PM Defends Local Opportunities Amid Criticism From Overseas Antiguans
Prime Minister Gaston Browne pushed back Saturday against criticism from overseas Antiguans who argue that opportunities at home are limited, saying such claims ignore economic realities and undermine national progress.
Speaking on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne programme, Browne compared the cost of living abroad with conditions in Antigua and Barbuda, arguing that salaries overseas are often offset by higher taxes and expenses.
“If they make 60,000 U.S. dollars, half of it is going to the government in taxes,” Browne said, adding that many overseas residents must also cover high costs for housing, health care, child care and transportation. “By the time they finish, they’re not seeing anything.”
Browne said some members of the diaspora portray life abroad as more prosperous while dismissing improvements at home. He encouraged skilled Antiguans living overseas to consider returning, saying many could do better locally.
“Those who have skills, I want to encourage some of them to come back home and to help us build a country,” he said, noting that economic conditions have improved significantly over the past decade.
He said immigration has played a key role in sustaining economic growth, as foreign workers fill labour shortages created by expansion in construction, tourism and other sectors.
“Practically anyone who wants a job and is not too fussy about what job they do can find a job,” Browne said, adding that immigrants are arriving regularly to take up available positions.
Browne also criticised what he described as “disloyal rhetoric” from overseas critics who, he said, regularly disparage the country while benefiting from life abroad.
“You don’t want to come back to Antigua, no worries,” he said. “But just kindly keep your criticisms to yourselves.”
He said national development requires loyalty and participation, whether citizens live at home or abroad, and argued that Antigua and Barbuda has advanced far beyond outdated perceptions held by some overseas nationals.
“People are doing significantly better than decades ago,” Browne said, pointing to rising incomes, expanded education opportunities and improvements in housing and health care.
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GASTON BROWNE,YOU ARE SURELY LIVING AN IMAGINARY DREAM IN AN IMAGINARY WORLD.DO YOU REALLY KNOW.HOW THE POOR MAN/WOMEN ARE FEELING AND SUFFERING.NO,YOU DO NOT.YOU AND YOUR MERRY MEN AND CONCUBINES COULD JUMP ON PRIVATE JETS TOMORROW,IF YOU HAVE A HEART BURN.CAN THE POOR PEOPLE OF THE NATION DO THAT? I SAY,HECK NO.THAT RADIO STATION IS GOING TO BE YOUR WATERLOO.
Gaston simply put you chatting fuckery.
This Prime Minister is still a sandwich short of a picnic basket.
He mentions about the Americans high costs of living; expensive health care, housing; and how the US government takes so much in taxes.
However, what he INTENTIONALLY ignores with the above, is when it comes to health care, the treatment is one of the best in the world – can we ssy the same for Antiguan?
Housing in the US is also in abundance, and on the whole decent to live in (my auntie can attest to this). Antigua’s Housing program leaves a lot to be desired. Remember, Maria Bird-Browne’s hasn’t hit her targets since coming into office. Fact!
And finally, yes, the Americans (pre Trump) do pay higher taxes, but who can argue that they don’t see any tangible evidence how their taxes used. Especially on infrastructures.
I’ve read the previous comments from the diaspora on why they wouldn’t return to Antigua, because they also cannot see how our taxes are used in Antigua.
As I mentioned earlier, Prime Minister Browne is a sandwich short of a picnic basket.
BTW, where is our new Diaspora ambassador Dr Dave Ray in all this kerfuffle?
HE GONE QUIET EEE …
What he resign already 🤣🤣🤣
You can’t even supply reliable water, strong internet connections, proper health care and cost of living is through the roof. If you think I am lying ,check most antiguans paying APUA bills. They can only afford partial payments. They cannot pay in full and feed their families. You think you are speaking to the ABLP minions that believe every backward statements you make? We are smarter that the kool aid drinkers in your party. What percentage of Antigua’s population making livable wages? What is our national debt? Do you and your ministers truly neutralize our health care system? Smh!
There are zero opportunities in Antigua and Barbuda. Even the ABLP leaders block you and even come on here lying about there reasons to block you. Some incompetent idiots being paid to blog and whose job is dependent of their party winning because of how dunce, corrupt and unproductive they are. There are 0 opportunities for people in Antigua and Barbuda while their incompetence gives a lot of opportunities for criminals to kills, rob, and victimize good people. ABLP PM Gaston Browne is a selfish, greedy and tyrannical leader whose incompetence is clear within the last few years.
You ever saw a leader who were provided information to stop hardship and suffering before it occurred but still made it occur when it was all avoidable and predictable?
Check their phone message to see my messages warning them of these matters before they occurred but they literally ignored to the detriment of a nation and individuals.
😂. GB, my days of working 9-5 is over, I’m in business now, but my son who was born here (29) is a software engineer and have operations to explore the Caribbean and mainly the island of his parents birth (Antigua).
Are you saying you have comparable salaries in Antigua for his in his career field?
You said $60k, but that’s not skilled professionals salaries you are quoting there sir, we are talking upwards of $175-250k salaries, and that’s US we talking about.
Are you saying that you have such opportunities in Antigua? If that was so, my goodness even I would take a shot at your offer. Even luxury car sales people here in the US will laugh at you $60k quote, and even many RN’s that are on demand in the Caribbean will laugh at your number.
And I’m talking here in Florida that doesn’t even have the highest paid professionals.
So please do your homework and stop the foolishness. Not unless you are referring to people who are bus drivers and calling that ” skilled workers”. I’m not looking down on anyone, but even truck drivers here on the states makes twice that foolish number you spit out, and some of their personal rigs are twice that.
So stop your foolishness sir..stop comparing Antigua to the US and stay in your lane..No wonder the white house has turned it’s back on you, because you keep talking crap and further detriment the your own people with your dumb loudmouth self.
Work on fixing Antigua you joker, and stop worried about the US, but we all know that’s not your strong suit either, it’s talking crap you are good at.
Stop the hate of the diaspora, and focus on those who are home. The kids in your small island are wasting away, focus on them, create jobs for them..that’s your job you fool.
The Prime Minister’s rebuke of Antiguans in the diaspora is not merely offensive; it is an attempt to deflect from a record of governance failures that would alarm any reasonable citizen. The issue before the country is not loyalty. It is liability.
Antiguans abroad have not abandoned their homeland. They have exercised prudence in response to an administration that has presided over systemic corruption, institutional decay, and a persistent failure to protect life and property.
Let the record be examined.
First, under this government, Antigua and Barbuda became entangled in a deeply troubling episode involving West African “asylum seekers.” These individuals were brought into the country under questionable circumstances widely believed to be linked to human smuggling. The outcome was catastrophic: 17 people died at sea after departing Antigua. There has been no independent commission of inquiry, no prosecutions, and no public disclosure of who authorized, facilitated, or benefited from this operation. That is not governance—it is gross negligence at best, complicity at worst.
Second, the rule of law has been hollowed out by selective enforcement. Serious crimes remain unresolved, not for lack of time, but for lack of institutional will:
The murder of Richard “Monk” Whinfield—over a year later, no arrests.
The brutal murder of a teenage girl on a public beach—no arrests.
The killing of a teenager whose body was dumped along Fig Tree Drive—no credible progress.
The recent murder of a foreign national in her home—no public confidence that justice will be served.
When murders pile up without resolution, the message to citizens is unmistakable: the state cannot—or will not—protect you.
Third, confidence in the Royal Police Force has been corroded by persistent allegations of corruption and criminal conduct by officers who face no meaningful consequences. A justice system that polices the powerless while shielding the connected is not a justice system—it is a liability.
Fourth, the government has failed in its most basic administrative duties. Entire communities go weeks without running water. Healthcare remains inadequate and under-resourced. Infrastructure is in visible decline—unpaved roads, absent streetlights, and neglected public works. These are not acts of God; they are failures of policy, planning, and oversight.
Fifth, while citizens are urged to sacrifice, the public observes conspicuous enrichment within the governing class. The car dealership scandal presided over by the Prime Minister’s wife remains unanswered. No independent investigation. No accountability. No consequences. In any serious democracy, this would raise immediate conflict-of-interest concerns. Here, it has been treated as a non-issue.
Against this backdrop, the Prime Minister asks the diaspora why they hesitate to return.
The answer is self-evident.
Antiguans abroad reside in jurisdictions where:
Homicides are investigated with urgency,
Police misconduct carries consequences,
Public officials are scrutinized, not shielded,
Infrastructure works,
Healthcare functions,
And corruption triggers investigation, not intimidation.
The diaspora is not on trial. This administration is.
Until the government can demonstrate—through action, not rhetoric—that it values transparency, enforces the law without favor, and protects its citizens, it has no standing to question the judgment of those who refuse to place their lives and families at risk.
Antiguans will return when the state is credible, the institutions are functional, and leadership is accountable. Until then, the Prime Minister’s admonitions ring hollow—because the evidence speaks louder than his words.
@Wadadli4ever, I bow to your superior knowledge
You are spot on … letter of the week 👏🏾
This man Gaston Browne is really in a world of his own. Not everybody is in the position of the Brownes, their cronies and hangers-on. You can fool some people, not everybody drink the shitty red oversweet kool-aid
Many families here depend on remittances from the same U.S, so what are really your plans? You need to just give it up because you have really lost touch with reality.
I call BS on the PM. I came back here to work in the medical cannabis industry. I worked with many people here. Had many successful results and the government, specifically the prime minister wants millions from me to grant a license. But they give them to their partners whose company contributes nothing to Antigua, and very little tax revenue. But they are rich enough to subsidize it with another of their companies…. As they are the descendants of the plantocracy, the PM rolls out the red carpet for them. Don’t believe the hype. Don’t pack up and come here. Don’t make the mistake I did. They will bleed you dry until you have nothing left. There are no opportunities here unless you’re rich
Come to papa G. Browne. The Alfa Nero Interrogatories are here and not because spouses can abstain from testifying against each other, hence the reason why you have Pixie Maria in charge of the Nation biggest asset our lands and housing, there are many ways to skin the cat because this is not the case with other family members who are flipping on you to save their families which they have established in America.
So don’t worry about hard working Nationals in America because outside of the few who are illegal aliens very few Nationals are caught up in other criminal activities and are hounded by law enforcement.
The majority of Antiguan Nationals are in the Construction industry, healthcare, law enforcement to include federal judges, prosecutors, less you forget, it’s an Antiguan by blood who successfully prosecuted and had Donald Trump convicted in federal Court. Even the infamous Johnny Cochrane is said to have Antiguan roots.
Many have been in the entertainment industry from New York to Hollywood, let your new Diaspora Chief Dave Ray help you out here.
So as GanjaPharma is saying the present system and fancy speeches are only to draw you in, then rip you off when you do return.
Lastly whatever taxes you pay and your 50% is pure nonsense, once you file your taxes a percentage is returned to you and this will depend on your investments.
Pay attention to the Russians who are bleeding the treasury of Antigua to defend your BS.
“However, what he INTENTIONALLY ignores with the above, is when it comes to health care, the treatment is one of the best in the world – can we ssy the same for Antiguan?…….” This best treatment you talk about is only available to those who can afford and millions can’t afford, just listen to the talk on Healthcare in the US congress it might just elevate your thinking on who can afford Healthcare in America.
Prime Minister Browne, thank you for reinforcing that opportunities are here at home and for encouraging skilled Antiguans abroad to return. As a returning national, I made the intentional decision to come back to Antigua in 2020 because I believe in this vision and the direction our country is heading. Following your initial remarks on this matter last Monday, I submitted a letter to your administration via email last Thursday outlining my journey and my interest in contributing meaningfully and participating in the opportunities you’ve highlighted. I hope it will be considered. I am ready to build, invest, and grow with Antigua and Barbuda.
@ Jenna Marie Reid,
It’s now over 5 years (2020)since you return because you believe Gaston’s vision. That says a whole lot about you.
You followed a vision. Nothing after 5 plus years.
Aren’t you embarrassed?
Your comment says you have been duped if after 5 years you return home and now writing Gaston looking for help.
After acting on Gaston’s vision some 5 years ago, you are now hunting for the best way to suck up.
It could work for you. Gaston is an avid reader of Antigua News Room email may work for you.
He could use you are as an example of his welcome home agenda.
Maybe you may want to share the email address you use to get to Gaston administration.
Check out the Antigua News Room archives about the two Canadian young ladies of Antigua and Barbuda heritage who were to start a moratorium business.
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