Spain Offers Support for Antigua and Barbuda’s Spanish Language Initiative
Antigua and Barbuda is seeking technical assistance from Spain as it advances plans to make Spanish the country’s second language, Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing.
Merchant said Cabinet received an update on recent discussions between Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Spain’s ambassador to Jamaica on expanding cooperation in language education and cultural exchange.
According to Merchant, Spain has expressed a willingness to assist Antigua and Barbuda through the provision of lecturers, teaching materials, teacher-training programmes, software and other educational tools aimed at strengthening Spanish-language instruction across the country.
He said the initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy to deepen engagement with Latin America and position citizens to take advantage of opportunities in tourism, trade and international business.
Merchant told reporters that discussions also focused on specialized language training for workers in tourism, hospitality, airport services, seaport operations, security and customs.
Cabinet was also informed of proposals to establish a Spanish Language and Cultural Institute in Antigua and Barbuda. The facility would serve as a centre for language instruction, cultural exchange and educational cooperation between the two countries.
Other areas under consideration include student exchange programmes, opportunities for Antiguan and Barbudan teachers to travel to Spain to teach English, and scholarship programmes designed to build national capacity in language education.
Merchant said Cabinet views the initiative as an important step toward improving language proficiency and expanding opportunities for citizens in an increasingly interconnected region.
He noted that several senior government officials, including Foreign Affairs Minister E.P. Chet Greene, Cabinet Secretary, Maria Browne and Sports Minister Dwayne George, are already fluent Spanish speakers.
The government believes increased Spanish-language competency will strengthen Antigua and Barbuda’s competitiveness in tourism, commerce, diplomacy and regional integration.
Cabinet welcomed the discussions and expressed support for continued engagement with Spain and other international partners as the initiative moves forward.
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How strange Venezuela has for years provided Antiguans and Barbudans with the option of learning Spanish for Free. I remember they started on Stapleton Lane in their Embassy building and later on Old Parham Road in their Embassy Building. I wonder how many people have taken advantage of this opportunity.
Fellow articulate Antiguans, what are the key words MISSING from what Maurice ‘I-Am- A-Robot’ Merchant “promotive” (BTW, I’m claming this word 😉) messaging to Spain 🇪🇸 in pushing the ABLP into making Spanish our second language?
Here are a few examples of the words mentioned:
“technical assistance; teaching materials: provision of lecturers; and […] other educational tools…”
Yep, that’s right, the MISSING words are “financial compensation package” towards this monumental move.
I’m sure our Spanish speaking Antiguans would say:
“Eso nos parece just…”👍🏾
Brixtonian’s translation:
“That seems fair to us…”👍🏾
*justo 👌🏾
French is a better choice for a second language…alliance with Guadeloupe and Martinique is.more beneficial to our economy than Santo Domingo and France would have assisted us better than Spain
¡Que buneo!
Gaston could really twist the heads of Antiguan and barbudan, while this language thing become acrymonious conversation of the country,that’s just a distraction. the Spanish community is really been given concessions that neither the Antiguan ALP or UPP voters are getting after putting the ALP in office.
Every ending election both the ALP and UPP roll out incentives for these foreigners, so at this moment don’t look at the language, it’s the incentives that is taking place behind the scene. Like the Spanish community getting lands and ability to attain jobs of national security interest.
A ella le gusta la gasolina
Dame más GASOLINA!
Cómo le encanta la gasolina
Dame más GASOLINA!
The financial aspect of this is missing. Do we not think fixing our island would be better before we engage in this. The cost to change over all aspects of society to achieve this goal would not help struggling Antiguans.
Where are the priorities. All these grandiose measures will not help our current situation when it comes to crime, progress for our children and not to mention the dilapidated state of our infrastructure. Communities are suffering and all leaders can think of is a second language. Come on! What is the logic?
SPAIN’S OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IS SPANISH. THEY ARE GOING TO ASSISTS ANTIGUA AND THAT IS NEWS.LOL. IN MY OPINION,THE SPANISH SPEAKING PEOPLE IN ANTIGUA .SHOULD BE LEARNING TO SPEAK ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA OFFICIAL LANGUAGE,ENGLISH.INSTEAD,BECAUSE OF POLITICS IN THIS ADMINISTRATION.SPANISH IS BEING FORCED DOWN THE THROATS OF THE PEOPLE.
Plenty Spaniards are here already and becomes the Official Second Language and they start coming in droves Antiguans will understand how barley grow. We are already outnumbered. Imagine the future
Of course they would
Lord help us. We carn even speak English properly and we no need to speak Spanish as well?
Not one word of this leading up to the snap election,not one..think about that.
Y’all are not important, dummies. Yes the White Man may hate us, but at least he didn’t hide it, but to get swindled and hoodwinked by your own black man, is the worse case of betrayal ever.
GB needs to be jail for treason. The man’s selling out Antigua right in front y’all..duh!
@ this world, huh!!! “She love gasoline???” Are commenting on the wrong topic?
Who love gasoline? Ah who yah talk ’bout? Maria Bird-Browne?
You too funny 🤣
This is why I enjoy the comments on ANR threads. The best online digital news bar none…
*you commenting 👍🏾
At least the middle easterns and the Spanish are getting something out of their loyalty,even though they themselves are getting hoodwinked, but what are you black indigenous Antiguan’s getting,not a dama thing.
Barbudans are already been squeezed out of their lands, and all Antiguan’s have gotten under this administration, is teargas, and lies upon lies.
Nothing is coming to y’all but more taxes and pressure.
Keep thinking that y’all have won in this last snap election..GB didn’t held it for y’all, he held it for his own power and pockets.
The man is realigning his finances as we speak..Dubai or the Philippines are waiting for him.
I’ll say the Philippines, because he likes young pretty women. Watch out Maria, you were just a prop and a plug for this man’s political ambitions, that’s it. We saw it with King Charles when she Married Dianna, and you are no difference.
It’s hard for a rich man to stay faithful, facts.
*He* 😂. At least I won’t disrespect the “King” that badly.. 😂
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