Browne Says No Funds Have Been Accessed From $100 Million Facility
Responding to questions from opposition members during Thursday’s parliamentary sitting, Browne said the government has continued to finance road projects from its capital budget and other domestic sources, but the road loan itself remains untapped.
“There has been no drawdown whatsoever from the road loan,” Browne said. “The full facility is still available to us.”
The Prime Minister explained that the loan agreement was structured to provide flexible access for large-scale infrastructure projects once all technical, engineering, and procurement requirements were satisfied. However, he said the government opted to self-finance portions of the roadwork in the interim, rather than trigger the loan’s conditions prematurely.
“We have chosen to continue road improvements with local funding until we complete certain designs and compliance procedures,” Browne said. “The money is there, but we have not drawn down a cent.”
The road loan, approved to modernize key transportation corridors across Antigua and Barbuda, includes major upgrades to the All Saints Road, Friars Hill Road, and several rural arteries critical to commerce and community access.
Opposition members had raised concerns about the pace of implementation and whether funds were being used appropriately. Browne, however, reiterated that the project remains fully funded and that independent oversight and audit mechanisms are in place to ensure accountability.
“The Oversight Committee for the road loan has already been established and trained,” Browne told the House. “We are not in the business of concealing anything. Every expenditure will be properly monitored and accounted for.”
He added that disbursements would begin only when engineering consultants give the all-clear to proceed with specific works under the formal loan agreement.
“Once we are ready to move on large-scale projects, we will draw down what is necessary,” Browne said. “Until then, no funds have been touched.”
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So what they’re basically saying they didn’t need to increase our licensing fees to get a loan to do the road repairs…which they have already started. They could have started them all the time. They were just being lazy
@So you mean to say??? They might still be using the licensing money, that’s why so draw down as yet.
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