Gaston Browne has revived the national debate on food security, warning that Antigua and Barbuda’s heavy dependence on imported food—especially from the United States—leaves the country exposed if supply chains are disrupted.
Speaking on radio, Browne said a prolonged interruption in shipments could have serious consequences, arguing that current consumption patterns make the country overly reliant on external suppliers and highlighting the urgency of expanding domestic food production.
His remarks come amid growing uncertainty affecting regional and global supply chains, including geopolitical tensions, shipping disruptions, labour shortages, climate impacts on agriculture and congestion at major ports. He also pointed to policy shifts and tighter trade and transport controls that can slow the movement of goods even without a major crisis.
Browne again called for stronger private-sector involvement in agriculture, saying government cannot shoulder the burden alone. He cited his own participation in commercial farming as proof the sector can be profitable and urged investors to treat agriculture as a viable business opportunity rather than subsistence activity.
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A dat mek you grab all dem land fu you self so when ABLP frig up de country you and you family set fu life. Greed is on hell of a thing, when is enough going to become too much for you. God please free us from this Charlatan
These are just sound bites based on the current climate. The same thing was said during covid. What have we learnt?
It’s now you idiots realise this
Maybe the PM should do something about that right? Like policies to help and protect domestic farmers, water supply, work with farmers also would have been nice if this was done before and not tomorrow.
But this statement contradicts a previous article branding Antigua food self efficient. Was that Gaston’s farm making it food efficient?
Antiguans need to grow their own food. Food security is fundamental. A country that depends on another country to feed its people is doomed to starvation
Acting as if they aren’t aware that this was the plan all along. Make us dependent on the beast so that we are forced to take his mark or starve.
Then Prime Minister, why didn’t you show your face at the recent Arbor Day, which was well attended by young and old purchasers to promote the benefits of our own home grown produce?
The only time we normally hear from you is when you are promoting your own produce.
You can definitely do more to encourage home grown produce and reducing the need for overpriced imports.
Remove this unnecessary bondage and set Antiguans agricultural growers FREE…
I think the US$40mil from the sale of the Alpha could have gone a long way in food security, don’t you think?
Use half to pay off some pensioners and some other back pay, then use the rest to sure up the agriculture sector.
Just food for thought.
Is this prime minister crazy? He creates the situation then comes with the solutions, he destroy the Antigua black pineapple then friars hill agriculture research center and provide himself with APUA water well and dams just to cover his money laundering tracks, he knows that on that day he is out of office and investigated he has to cook up stories about where he got half a billion USD from, I certainly feel uncomfortable for Gaston to be taking me as stupid like how the older people were under v.c bird and Lester because they were semiliterate.
We are so vulnerable….
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