Senator Says Spanish Initiative Will Help Antigua and Barbuda Compete Globally

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ABLP Senator Abena St. Luce (Photo Credit to Wayne Mariette)

ABLP Senator Abena St. Luce has defended the government’s proposal to make Spanish Antigua and Barbuda’s official second language, arguing that the move is necessary to strengthen trade, regional ties and economic resilience.

In a social media post shared by the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) on Thursday, St. Luce said embracing Spanish was “not about abandoning our identity,” but about preparing citizens for changing global realities.

“Being bilingual is an advantage, not a threat,” she wrote.

St. Luce linked the discussion to concerns raised earlier this year over possible United States tariffs under the Trump administration, saying the issue highlighted the need for stronger regional trade relationships.

“Remember when we first learned the Trump administration was considering imposing heavy tariffs on its trade partners?” she wrote. “Remember when everyone started to rally for our region to build stronger trade relations with Latin America to help reduce the risk of inflation?”

She argued that Antigua and Barbuda must improve its ability to “communicate, compete, and collaborate beyond traditional borders” as international trade patterns continue to shift.

“Strengthening ties with Latin America starts with understanding and yes, embracing its language,” St. Luce added.

Her comments come after Cabinet announced plans to establish Spanish as Antigua and Barbuda’s official second language and directed the Ministry of Education and Science and Technology to begin restructuring the national curriculum to expand Spanish instruction at the preschool, primary and secondary school levels.

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9 COMMENTS

  2. Senator St. Luce is spot on. However, many people are too small-minded in this country of ours; and those who are not small-minded are xenophobic. AND they have loud voices. They therefore cannot see the wisdom in such a decision.

    There! I said what I said!

  4. @reaching for straws. China is one country and one market. Spanish is spoken in Panama, Dominician Republic, all of Central America and all of South America except for Guyana, Brazil, Suriname and French Guiana. So what makes more sense?

  5. Only idiots will double down on such narrative.

    To make such a bold and open distinction, is in fact isolating other nations and sending a terrible message, which goes against everything that this administration has been preaching for years now ” friends to all and enemy to none”.

    So in large, by their very own standards and sayings, this is a very controversial proclamation by the ABLP. It’s just terrible optics and do not move the needle one way or the other when it comes to global trade.

    Pure nonsense talking here. So every island in the Carribean should make Spanish their official second language then? Y’all sounds like a bunch of snake bitten lunatics.

    Call a spade a spade..this had nothing to do with trading. It was all about appeasing the DR population in Antigua, because we all know that not even the Venezuelans back GB and his stance for Maduro. Yes i said it..

  8. Blessed Love ,what is the resolution ? Continue to measure one’s mere existence based on “hungry bellie”, You comparing your future based on who Tolerates you in Willie Lynch foundations inclusive ,”UPDATED, global treaties”. Reminding you as little and voiceless to To continue & belittle and BLANTLY TELL YOU WHAT TO DO..IN SUMMITS Amongst PRESIDENTIAL VISITS & REP and IMF manipulations..WHAT IS IT ABOUT? smelling the coffee..and awakening to ONLY AN ALMIGHTY JAH..WITH REVELATION AND 7 SEALS..
    THINK
    Miseducation is not lack of ink? The narrative is UNTRUE and lacks RIGHTOUSNESS .why follow a dead end?
    THINK
    Blessed Love

  9. Blessed Love ,what is the resolution ? Continue to measure one’s mere existence based on “hungry bellie”, You comparing your future based on who Tolerates you in Willie Lynch foundations inclusive ,”UPDATED, global treaties”. Reminding you as little and voiceless to To continue & belittle and BLANTLY TELL YOU WHAT TO DO..IN SUMMITS Amongst PRESIDENTIAL VISITS & REP and IMF manipulations..WHAT IS IT ABOUT? smelling the coffee..and awakening to ONLY AN ALMIGHTY JAH..WITH REVELATION AND 7 SEALS..
    THINK
    Miseducation is not lack of ink? The narrative is UNTRUE and lacks RIGHTOUSNESS .why follow a dead end?
    THINK
    Blessed Love

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