments to climate finance, loss and damage compensation, and technology transfer.
“We will continue to press on until justice is done for those who suffer most but have contributed least,” he affirmed.
Central to his climate agenda was highlighting the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS) — a comprehensive framework adopted at the Fourth International Conference on SIDS — and the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for SIDS, which Antigua and Barbuda will host.
This Centre will serve as a global hub for knowledge-sharing, innovation, and policy development to strengthen resilience, sustainable development, and climate adaptation strategies across SIDS.
Championing Mental Health as a Human Right
Prime Minister Browne also distinguished himself as a global advocate for mental health, emphasizing that the issue is not only a public health imperative but a matter of human rights, dignity, and equality.
Reflecting on his own upbringing with a mother who lived with mental health challenges, he spoke candidly about how those early experiences shaped his empathy, resilience, and deep commitment to social justice.
“For me, advocating for mental health is not abstract — it is deeply personal. It is about ensuring that no one is left behind because of stigma or systemic neglect,” he said.
To this end, Prime Minister Browne announced that Antigua and Barbuda, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has begun discussions to host a Global Mental Health Summit in 2026 — a landmark initiative to drive global policy action, mobilize resources, and advance mental health as a central pillar of sustainable development.
Global Vision: Investing in Eye Health
Health and human potential also featured prominently in Prime Minister Browne’s leadership this week. On 24 September, Antigua and Barbuda hosted the United Nations Friends of Vision High-Level Meeting under the theme “The Value of Vision: The Case for Investment in Eye Health.”
The meeting underscored the vital link between eye health and development — from improving educational outcomes and workforce productivity to reducing poverty and promoting gender equality.
Prime Minister Browne stressed the need for integrating vision care into universal health coverage and ensuring equitable access worldwide.
As a major outcome, he announced that Antigua and Barbuda will host a Global Eye Health Summit in 2026, further positioning the country as a leader in advancing global health equity and innovation.
A Call for Reparatory Justice and a Zone of Peace
Prime Minister Browne also used his platform at the United Nations to renew Antigua and Barbuda’s call for reparatory justice for the enduring impacts of slavery, colonialism, and exploitation.
He argued that equitable global development cannot be achieved without acknowledging and addressing the historical injustices that continue to shape modern disparities.
“Reparations are not about the past — they are about correcting present inequities born from historical wrongs,” he stated. “Justice delayed remains justice denied.”
Additionally, he championed the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace, urging respect for the region’s sovereignty, stability, and security amid growing geopolitical tensions.
“The Caribbean must never again be treated as a theatre for proxy conflicts or external rivalries. Our region must remain a sanctuary of peace, cooperation, and mutual respect,” he said.
Record Diplomatic Outcomes During UNGA
For the first time during a single UNGA session, Antigua and Barbuda concluded an historic package of agreements:
- Six (6) visa-waiver agreements—including with Kenya, Benin, Ghana, and the United Arab Emirates (two additional partners will be announced following completion of formalities); and
- Establishment of diplomatic relations with the Republic of Palau and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
These steps will facilitate easier travel for citizens, deepen people-to-people links, and expand opportunities in trade, education, and tourism, while the new diplomatic ties broaden Antigua and Barbuda’s partnerships across Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
Prime Minister Browne said: “Mobility and connectivity are engines of growth.
These visa-waiver agreements—and our new diplomatic relations with Palau and the Marshall Islands—expand opportunities for our people and businesses, and strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s voice and reach in the world.”
A Voice for the Vulnerable, A Vision for the Future
From his impassioned calls for climate justice and reparations to his leadership on mental health, eye health, and sustainable development, Prime Minister Browne’s presence at UNGA80 reaffirmed Antigua and Barbuda’s growing influence in shaping the global agenda.
“This week has been about lifting up the causes that matter most — the survival of small states, the dignity of our people, and the creation of a fairer, more peaceful, and more compassionate world,” he reflected.
“Though it has been one of the most demanding UN weeks of my leadership, it has also been among the most rewarding.” (Ends)
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Gramercy to our Prime Minister.
We Antiguans now look forward to the same sort of dynamism in tackling rising crime when he returns to these shores.
If he doesn’t then many will assume that Gaston Browne’s interests are mainly for show on the world’s stage once again.
Is he all bluster and of little substance?
Again, we will know when he arrives …